How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car?

3 Factors to Determine How Long It’ll Take to Ship a Car

Nationwide auto transport is something to consider if you need to ship a vehicle somewhere far from home. But, how long does it take to ship a car? There are a few factors that determine how long this process takes. Understanding these factors will help you prepare for a smooth, seamless auto shipping experience.

In today’s post, you’ll learn the four factors that determine how long it will take to ship a car. Plus, you’ll get a comprehensive list of all the major metro areas in the United States where Metti International can ship your car. Let’s get started! 

1. Distance

The farther you need to ship your car, the longer it will take. Another thing to take into consideration is how far your delivery destination is from the highway and/or nearest city. The farther out from the highway and major metro, the more costly that the delivery may be and the longer it could take to deliver your car. If you do live in an outer-lying area, you could consider terminal delivery to lower some of the shipping costs and time waiting by picking up your vehicle.

2. Time of Year

You might be surprised to know that the time of year is a factor when shipping your vehicle. Car shipping cost tends to be more expensive in the spring and summer, and there can be delays due to higher demand. The holidays are also one of the busiest times of year, thus making it a little harder to secure reliable transport.

Outside of the holidays, winter is typically a good time for auto shipping if you’re looking to spend less and get your vehicle to where it needs to be. It’s a slower time of year, leading to lower prices and the possibility for faster delivery (barring inclement weather, of course). 

3. Vehicle Type

No matter what type of vehicle you need to ship, Metti International can help you with nationwide auto transport. Different vehicle types will require different methods of shipping. For example, shipping a pickup truck takes up more space on the trailer and thus costs more to ship, because it decreases the space available for other cars on the trailer.

If you’re looking for domestic auto shipping, Metti International can help you coordinate transport to all major metros in the US, including: 

  • Hillsborough County, FL, USA
  • San Diego County, CA, USA
  • Sacramento County, CA, USA
  • Los Angeles County, CA, USA
  • Palm Beach County, FL, USA
  • Miami-Dade County, FL, USA
  • Riverside County, CA, USA
  • Cuyahoga County, OH, USA
  • Broward County, FL, USA
  • Cook County, IL, USA
  • Suffolk County, NY, USA
  • Kings County, CA, USA
  • Harris County, TX, USA
  • Maricopa County, AZ, USA
  • King County, WA, USA
  • Alameda County, CA, USA
  • Bexar County, TX, USA
  • Clark County, NV, USA
  • San Bernardino County, CA, USA

Metti International will help you find reliable transport that will get your vehicle to its final destination as quickly as possible. We conveniently work with auto carriers in all major areas of the country. As a two-time finalist for the Torch Award by the Better Business Bureau for Ethics (BBB), we pride ourselves on providing customers with exceptional service and doing everything we can to help your transport experience go smoothly.

We are here to help with over 13 years of experience. Call Metti International for a free quote today at 866.620.1776!

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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.