How to Ship a Non-running Car? Risks and Costs
Non-driving or an inoperable vehicle is a term used in the automobile transportation industry to refer to any vehicle that cannot safely enter and leave an automobile transportation vehicle on its own power You may already know that the main method of loading and unloading vehicles is to drive them in/out of the carrier.
When the vehicle cannot start and cannot move on its own power, the vehicle is considered to be inoperable. If there is no key and we cannot start, we think the car cannot run. A vehicle that starts but has a flat tire is also considered non-driving. A vehicle that can start and has good tires but no brakes is also marked as inoperable. As you can see, the definition of a non-driving vehicle is much broader than you think.
A car with a dead battery is usually considered inoperable. However, the transporter usually carries a set of jumper cables for an occasional jump start. If the car cannot start anyway, or the jumper cable cannot be used immediately, your vehicle will be marked as inoperable, which means that the transportation price will increase.
Before you ship an inoperable car
If possible, it usually makes sense to repair the car before shipping, as this will reduce shipping costs. If you do not have the key to start the car-order a copy. If the only problem is that the battery is dead, consider replacing it. The cost of a new battery is between US$50 and US$200. A flat tire is always best to be repaired or replaced; it is always good to equip your car with a new set of wheels. Depending on the reason for classifying your vehicle as inoperable, it may be cheaper and faster to transport it if you can enter the driving state. If repairs before transportation are not feasible, then you will have to transport a non-driving car. Keep in mind that not all carriers carry the equipment needed to transport non-moving vehicles.
The price to haul an inoperable vehicle is always higher.
If a car does not start due to mechanical problems — a carrier will use a winch to load it. It doesn’t come standard on transport trucks and can be difficult to operate sometimes. Therefore, the winch must be properly installed and the driver trained to use it.
If the car does not start at all, does not roll and steer, the trailer will be more expensive, because then the car transport company will need a forklift to load it onto the transport truck. When the carrier must pick up the truck from a salvage auction, a forklift can usually be used. However, unloading the vehicle at the time of delivery also requires a large enough forklift. Therefore, it is very important to pass information about the condition of the vehicle to your car hauler.
So, you see now-additional equipment, driving skills-all this comes at a price. For successful vehicle transportation, access to the right equipment and knowledgeable personnel is essential. Also, keep in mind that many companies don’t want to ship non-moving vehicles, which can make finding a carrier more difficult. Another reason for higher costs.
Cost to ship a non-running car
We believe you are now well aware that due to the additional time, labor, and equipment, the condition of the vehicle will affect the cost of your car transportation. But this is not the only factor that determines your total. Cost also depends on the distance your car travels, where you pick up and deliver your goods, car makes and model, type of carrier (open or closed), and last but not least-fluctuations in supply and demand. We recommend requesting multiple quotations for car transportation. It will help you determine the average cost of transportation vehicles. Please think twice before you accept the lowest offer.
Unusually low prices are likely to mean longer waiting times until the transporter is interested in your goods. Carriers want to get the most benefit from each shipment; therefore, higher payloads are usually shipped first. If you are in a hurry, please think twice before determining the lowest offer.
Risks
Some people also believe that concealing information about the condition of the vehicle will help reduce the cost of car transportation. Incorrect. For automobile transporters, it is essential to obtain correct information about the operability of the vehicle. Don’t hide any information. If the driver comes to pick up your vehicle without preparation (without proper equipment), problems may arise.
In addition to dealing with upset drivers, you may also face delays, trial run fees, and possible order cancellations. You certainly don’t want that.
If you search online, look beyond the first page of Google. And don’t get discouraged when you see that there are hundreds of companies out there. Make sure to check the business is licensed with USDOT and FMCSA and has adequate insurance. Browse our website to learn more about the auto transport process.
