In today’s interconnected world, the prospect of moving vehicles across cities and states has become an increasingly common endeavor. It does not matter if you are moving to a new state for a new job, pursuing an education, or seeking a change of scenery, as the need to transport your vehicle safely and efficiently is paramount.
However, one question often arises on of a shipping company would provide you with a shipping quote even if you’re uncertain about the exact destination address. The answer is yes! Knowing the destination is critical in car shipping, but we shall break it for you in this article on how you can ship your vehicle without the exact address stick around to learn how to go about it!
Having the correct address where you will ship the car is essential due to the following reasons:
Shipping carriers use addresses to determine the most efficient route for the car. Therefore, adequately formatted addresses help auto shipping companies to sort vehicles in their distribution centers and direct them to the correct transportation methods, such as trucks or ships.
A correct address ensures the shipping company gets the vehicle to its destination on time. Incorrect or incomplete addresses can lead to delivery delays, causing inconvenience to both the sender and the recipient.
Shipping options refer to how the auto shipping company will move your vehicle from one location to another. Most shipping companies utilize open and enclosed shipping methods depending on your preferences. So what’s the difference?
- Open shipping method: In this method, the shipping company loads the cars directly onto the truck and secures it with lashing mechanisms to prevent shifting during transit. While the open shipping method offers greater flexibility in accommodating diverse cars, it exposes them to different weather conditions, potential damage, and security. Proper securing and protective measures are essential when utilizing the open shipping method to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of vehicles. Luckily, it is the cheapest shipping method you will find.
- Enclosed shipping option: It is a premium transportation service designed to provide enhanced protection and security for vehicles during transit. This option is commonly utilized for transporting high-end vehicles and classic cars or if you want to ensure your car gets extra protection. Unlike open shipping, where items are exposed to the environment and potential road debris, enclosed shipping involves transporting the items within an enclosed trailer or container. Knowing that your car gets the highest care and protection during shipping offers you peace of mind.
The last leg of the shipping process is often called the last mile. It involves getting the package from the local distribution center to the recipient’s doorstep. Accurate addresses are essential for ensuring efficient last-mile delivery.
Shipping carriers optimize their operations based on address information. Incorrect addresses can lead to additional costs for shipping companies due to re-routing, redelivery attempts, and administrative work to correct the errors.
Although the destination is important, sometimes a client might not know the shipping address. It is specifically popular when an individual shipping their vehicle to another state. Therefore, knowing the destination but not understanding the exact location means the shipping company will use maps and landmarks to get your vehicle to the precise place.
However, with this option, you will be limited to using the terminal-to-terminal option instead of door-to-door delivery. Most shipping companies use garages, public stores, or secured parking lots as storage areas until you fetch the vehicle. Suppose the shipping company transports your car or camper using the ocean. In that case, the harbor of the port is your delivery option.
Carriers use generalized city and zip codes to get the exact location where possible, but if not, they get storage near a landmark you know about, letting you fetch the vehicle from that location. Note that with this shipping option, the estimated quote will often not be accurate, forcing you to add some extra money to cater for the entire shipping cost. You will also have to cater for the storage cost, which, most times, shipping companies do not add to the quotes.
Getting a car shipping quote without knowing the exact address is challenging. While some car shipping companies might be able to provide estimates based on general information, such as the departure and destination cities, these quotes are not always accurate without precise address details. Several factors, including distance, route, accessibility, and potential additional services, influence the final cost of vehicle shipping.
Therefore, to ensure the most accurate and reliable quote, it’s recommended to provide the exact pickup and delivery addresses. However, suppose you’re in a situation where you don’t have the same address yet. In that case, it’s advisable to communicate with potential car shipping providers to see if you will get an estimate based on the information available. Ship A Car will try as much as possible to ensure a smooth and hassle-free car shipping experience in such a scenario.
