How long does it take to ship a car?
Timing
Depending on where you are shipping a car to and from, the time of the year, and how far in advance you have scheduled your car shipment order, all determine how long it takes to ship a car.
Factors That Determine How Long It Takes to Ship a Car
Distance and Route
The longer the distance your car needs to travel between pick-up and drop-off (ex. cross town vs cross country), as well as route conditions, such as toll roads, adverse weather, road construction or traffic congestion increase how long it takes to ship a car.
Type of Vehicle
Longer, taller and heavier vehicles (ex. a lifted jeep), exotic or classic cars, and inoperable vehicles (ex. dead battery) may take longer to ship than a standard car or truck because of the availability of trucks and drivers that are specialized to handles these types of vehicles.
Type of Transporter
Open car transporters, such as 9-car haulers or flat-bed tow trucks are typically more common and widely available than enclosed car transporters. If you comfortable with your car being exposed to the elements and being shipped with other cars, then you may be able to ship your car faster.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Location
People who live in remote rural areas or heavily dense urban areas of the country where it is difficult for a large car carrier to navigate may wait longer to ship their car as the availability of drivers may be limited.
Seasonality
Picking up a car in the middle of winter in North Dakota may take longer than shipping a car from Arizona due to the cold and icy conditions. Likewise, if everyone is shipping their cars from New York to Florida in the winter, it may be more difficult to find an available transporter.
Scheduling
It is always advisable to schedule car shipping as far in advance as possible as more transporters may be available. Last minute requests to ship a car can limit the chances of finding an available car transporter.
