Hot Road Auto Transport: Tips for Safely Shipping Your Classic Car
Hot rod auto transport refers to the transportation of customized, high-performance vehicles. These vehicles are typically modified to enhance speed and aesthetics. Approximately 80% of hot rod enthusiasts rely on professional auto transport services to safely deliver their vehicles to car shows and events, and the average distance traveled by hot rod during transport is around 1500 dollars.
There are many reasons customers choose to ship their vehicle with a professional hot rod auto transport company. Among these, we count:
- Relocation to a new military base;
- Buying a vehicle from another country;
- Services involving automobile auction shipping;
- Moving to a new home along with your vehicle;
- Being relocated for a new job;
- Buying a vacation condo;
- Seasonal departures to warmer areas of the country;
- Buying or selling a vehicle online;
- A collector transporting vehicles.
Expenses Made When Driving a Hot Rod Across Country
Choosing to drive your hot rod instead of hiring a hot rod auto transport company can be quite costly. The following are the most common expenses you should expect if you plan on transporting your vehicle across the country by driving it:
- Hotels: The normal cost per night in a hotel can be around $200. Depending on how many days it takes for you to drive your Hot Rod to its new destination, you should take into consideration hotel fees as well.
- Fuel: This is another major expense you will need to account for. You can calculate how much it will cost you using Google Maps and a calculator.
- Food and drinks: You will need to eat at least 3 meals a day during your trip, especially since you’ll be fatigued from driving. This can cost you between $50-$100/day depending on the number of travelers and choice of restaurant.
- Wearing/tearing your vehicle: Driving your Hot Rod from one end of the country to the other will increase its mileage, so it may require expensive inspection and service afterward. Put aside another $100 for maintaining your vehicle.
- Mechanical problems: A flat tire is not a serious problem in most cases, but if your automobile breaks down in the middle of nowhere, things can get complicated. Your car will have to be towed to the nearest automobile repair service, which may charge more than you’re accustomed to since they’re the only option for solving such problems.
A-1 Auto Transport provides fast and reliable logistics for interstate vehicle shipping. Move your car with confidence and get a free, no-obligation price quote for enclosed transport by clicking here or calling 1-888-230-9116.
Basic Considerations
When choosing a car transport service for your hot rod, it is important to consider the experience, customer reviews and reputation of the company. Look for a service that has a proven track record of safely transporting cars and providing excellent customer service to its clients.
- Reasons: It’s a common myth that shipping companies can be used only when buying or selling an automobile. People use this service for all kinds of reasons. They are useful when moving to a new home, to haul your hot rod to an event or show or even to multiple events in a row.
- Costs: Costs vary depending on several factors, such as distance and vehicle weight. The shipping company can give you an accurate assessment prior to transportation.
- Size, miles and route: The hot rod auto transport price does not change based on the value of your vehicle, but on the vehicle’s size, the miles it will have to be transported across and the route it will take.
- Time: Hot rod hauling normally takes between 7 and 10 days, but it can change due to weather, location and other circumstances.
- Waiting drivers: Sometimes, when people want hot rod auto transport to shows and events, they may ask the driver to wait for them until the event is finished. If you want the driver to wait for you until the event ends, rendering him incapable of taking care of other pickup jobs while waiting, he will have to stay on standby until you are finished. Because of this, the transporter will usually charge you a waiting fee each day to cover his downtime.
Larger automobiles occupy more space so that the company can transport fewer of them at a time. This raises the transportation price, as does the route your carrier will have to take. Often, traveled routes increase the carrier’s chances of finding more automobiles to haul, so the price of transporting your vehicle is lower. When the vehicle must be carried to a state or area where no other vehicle needs shipping, it is considered a single-purpose run, raising the price of the haul.
However, if your vehicle is the only one being transported to a certain state or area, this is considered a single-purpose run, which can raise the price of the haul. Some states may also have higher car shipping costs due to their location or business routes, such as New Mexico, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Indiana, Arizona, California, San Diego, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, Kansas, Vermont, New York, Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland, and Arkansas. If you need to ship your car to Canada, the cost will also be higher.
Understanding the Unique Needs Of Hot Road Transportation
- Carriers and brokers: It’s important to inquire whether the company you’re planning on moving your hot rod is a broker or a carrier. A broker sells shipping requests to carriers who do the actual hauling. Hot rod auto transport companies advise you to avoid brokers since they can offer your vehicle to low-quality shippers or even to multiple car transport services before reaching its final destination. Every time the vehicle loads in a different truck or goes to another carrier, the chances of damage and the time of arrival increase exponentially.
- Terminals vs. Door to Door: When selecting a shipping company for your hot rod's transportation, be careful not to fall into the trap of using terminals. Door-to-door transport is the safest option as your vehicle will be transported directly from its origin to its destination without any stops. However, if the shipping company uses terminals at specific locations where you drop your vehicle off to be picked up by a truck, there is a chance that it may not be in the same condition as it was before shipping. Additionally, there may be a risk of damage to your vehicle during loading and unloading. It is important to carefully evaluate the rates and conditions of the company's facilities to ensure the safety of your model. To ensure the safety of your hot rod, it is recommended to choose a reliable carrier that has indoor terminals, guarded units, and temperature control.
- Closed vs. Open Shipping: Some people prefer their hot rod auto transport to be covered for more protection, while others don't mind if it's done in an open trailer on the road or highway. The type of trailer used affects the transport cost.
- Liability insurance and cargo insurance: Your automobile is considered cargo, so make sure you use a hot rod auto transport company that has cargo insurance coverage. If the shipping company had liability insurance only, it may not be covered completely in the case of an accident.
- Deductibles and limits to insurance: You may want to find out how much the shipping service insurance actually covers in case of an accident. Also, inquire if you’re supposed to pay a part of the deductible, and if that is the case, how much?
- Value upon Appraisal: Ask a reputable appraiser to check out your vehicle, so you’ll have proof in case of a problem. Unfortunately, if your car costs $100,000 upon purchase but it appraises for only $50,000, it will be insured for only that amount.
- Time of delivery: Sometimes, the driver will not be able to give you an exact drop-off time until the last 24 hours of your vehicle’s delivery. Your shipper will often give you a 2-3 day window for your hot rod auto transport, but the exact time and date cannot be given in advance.
- Location of delivery: Carriers can sometimes be 100 feet long, so choose your drop-off location carefully. Avoid twisty roads with 2 lanes, since they lack the required space. Occupied parking lots and freeway shoulders are also undesirable. They’re large enough but are dangerous, and the shipping process is slowed down due to crowds gathering to see the classic cars unload.
- Honesty: Be upfront regarding your hot rod auto transport. Shipping companies can accommodate special circumstances and extras if you’ve notified them in advance. However, they may reject your vehicle if it arrives with extra wheels or other unplanned surprises.
- Extras when hauling: If you have a Porsche or other such small vehicle, you won’t have to pay for extra wheels or other similar items. However, if you’re shipping an SUV, the weight and size of the car may prevent a full load from being hauled, causing the price to rise accordingly.
- Car inventory: You can save money when shipping extras by placing them inside the automobile. However, before filling the interior completely, make sure the driver is able to load and unload your vehicle without impediment. Also, make sure to make an inventory of all extra items in case something goes missing during transportation.
- Working vs. defective vehicles: If your vehicle cannot be driven, inform the carrier in advance so that they may bring a rig with a winch. The winching fee is about $100.
- Tracking: If you have any questions about your shipment, our team is here to help you every step of the way. We understand that shipping your car can be stressful, which is why our professionals provide thousands of customers with reliable information and tracking updates about their trucks, ensuring that everything is taken care of.
- Things to avoid: The majority of hot rod auto shipping companies cannot carry barrels of oil, fuel or race fuel. To transport these along with your car, you need special permission, and it’s usually better left to other transportation options
Relevant Statistics
- On average, hot rod auto transport companies handle over 5,000 vehicle shipments per year.
- Approximately 80% of hot rod enthusiasts rely on professional auto transport services to safely deliver their vehicles to car shows and events.
- The average distance traveled by a hot rod during transport is around 1,500 miles.
- Hot rod auto transport providers maintain a 99.9% success rate in delivering vehicles without any damage.
- More than 90% of hot rod owners choose enclosed trailers for transporting their prized vehicles due to the added protection from weather and road debris.
General Facts
- Hot rod auto transport refers to the transportation of customized, high-performance vehicles.
- These vehicles are typically modified to enhance speed and aesthetics.
- Specialized carriers are often used to transport hot rod cars securely.
- Hot rod auto transport services may include options for enclosed trailers to protect the vehicles from damage.
- It is important to choose a reputable transport company experienced in handling hot rod cars to ensure their safe delivery.