Sam TII

So I've never shipped a car before, but I'm looking at doing it from San Antonio, TX to Provo, UT (internship is ending, wife doesn't want to drive two cars back, so we're going to fill one with stuff and ship it yada-yada).

Have any of you guys shipped a car before? Who'd you do it with? How was your experience?

Thanks!
Sam

fwMiata

damage and expensive.

trailer or just drive it.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Done it a bunch of times. Usually costs 800-1200 depending. I've had just as many bad experiences as good. Unless you absolutely can't drive it there yourselves, I'd suggest not shipping.

RedCarmel

iTrader: (7)

I've shipped cars across the county 3 different times, 800-1000 bucks each time. One of those times was with my miata. I was lucky and had no issues.

fmowry

iTrader: (8)

No issues shipping my current Miata from Cali to MD using DAS.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

my experience was bad. He came randomly one day about 2 weeks after I scheduled a pick up. Just some trucker who happened to be driving through Richmond and I guess the company just hired him out on a whim or something. cant remember any other details than that. It was very lame.

$700 from VA to WI.

shlammed

iTrader: (8)

i have as well. it was for delivery of my miata from japan.

idk the rules for your shipper but i wasnt allowed to have anything IN the car.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

My experience mirrors Adam's, being mostly positive.

I've shipped three cars, and have always just used an on-line auto transport broker. Most recently I used these guys: http://1-2go2.com/

Now, they way it works is that they post your car in whatever database transport companies and owner-operators use to find loads to haul, and then they bid on the shipment. You then select a carrier, and the broker makes the detailed arrangements.

Now, a word of reason- you are not dealing with FedEx here. By the very nature of the business, these guys are not driving scheduled routes, and so they simply cannot say "we will be there at 3:15 pm on Thursday". Well, they can, but if they do then they're lying and you should call someone else.

Generally you'll start out with a pickup estimate somewhere within a 1 week window, and they'll call you a couple of times to refine it as the date gets closer. Typically the actual pickup time won't be agreed upon until the actual day of pickup, so you need to be flexible about this.

The same goes for dropoff.


I've never had a car damaged in transport, despite the fact that I've always gone lower-deck on an open hauler. My '92 did arrive in CA with about an inch of water sloshing around on the floor after I shipped it from OH in January 2005, however that's hardly surprising given that the top really needed to be replaced.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

I wanna post something on that one site they use on "shipping wars" so I can get on TV.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

You're lucky, or maybe these guys you use are 'spensive therefore take responsibility for their work.

Last time I shipped (01 miata) they ripped off the front bumper. Literally ripped it off, then just kinda stuck it on as if nothing happened. I get my car, come up to the front end, and pull the bumper off with 1 finger. comes clean off.

I'm like "WTF"

They tell me with the most proffesional poker face: "It was like that when we got it, nothing on the car has been touched".

Sam TII

Wow. I've heard similar stories, but not from credible sources.. Yeah I'll be driving it then. The Impreza is too clean for that.

Thanks guys!

skidude

iTrader: (3)

I was thinking about shipping if/when I move to utah, since my gf and I will have three cars between the two of us, but it looks like I'll be better off finding somebody to drive it for me. I shouldn't have too much trouble with that, but it may cost a little extra between gas and their plane ticket home.

Scrappy Jack

iTrader: (2)

I'm having a car shipped in as I type. It was just picked up from a state on the opposite end of the (contiguous) US and should be here by next Friday. It's coming in on an enclosed 80' trailer and I have been in regular contact with the coordinating dispatch and the driver.

This is a firm recommended to me by a buddy who used them previously and so far, I am more than impressed and feel they are a good value. Note: I said "good value" not "cheap."

I'll post final thoughts and the company name once the vehicle arrives.