Long distance transport lets you move a car, SUV, pickup, or other vehicle hundreds or thousands of miles without driving it yourself. The process generally involves arranging transportation, preparing the automobile, coordinating pickup, loading it onto a carrier, transporting it along the route, and completing delivery.
Long-distance vehicle shipping can be useful when moving to another state, buying a vehicle online, selling to a distant buyer, relocating for work, attending college, or making a seasonal move.
How Does Long Distance Transport Work?
The long distance transport process generally includes these steps:
- Provide your vehicle information.
- Provide pickup and delivery locations.
- Discuss preferred transportation dates.
- Choose open or enclosed transport.
- Coordinate carrier pickup.
- Prepare and inspect the vehicle.
- Load and secure the automobile.
- Transport it toward the destination.
- Coordinate delivery.
- Inspect the vehicle at arrival.
Understanding the process before booking can make a long trip much easier to coordinate.
What Information Is Needed for Long-Distance Vehicle Shipping?
Accurate shipment information helps the transportation provider evaluate your route and vehicle.
Be prepared to provide:
- Vehicle year
- Make
- Model
- Pickup city or ZIP code
- Delivery city or ZIP code
- Vehicle operating condition
- Preferred dates
- Significant modifications
- Open or enclosed transport preference
If your vehicle, locations, or dates change, update the provider before pickup.
Open vs. Enclosed Long Distance Transport
Choosing a carrier type is an important part of planning long distance transport.
Open Auto Transport
Open carriers are commonly used for everyday passenger vehicles.
They can transport multiple cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans at the same time.
Vehicles are exposed to normal weather and road conditions during transportation.
Enclosed Vehicle Shipping
Enclosed carriers provide additional protection from direct weather and road exposure.
They may be considered for:
- Classic cars
- Collector automobiles
- Exotic vehicles
- Luxury cars
- Restored automobiles
- Particularly valuable vehicles
Make sure you understand which transportation method is being discussed when comparing your options.
How Should You Prepare for a Long-Distance Car Move?
Good preparation can help avoid preventable pickup problems.
Before the carrier arrives:
- Remove valuables and unnecessary belongings.
- Have the keys ready.
- Make sure the vehicle is accessible.
- Secure loose exterior accessories.
- Check for significant fluid leaks.
- Disclose mechanical problems.
- Mention significant modifications.
- Confirm contact information.
- Take photographs of the vehicle.
If someone else will release the automobile, make sure that person understands the pickup arrangements.
Why Vehicle Condition Matters During Auto Transport
A normally operating automobile and a non-running vehicle can have different loading requirements.
Before arranging long distance transport, explain whether your vehicle:
- Starts
- Drives
- Rolls
- Steers
- Brakes
Specific information is more useful than simply saying the vehicle is “inoperable.”
For example, a car that doesn’t start but rolls and steers presents a different loading situation than a damaged automobile with wheels that won’t move.
What Happens During the Pickup Inspection?
Before loading, the vehicle’s condition should be documented.
Consider taking clear photographs of:
- Front
- Rear
- Driver side
- Passenger side
- Wheels
- Windshield
- Existing scratches
- Existing dents
- Other noticeable damage
Keep these photographs available until transportation is complete.
They provide a useful record of the automobile’s condition before long-distance vehicle transport begins.
Can an Auto Carrier Pick Up at Your House?
Vehicle transportation can often be coordinated as close to the requested address as safely and legally practical.
Large carriers, however, need substantial maneuvering room.
Potential access problems include:
- Narrow residential streets
- Tight turns
- Low tree branches
- Steep roads
- Gated communities
- Weight restrictions
- Parking restrictions
- Limited loading areas
If an exact address isn’t suitable, the driver and customer may coordinate a nearby accessible meeting location.
How Long Does Long Distance Transport Take?
Actual long distance transport time depends on the individual shipment.
Factors influencing the timeline include:
- Total mileage
- Transportation route
- Pickup location
- Destination
- Carrier schedule
- Weather
- Traffic
- Construction
- Other scheduled stops
Longer trips generally require more transit time, but mileage alone doesn’t determine an exact arrival.
Auto carriers may transport several customer vehicles and make multiple scheduled stops along their routes.
Can Weather Delay Long-Distance Vehicle Shipping?
Yes. Weather can affect a vehicle shipping timeline, particularly on trips covering several states.
Potential conditions include:
- Snow
- Ice
- Heavy rain
- High winds
- Severe thunderstorms
- Flooding
- Reduced visibility
- Road closures
Weather at your pickup and delivery locations may be clear while the carrier encounters severe conditions somewhere between them.
Safe travel should take priority over maintaining an estimated arrival time.
Why Traffic and Road Conditions Affect Transport
Long-distance carriers travel through the same highway conditions as other commercial and passenger traffic.
A trip may encounter:
- Congestion
- Accidents
- Construction zones
- Detours
- Road closures
- Emergency restrictions
A carrier traveling across several states can pass through multiple metropolitan areas and highway systems.
These conditions can affect the auto transport schedule even when the original estimate was reasonable.
Do Other Vehicle Stops Affect Shipping Time?
They can.
An open auto carrier may transport several vehicles at once. Its route can therefore include additional pickups and deliveries.
Vehicles may also need to be repositioned as other automobiles are loaded or unloaded.
These stops are a normal part of long-distance car shipping and are one reason auto transport isn’t the same as a nonstop drive involving only one customer’s vehicle.
Can You Ship a Car You Bought Far Away?
Yes. Buying a vehicle in another part of the country is a common reason to use long distance transport.
Pickup can potentially be coordinated with a:
- Dealership
- Private seller
- Auction
- Other authorized location
Before arranging transportation, verify that the vehicle is ready for release.
The seller or dealership should know about the carrier pickup and have the necessary keys and access available.
Can SUVs and Pickup Trucks Travel Long Distance?
Many types of passenger vehicles can be transported over long distances, including:
- Sedans
- Coupes
- SUVs
- Crossovers
- Pickup trucks
- Vans
- Classic cars
- Luxury vehicles
Larger vehicles and significant modifications should be disclosed accurately.
A lifted pickup or oversized SUV can have different dimensions and loading requirements than a standard passenger car.
Can a Non-Running Car Be Transported Long Distance?
Transportation may be possible, depending on the vehicle’s condition and loading requirements.
When requesting long-distance auto transport, explain whether the vehicle rolls, steers, and brakes in addition to whether the engine runs.
Providing this information before pickup helps the transportation provider understand what may be required for loading.
What Happens While Your Vehicle Is Traveling?
Once the vehicle is loaded, the carrier follows its transportation route toward the destination.
The driver may have other scheduled pickups and deliveries along the way.
Traffic, weather, construction, road closures, and other conditions may also affect progress.
Keep your contact information current throughout long distance transport so pickup or delivery arrangements can be communicated when necessary.
How Should You Prepare for Vehicle Delivery?
Make sure you or an authorized person will be available for the delivery arrangements.
When the automobile arrives, inspect it carefully.
Compare its condition with:
- Your pre-transport photographs
- Notes about existing damage
- Applicable transportation documentation
Look at the body, wheels, glass, and other areas you photographed before pickup.
A consistent before-and-after inspection is a useful final step in the transportation process.
How Do You Choose a Long-Distance Auto Transporter?
Don’t evaluate a transportation provider based solely on price.
Make sure the provider understands your:
- Exact vehicle
- Vehicle condition
- Pickup location
- Destination
- Preferred dates
- Transportation method
- Significant modifications
Consumers can research motor carrier information through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and find federal transportation information through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Webster Hauling also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Long Distance Transport FAQs
Can You Transport a Car Across Several States?
Yes. Long distance transport can be used to move vehicles across multiple states without requiring the owner to personally make the drive.
Is Open Transport Suitable for a Long Trip?
Open carriers are commonly used for everyday vehicles traveling long distances. Enclosed transportation provides another option when additional protection from direct weather and road exposure is desired.
Can Bad Weather Delay Long-Distance Car Shipping?
Yes. Snow, ice, severe storms, flooding, high winds, and unsafe roads can affect the vehicle transport schedule.
Can Someone Else Handle Vehicle Pickup?
Depending on the transportation arrangements, another authorized person may be able to release the automobile. Make sure they have access to the vehicle and keys and understand the pickup arrangements.
Can a Non-Running Vehicle Be Transported?
Transportation may be possible, but loading requirements can differ. Explain whether the vehicle starts, drives, rolls, steers, and brakes.
For additional answers about transporting a vehicle, visit Webster Hauling’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Arrange Your Long Distance Transport
Successful long distance transport starts with accurate vehicle information, proper preparation, realistic scheduling, and clear communication.
Distance, route, carrier availability, vehicle condition, weather, traffic, and pickup and delivery accessibility can all influence the transportation process.
Webster Hauling helps customers coordinate long-distance vehicle transportation for moves, purchases, sales, relocations, and other transportation needs.
Have your vehicle year, make, model, condition, pickup location, destination, and preferred dates ready when you contact Webster Hauling.
