How to Use a Car Shipping Cost Calculator

a calculator, pen, and money on a table

Car Shipping Cost Calculator

A car shipping cost calculator is a computer device that allows you to figure out the costs of shipping your car across the country or just across the state. You can find many of these calculators online, especially on shipping sites. They can help you to decide if you want to ship your vehicle. 

If you are planning on shipping your vehicle, you need to know how much it will cost you. Using a shipping calculator can help you to estimate this cost. Then when you call transport companies, you will know how much to expect for shipping costs.

There are many people who will help you with details about shipping your vehicle. You could use the Roadrunner car transport cost calculator to get information. They have all the details that you might need on their site.

This article will help you to learn how to use one of these calculators. It will help you to understand more about transporting vehicles. You can also do more research and find out more on your own.

yellow Chevrolet coupe close-up photography

What is a Car Shipping Calculator?

A shipping calculator is a tool that you can use to get a hassle-free quote on what it costs to ship your car. Some of the car transport companies will send you an instant quote, while others will give your information to the shipper, and they will get back to you with a quote:https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/moving-services/car-shipping-cost-calculator/. You can choose which one that you would like to work with to get the information that you need. 

The calculator will ask you for some basic information such as the vehicle type, operability, make, model, pickup and delivery dates, pickup and drop off locations, type of transport, and your personal information. It will use this information to come up with an estimate for your transport needs. Carriers will then bid on the job, and you can choose the best one for your needs.

Will the Quote Be the Final Price?

The quote is more of an estimate of what you will pay, it won’t be the final price. There are other fees that are added in such as service fees and additional insurance fees. Although some transporters will make sure that the quote is the final price, not all will do this. 

The price for transporting varies depending on many facts including the distance that you will have your car shipped. The charges begin at about $1.25 per mile for under 500 miles to about 48 cents a mile if you are going over 2,500 miles.The charges change depending on which route you are choosing to ship your car on. 

Factors that Affect Transport Costs

There are other factors that can affect the shipping costs for your vehicle besides the distance. The size and condition are factors that will raise the price of transport. If the vehicle is inoperable, it will cost you more because there is more labor getting it on the transport. 

Other factors include the pickup and drop off spots. If you live in a rural area or want the vehicle dropped off in a rural area, it will cost you more than if you live in the city and want it delivered in another city. You must take the traveling time and the fuel that it costs to get to the rural areas into consideration.

Another consideration is the time frame that it will take to get your vehicle to its destination. You could ask for expedited transport, but it will cost you more. If you are more flexible, the price can go down considerably.

The transport type is still another factor in the cost of transporting. If you are using open transport – where your car is out in the open on an open trailer – it will cost you less than if you choose an enclosed transport that keeps your car out of the elements and in a closed trailer. Sometimes you are willing to spend a little more because of the type of car you have. 

The time of year that you decide to ship will also help decide the cost of the transport. If you want it shipped in the middle of the summer, it will cost you more than if you do it in the winter. For some reason, January is also an expensive month to ship in. 

One of the final factors to consider is the cost of fuel. This can change daily, but fuel costs do have regular ups and downs. If you choose to transport your vehicle during high traffic seasons, you will spend more on fuel. 

Conclusion

You can use a car shipping calculator to get a good estimate of what it will cost to move your car across the country. It won’t be an exact amount, but it will be close enough for you to estimate your costs. The company will then add in all the fees that need to be added for you.