Shipping a car across country?

[roccaas]

I'd appreciate any help and wisdom on shipping my car 2500 miles to Montana to my son. (Not my Cabriolet!)

Any particularly good carriers or brokers you've used?

Better to go with a carrier directly or through a broker?

Insurance?

Tips and tricks?

Thanks

[Slowplane]

I used Intercity Lines (in November) to move a 150A from N.H. to San Diego. XLNT service. Insured and enclosed. $2247 total. (suggest avoiding "brokers"). Car was loaded in NH stayed on same truck until reaching my driveway. very pleased with this company.
do some internet research.
good luck

[H. L. Chauvin]

1. Call & call quite a few. Shopping is always helpful.
2. Ask for individual prices & that of brokers. Brokers may have more options.
3. Make sure your shipment is insured.
4. Go to Google Map & find miles from point A. to point B. They all generally charge by the mile -- less miles, less cost.
5. In my opinion, the common sense trick is to try to find a carrier with a scheduled "partial" load of vehicles who is already scheduled to pass through or near your Savannah Ga., & is scheduled to be headed near your son in Montana, all of which occurs on or near the multiple dates you wish to ship. Usually "different" brokers have this "different" information. Have patience.
6. Shipping dates are also important to see not only who is going "where", but who is going "when". Be flexible with dates.
7. If open vehicle shipping is chosen, do not cover car with a car cover & allow the cover to be like maggie's drawers in the wind beating the car's paint job to death & wearing it down to bare steel.
8. Others will have additional opinions & good suggestions.

Hope this helps.

[1931 flamingo]

Ck the classifieds here (swap section). There's a "Barner" that does hauling. I believe he has an excellent reputation though I havnt had the need to use him.
Paul in CT

[brianogilchrist]

Six weeks ago I had my newly restored 30 Tudor shipped to me in Florida from Wisconsin. After talking to about a dozen brokers and shippers I used Reliable. I talked directly with the company and I believe they have a good reputation. They are a little expensive ($1617) but they did what they said they would, everything is shipped enclosed (always important but especially in winter) and the car arrived in perfect shape. It hardly had any dust on it. I have heard some bad stories about boiler-shop brokers. You can check out Reliable online.
Brian

[luckyal]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I also used Reliable and I was very happy. They are true professionals. There were a couple a little cheaper but this company is rated 5 star. My friend ships from Barret Jackson with them regulary and he also says they are the best !
Al

[H. L. Chauvin]

Wild thought -- is the car drivable?

Rainmaker Ron, with a true American frontier spirit, pioneered a similar trip in a partly mechanically unknown Model A & had a blast.

Ever think what ever happened to the bold & courageous genes of our forefathers, young & old, who came over on wood ships powered by the breezes, with no radios to predict storms in the ocean.

They then jumped on wagon trains, bought simple buckboards, or walked to a wilderness area inhabited by total strangers with a totally different culture who spoke an unknown language.

Next they built shelters, can one imagine, with no Home Depot or Lowes in sight?

Maybe, just maybe, either a driving trip to either consider; or just forget it & go to the yellow pages and/or internet to look for vehicle transporters.

[eagle]

Yesterday's Tractors has a forum you can post your needs on and usually get a response very soon. http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/haulquery.pl I've used it.

[roccaas]

Thanks guys. I don't have the time to drive the car (63 Impala), and have only 4 days in Montana to receive the car, so Ill have to take what I can get!

[Keith True]

If you only have a four day window to receive the car I think you will be paying a premium.Cars are not like freight,where there is always somebody,somewhere,going your way.Somebody is going to have to go out of their way to accommodate you.That will translate into a partial load,and a delivery with no return load lined up.I dealt with a lot of brokers over the years while trucking,and while there are some good ones,most will tell you what you want to hear.The main thing that was hammered into me about brokers was the line,The only time a broker told the truth was when he called another broker a liar.Being on the road the 50 bad experiences far outweighed the 300 problem free ones.I sold a kitcar(still in the boxes)to somebody that had a real horror experience with U-ship.

[1931 flamingo]

The fellow on the Barn is : trulyvintage. Do a search.
Paul in CT

[msmaron]

Well actually we just shipped a fordor from Chicago to NY from Fidelity shipping it was $675.00 in an open trailer...

[H. L. Chauvin]

Appears that open trailer transport gives a vehicle about the same rain, hail, breeze, sand strorm, sun, & smashed bug exposure as driving the vehicle the same transported distance; except less wear on tires, seat covers, moving parts, and running gear.

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Appears that open trailer transport gives a vehicle about the same rain, hail, breeze, sand strorm, sun, & smashed bug exposure as driving the vehicle the same transported distance; except less wear on tires, seat covers, moving parts, and running gear.

I did not read he asked about a closed trailer anywhere and was giving another option to him that was less expensive.

[ronn]

USHIP-used them 3x and was very happy-good pricing.

ALWAY ALWAYS ALWAYS have your own insurance.
don't ask me why.....

[mccsix]

Here is a young owner/operator that has a new Ford Hd truck and 3 car enclosed trailer that did a great job for me. Hauled my A from Phila to Pensacola.
Shawn Field @ 406-539-2157

[ct1932ford]

Just used Intercity! Very Good!

[H. L. Chauvin]

[QUOTE=msmaron;606424] I did not read he asked about a closed trailer anywhere and was giving another option to him that was less expensive.

Noticed the same here -- appears he never asked about a closed trailer.

Had mine shipped in open trailer with other cars -- should have added that it arrived in as good a shape as if making the trip in an enclosed trailer -- bugs must have been on vacation that week or attending a convention.

[Forker]

I just shipped my restored A from CT to TX and used Passport, based on a recommednation from someone who has used them many times. I couldn't have been more satisfied, they picked it up the first day of the window promised and delivered it within days, well before promised.

They use a GSP tracking system, so you always know where your car is 7/24, which is a cool feature.

I made my arrangements through a representative named John Schraff (800-325-4267) who was very helpul and a straight shooter, my driver was Chris Mckay who was excellent and kept me well ionformed as where he was and when he would deliver.

Their truck was imaculate, my car was well cared for and in perfect condition when delivered.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by ronn

USHIP-used them 3x and was very happy-good pricing.

ALWAY ALWAYS ALWAYS have your own insurance.
don't ask me why.....

I used the service to choose a shipper for my son's car.

[robw]

I just shipped a model A from Florida to Virginia using Direct Transport. It was fairly inexpensive and easy to coordinate.

One thing I learned was that cost of transportation varies with season and direction... At least between FL & VA.. in that going south in winter is relatively more expensive than going north.

If you have flexibility in when you ship, you may wish to ask about off peak times.

Rob

[pat in Santa Cruz]

I have used Intercity before, and was very happy with them. They were recommended to me by a collector of high end classics who trusts them regularly with some mighty rare cars.

[denis4x4]

I've used Reliable half a dozen times and they have been very professional. Your delivery window is pretty tight and may create extra charges. I never cancel my insuranse until I receive word that the car has been received and inspected at the other end.

[marc hildebrant]

I have shipped my car twice with "Federal Express". They had bought a company and re-named it Federal Express.

I think that the company is now on it's own... ?

Excellent job.

Marc

[marc hildebrant]

I found the name of the company I used (was Fedex), it's Passport Auto Transport. I had excellent service and would use them again.

Marc

[hardtimes]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by ronn

USHIP-used them 3x and was very happy-good pricing.

ALWAY ALWAYS ALWAYS have your own insurance.
don't ask me why.....

X TWO...on both comments!