Do you want to ship a car and would like to know how much it costs? Well, it depends on several factors, from the type of the car to the distance. This article will help…
There are many aspects which impact the shipping costs of a car. The type, model, weight, and size are the direct factors affecting the cost. Not to forget, the cost of shipping insurance, which needs to be purchased in any case before shipping the car. The insurance roughly comes up to 1.5 to 2.5% of the estimated value of the vehicle. Apart from that, the distance to the place where you need it shipped, and whether it is a domestic or international shipment, greatly impacts the money you would be ultimately shelling out.
Adding to that, there could be some companies who may vary their charges depending on the season, as weather conditions may be suitable or not so compatible with the shipping process. Non operational vehicles are charged for too, in fact, extra for loading and transfer.
Actual Cost
To start off, if you want to ship a car to Europe from the US, the charges start at around $750. This is for a usual sedan or perhaps a convertible. In case it is a full sized sports utility vehicle (SUV), the minimum cost will be around $2,000. Whereas, if you have to ship the car to Australia, the cost would be nothing less than $3,000. A car is generally shipped in an ocean container, and most probably, there would be extra space in the container. So, if you want to utilize that space, and want to ship something else along with it, like household items, it adds to the price.
Let’s take the example of shipping a car to Australia from USA in the container with other items. It might cost around $3,300, that is, for a 20-foot container. If you are looking for bigger options, then you can get a container double the size (40 feet), for around $4,600. You would be astonished to know that a 40-foot container will be able to hold 47,500 pounds.
With regards to domestic (within US) shipments, the starting cost is almost the same, when it is standard sized sedan. If it is a small van or a pick-up or SUV, the cost is roughly between $900 to $1,400, from let’s say New York to California. New York to Florida would be lesser, between $650 to $1,000 (for an SUV or a pick-up).
Tips and Benefits
- When you approach a shipping company, get everything in writing, from the most important details to even the most minor ones.
- It is advisable not to sign any shipping related papers unless you have read them and have gone through each and every word. This is important for the safety of the car.
- The good part is that, if at all you are moving to a place where the standard of living is already high, and you do not want it to weigh heavily on your pockets by selling the car and buying a new one, then a logical and practical thing to do is to ship the car. This way, you would be relieved of monetary as well as mental stress.
Bottom line is, check out the options with at least two companies, and read the terms and conditions properly, before you finalize the deal.