Sports Car Shipping: Save the Miles
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Are you the proud owner of a Ford Mustang, Mazda MX-5, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, or some other kind of sports car?
If you ever need to move your sports car, sports car shipping might be the answer. Sport car shipping is a good way of taking care of your investment. Your sports car is likely one of your biggest investments, and chances are you love your car.
If you’re looking to ship that beautiful sports car of yours, you will want it delivered to you in the same condition you left it.
In this post, you’ll find some tips to help you prepare your sports car for shipping and how to ensure the best classic car transport experience possible.
How much to get a sports car shipped?
The cost of shipping your sports car will vary based on different factors. To ship it to Hawaii or across the country could cost as much as $2000, but it’s not fair to give you a price without knowing the details.
We need to consider many things to tailor a car shipping sports car auto transport to meet your specific needs. Here are some of the factors we take into account:
- Shipping distance
- Vehicle make and model, as well as any modifications
- Vehicle conditions: operable or inoperable
- Current supply/demand situation
- Type of carrier: open vs. enclosed
The best way to find out how much shipping your sports car will cost is to get in touch and request a quote. Alternatively, input the details into our online instant quote calculator you’ll know the price in just a few seconds.
Tips for picking a reputable shipping company
You shouldn’t trust your sports car to just any auto transport company. Car shipping sports cars requires extra care from the shipping company. Here at SGT Auto Transport, we’ve got first-hand experience in shipping sports cars and exotic, luxury, antique, custom, and other cars of high value. We make sure your prized car is given the best possible care and attention. Trust us with your car, and you can be confident it’s in good hands. We take care of everything, from securing the vehicle to its quick and safe delivery to your chosen destination.
There are also some things you can do if you want to ensure the best possible auto transport experience.
Select your transportation method
Sports cars require special care before, during, and after transport. You have two options when it comes to choosing an auto transport service. However, if you’re shipping a sports car, enclosed auto transport is often your best bet.
When it comes to shipping your sports car, enclosed auto transport protects your car from rain, snow, air, heat, sunlight, road, and traffic debris. This auto transport service comes at a premium price, but we guarantee the extra cost will be well worth it for one of your most prized possessions.
Open auto transport is your other option and is one of the most affordable and popular methods of shipping a car. However, it’s not recommended for sports cars or any other type of high-value vehicle.
This is why we always recommend and why most sports car owners choose enclosed auto transport.
Enclosed auto transport offers the necessary protection from outside elements, insects, dust, flying debris, and other possible road hazards. For additional protection, you could request single-car transportation. With this auto transport method, your car will be shipped alone in its carrier, and there is no chance of it being scratched by other vehicles during the loading and unloading process.
In most cases, enclosed carriers can haul between 2 and 6 vehicles simultaneously. The drivers are especially skilled in maneuvering sports cars onto the truck and securing them.
It’s also worth noting that some sports car models might not fit inside the standard enclosed trailer. In such cases, you should work with your chosen auto transport company to ensure they know how to handle your car and take the necessary precautions to properly care for it. Make sure you provide the most detailed information about your sports car. That way, they can assign the proper carrier.
Insurance is essential
Auto transport companies are legally obliged to carry liability insurance. The United States Department of Transportation mandates this. If you check the statistics, less than five percent of all cars transported report any damage during the shipping process.
Nevertheless, you should always protect yourself and your sports car against potential issues. Insurance gives you additional security and peace of mind.
With enclosed auto transport, the carrier will be fully insured for the value of your car and all the others that are being shipped on the trailer. That means your sports car is in good hands. In the unlikely event of something happening, we’ll be with you every step of the way.
If your sports car is inoperable, it requires special equipment
If your sports car is currently inoperable, you might want to arrange special treatment. If your sports car doesn’t run on its own power, it’ll likely be placed onto a trailer using a forklift or a winch. Not all carriers have this type of equipment, so discuss this with the shipping advisor.
Consider location
You should keep the location of both the pick-up and drop-off in mind when you need to ship your sports car. Carriers typically require ample room to load and unload your car safely. Residential streets are not always the best location as there may be restrictions in place.
Ideally, choose a location that’s free of low-clearance power lines, low-hanging branches, crowded streets, and other obstacles. Large commercial parking lots are often great locations.
You can further ensure the safety of your sports car by choosing the most appropriate pick-up and drop-off locations. The more space the hauler has, the easier and faster they’ll be able to properly load and unload your sports car.
Booking your sports car shipping
The first step in any auto transport service is to request a quote and begin the booking process. When it comes to shipping your sports car, make sure you’re as detailed as possible when speaking with our shipping agents.
This will ensure you get the most accurate quote and help the shipping advisor book the proper carrier and arrange the necessary equipment needed to ensure the safety of your sports car.
Take the following into consideration when you speak with an auto transport company:
- Sports cars are unique: The more details you give our shipping advisors, the better chance they have of securing the proper transportation for your sports car.
- Your sports car may have modifications: Modifications can change the overall size of your car. It’s important that you let the auto transport company know about them, so the carrier knows how to handle the uniqueness of your sports car. If the modifications can be easily removed, you might want to detach them before shipping to avoid potential damage.
- Is your sports car lower than five inches from the ground? Make sure you mention this when making your booking. Special accommodations may be necessary for lowered cars.
Schedule early
There are times when you might need your car shipped last minute. You might have purchased your sports car out of state and can’t wait to see it in the flesh and take it for a spin. You might need to haul it across country for a last-minute sports car show. You might also need to relocate because let’s face it, life can sometimes catch you unawares.
These situations are more unusual than run-of-the-mill. Therefore, whenever possible, you should schedule your auto transport as early as possible. The timing of shipping a car is one of the most significant factors in determining how much your auto transport will cost.
How early is early? This really depends on the company you’re using. However, the best window for booking your sports car shipping is 2-4weeks before you want to ship your car.
If you give us enough time, we’ll do our best to secure the best price for your auto transport service.
Do your research
If you Google “ship my car,” you’ll get a lot of hits. You don’t necessarily want to go with the first company that appears on the list. Instead, you’re going to need to do some research.
Ideally, you should get a few quotes from several different companies. You should then vet the companies before signing a contract and paying a deposit.
Things to look for include the following:
- Read the reviews
- Get referrals
- Be wary of large deposits or strange payment methods such as wire transfers
- Ensure the company is registered with the US Department of Transport and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You can check a company by name or its Motor Carrier number on the FMCSA website.
Get a contract
A legitimate auto transport company will provide a contract when you book your car for shipment. Some of these contracts can be very long and convoluted. Nevertheless, it’s important to read it carefully and if there’s anything you don’t understand, ask the company to clarify things.
There are some basic elements that every auto transport contract should state:
- Quoted price
- Estimated delivery date
- Cancellation policies and fees
- Claims procedures
- Insurance information
Clean your car
If your car is messy, it will be much harder to do a pre-trip and post-trip inspection. These inspections play a key role in the shipping process because they are when you and the carrier agree on the condition of your vehicle. They also mean that any damage that occurs can be tracked.
We’re not saying you must give your sports car a full detail, but if it is too dirty, the carrier may refuse to transport it all together.
Inspect your vehicle upon pick-up and delivery
When the driver arrives to pick up your vehicle, you must do an inspection and get a bill of lading. This document verifies that the driver has picked up your vehicle and what condition it was in.
You need to be present when your vehicle is delivered so you can do a post-trip inspection. This is your opportunity to look for any damage that occurred during the trip and finish up payments you haven’t yet made. Be sure to document any damage thoroughly for any future insurance claims.
Now you’ve got a clearer idea of how the sports car shipping process works, you can get the process underway. Our shipping advisors are waiting to hear from you with any questions you might have. Call (864) 546-5038. Alternatively, use our Live Chat option.
