What Is Door-to-Door Car Shipping?

Traditionally, the car hauling process is done by driving to a shipping terminal closest to you, dropping it off for its delivery, and then picking it up at the arrival terminal at the end of the shipping process. While this system works well enough, it can often be inconvenient – particularly for those who live in more rural areas, without any shipping terminals in their vicinity.

Thankfully, Legendary Auto Transport offers an alternative to terminal shipping that’s far easier and more convenient: Door-to-Door car shipping.

With door-to-door shipping, you’ll no longer need to drop off and pick up your car from a shipping terminal. The driver arrives as close to your location as possible, whether it be down the street, or in a parking lot in your neighborhood. This service makes the process of shipping a car far more convenient and can save you a ton of time and energy.

Prepare your car for door-to-door car transportation service

Here are a few things that you should do to prepare your car for door-to-door car shipping:

1

Inspect the car for any marks or scratches

Before you ship your car with door-to-door shipping, you should first check your car for any marks, scratches, dents, or any other signs of damage. To take note of this better, we advise thoroughly cleaning your car as it will make the process of finding visible damage much easier.

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Take photos

Additionally, make sure you take tons of photos of your car before shipping it. This goes hand-in-hand with our previous tip – as you’re inspecting your car and its current condition, take photos of it from all angles in order to capture its current condition effectively. This is all for your own personal records, as you want proof of the car’s condition before shipping it. In the event that your car is damaged during the transport process, having photos of its condition before the transport process will be vital when filing a damage claim.

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Remove all personal items

While your vehicle is fully insured during the transportation process, any personal belongings left inside of it are not. So, to avoid damage or theft, we highly recommend removing all personal items. 

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Make sure it’s in working condition

This should go without saying, but make sure your car is fully operational prior to your shipping date. By this, we mean making sure your tires are filled up properly, topping off all your car’s fluids, having a healthy car battery, etc. The driver will have to load and unload your car onto their trailer by driving it on themselves, so it will need to be in working condition (unless otherwise stated as in-operational when booking your order).

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The Benefits of Door-to-Door Transport Services

Convenience

Terminal shipping has far too many barriers of entry to be considered convenient in this day and age. Of course, the biggest pre-requisite of terminal shipping is being able to access a shipping terminal. And for those who live in rural areas of the country, far from any shipping terminals, that may be completely out of the question. The other issue with terminal shipping is that customers must drive to and from the shipping terminals. Customers must find a ride to the terminal when picking up their car at the arrival point, as they will be without a vehicle.

All of this is eliminated by choosing door-to-door shipping, as customers can have the carrier come directly to them, sometimes without ever having to leave their homes. If accessing a terminal isn’t possible for you or is just far out of the way, the ease and convenience offered by door-to-door should make it more than worth it.

Saves Time

As already noted, door-to-door shipping saves a ton of time compared to terminal shipping. Instead of structuring your day around driving to-and-from a shipping terminal, our drivers go out of their way to come to you, which is a big time saver.

Ease of Use

Dealing with shipping terminals can also be stressful, particularly for those who have never used them before. Thanks to how simple and easy door-to-door shipping is, it greatly reduces the overall stress level of shipping a vehicle. If you want a simple, easy, and stress-free shipping option, we can’t recommend door-to-door transport enough.

The Challenges of Door-to-Door Transport Services

Finding the best price

Like all premium services, the price of door-to-door transport will vary from one auto transportation company to the next. While some companies will charge fair prices, others may overcharge customers, so it’s important to do your own research prior to booking.

If you want to find the best rate, request quotes from multiple reputable companies and go with the one that offers you the best deal. It also helps to have a bit of flexibility with shipping dates and booking further in advance. Shipping rates will vary depending on the time of year and even day-to-day depending on the supply and demand, so having some extra flexibility can help you to find a better price.

 

Limited Accessibility

Even though door-to-door shipping offers greater convenience to car owners, it should be noted that there is a limit to the service. Car hauling trailers are big – like, really big – and not all areas are accessible to them. If you happen to live in a big city with narrow streets, or a neighborhood with restrictions against larger commercial vehicles, then chances are the carrier won’t be able to meet you right outside of your home.

But don’t worry, this problem can be prevented pretty easily. If you happen to book your pickup or delivery in a location that’s inaccessible, the carrier will contact you to sort out a meeting point that is more accessible. This may be as simple as meeting in a public parking lot or street nearby that’s wide enough for their trailer.

 

Availability Issues 

Remember that door-to-door is not the norm; it’s considered a premium service, and as a result it isn’t as widely available as traditional terminal shipping. This means that it won’t be as easy to find a shipping company to book with, especially with short notice, as there’s no guarantee that there will be a carrier available during your specific window of time. To increase your chances of finding a carrier, book your order further in advance with a company that advertises as offering the service like Legendary Auto Transport.

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Choosing the Best Door-to-Door Transport Service

Before choosing a door-to-door car shipping company, you want to make sure that they are a trustworthy and capable company for the job. To do that, you’ll want to check a handful of things:


It’s important to do your research prior to booking with a door-to-door shipping company. Here are some things to check for when researching an auto transport company:

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Safety and Compliance Records

All car haulers are required to be properly licensed from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These are industry regulations, and legal requirements for all car haulers in the United States. To learn more, you can visit the FMCSA’s website for additional details.

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Customer Support Quality

While hiring a reliable driver is certainly important when shipping your car, that’s only half of it. You don’t want to be left in the dark when your vehicle is in transit, therefore finding a company that also boasts excellent customer service quality is just as important!

Great customer service means having a detailed timeline regarding your car’s shipment, receiving regular shipping updates, and being notified regarding delays. Failing to deliver these features may leave customers confused, concerned, and feelings of uncertainty. Thus, we recommend finding a car shipping company with a history of providing great customer care.

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Capabilities

Obviously, you should book your door-to-door shipping service with a car hauler that is highly capable and experienced. Inexperienced car haulers are more likely to encounter delays or make mistakes during transit, which is the last thing you want.

Even more so, we advise picking a provider that specializes in handling your type of vehicle. Whether you drive a luxury car, vintage vehicle, an oversized truck, or just a standard sedan, hire a door-to-door company that advertises as being capable and experienced with handling the type of vehicle that you own.

Then, research that provider and read customer reviews. See what previous customers have to say about them, and if a fair amount of them are negative, look elsewhere. 

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Stability and Range of Services

Hire a company that provides the range of services that you’re looking for. If you want door-to-door shipping but the company you’re researching doesn’t advertise it specifically, they may not specialize in it. Check the company’s website or call them directly to see what their range of services is. If they don’t provide all the services that you require, then you shouldn’t hire them.

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Safety and conformity documents

All auto transport companies are required to possess proper documentation in regard to their safety standards, car insurance, and any necessary permits. They are required to possess all of the following:

  • USDOT and MC Numbers: Car haulers must have USDOT (United States Department of Transportation) numbers. These are obtained by registering with FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). Both are requirements for car haulers to legally haul cargo in interstate commerce. They must also possess MC (Motor Carrier) numbers to operate as a broker or a carrier.
  • CDL (Commercial Driver’s License): Obviously, carriers must also possess a commercial driver’s license in order to legally operate a commercial vehicle.
  • Proof of Insurance: Carriers must also have proof of insurance, including both cargo insurance and liability insurance. This is so that both their trailer and the vehicles they are hauling are covered by insurance if anything is damaged while in transit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Door-to-Door Auto Transport

How much do door-to-door transportation services cost?

The price of shipping a car with door-to-door transport usually ranges from $500 to $2,000, though it depends on multiple different factors including the distance of the transport, size of vehicle, season, weather, and fuel costs.

Shorter distance shipments that are under 500 miles can range between $300 to $600, while longer distance shipments more than 1,500 miles range between $1,000 to $2,000.

If you’re interested in hiring Legendary Auto Transport, you can request a quote from us here.

Is door-to-door shipping available for all types of vehicles?

For the most part, yes, door-to-door shipping is available for all types of vehicles including sedans, SUVs, and trucks. The biggest problem is, you need to check with the shipping company to ensure that they can accommodate your vehicle prior to booking with them. If you need a specialty vehicle shipped, including a classic car, motorcycle, or an extra heavy vehicle like an RV or oversized truck, then you should ask the shipping company if they support door-to-door shipping for your particular vehicle. To avoid any issues, always make sure they can accommodate your needs prior to booking with them.

How does insurance work for door-to-door?

All reputable car shipping companies should provide insurance coverage when shipping your vehicle door-to-door. Before booking with a car shipping company, review their policy details thoroughly. You can also request additional coverage options from them if so desired.