First Time Car Shipping

First Time Car Shipping Tips

If you’re about to ship your car for the first time, you may have some questions about what to expect. Here’s what you need to know about our car shipping services.

open car transport

What is Car Shipping?

Car shipping is the process of transporting cars from one location to another by professional car transport companies. When you ship your car with us, you’re entrusting us to handle the logistics of getting it from point A to point B.

This involves picking up the car from your destination or our shipping terminal, loading it onto the shipping truck, and transporting it to your desired destination.

Why Do People Use Car Shipping Services?

Many people choose to use our car shipping services for a variety of reasons, including relocating to a new city, selling or buying a vehicle online, or transporting their vehicles for races and other events.

But aside from that, our customers use our car shipping services when they need a reliable and trustworthy car transport company to transport their car safely from its current location to its final destination.

What's Involved in Shipping a Car?​

Shipping your car from point A to point B has never been easier than it is today. However, when shipping your car, you’ll typically need to provide us with some basic information about your vehicle, including the make, model, year, and condition. This information helps us determine which route and logistics will be best for your car.

In addition, you may need to prepare your car for transport by removing any loose items from the interior and exterior of the vehicle. This helps protect it from damage during transit and ensures that nothing gets lost or damaged as the car is transported.

As for the shipping process itself, the entire process can be divided into the following stages:

Pickup

We will work with you to schedule a pickup date and location. Depending on your preference and schedule, you can bring the car to the designated drop point or have the car picked up from your location.

Inspection

Once your car has been picked up, we will inspect your vehicle to verify that the make, model, and condition of your car match the information you provided earlier. After the inspection process has been concluded, we will prepare the logistics for your vehicle before scheduling it for transportation with one of our carriers.

Red Truck on Interstate Highway

Transportation

Depending on your shipping method, your car will be loaded onto an open or enclosed carrier to transport it to your destination.

Delivery

Once your car reaches its destination, we will notify you of its arrival, and you can arrange to pick up your vehicle from our shipping terminal or have it delivered to your doorstep.

car pick up

How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car?

The delivery time for shipping your car to its destination is considerably short. However, this time can be affected by various factors, which may lengthen or shorten the time. Some of these factors include:

Road Closures

Closures due to construction, wrecks, or weather can affect the delivery time of your vehicle. While we understand these setbacks are frustrating, our drivers work hard to ensure that they avoid any delays and safely transport your car to its destination as quickly as possible.

Car Carriers

Transport Type

The mode of transportation you choose can directly impact how soon you receive your vehicle. Open transport might take longer because it takes longer to fill the slots in the carrier truck. At the same time, enclosed auto shipping can be quicker because there are fewer spaces that need filling on the truck. Expedited transport, however, is typically the fastest option as it is given priority and urgency.

Weather

Bad weather can affect how long it takes to ship a car, depending on the time of year and location. Poor weather conditions such as snow, rain, or high winds can delay transportation as drivers are often unable to operate in these conditions. However, we work hard to ensure that we meet our scheduled delivery times for all our customers.

Weather

Distance

The distance between the origin and destination of your car can also impact how long it takes to ship your vehicle. Typically, longer distances mean that more time is needed to travel between these two locations, so it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing a shipping method.

Traffic Congestion

If there are major traffic delays along the route from your pickup to the delivery location, this can also affect the delivery time of your vehicle. Our experienced drivers and carriers do their best to avoid traffic during transit, but unfortunately, it is sometimes unavoidable. Regardless, we will ensure that you receive your car as soon as possible.

Logistics

Your car has to be inspected before it can be loaded for shipping. This process is essential to ensuring your vehicle arrives safely and on time. However, it can cause delays if the car has not been properly prepared.

Overall, shipping your car depends on various factors, including the shipping method, route chosen, and weather. However, you can be sure that our team is committed to providing safe and reliable transportation for your vehicle.

Factors to Consider When Looking for a Car Shipping Company

Service

Your car is your prized possession; as such, you want incredible customer service while knowing your car will be in great hands. Do sufficient research to guarantee this by reading reviews from the company’s past clients.

At Ghost Pepper Logistics, we offer various shipping services and transportation options for our clients. We understand that each client has unique needs regarding vehicle transportation, which is why we strive to provide personalized service and adaptable solutions.

Whether you need your car transported across town or across the country, we have the experience and expertise to get the job done quickly and effectively.

Reliability

Another essential factor to consider when looking for a car shipping company is reliability. You want to know that your car will arrive at its destination on time and in the same condition as when it left. Car transport companies should be able to provide you with a delivery date estimate and track the progress of your vehicle throughout its journey.

That’s precisely what we do here. At Ghost Pepper Logistics, we are committed to providing excellent customer service and reliable deliveries so our clients can get their vehicles as quickly as possible. Our team works hard daily to ensure your car is transported safely and arrives on schedule.

Price

Finally, you need to consider how much you’re willing to pay for car shipping services. Prices tend to vary depending on factors such as distance, type of car, and shipping method. However, we try our best to provide you with competitive rates without sacrificing the quality of our service. Call us today to get a quote from one of our agents.

What Car Shipping Services Do We Offer

We offer various shipping options for you to select from when you ship your car with us. These options include:

Our open car transport services are the perfect choice for individuals looking for an affordable shipping solution. This method involves shipping your vehicle in an open carrier truck that allows other vehicles to be transported alongside yours. Although this method is not as secure as enclosed auto transport, it is an excellent option if you’re working on a budget and don’t mind sharing space with other cars during transit.

Open car shipping carrier transporting cars
Enclosed Car Shipping

Unlike open auto shipping, enclosed auto transportation provides a more protected and secure way to ship your car. In this method, your vehicle is shipped in an enclosed carrier that shields it from dust, sun, weather damage, and prying eyes. This makes enclosed auto transport ideal for luxury cars or collector’s items such as classic vehicles. And even though this option costs more than open auto shipping, you can be sure that your investment will arrive at its destination in the same condition it was left in.

Do you need your car delivered as quickly as possible? If so, our expedited transport option may be your best choice. This service is designed to provide fast and reliable delivery of your vehicle from one location to another, regardless of the distance or type of car. So whether you’re an individual who needs your sports car transported quickly or a car dealership looking to move your inventory, our expedited transport services are the perfect solution.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Your Car?

We consider various factors before giving you a shipping quote for your car. These factors include things like:

Distance between pickup and delivery locations: The distance between the pickup and delivery locations also affects how much it costs to ship your vehicle. Generally, the longer the distance between these two locations, the higher the total shipping cost.

Operating condition of your car: The overall condition of your car affects how much it costs to ship. For instance, if your vehicle is inoperable, we will need to use a special service to pick up and deliver your car, which can increase the total shipping cost.

Make and model of your car: Another important factor that affects the cost of shipping your car is its make and model. Some vehicle types are larger than others, so they may require a special transport method that costs more.

Transport type: The type of transport you choose for your car also affects how much it costs to ship. Open transport carriers are usually cheaper than enclosed ones, while expedited and door-to-door shipping can have higher costs.

Although shipping prices can vary depending on these factors, we try our best to provide you with cost-effective services that fit your budget. You can call us to get a quote about the actual cost of shipping your car, and one of our agents will work with you to get all the details needed to determine a quote.

How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping

There are several things you can do to prepare your car for shipping and ensure a smooth transport process. Some of these steps include:

1. Clean the exterior of your vehicle thoroughly: Before your car is loaded onto the carrier, it needs to be properly cleaned. You should remove any dirt or debris from the paint and other surfaces, and also clean the windows or headlights. This will help protect your car from scratches during transport and also make it easier to inspect for damage before loading.

2. Remove all personal items from the vehicle: When shipping your car, it’s important to remove any valuables that are inside, such as electronics and other personal items. Not only will this help protect your belongings during transport, but it can also ensure that the carrier does not charge you for additional weight or space.

3. Perform routine maintenance on your car: Ensure your vehicle operates well before shipping by performing any necessary maintenance tasks. This may include changing the oil, checking the brakes and tire pressure, and leaving about a quarter tank of gas in the car.

4. Disable the alarm: Disable any alarm systems in the car before scheduling it for pickup.

Work with a Reliable Car Shipping Company Today

At Ghost Pepper Logistics, we pride ourselves on providing reliable and affordable car shipping services to clients across the country. Whether you need your car transported across town or across the country, our team of experienced logistics experts can help ensure that your vehicle arrives on time and in the same condition as when it left. So why wait? Contact us today to learn more about our shipping options and get a free quote!

Client Testimonials

See What Clients Are Saying About Us

Great experience with open communication at all times. Transported a frame off restoration 1972 Chevelle for great price in a fully enclosed trailer. Would highly recommend!

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Jeremy J.

I used Ghost Pepper Logistics to get my new toy delivered to me. Great customer service, on-time delivery, and competitive price. What else can one ask for?

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Bulat H.