How to Save Money in the Process of Your Car Shipment

After many years in the auto transport industry, we’ve learned where you can safely cut costs and still get your vehicle to your desired destination.

Before trying to get a quote for vehicle transportation, you should first be aware of the factors that affect the price you pay when you ship your car. It’s important to understand these factors so you can judge the price you are quoted for.

What Factors Can Affect Auto Transport Prices? 

Shipping Distance

The first and biggest factor that impacts the price you pay to ship your vehicle is how far you need it moved. If you’re moving it from one state to the one next to it, that’s obviously going to be a lot cheaper than moving it from coast to coast. The reason for these prices isn’t just the distance. You’re paying more because an expert driver is giving more time and hard work to transport your vehicle safely from one place to another.

Auto transport is more affordable than many people think. It’s not that cheap. But it’s more affordable than people think.

Another thing that affects the price is the size of your vehicle. Bigger vehicles like trucks cost a little more to ship than smaller vehicles like compact cars. But prices don’t just double when the size of your vehicle does. And you should be very careful of any company that makes this excuse.

Open and Enclosed Car Shipping

When you transport your vehicle, you have 2 decisions to make. You have to choose between an enclosed car transport or open car transport.

Open car transport simply means that the car will be exposed to the weather conditions as it’s transported from point A to point B.

Enclosed car transport means the vehicle will be put inside a sealed auto hauler.

Open is the most used car moving service and it’s generally recommended for most auto transport, especially if you are willing to ship on a low budget.

But if you have an expensive, classic or a brand new car, an enclosed car moving service is more recommended for you. But be aware that enclosed is more expensive but can make sense if you are moving an expensive vehicle.

Seasonal Fluctuations

The month or the time of the year can also impact your vehicle shipping costs. Even if you’re not experiencing rain or snow, the driver may face them on his way to the locations.

Just be aware of seasonality when you’re thinking about the cheapest car shipping company. And be advised that if you can move your shipping date, you can save some money. Get in touch with one of the chat agents of an auto transport company to know what is the best time to ship your vehicle.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Points

When you want to ship your car, it’s most likely going to go on the bed of a big truck. And those trucks are hard for them to get through small roads and tight spaces. Try to find big parking lots because it’s easier for the truckers to load and unload the vehicle. So sometimes it means a bit of driving for you but it could also result in getting some money back in your pocket. Choose your pickup and delivery spots carefully. All these factors contribute to the price you pay and how much you save.

Why Choose Tempus Logix to Ship Your Motorcycle

Shipping your motorcycle can be stressful, especially if you don’t have experience in shipping and don’t know who to trust it with. Before using any company you’ll most likely check a few things about it including the history of the company, how long they’ve been working and whether they can accompany the requirements needed for you. Among other things comparing the reviews and the ranks also plays a huge role in choosing the best company for you. And when you do have your best choice, the next step is asking for a motorcycle shipping cost and placing your order. There are some key differences that you should keep in mind before booking your shipment (in case of shipping your motorcycle or any other cargo in general) with any shipping company in order to know what type of service you’ll be getting.

Here are a few of them.

• The timeframe required to make the arrangements for the pickup
• The amount of insurance coverage and in which case it is provided be provided
• Whether the type of service is door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal
• Whether or not you’ll be provided with tracking of your shipment
• Types of vehicle shipping (in case of motorcycles enclosed is advised)
• Cancellation policy
• Refund policy

Once you’ve made sure you’re comfortable with the company, your experience will be different depending on the company.

We already have huge experience in providing motorcycle shipping services and have a good reputation in the motorcycle shipping industry. And we do know who to trust your motorcycle with to deliver the best possible service, how to avoid any delay, be accessible through email, messaging and phone calls all while keeping you updated and informed about every detail about your shipment every step of the way. And we do it all in a timely manner. The end result of ours is a satisfied customer enjoying their motorcycle and saving our number to reach us the next time they need anything shipped, as once you find a company that delivers, next time all the stress will be simply unnecessary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Shipping

Before asking for a quote from a vehicle transportation company, most people have to think twice about whether they can trust them or not. There will be a lot of questions running through their minds, many of which are addressed in the FAQs about Car Shipping.

But mostly, they refer to the FAQs about Car Shipping to ask the most important questions, such as:

• Is my vehicle insured during transportation?
• When is the vehicle going to be picked-up?
• When will my car delivery take place?
• Can I put stuff in my car when I ship it?
• Can I track my vehicle online?
• Why isn’t the car assigned/picked-up/delivered yet?
• How does trucking a car work?
• What’s a reasonable cost to ship a car?
• Can I ship my car across the country?
• Can I ship a truck?
• How do I request auto transport quotes?
• Is a cheap car shipping safe?

Well, we are here to answer your questions, and we are surely going to get you the right transportation with the right car transport company that your vehicle needs.

Answers to Car Shipping FAQs

Is my vehicle insured during transportation?

Tempus Logix is a brokerage company. We work with a big network of car carriers, and of course fully insured ones. We will not give your vehicle to non-trusted car movers; we always make sure that they are insured and up for the duty.

When is the vehicle going to be picked-up?

After you ask for a quote and book with us, we start searching for the perfect car moving company with an available driver for your vehicle in the pick-up area. When it is assigned, we will give you an estimated date and time for the pickup. The driver will call to give you prior notice or to give you an open window.

When will my vehicle be delivered?

When you place an order, you will receive an estimated date between the pick-up and delivery. This will give you a window to prepare yourself to receive your vehicle. We put estimated dates because it depends on the distance, traffic, weather conditions, etc. It may be possible to deliver your car faster than estimated sometimes. 

Can I put stuff in my car when I ship it?

Of course, you can ship car and belongings together, but the weight should be less than 100 LBs, and be below the window level, or in the trunk. In case of there being more than 100lbs, the car moving company might charge a dollar for each pound.

Can I track my vehicle online?

Live tracking isn’t available yet, but we will inform you as soon as there is any update about the shipment. Feel free to call us at any time you like to get updates. And of course, the assigned driver will communicate with you as well.

Why isn’t my car assigned/picked-up/delivered yet?

Sometimes the car shipping process has some delays in its duration, some problems with the car haulers’ truck and sometimes some changes with their schedule. So, in that case, we will call you to see if you agree with this situation. If not, mostly we are obligated to cancel with that specific car shipping service provider and start looking for a new one to assure the quick transportation of your car(s).

How does trucking a car work?

Usually, if the car is operable it’s easily driven onto the trailer by the driver and secured to ensure stability during the shipping process. 

What’s a reasonable cost to ship a car?

It really depends on what car you’re shipping, what type of transportation type will you be choosing and how long will the trip be. As transport companies charge more if your shipment’s pickup or delivery location is harder to reach. But auto transport services, in general, don’t seem to vary in cost that much.

Can I ship my car across the country?

Yes. As long as you stay within the US. We can easily ship your car to another state. Even when it’s from one coast to another. Cross country car transport is what most of the auto transport companies that we work with are used to at this point.

Can I ship a truck?

If by shipping a “truck” you mean pickup trucks, vans, or even any other big vehicles. Considering the fact that we also have a pretty big experience shipping heavy equipment and such, we can confidently say yes. 

How do I request auto transport quotes?

You can easily request one by just calling us, requesting a quote through our website, email, text or even the chat we have available right when you go to our website. You can even request different types of quotes, say one for open car transport and one for enclosed car transport, to see which one you like best.

Is a cheap car shipping safe?

It really depends on how valuable the car is and how much you want to spend. But if we were to advise you on how much is considered too cheap, go for the company whose quote is not a “steal”. As auto transportation service is not the expense you want to save a lot off of.

Car Shipping Do’s and Don’ts

Whether you’re shipping a car, shipping a motorcycle or any other vehicle that is usually transported with carrier companies and/or brokers, there are some guidelines you should follow when asking for a auto shipping quote to make sure your shipment goes smoothly. If you’re an experienced shipper and have done this a few times already, you might find these familiar. But if this is your first time doing this and you can’t really tell an overpriced quote from a reasonable one, here are some tips that might come in handy and make your experience successful.
Starting from the basics, there are 5 things the company you might work with will ask about your shipment in order to be able to give a quote.

1. The pickup address
2. The delivery address
3. The year, make and model of the vehicle(s)
4. The condition of the vehicle (including modification(s) and if it’s operable)
5. The chosen trailer type (open or enclosed)

Going further into these points, if the pickup or the delivery location is from a port or somewhere else that would require paperwork or any credentials, say an auction or a dealer, you have to make sure that you forward the needed paperwork before the driver arrives at the location. Also make sure to let the company know if you need any paperwork or the title signed, as well as anything else that might be important to take with the shipment.
The year, make and model of the car is pretty self-explanatory and doesn’t require any specifications, other than a specific edition that would differ from the stock version, which brings us to the modifications and what could potentially affect the price of the shipment.  Here you should pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle, and if it’s lower or higher than usual you should definitely disclose so. The width of the wheels should be disclosed as well to make sure that the vehicle will fit in the trailer without being too close to the sides to avoid any damages. If the vehicle isn’t operable, as well as doesn’t roll, you’ll have to assist both the loading and unloading part of the shipment, as that case usually requires a forklift. Assuming the company will take care of that all and finding out that they actually aren’t able to provide you with the assistance will save you a lot of time. And if the vehicle does roll, brake and steer, all you have to do is disclose that and just request for a truck that’ll have a winch which is the most common way of handling such shipments.
And lastly coming to the more pricey option, enclosed trailer usually are a bit more expensive than a regular open one, but ensure much more safety and it really comes down to what vehicle you’re shipping and how well do you need it taken care of.

We Care for Our Customers’ Spending during Their Vehicle Transportation

Let’s face it: every business revolves around making money. The finances have a direct impact on the overall delivery of service. If you pay more, it is highly likely that you will get a better service.

In Tempus Logix, we do not let this pattern dictate our service delivery. Our goal is to do business with our clients on a regular basis. So when you ask for a car shipping quote from our website, we provide a quote that is perfectly balanced for being affordable and still keeping the professional service (quick delivery, professional driver and constant communication and on-time updates). We are not money-hungry. Our philosophy is that if we do fair business and have customer satisfaction, then that is a win-win situation for both parties involved.

On a platform, shipping prices fluctuate. Sometimes they go high and sometimes they go low because of many field related factors of shipment of cars and heavy equipment. Tempus Logix never aims for the high end of the shipping price because we understand the value of money from the perspective of our customers.

Yes, we are a broker company, but our agents do not earn their money from commissions only. They have a fixed salary; therefore, by having this payment system in Tempus Logix, ripping off extra money from customers’ pockets does not drive the broker’s motivation in deal-making. They care for the clients’ economy and desire to have them save money while doing business with Tempus Logix. Customer satisfaction is our main priority. 

We conduct our business with this distinguished approach. We make our modest income by providing a trusted, consistent, and constant service to our customers. We are always with them and we love to see them satisfied. And when there are times when it happens that our clients are not satisfied, we do our best to address the issues causing their dissatisfaction.

Can I Ship Personal Items in the Car?

Regulation for Shipping Car and Belongings Together

For shipping a car or personal belongings, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates them separately. These regulations mean to hold carries responsible if damages happen to the property. Having personal belongings in a vehicle during auto transport will require recording of those items one by one on the Bill of Lading (BOL), which we do not do.  In other words, auto transport carriers take responsibility only for transporting a car, and carriers who transport household goods assume responsibility for their type of cargo.

Admittedly, to regulate property separately is a good idea for other reasons as well. Since securement rules for each type of cargo are different, mixing them up only complicates things for everyone. After all, FMCSA wants to keep the public safe during freight transportation and hold those who transport them liable in the event something does go wrong.

Rules and Weight Limits when Shipping Car with Personal Items

FMCSA and Tempus Logix care for the safety and liability of your property. Accordingly, we do allow personal items during your vehicle transportation free of charge if the total weight does not exceed 100 lbs. Also, we ask that you nicely pack the items and store them either in the trunk or below the window level, away from the driver seat. However, because of FMCSA regulations, the carriers cannot be responsible for any of the personal property inside the car and will not insure it. If you do want to put property over 100 lbs., please know that it might be subject to an additional charge simply because weight affects the cost in an auto transport business.

Although our carriers do not insure your items in the vehicle during car transportation, we believe it should not cause any problems. Yes, a slight risk of theft indeed exists, but that risk does not involve our carriers because they are not thieves, that is for sure. Whether others can steal the property, we think this can happen for anything else that we own, regardless of where it might be. We know that theft is a crime punishable by law irrespectively. If somebody tries to steal the property, he or she will be punished when caught, without any distinction if it is insured or not.

When you want to ship car and belongings together because you think it is more convenient than shipping it separately, please talk to us, and we will try to arrange that for you. Tempus Logix is always here to make things easier for their customers.

The Early History of Car Transportation

Alexander Winton, an inventor, and automaker designed the first known semi-truck (a car hauler) in 1898 because he wanted to transport and deliver cars to his customers without the wear and tear from long miles of driving.

A year later, although Winton was successful at selling his new invention, it did not continue proving itself the best choice of auto transport in the following years. It was capable of transporting only one car in one fell swoop, but the upsurge of the auto industry necessitated better alternatives for cars and heavy equipment transportation.

In 1914, August Charles Fruehauf, a blacksmith shop owner at the time (later the founder of Fruehauf Trailer Company), received an order from a lumber manufacturer to make a carrier that can be attached to his Ford to transport his boat from one location to another. The lumber merchant was so satisfied with the heavy equipment transporter that he ordered more to move his lumber as well. Four years later, success ensued, and Fruehauf established his company, naming his merchandise semi-trailer.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Having these great ideas exposed made it possible for other individuals to work out the problems that came with the original creations and improve them as time passed. One of these individuals was John C. Endebrock and another one, George Cassens.

John Endebrock made a trailer that only one person could attach and detach to the back of Ford. His creation later evolved into a modern-day fifth wheel. He founded the Trailmobile Company.

Just like A. Winton, George Cassens, a car salesman, needed to ship cars to his customers without running miles into his commodity. His invention was a type of trailer that could haul four cars by a 2-ton Dodge truck of his day.

Learn more about the Evolution of Automobile Trucks

What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship My Car?

In Tempus Logix, we think the greatest price determiner for auto transport is the company you hire to truck your car. The reason we say this is that some factors that affect price fluctuations are general and pertain to every company in auto transport across the platform regardless of companies own pricing for a shipment. If it is a busy time of year, then it is a busy time of year for everyone. The price shift from high to low will be relevant for all the companies. The same goes for other factors—gas price, traffic, weather, to name a few. Correspondingly, then we have some generic factors that inherently cause a significant change in the increase or decrease in the price of moving a car.

Let us do a quick review of these factors.

	Lower Prices	Higher Prices
The vehicle type	Smaller size and weighs less	Bigger size and weighs more
The carrier type	Open transport	Enclosed transport
Distance	Longer distance*	Shorter distance*
Location: near highway/freeway	Closer	Farther
Timeframe	Extended	Expedited
Vehicle condition	Operable	Inoperable

All of these factors boil to one estimated and somewhat a standard price for all auto-shipment companies to bid and discretionally change it for their profit. Therein lies the rub. The real change in price happens at this point. That’s why it is indispensable to go with a company you can trust. Tempus Logix always offers affordable prices to its customers and gives many discounts. Tempus Logix does not burden its customers with the interplay of factors that affects price changes. Tempus Logix does all the calculations and price comparisons for its clients to choose the best one that suits them and not the company. Tempus Logix assists all its clients through its effective communication to sort out all the information necessary to yield the cheapest way to ship a car.

Is It Safe to Ship a Car?

To answer this question, almost all the articles on the web say that it depends on what company you choose to do the transporting; customers should do their research to mark their checklist in terms of safety. Then, they also say that the transportation type, that is an enclosed vehicle transport or open transport type, would also affect the risk factors and costs.

However, it also happens that some companies in their articles falsely claim that it is safer to transport vehicles with companies that own their trailers, and not with the ones who contract the shipment, such as broker companies. The truth of the matter is that no one company in the States has that many personal trucks to meet the demand for car transportation. So, the very same companies who make these erroneous claims turn into semi-broker companies themselves because they cannot process all the orders on time. Had this not been the case, then there would have been one big company doing all the transporting. Naturally, with no choice, it forces companies to outsource either way.

Tempus Logix has done thousands of cars and heavy equipment transport nationally with no issues.  Our secret is not a secret at all. The key to our success lies in the relationship with our carriers. When we are processing an order and coordinating the pickup, we do not just assign the job to any given carrier on the board to transfer our customers’ valuable property just because we can make some money. We consider all the variables, even the drivers’ personalities. Having done this many heavy equipment and car shipments, we got to know the people whom we trust. Besides, we take other things into account as well. For instance, there is a carrier who transported a car safely, but was rude to our customer and our customer did not like the whole experience. The next time when we are about to do business with the same driver, we think twice because we consider all the feedback from our patrons. Nevertheless, we know many excellent and responsible drivers whose professionalism makes it possible for us to trust the transit of our customers’ property in a safe and timely manner.

Tempus Logix is a company comprised of people with values and understanding. It is not a system where it does things mechanically. Our specialists care for every car or heavy equipment transported as they would have cared for their own most valuable property.

So, is it safe to ship a car? We cannot speak for others, but with Tempus Logix, we guarantee safe and secure car shipment.

How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping

You just finished talking with Tempus Logix, and you got the best car transport price, car delivery timeframe, and the type of trailer in which you want to transport your car. Tempus Logix’s experts informed you that the driver would contact you 24 hours prior and then again 4 hours before the actual pickup. You are responsible to prepare your car for shipping before the driver’s arrival.

At this point, you might have wondered, “what do I need to do when the driver comes? Just hand him the keys?”

In actuality, that is all you need to do—meet him, watch the inspection of the car, sign the papers, and say your goodbyes. After this, you merely wait for your car delivery to your assigned destination.

But, if for some reason you wonder if there is any other thing you could do to prepare the car for the pickup, here are some tips:

Wash the car

Lather up, PW, and dry the car! Now when it is clean, you can start a visual inspection for any existing scratches, dents, or damages. If there are any, you may photograph them for your and carriers’ record. 

The transporter has to do this either way, but for you doing it beforehand can save some time. Besides, it will be easier to notice any changes to your car when delivered. With Tempus Logix, the vehicles arrive in the same condition as carriers have loaded them onto the trailers. Say if some does happen—Perish the thought!—the indemnity will follow faster because of your preparedness.

Empty the car

It is better to have the car empty of personal belongings before the shipment. But if you have to move some things with your car, then packed it neatly, put it in the trunk, and try to keep the 100 lbs free of charge limit. Make sure no loose parts/objects are on or in the vehicle. You do not want anything flying out or bouncing inside the car during the transit. Also, check for any leaks due to mechanical issues. It can cause damage to other vehicles if it is on a multi-level multi-car trailer.

Keep the tank low

For weight reasons, carriers prefer transporting cars that have less than 20% of fuel in the tanks. One gallon of gas weighs 6 pounds. 20% is equal to about 2.5 to 3 pounds. These numbers, compared with the weight of a full tank (72-90 pounds), makes a big difference for the GVWR, not to mention, adding them by 2-9 for multi-level multi-car trailers.

If you had filled up the tank and then you planned to transport the car, obviously you are not going to empty it. However, getting the car prepared before shipping will make the transit just much smoother.