Frequently Asked Questions
Do Gas Prices Affect Vehicle Transit Charges?
Yes, our partner motor shipment carriers must account for all variables that go into transporting your vehicle. The cost of their fuel is one such factor. Fortunately, gas prices generally fluctuate gradually and do not often cause sudden surges in car shipping prices
However, an unexpected fuel shortage caused by a natural disaster is one possible exception. Such an occurrence could rapidly drive up the car shipping cost.
Are There Discount Opportunities For Shifting?
Yes, there are plenty of discount opportunities when you're arranging shipping services through A-1 Auto Transport. Our car shipping company offers discounts to a variety of customers, including:
- Seniors
- Veterans
- Students
- Government employees
- Healthcare Workers
- Dealers
If you want to find out whether you are eligible for a discount, call our sales team for car shipping quotes. We will strive to find you the best deal on car transport services. However, it is essential to note that not all discounts are available year-round.
What Factors Impact Domestic Relocating Prices?
When a car shipping company calculates the average cost of your car transport services, the team must assess a variety of factors, including:
Distance
The total distance traveled is the most significant determining factor when a car hauling company sets your auto shipping costs. Our partner sets hauling quotes by the mile. The more miles traveled, the higher the average cost of motor Conveyance.
However, many of our carriers also offer price breaks as total mileage increases. These discounts are usually divided into 500-mile increments. For each additional 500 miles that your car is being shipped, the total per-mile rate will decrease.
Season
The summer is when demand for auto shipping services is highest, which drives up prices.
At the same time, many clients prefer arranging vehicle moving services in the summer, due to the great weather. Winter shipments are at a higher risk of being delayed by natural disasters and severe weather.
Weight of Vehicle
The overall weight of your vehicle will also influence total car shipping costs. Our carriers must adhere to the gross vehicle weight requirements set by the Department of Conveyance. Currently, the GVW limit is set at 80,000 lbs.
If you intend to ship heavier vehicles, the enclosed auto transport carrier cannot hold as many cars as usual. To offset this open transport limitation, the car carrier will often charge higher vehicle shipping rates for hauling your vehicle.
Shipping Method
The open transport method used will also significantly affect the average cost of shipping your car. The two primary open transport methods available are open and enclosed transport.
When they are hauling cars via the open transport method, carriers can usually accommodate seven to nine vehicles. This allows them to charge relatively low vehicle shipping rates.
However, enclosed trailers can only fit about three to five cars, so the car carrier must charge more for each vehicle to make a profit.
Delivery Method
When you're arranging your vehicle transport services, you will get to choose between terminal-to-terminal and door-to-door delivery. Terminal-to-terminal vehicle shipment is cheaper, but door-to-door is more convenient.
Make sure to weigh the benefits of each open transport option so that you can get the perfect delivery solution to meet your needs.
Routes
If you want your car shipped from one major city to another, the auto Conveyance trailer will take a very direct route. They will be able to use interstate travel for much of the journey. However, shipping cars to pickup and delivery locations within rural areas will require them to take a less direct route, driving up car shipping costs.

How Does The Weight Of My Cargo Influence Pricing?
The weight of your car impacts the total number of vehicles the car transporter can accommodate. The average tractor and trailer combination weighs approximately 35,000 lbs. Since the DOT limits a carrier's total GVW to 80,000 lbs, they can haul up to 45,000 lbs of cargo.
Due to these limitations, low-vehicle ground clearance auto transporters typically charge more to haul heavier cars. For example, let's say that your vehicle weighs 7,000 lbs. This is about twice as heavy as the average passenger car. To offset this, you will be charged higher auto transport rates.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Move My Vehicle?
If your goal is to ship a car at the cheapest auto transport cost, then we recommend hauling transport companies offering terminal-to-terminal open-air motor Conveyance. Terminal-to-terminal auto shipping involves dropping your car off at the nearest loading facility. It is the cheapest way compared to the door-to-door delivery option.
Opting for open car transport also saves you money because our vehicle shipping auto transporters can haul more vehicles using this method. The more cars they can move in a single trip, the lower the average shipping cost for each vehicle owner.

Why Is Enclosed Transit More Costly?
Due to their design and weight, enclosed transport trailers cannot hold as many vehicles as an open-air car hauler. The average enclosed transport trailer can only hold about three to five cars, about half as many vehicles as an open-air hauler. Since the carrier cannot accommodate as many vehicles, they must charge more per car to remain profitable.
Do Oversized Vehicles Charges More To Dispatch?
Yes, oversized vehicles are more expensive to ship. A car with large exterior dimensions consumes more space on the carrier's trailer, limiting its ability to pick up additional vehicles. They charge a higher rate to offset this car transport cost.
What Are Some Ways That I Can Save Money On Four-Wheeler Shifting?
Booking professional auto shipping services through A-1 Auto Transport is far more affordable than you might expect. We offer a wide array of transport cost savings opportunities, including:
Discounts
The best way to cut car transport costs when scheduling your auto shipping services is to take advantage of our various discount opportunities. We offer discounts to seniors, students, and dealers. There are also seasonal discounts available so that anyone can get a great deal on our expert open transport services.
Book in Advance
At A-1 Auto Transport, we work with a vast network of professional car shipment carriers. By doing so, we can accommodate virtually any open transport request, including last-minute auto transports. However, rush delivery requests are a bit more expensive than standard vehicle shipment options.
If you ship a motor while maximizing your savings, we suggest booking our open-vehicle transport services in advance. For domestic car shipping, you should schedule your service two to three weeks ahead of time and then get assigned a professional truck driver.
International car shipping is more complex, so we recommend scheduling your services three to four weeks before your desired pick-up date.
Choose Open Trailer Shipping
While this method does not offset your carrying liability insurance, enclosed shipping is a great way to protect your car. According to car shipping reviews, however, it is a more costly solution in the car shipping industry.
If you want to save even more money on A-1 Auto Transport's services, make sure to opt for open-air shipping. This is an efficient and affordable car shipping solution that is great for most vehicles.

Why Is Door-To-Door Vehicle Moving Costlier?
Door-to-door car shipping is the most convenient car transportation solution available. Our partner carrier will respond directly to your residence and load your car onto their trailer. They will haul it across the country to your new home. When they arrive, the carrier will unload your car and turn it over to you.
Door-to-door car shipping places extra responsibilities on the carrier. Instead of dropping your car off at a centralized terminal, they must respond directly to your home address. As a result, it takes additional time and resources to complete the delivery, which drives up overall transport costs.

How Accurate Are We Quotes?
A-1 Auto Transport's car transport quotes are very accurate. However, it is essential to keep in mind that these car shipping estimates are based on the provided information. If you submit incorrect information, then the car shipping quote may not be accurate.
When you're requesting accurate car shipping quotes, the more information you can provide, the better. Our car shipping quote generation software only requires you to enter the city or zip code of the pick-up and delivery destinations.
If you can provide us with the specific addresses when obtaining your car shipping quote, we can provide more accurate estimates.
How Long Is My Vehicle Transit Quote Valid For?
A-1 Auto Transport can honor your free car transport quote until the end of the business day. If you want to ship a car and do not reserve your open transport services before the close of business, we will not guarantee that rate.
However, we will gladly provide you with a new car transport quote for the following business day. We cannot guarantee auto transport quotes for more extended periods because the factors that impact car shipping costs can change daily.
How Expensive Is International Four-Wheeler Dispatching?
Unlike cross-country car shipping, calculating the final cost of international shipping is more complicated than estimating rates for domestic auto transport services. However, many of the same criteria come into play. To estimate the cost of international car shipping services, A-1 Auto Transport will need to consider:
Distance
The further your luxury vehicle is being shipped; the more expensive the service will be. This rule applies to both domestic and international classic motor shipping.
Final Destination
Every nation charges unique import taxes and fees when you ship a vehicle to their ports. You must be aware of these fees before arranging your auto transport services. If you would like to know more, contact the A-1 Auto Transport sales team.
Car Shipment Method
Ocean freight is the most affordable option for transporting your car overseas. However, you can still choose between RoRo and container shipping.
If you choose the RoRo method, your motor will be driven onto the ship's deck and strapped down. Container shipping is more expensive but protects your vehicle from the elements and dangerous ocean water.
Season
Like domestic shipping rates, international costs fluctuate by season. Winter is the cheapest time of year to ship your car internationally, while summer is the most expensive.