I'm looking for any recommendations on having your car shipped cross-country, certainly any cost-savings tips that you've got and any other tips that I don't even know to ask for.

It's my understanding that shipping costs vary SIGNIFICANTLY depending upon the time of the year- BUT what time of year is the cheapest?



I'm also looking for recommendations on winter storage for a C3. Unfortunately there's no way I'm going to be able to keep it in my garage and what few covered storage options I've been able to find are, in my opinion, exorbitantly expensive. I'm only looking to store it November-April and I'll keep it at my house during the summer months parked outside but with an all-weather outdoor cover on it.


If anyone can think of any creative options, please let me know.


Adam

 

Hopefully I'll be needing to ship this fall myself and am in same predicament. As far as storage goes, try looking further away than your immediate area, you might find some cost savings there.

 

Hi Adam,
I have no first hand shipping experience.
But, one of the things I've learned from reading the many threads folks have posted about their experiences is that there's a vast difference in dealing with a shipper like Intercity or Horseless Carriage and the shippers that are actually just 'brokers'.
I believe with the 'broker' you make your deal with them and then THEY look for small independent car carriers to make a deal with. Of course the attraction is that it appears it will be less expensive than using one of the large national shippers. But I believe you really don't know who, what, or when, a carrier will appear at your door.
So check into that.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

I forgot about this, last year I was moving a car from Houston to Austin and called one of these guys, big mistake, my phone rang off the hook for a few days and it took ~2 weeks for the calls to subside. I ended up hiring a flatbed tow truck that was just getting going so he gave me a pretty good deal - it was a nice days work for him and not much more than one of those carriers. If I recall correctly, the carriers wanted the car to be running so they could drive it up.

 

As Allen points out I used Uship which is a broker.

I find winter is the most expensive depending on weather in the areas. Then the Holidays get really pricey because less drivers are transporting.

As for storage. Shelve Storage inside a locked cell. Leaving it outside causes leaks and rust.

 

Plycar is a great option. They transported my car, know what they are doing, reasonably priced and the hauling themselves with their own trucks. (310) 345-9260

 

I agree with sunglassesguy. I googled car shipping and was swamped with car carriers for about a month all saying "We have a truck in your area" Beware.

 

I was also happy with Plycar's service.

As Alan mentions I'd go with a company that owns its own trucks rather than through a broker, unless cost is the main consideration.

 

It is a bit cliche, but there really isn't a specific time that's cheaper. It's more of a combination of time of year plus direction traveling. For instance, if you're shipping from Palm Springs to Chicago in December, you may get a cheaper rate so the driver doesn't have to dead head back. Hope that helps some!

 

The most expensive times of year are spring and fall-people spending the cold months in warmer climates ship their cars back and forth. If it's a show car you'll obviously want an enclosed carrier for the entire trip (the car may be on several trucks during the shipment), but if it's a driver type almost any carrier will do an adequate job. Think about all the trucks hauling cars (with license plates) that you see on the interstates. Just make sure the carrier has insurance that is adequate.
And if it's a trip of only a day's duration, consider using a UHAUL rental yourself.

 

I already signed up for quotes so this is EXACTLY where I've been for over a week now.

I've been inundated with email, text message and telephone call "Spam" the whole industry seems pretty scummy. About 2/3rds of the places that have followed up didn't even provide the promised quotes, which was the reason for me agreeing to give my personal information in the first place.

They of course say they have a car in my area and that it's almost full and to call them, or that they need my ship date or some other piece of info that they can of course only get if they can actually talk to me on the phone. -I've already provided the range of when I want this shipped and from where and to where; all I need is a quote.

This is a commodity that they don't want to price like a commodity and have to resort to sketchy, misleading, high-pressure tactics. It's sad.


My list of possible shippers was immediately culled to just those companies who actually provided a quote. It will be further culled by anyone who tries to add on other misleading hidden fees, etc... and I'll ultimately pick the cheapest, everything included shipper.


Might reach out to the list of companies who actually sent quotes and let them know that I'm flexible on time / date (by +/- 2 MONTHS) and that I'm looking for the best no-frills, but properly insured price and see if I can't find a slightly better deal.

I agree with everyone else; don't give them your real phone # and prepare to be email spammed like there's no tomorrow.



Adam

 

At least no one tried to recruit me for their pyramid scheme in all this, but beyond that the most scummy and off-putting industry I've dealt with in a while.


Adam

 

I discovered lots of brokers, few that owned their own truck and were turn key. My my experience is to be flexible on timing. The pros have trucks traveling coast to coast virtually every week and are swamped when the big high profile car auctions are on the horizon and when moving snow birds north and south.

I have no affiliation with PlyCar, but I like to support and promote folks that work hard, do what they say, have reasonable pricing and take care of my stuff as if it was their own. They picked and delivered my car up within the window they promised and gave me a link to track their truck live on an app.