What to Expect When Shipping Your Car In the Winter

What to Expect When Shipping Your Car In the Winter

With the change of the leaves and colder weather quickly approaching, that can only mean one thing: winter. Whether planned or not, you may find yourself having to move a vehicle this coming winter. The best part about scheduling winter car transport is that you don’t have to do any of the manual labor or driving during snowy conditions. You’ll just need to prepare your car for pick up and be ready to receive it once it arrives at its final destination. 

Shipping a Car During the Holidays 

Although the car shipping industry is usually slow during 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 can plan 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 higher price during these weeks because of the increase in demand. 

Expect Delays for Winter Car Transport 

With winter comes snow and ice. Needless to say, the roads can be slippery and dangerous for drivers and they. If you’re scheduling winter car transport, don’t be surprised if there is a delay in delivery as it can be difficult to predict the weather and road conditions prior to shipping your car. It’s definitely the smart choice to ship your vehicle instead of driving it, as truckers are trained for rough road conditions and know the safest routes. Rest assured that your car is in good hands throughout the transport process. 

You May See Lower Prices 

One of the biggest benefits of shipping your vehicle during the winter months is that the price is typically much lower than the summer months, with the exception of the holiday season. Auto shipping isn’t as common in the winter, so carriers lower their prices to encourage people to schedule auto transport if they have to move a vehicle during the winter. 

Although moving or buying a car during the winter might not seem ideal, there are definitely some perks. As a two-time finalist for the “Torch Award Finalist” by the Better Business Bureau for Ethics (BBB) in both 2019 and 2020, we go above and beyond to provide you with exceptional service.

Give Metti International a call today to schedule your upcoming car transport at 866.620.1776 or request a quote online. We look forward to helping you with your upcoming auto transport needs!

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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.