Car Shipping Calculators: How Do They Work?
For an auto transport quote, learn more about how car shipping calculators work and find the best practices for getting competitive online auto transport quotes.
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Key Points:
- Just a few details about your vehicle, shipping route, and timeline can get you a free quote from many top auto shipping companies.
- Car shipping calculators make it easy to compare quotes and find the best deal on cost of shipping.
- Montway Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and AmeriFreight are our top-rated car shipping companies.
When looking for an instant quote online, car shipping calculators may be the best tool available. In this article, we’ll explain how to determine car shipping rates by using them before revealing which company may have the best car shipping cost calculator for your needs.
We know that vehicle shipping can seem daunting, so we’ve reviewed the best car shipping companies in the industry for pricing, car transport efficiency, and positive customer reviews. Using a car shipping calculator online can help you find a good rate quickly.
What Is A Car Shipping Calculator?
A car shipping calculator is a tool that quickly generates quotes for auto shipping. This tool is commonly used by car shipping companies to provide customers with access to free instant quotes. It’s important for shoppers to get vehicle shipping cost estimates from several companies to get a feel for what their cheapest and best options may be.
Many auto transporters will utilize a few data points to generate competitive auto shipping rates for customers. These prices are then included in the tool so that potential buyers can receive free auto shipping quotes in as little as five minutes.
How Do I Use A Car Shipping Calculator?
Most online car shipping quotes come from car shipping calculators created by individual auto brokers and transporters. The only thing customers need to do is provide a few personal details and some specifics about their vehicle: such as its year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN), as well as shipping options like pickup and drop-off.
The other information you will likely need to include in a car shipping calculator include:
- ZIP codes for pickup and delivery locations
- Day and time frame for scheduled pickup
- Email for both the sender and receiver
Factors That May Affect Car Shipping Calculator Quotes
There are some major characteristics that help determine one’s car shipping price. The most important factors that change instant quote rates from an online car shipping calculator include:
- Distance
- Type of vehicle
- Route specifics
- The time of year
- Shipping method (enclosed carrier versus open car shipping)
- Vehicle size, condition and operability
Factors that increase car shipping costs include poor vehicle condition, enclosed transport, expedited service, larger vehicle models, and overseas shipping destinations. Enclosed transport of classic cars, exotic cars, and luxury vehicles can add between 30 and 60 percent more to your car shipping quote.
Are Car Shipping Calculators Best For Getting Quotes Online?
Car shipping calculators provide a free and easy method to get fast car shipping quotes online from a variety of auto shipping companies. For some car shipping calculators, you may be able to quote up to five vehicles for the same type of carrier. Quotes from car shipping calculators will more than likely factor in all fees associated with each car shipper’s transport service, including additional insurance coverage.
When getting quotes online from a car shipping calculator, you don’t have to worry about being pressured to book a car shipment. Since you don’t have to deal with the hassle of salespeople marketing services to you, the car shipping calculator could save you time, energy, and money all at once.
When looking for the best car shipping quotes, you should look for an auto transportation company with a top-notch, free, and easy car shipping calculator. We have reviewed the best companies in the industry, based on the quality of their car shipping calculators, and our results can be found below.
Car Shipping Calculator: Conclusion
In this review we went over everything there is to know about car shipping calculators for you to find the best price for car transport services. Below are some of the best companies for car shipping quotes:
Best Companies For Online Car Shipping Quotes
We recommend Montway Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and AmeriFreight as some of the best shipping companies for online car shipping calculators. These three companies are rated as some of the most reliable and reputable auto shippers in the auto transport industry. All three hold an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall
Montway Auto Transport provides an easy-to-use car shipping calculator where you can get instant quotes online. As a broker, the auto transport company connects customers with transport carriers that best suit their needs. Montway works with over 15,000 partners across the country to offer the best auto shipping rates you can find. We gave the company 4.7 out of 5.0 stars and our Best Overall car shipping company award.
The company can ship anywhere in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and provides contingent cargo insurance of up to $250,000 for transport protection. There are also options of door-to-door delivery, expedited shipping, and enclosed transportation.
Along with its A+ rating, customers on the BBB give Montway an excellent 4.6 out of 5.0-star score.
Get a free quote by clicking below:
Easy Auto Ship: Excellent Service Selection
Easy Auto Ship is known for the cheap and no-nonsense quotes given through its car shipping calculator. The company provides instant rates to those who fill out its online form, putting price estimates into customers’ hands in seconds.
As for car shipping services, Easy Auto Ship offers both open and enclosed shipping, expedited shipping, and door-to-door delivery. One key benefit of Easy Auto Ship’s services is its online car shipping calculator, which makes it easy to calculate potential auto transport costs.
We rated Easy Auto Ship 4.6 out of 5.0 stars and gave it our Excellent Service Selection award. The company matches Montway’s A+ and 4.6 out of 5.0-star customer review score on the BBB.
You can get a free and customized quote from Easy Auto Ship below:
AmeriFreight: Great Industry Reputation
Our team gave AmeriFreight 4.6 out of 5.0 stars overall and a perfect 5.0-star rating in the reliability category. The company has been in business since 2004, shipping to all 50 states. Along with open transport and enclosed car shipping, AmeriFreight also gives you the option to ship door-to-door or use shipping terminals.
AmeriFreight boasts impressive customer ratings online, including 4.8 out of 5.0 stars on both the BBB and Trustpilot. The company also holds a 4.7 out of 5.0-star rating from more than 3,400 Google customer reviews.
Click below for a free quote from AmeriFreight:
Car Shipping: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about car shipping:
Is it cheaper to drive or ship a car across the country?
Driving your car is cheaper for shorter moves, but car shipping is the better option when it comes down to convenience for cross-country or long-distance transport. Booking with an open carrier can save you hundreds more in shipping costs versus choosing an enclosed trailer.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to another state?
The cheapest way to ship a car to another state is through open car transport. These carriers are cheaper than those for enclosed auto transport because more brokers and transporters offer it and transport trucks can ship more cars at once.
Is it worth shipping a car?
Having your car shipped can save you time and money during a move across the country. If you’re unable to drive the car across state lines yourself, the car shipping process is the ideal solution for how to ship a car from point A to point B. For longer distances, it may be worth considering vehicle transport since the average cost per mile dramatically decreases after 500 miles.
How We Rate Auto Shipping Companies
Our review team extensively researches car shipping providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- Reliability: Providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a long history in the auto transport industry score well in this category.
- Services: We take a look at what types of transport services are available through each company, including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, and more. Those with wider service selections are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
- Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis to get quotes for a variety of shipping routes and services. We compare each company’s costs to industry average prices to see how it stands up to the competition.
- Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to better understand the consumer experience. Car shipping companies with convenient quote processes also perform well in this category.
