Does anyone know of a good carrier to transport a car from the south to chicago? Whats something like this cost?

 

Can't help with who, but I know about how much. My friend had his '80 shipped from CA to NJ for around $600.

 

It pays to shop around for quotes. I'm getting $800 from San Jose, CA to Milwaukee, WI from http://autotransportdirect.com/

Jeff

 

I used Passport Transport to move my Ruby from the Orlando area to southeast Houston in July of 04. I KNOW they ship nationwide. When looking for a transporter look carefully at their BBB and insurance claims record. Transport is fully enclosed, your car is covered inside and out and if you want...they deliver to your doorstep. Some companies deliver to a central location in your town but few literally deliver "door to door". They are not the cheapest but they are among if not THE best. My Ruby was definitely the least expensive car on the trailer. There were several new Jags, a classic Benz and even a Formula 1 car on my delivery. I want to say I payed about $900 but I would imagine there have been substantial fuel increases since then. Check them out! If you want first class...I'm sure you will be impressed. Good luck!

 

I've used these guys a few times now:

www.dasautoshippers.com

I don't recall ever having any problems with them, and prices were reasonable. I've also used a couple others but can't remember which ones off the top of my head. Just be careful, don't just pick based on price...that could come back to bite ya.

 

I used these guys:

America’s Choice Auto Movers
9 Middle Street
Fairchance, PA 15456
888-564-0164 toll free
724-564-0168 fax
http://www.shipacam.com/

They're actually brokers. It cost me $450 to ship my car from VA to Long Island. They picked it up at 8AM and it was at my house by 6:30PM the same day! They were the one of the cheapest services and very easy to deal with. I would definitely use them.

Whoever you chose, make sure they are bonded and insured.

 

Like Gary K mentioned, I'm using DAS right now to ship a vehicle from Nebraska to Baltimore. It's not a C4, but to give you some idea... it's going enclosed from terminal to terminal for $920. Door to door would have been $1500.

I think that sounds like a pretty good deal and so far I've been happy with them (attention and answers to my questions). I'm patiently waiting for the vehocle to arrive so i can check it out. (ETA is Monday).


A couple years ago I had a C4 shipped from AZ to Baltimore... (practically coast to coast) and it cost $700. But that was when fule prices were cheaper.

I thought about going to get the car in Nebraska myself. A friend has a truck and open car trailer and was willing to come with me. The trip was 1200 miles or so... I figured by the time I paid for his gas, a hotel room (would have been a two day trip - so once over and once back), meals, then given him a little something for the use of his vehicle and his trouble (which he would have tried to turn down, but I don't let friends do that much for me for free) I figured I'd be easily around $800 already. So I figured for an extra $120, I could comfortably stay at home, not bother my busy friend, and it would go enclosed and insured.... a no brainer.

 

I thought the same thing about mine, wasnt worth it to go down there to get it (plane fare, hotel, gas, etc.). Worked out better to have it shipped door to door.

 

Yep. I guess being in the business, they ship quite a few vehicles on the truck at the same time, so they can basically offer you a price that doesn't make it worth your tie to go get it yourself, but are able to make a good profit by doing multiple shipments at once.

And on that note... I said my car was being delivered Monday, but I got home and had a message on the machine... It's here. Arrived in Baltimore today and they are open between 10-1 tomorrow when I can pick up. Hope the wife didn't have any plans for me to do something tomorrow. If so, she's going to be disappointed.

 

AWESOME.....enjoy!

 

Dont use DAS, they shipped one for me earlier this year and it was delayed, arrived damaged, and took forever to get reimbursed.....Ron

 

Ya know what...I'm currently researching shippers for a car I just bought. I think I'd have to retract my recommendation on DAS. They have way too many complaints on file with the BBB now. I'm not sure what's going on, but I don't think I'd take my chances. It sounds like more people are having problems with them now, and they are a broker so they don't have full control over the shipping of the car.

I'm so paranoid with shippers in general at this point that I might just use Passport. Yeah, cost is almost $1200, but I think they're the safest bet. Of course, FedEx bought them so I'm not too sure about them now either. Has anybody used Passport recently?

Now I'm wishing I would have just driven the car back home (over 23hrs actual driving time).

 

I researched all of them after I got my quotes. The ones I couldn't find reviews for, I totally didnt research further. For those that had good reviews, I promptly checked to see if they were registered with the BBB.

I used these site to help me find transporters:
http://www.auto-transport-reviews.com/
http://www.haulingdepot.com/

 

make sure that they have insurance to cover any damages. ask to see the policy and have your ins. agent look at it and advise you. if they require you to turn it in to your insurance first and then have them subrogate , it's BS. they don't have insurance. they just never respond or pay and your insurance does and it goes back on you as a claim and your rates go up. otherwise try to get a one shot insurance policy. covered carriers are more expensive but are the way to go if you can afford it.
good luck!

 

Me Too....

Just kidding, I wouldn't have driven it that far either, too loud!

 

Sent you an email. I just booked Passport Transport. Now, hopefully they don't take too long to get this done. The transport is costing me about $500 more than I had planned on, but I'm hoping it pays off with a quick, safe trip for the car.

 

Thanks!!! This was great. I decide to go with Angels Auto transport. Picked it up the day I called it in and delivered it the next day. I went with an enclosed trailer I figure, if something happened, the difference in price is my deductible!. Safe than sorry plus it was raining. From Auburn ALabama to Northwest burbs of chicago, the price was 1,100. Maybe could have saved 150?? You get what you pay for in transportation.

 

Here's one for the books and it's interesting that this Thread has been posted. I am purchasing a C3 in Boston MA. I wanted to fly up and look at the car before I made up my mind, who wouldn't want to do a personal eyes on inspection before handing over a check for a car? My thought had been to fly up to Boston - with check in hand, get all the paper work from the seller and then drive the car back to Baltimore MD. There is absolutely no legal way to do it by either state. Maryland requires you have the title in hand before they issue a temporary registration and MASS doesn't even deal with temporary registrations at all! If I go the Maryland route - I would have to go up to MASS pay the seller, get the paperwork fly all the way back to Maryland, temporarily register the vehicle (state inspection required before title transfer, registration), fly back up to Boston and drive the car back. Then within 7 days get the vehicle inspected (around $50-60.00) then register the vehicle at 5% the value of the vehicle and title transfer ($50.00). MASS's solution was to register the vehicle in MASS then drive it down to Maryland and then register the vehicle here! LOL Instead of just a 5% registration fee to one state I would owe that to both states! Now I ask you how stupid can this be? So I figured I'd see how much it would cost to transport the car down here from MASS. Believe it or not the cost is exactly the 5% registration fee on the value of the vehicle - so no matter how you look at it, it SUCKS