If you’re wondering how long it takes to ship a car, then you’re in the right place. Read on to find out more about what affects car shipping time so you know what to expect and can have peace of mind.
How Long Does it Take to Ship Your Car?
Pickup Time
First, you need to determine how long the pickup time will take. And this will depend on the type of shipping you’ve chosen.
In general, standard shipping takes a few business days for the trucker to come get your car. With economy shipping, it can take as much as 7 business days for them to do so.
On the other hand, if you’re in a rush, you can always opt for expedited shipping. Truckers can come the next day or even on the same day to pick up your vehicle.
How Far the Journey Is
Another thing that plays a role in how long vehicle shipping will take is how far the journey is. Obviously, the bigger the distance, the longer you’ll have to wait.
Here’s a rough estimate on how long you’ll have to wait for your vehicle to arrive:
- 200 miles or under: 1 to 2 days
- 200 to 600 miles: 2 to 4 days
- 600 to 1,000 miles: 3 to 5 days
- 1,000 to 1,500 miles: 4 to 6 days
- 1,500 to 2,000 miles: 5 to 7 days
- 2,000 to 2,400 miles: 6 to 8 days
- 2,400 miles or over: 7 to 9 days
The Season You’re Shipping In
Not only does distance play a role in shipping times, but also the season.
Winter’s one of the worst times to ship your car, in terms of speed. There are few daylight hours, so truckers can drive for as long. Also, there are more dangerous conditions, such as rain, sleet, or slow, which means they’ll have to drive slower as well.
So the time it takes for you to get your vehicle from point A to point B will vary drastically between winter and say, spring or summer.
Road Conditions
Weather isn’t the only thing that can impact shipping times while the trucker’s on the road. Unfortunately, there’s almost always some type of roadwork in the nation, so there’s a chance they might hit some major construction.
If your driver needs to take a route that has construction going on, then the detours they need to take will add to your shipping time.
Even if there aren’t detours, the roadworks might shut down some lanes. As a result, your driver might be stuck in traffic that normally wouldn’t be there.
The Route the Driver’s Taking
If the driver’s only going to major metropolitan areas, then it should be relatively simple for them to pick up and drop off cars along the way. This means the journey should be smooth and quick.
However, if there are vehicles in rural areas, it’ll take more time to reach those areas.
Along these lines, the number of vehicles the trucker’s picking up will play a role in how fast you get your car. If they only have a few to pick up in major cities, then you won’t have to wait long. But if they have a full load and there are many rural cities to stop off at, expect it to take longer.
Your Car Itself
If you’ve got a pretty typical and normal car such as a sedan or hatchback, expect things to go pretty quickly. But if you’ve got an atypical vehicle such as a commercial cargo van, it might take longer to transport. You’ll have to wait for a specific trucker who has the right hauler and space for your vehicle in that case.
Inoperable cars will also need extra equipment so they can be moved on and off haulers. Your shipping time will depend on how lucky you are in finding a driver who has the right equipment. Otherwise, they’ll need to source it from elsewhere.
Ask the Shipper Directly
In the end, the auto shipper will have more accurate numbers for you. It’s good practice to not only ask for multiple car shipping quotes, but to also ask questions when shopping around.
One of your questions should be how long they estimate shipping will take, based on the parameters you’ve given them (such as your type of car, pickup and dropoff locations, etc.). To avoid disappointment, it’s recommended that you start researching and asking around as early as possible.
Pick reputable companies, even if it costs a bit more. That way, you can count on them to keep their word when it comes to car delivery estimates.
Know How Long It’ll Take to Ship a Car
If you need to ship a car, then you might be a little worried about how long your precious vehicle will take to be back in your possession again. But hopefully, this article’s eased your mind a little, especially since you now know what factors can affect how quickly you get your car.
Of course, you never know what’ll happen on the road. So it’s always a good idea to work with an auto transporter that allows you to communicate with the driver. This will allow you to be in the loop should anything unexpected happen to delay delivery.
