How to Receive Discount Car Shipping Rates

Receiving Discount Car Shipping Rates

The auto shipping industry is as competitive as ever. Discount car shipping rates are not impossible to find anymore if you know how to look.

In fact, they are rather quite easy to obtain when you know how and when to hunt for them.

Here’s an industry secret for you

There are a lot of details that are set in stone by the company. There will be nothing that you can do to change them. Things like customs fee’s and weight-based pricing are fixed.

So, how do I find discount car shipping rates?

You have to be strategic about when you choose to ship a car.

Some rates are flexible based on several factors.

• Is it peak shipping season?
• Are fuel prices low?
• How far are you shipping your vehicle?
• Are you shipping multiple vehicles?

There are always discount car shipping rates to be had, you just have to know how to look for them.

Wait for a Business Promotional Deal

At various times throughout the year, a car shipping company may host a promotional deal. This may be a holiday deal, a deal designed to fill up vacant space on a shipment, or for other reasons.

A car shipping company may host a promotional deal based on the prices of nearby competitors as well. You can save yourself a lot of money by calling a company’s competitors and comparing the prices.

The thing is, the auto shipping industry is super competitive and each of these companies want your business. They aren’t willing to lose it over a few dollars and they will usually go out of their way to make the deal happen.

Use this to your advantage!

There is no reason to pay more for a high-quality service that you can get for less.

Here at A-1 Auto Transport, we make it easy for you by offering you the best prices and services you’ll find.

We want you to shop around because we know you won’t find a better deal without sacrificing quality.

Shop Around for Rates

Even if a car shipping company does not have a promotional deal planned, you may be able to snag a deal by simply shopping around for rates.

All you have to do is call up various companies and say the following:

“Company X offered me this deal. Can you match it?”

Just because a car shipping company would like to offer you a discount car shipping rate does not mean that they can. There is a minimum sales figure which every company must meet in order to support themselves financially.

If, for instance, you want to ship your vehicle overnight from California to New York for $900 USD but the company cannot take the job for less than $1200 USD, they may have to say no.

Competition is tight in the shipping industry and this causes most prices to be fairly similar among the major players.

Sometimes, smaller car shipping companies may provide better rates, while sometimes larger ones do. Shop around and see what offers you get!

A quick phone call asking about discount car shipping rates could save you hundreds of dollars.

Ship Multiple Vehicles

Shipping multiple vehicles is often more cost-effective than shipping one vehicle at a time.

While you are shipping two vehicles instead of one, many of the costs (although slightly larger) will be less than the cost of making two separate trips. Costs like freight, insurance, gas, and more, are calculated and paid per shipment.

Save on these costs and ship multiple vehicles at the same time.

The process is no more complicated either. The process is easy so long as you have the necessary documentation, are sending your cars to a country that is legal to trade with, and follow all the rules and regulations outlined by U.S. Customs.

You’ll definitely want to look into an auto transport company with international shipping expertise if you are looking to ship your vehicles internationally.

The process is heavily regulated by the government and simple mistakes can turn into very costly ones.

Choose a Cheaper Shipping Option

When it comes to shipping vehicles, you have many options. If you are shipping a vehicle domestically, you have the option of open air transport or enclosed transport.

With open air transport, your vehicle is shipped on a low loader trailer. With enclosed transport, your vehicle is shipped in a container on a low loader trailer.

The open-air transport option is generally cheaper and recommended for most individuals.

If you are shipping a vehicle internationally, you have the option of “roll-on, roll-off” shipping, shared container shipping, or exclusive container shipping.

If your vehicle is operational, “roll-on, roll-off” shipping is your best, and cheapest option. If your vehicle is non-operational, you will need to use container shipping (shared containers are cheaper to use).

The more cost-effective your car shipment is, the more likely you will be to receive a discount. There is less work involved for the car shipment company, which means you are saving them time that the car shipping company can use to ship more cars.

Non-operational vehicles tend to cost more to ship because they often need to be loaded using heavy machinery. This extra step can add more to your cost. You will also have to spend a little extra to make sure the vehicle is secure and that no loose parts can come off and cause damage to other vehicles.

Contact a Local Company

Local companies may be more willing to offer a discount, based on your mutual communal relationships. In neighborhoods or small towns and cities where geographic proximity is a form of identity (like NYC), shipping companies may be more willing to help you out if you are part of the community.

Although this may be an option, the laws of economics still apply. While a local shipping company may be able to offer you a discount, they may only be able to offer a small reduction in your rates. After all, business is business and they need to be able to operate as one, which they can only do as long as they are profitable.

Seek Out Companies with Competition

Use a mapping tool like Google Maps to find the locations of car shipping companies near you. Find some car shipping companies that are close in proximity to each other. These companies will be more likely to compete for customers, and therefore may be more willing to offer you a discount car shipping rate.

Like in the previous tip, shop around for rates. Ten minutes on the phone may save you $100 or more on a car shipment.

Car Shipping Companies Need Time to Ship Your Vehicle

The quicker service you require, the more difficult, and costly, it is for a company to assist you. If you want to find a great discounted rate, start your search months in advance (or as early as possible). If you call up a car shipping company and tell them you need a car shipped within 2-3 days, they may not be able to help you.

If you tell them you need a car shipped 1-2 months in the future, they will be able to slot you into their schedule and will be in a better position to offer you a good rate.

What All Discount Car Shipping Rates Have in Common

There are several factors which all these discount hunting strategies have in common.

• First, the car shipping company wants your business.
• Second, you are willing to provide them with business.
• Third, they are able to offer a discount, even if the discount is not as large as you would have hoped.

If any of these factors are missing, you may not be able to make a deal and get a favorable rate. However, keep hunting, keep trying, and eventually, you will get a good deal.

Skip the hassle, call A-1 Auto Transport

Look, we aren’t looking to waste your time. We work hard to provide the best rates in the industry because we know you work hard for your money.

We want to help you save money on your shipping budget.

And get this

You don’t have to worry about overpromising. Whatever we tell you, we do. Our goal is to get your vehicle from point A to point B, on-time, and in the condition you gave it to us in.

Enough is enough, let’s do this right. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can save you money and get your vehicle on the way.