When Is the Best Time of Year to Ship Your Car?

When Is the Best Time of Year to Ship Your Car_

Shipping your car can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out the best time to schedule transport for your vehicle. You may not always be able to decide when to ship your car but it’s important to be aware that some times of the year are busier than others. There isn’t necessarily a best time, but other factors such as season, length of transit and type of transport will impact your pricing. 

In today’s post, we’ll cover some of the things you should consider when deciding on the best time to ship a car. 

Prepare to Spend More Money in the Spring & Summer

Shipping a car at the start of spring & in the summer can be a bit pricier. This is usually because people who moved south for the winter need their cars to be delivered back north for warmer spring and summer months, as well as families relocating during the summer before the start of a new school year. The higher demand during these months can lead to higher prices and delays in how long a car takes to arrive. 

The Winter Slowdown

In February, things start to slow down, and in fact, February is easily one of the slowest months for the auto shipping industry. This makes it one of the best times to ship a car! Based on this drop in demand, prices are often lower, too. One of the biggest benefits of shipping your vehicle during the winter months is that prices are usually much lower than they are during the summer (except during the holiday season). Auto-shipping isn’t as common in the winter, so carriers lower prices to encourage people to schedule auto transport. 

Although the car shipping industry is usually slow during the winter months, the opposite is true during the peak holiday season. The last ten days of the year are usually some of the busiest for car dealerships and in turn, come January 1st, carriers are typically booked solid for 3-4 weeks. 

Car dealerships frequently have end-of-year sales to clear inventory for new models and auto carriers are busy transporting cars to their new happy owners. So, if you’re planning to purchase or gift a car this holiday season, be prepared to schedule your winter car transport early so you can have it delivered on time. Keep in mind that you may also pay a higher price during these weeks because of the increase in demand. 

Winter weather conditions can be unpredictable. Snow, ice, and slippery roads are hazardous, making shipping a car preferable rather than driving it yourself. However, with those road conditions, keep in mind that delivery delays could occur.

When Should You Ship Your Car?

The short answer is: you should ship your car whenever it’s best for you. Here are some questions to consider when making your decision. 

  • Is saving money your top priority?
  • Is there a specific time when you need to have your car arrive? 
  • How far in advance will you need to book with a shipping company to make sure everything goes smoothly? 
  • Where are you shipping to, and does that influence pricing at different times of the year, like outlined above? 

These questions will help you figure out the best time to transport your vehicle. 

Plan ahead for high and low auto shipping seasons

Once you know that you need to transport a car, Metti International will help you every step of the way. No matter when you’re planning to ship your car, we provide the best service possible, especially as a licensed and bonded broker with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. 

Call Metti International today to schedule your auto transport at 866.620.1776 or request a quote online. We look forward to working with you! 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most major credit cards, postal money orders and cashiers checks are acceptable forms of payment.

As with most transport services, a deposit is generally required when placing an order. Deposits range from 10-25 % of the total shipping cost. The remaining balance will be due upon delivery.

Most auto transport companies accept cash, certified checks, and postal money orders.

Coast to coast trips usually takes between 10-14 days. Shorter trips ranges from 3-7 days, depending on the actual distance. Some factors may delay a trip, including traffic, weather, and truck breakdowns.

Yes, we request you, or a designated person, be present upon pick up of your vehicle. For your safety and your vehicle’s safety, an inspection is performed and a bill of lading must be signed that serves as proof of delivery.

The easiest way to ship an inoperable vehicle is to let us know when requesting a vehicle transport quote. There will be an additional charge, plus loading and unloading charges to your quote, if we are not informed of the vehicle’s condition prior to quoting.

Auto carriers are not licensed to carry house goods or personal items, these goods and items are not covered by the carriers insurance. Any damage to your vehicle due to household goods shifting or breaking is also not covered. Personal belongings left in the vehicle, are shipped strictly at the owners risk. Carriers will not inventory any belongings left in the vehicle and will assume no responsibility.

Your car is insured for the Blue Book value the entire time it is on the truck. Clearly listed on your Shipping Order, Agreement and Bill of Lading are occurrences not covered. At the time of pick up, a condition report is filled out and signed by both the person turning the car over and the truck driver and you are given a copy.

Upon delivery of your vehicle, this same report is presented. You should compare the condition of the vehicle to the report thoroughly at that time. If you feel damage has occurred to your vehicle during delivery, you must note it on the report before you sign it and the driver leaves. Damage done in transit does not relieve the shipper of paying for transport service performed. Claims will be handled by the vehicle carrier and insurance companies.

Metti International offers door-to-door auto transport service where possible. However, there are instances that we cannot collect/deliver directly to the door due to the size of our auto carrier’s trucks. The size of your street may prohibit direct delivery to your door. Also, some towns and cities do not allow trucks on their residential streets. If the carrier cannot get to your door, he will deliver your vehicle to the next most convenient accessible location, such as the nearest major crossing street, a shopping mall or supermarket.

Please have a no more than 1/4 tank of fuel, remove all personal items from your vehicle and have it washed and cleaned so that the ensuing inspection is easily performed. If it is a convertible, T-top, sunroof, etc. make sure all openings are closed and prepared for changing weather. You can find additional tips on how to prepare your car for transport here.