First up, you need to know the difference between the vehicle carriers and brokers. They both have a part in the vehicle shipping process. If you work directly with a carrier, you are partnering with a company that owns their transport trucks. They do not depend on anyone else to transport the vehicles. If you are working with a broker, you will need to be versatile as the broker depends on carriers to ship their orders.

When you decide to ship your vehicle for the first time, the process can seem a little confusing and even daunting in some cases. Most companies understand this and will try to help you along the way. Here at CheapCarShipper, we want to be as transparent as possible so that you know how the process works, so when you begin the process, there are no surprises. 

Next, we want to help you fully understand what the “pick-up window” actually entails. When shipping your vehicle, the “pick-up window” refers to when the vehicle will be available for shipping. For example, if you pick October 23rd as your first available pick-up date, we then look for a transport truck that is available to pick up your vehicle by that date. Please note, it may take a couple of days to find a carrier to take your vehicle where it needs to go. That period of time is called the “pick-up window.”

Another item that you may not be aware of, is that location plays an integral role in the transportation of your vehicle. When transporting to a big city, you’re going to have an easier time finding carriers versus transporting to a smaller rural town. It’s better to prepare early to avoid any issues, delays, or confusion. 

Scheduling exact dates and times isn’t always a guarantee when transporting your vehicle. Things to take into consideration are weather, traffic and other transport loads. These items can significantly impact your shipment. Unless you are shipping in an enclosed trailer, (see Open Transport vs. Enclosed Transport), your vehicle will be shipped on a trailer with other vehicles, and those cars will need to be picked up and dropped off as well, traffic and loading issues can delay your shipment.

To experience a stress-free shipment, try to always remain flexible. This doesn’t mean you should be prepared to wait 2+ weeks for your vehicle to be shipped but, you should be flexible when it comes to the shipment of your vehicle. Contacting the shipment company as early as you can to get on their schedule is the best option. Give yourself and the company enough time to be prepared. 

Click here to get your fast and free quote from Cheapcarshipper today!