When relocating from one place to another, arranging for reliable car shipping is critical to minimize relocation hassles. Indeed, car owners will have a pretty easy time preparing their cars for shipping when collaborating with the right company.
However, it is critical to indicate that shipping regular and electric vehicles are two different processes. Therefore, this article explains the process of shipping each vehicle type, highlighting the recommended methods for shipping and explaining the fundamental differences between regular and electric vehicles.
The Difference between Regular and Electric Vehicles
Although both car types, regular and electric, provide drivers with many remarkable features, they have many differences, mainly in powertrain, fuel source, performance, maintenance, and environmental impact.
However, electric cars are distinct from regular ones because they operate with batteries, which calls for taking specific precautions when shipping them across state lines.
The Process of Shipping Electric Cars
Shipping electric cars is, to some level, similar to the general car shipping process, which involves choosing the appropriate shipping method, tools, and labor and preparing the cars for shipping.
They can be shipped with open or enclosed carriers, but opting for enclosed shipping is recommended to protect them from temperature and other natural conditions that could harm their batteries.
Furthermore, electric cars’ battery pack contains hazardous materials like lithium-ion. They are flammable, can produce toxic fumes if damaged, and can set the vehicles on fire if not handled properly. Therefore, car shipping companies take extra precautions to prevent damaging the battery pack. These are mainly:
- Properly secure the battery pack to prevent movement and damage by using the appropriate straps or tie-downs.
- Labeling the vehicles as hazardous material ensures they are appropriately handled during shipping.
- Charging the battery to at least 50% can help prevent it from damage, as well as emptying cars from all fluids to prevent leaks.
- Covering the cars to protect them from external elements and keeping the battery pack cool and dry to avoid overheating.
- Using a specialized carrier equipped to transport hazardous materials and hiring a trained driver familiar with shipping such materials.
Not all car shipping companies provide electric car shipping services since the process requires professional equipment and staff who can properly handle shipping cargo with hazardous materials.
The Process of Shipping Regular Cars
Shipping regular cars is less complicated than electric vehicles since shippers won’t be concerned about handling dangerous materials inside the cars. Regular vehicles can also be shipped with open or enclosed trailers, depending on the cars’ value and customers’ priorities and budget.
Open Car Shipping: The Ideal Option for Regular Cars
Regular cars usually don’t require special tools or labor during shipping, minimizing shipping time and costs. Most of the time, regular cars are shipped with open-air carriers for the following reasons:
- Open car shipping is an economical option for shipping regular cars. Although cars will be exposed to road debris during shipping, that must not be concerning for these vehicles that are on the road daily because they can sustain external elements and factors.
- This method is commonly used to ship regular cars and is more efficient because its cost matches the vehicles’ value. Indeed, open car shipping can guarantee faster delivery because of open carriers’ greater availability.
Enclosed Car Shipping: Maximizing Security for Cars of Higher Value
Enclosed car shipping is a premium service for shipping high-end cars, such as antique collectibles and more expensive cars. This method is believed to maximize security for these reasons:
- Enclosed carriers are fully covered on sides and roofs to protect cars from potential damage from external elements, such as weather or road waste. They are designed with safety measures in mind to maximize the loads’ security.
- Some enclosed carriers have advanced systems and equipment for seamless loading, securing, and unloading processes, such as hydraulic ramps.
- Owners of expensive cars can have the convenience of using single-car carriers or shipping the car with only one or two other vehicles to maximize safety on the road and their peace of mind.
It is worth noting that enclosed car shipping is more expensive, and the more additional features clients choose, the higher the rates will be.
The Cost of Shipping Regular Vs. Electric Vehicles
Shipping electric cars costs more than regular ones because they need a method with higher safety features and require employing special equipment and professional staff. Moreover, electric vehicles tend to be heavier than regular cars because of the heavy weight of their batteries, which also increases shipping rates.
It is a good idea to visit the car shipping company’s website that will ship your car and use its car shipping cost calculator to obtain an accurate quote for transporting a regular or electric vehicle.
Tempus Logix is a professional, experienced car shipping company that ships all vehicle types nationwide. The company features a state-of-the-art AI-based cost calculator on its website that gives customers instant and accurate car shipping cost estimations for free.
In Conclusion
It is always in customers’ best interest to prepare themselves beforehand and know how to ship a car from A to Z, whether regular or electric, before hiring a car shipping company. Shipping regular cars and electric vehicles are two different processes, each with distinct considerations and requirements.
