If you are wondering whether it comes with additional fees, when shipping your car to another state or across the country at short notice, you are not alone. As you suspected, there can be added costs for expedited services. Understanding the principles that set these fees will help you avoid the common pitfalls and make the best decisions.
In this article, we will outline how expedited shipping works, what factors apply to the fees system, and explain the guidelines for pricing. So, by the end of the article, you should know for a fact as to whether or not expedited car shipping is an option given your budget constraints.
What Is Expedited Car Shipping?
Expedited car shipping means that your car will be transported faster than the specified carrier timeline set during begging contracting. Unlike other regular transport services which use benchmarks days to weeks for shipping, expedited shipping attempts to shorten it faster, surpassing deadline expectations – but usually needs an extra fee.
It is quite common for standard car shipping services to take anywhere from 5 to 10 days to get your car delivered. Depending on how far away the destination is, expedited services sometimes seek to optimize this further, occasionally promising delivery within 1-3 days. This is particularly advantageous to clients with urgent requirements such as moving for a new job or needing the car for an important event. In such circumstances, every minute matters.
What Additional Charges Come with Expedited Car Shipping?
We have already established that expedited services are for those that wish to receive their vehicle in a shorter amount of time. This makes the transit period the primary reason for charging extra fees. Let’s take a look at some services offered with expedited shipping and how they lead to extra fees:
- Priority Scheduling
Increased costs are associated with expedited shipping and advanced scheduling for services like priority shipping. This means that the company will wait until other cars have already booked onto the particular route which takes time and will alter their normal operating fleet’s availability for your vehicle.
- Thorough Transport
Unlike standard carriers that offer shared transport, some expedited shipping services use designated carriers who transport only your cargo. As appealing as that sounds, it does come with a higher price tag. Custom designed transport is great when timely delivery of a customer’s vehicle is needed, however, this does come at a premium price.
- Greater Number Of Available Carriers
The selection of carriers becomes more limited when one is seeking for expedited shipping. The shipping company may have to resort to their premium carriers to meet your time frame, which could add a surcharge to the base rate. In many instances, expedited shipping entails pre-purchasing a seat on a specific truck, which might not be available.
- Increased Speed Over Set Delivery Routes
Expedited services often require a more direct or quicker delivery route, which at times, means that the transport company needs to budget for additional fuel or the need for quicker travel through some areas. If your vehicle is being shipped over long distances, the tolls and fuel prices will likely rise.
Components That Influence The Cost Of Expedited Shipping
Several factors dictate the cost of expedited car shipping and they include:
- Distance
It is self-explanatory that the further the distance or region, the more costly it will be to expedite the shipping. As previously mentioned, every form of shipping has its price, and the greater the distance, the more demanding the cost will be. For instance, it will cost significantly more to ship a car from New York to California with an expedited service compared to within the region.
- Size and Weight of the Vehicle
Furthermore, larger and heavier cars are more expensive to ship because they use more space. As compared to SUVs or luxury vehicles, standard sedans may receive lesser surcharges for expedited shipping because they are less bulky. Remember to confirm the measurements of your vehicle as it can impact the shipping costs.
- Availability of Transport
The support of vehicles such as transport trucks available for expedited shipping also affects its price. In the case a shipping company has to operate under tight deadlines, or if they have limited resources, plan to pay extra for servicing your vehicle because it is on a busy route.
- Seasonality
Expedited shipping services can also be influenced by the time of the year being holidays or summers. This is because there is an increase in demand for quicker transport. The availability of the shipping carriers and the competition also increases leading to limitation in booking which drives higher costs.
Ways to Minimize Extra Fees for Expedited Shipping
Though expedited car shipping does generally incur a greater fee, there are various ways to mitigate the extra costs. Here are some suggestions to help you reduce expenses:
- Book in Advance
One of the most effective methods to reduce the cost of expedited shipping is by booking in advance. With more time to book, you can secure a good price which will allow you to have access to more carriers. As demand increases, carrier availability poses a problem, and premium prices are put forth for urgent transport.
- Choose the Right Transport Company
Limited shipping companies provide expedited services and the few that do offer them at differing rates. To get the most value, it is best to look for quotes from different transport companies. Car Transport Org, for example, has great prices for expedited services, alongside the quality and dependability of transport firms.
- Consider Alternative Routes
If your shipping company has different routes available, consider looking for one that is cheaper but still meets your deadlines. For instance, some routes are longer and more expensive, though from a delivery standpoint offer for a set timeframe for which the payment is reasonable.
- Negotiate the Price
There are instances where shipping companies may be flexible with their costs related to expedited services, particularly for repeat clients or when booking multiple vehicles. It is always acceptable to inquire about discounts, deals, or even current promotions.
Conclusion
As indicated above, expedited delivery services generally have added costs associated with them because of the additional fees charged for prompt delivery. The expenses incurred are mainly due to prioritized servicing, scheduling, and exclusive transport vehicles. The total price may also be influenced by the distance to the destination, the type and size of the vehicle, and even the time of year.
Be sure to consider the benefits of having your car delivered faster against the value you will incur before you finally make a decision. If your situation requires immediate delivery of the vehicle and paying extra fees won’t be an inconvenience to you, then expedited delivery would seem reasonable.
We take pride in being one of the most trusted expedited car shipping services around. Our prices are reasonably low and you will not find hidden costs. We have a wide range of options to fit your needs. Visit us now to receive a free quote.
