Chapel Hill, NC Car Shipping Quotes & Auto Transport Service
If you are looking for the best Chapel Hill, NC car shipping quotes and auto transport service, you have come to the right place. We ask for no personal information. For nearly two decades, we have established ourselves as the top rated authority on what it takes to ship a car to or from Chapel Hill, NC safely, reliably, and competitively. Did you know we originated the first auto transport quote calculator in 2004? Our quote calculator is still the best.
Choose Between Three Auto Transport Rates For The Best Chapel Hill, NC Service
Our company, Direct Express Auto Transport, might be the only one that offers three levels of auto transport service. Our Standard Tier, or rate, is the most basic market car shipping price that a carrier might be expected to accept. Sometimes a particular car transport route is very popular, with an abundance of vehicles waiting to ship. In that case, our customers scoot ahead of the pack with our highly recommended Expedited Tier. That makes our customer vehicles stand out and ship quicker.
Then there are some customers who are in a hurry and want their car shipped right away, or as soon as possible. To do that, we offer the Rush Tier, which goes up and over the Expedited rate, and auto transport carriers often jump to pick up that customer vehicle. The nice thing is that all three tiers are laid out nicely on our car shipping cost calculator and you can easily decide which one to choose.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Car To Or From Chapel Hill, NC?
Our Chapel Hill, NC car shipping quotes factor the route distance, the size of the vehicle, the populations of both the origination and destination, and the season that it is being shipped.
Chapel Hill, NC Auto Transport Pricing By Distance and Vehicle Type Examples
Distance |
Car |
SUV |
Pickup Truck |
|
350 mi |
$400 |
$450 |
$550 |
|
700 mi |
$600 |
$650 |
$775 |
|
1000 mi |
$700 |
$775 |
$900 |
|
2000 mi |
$1000 |
$1100 |
$1300 |
|
3000 mi |
$1300 |
$1400 |
$1600 |
* The car shipping costs assume that the origination and destination locations are high population areas. Add 10-20% if either is remote, or significantly away from population centers. The above also assumes either Spring or Autumn shipping seasons, which are also ideal. Expect to add 10-20% if shipping in the Winter or Summer as seasonal fluctuations may affect the auto transport price.
Top Reasons To Ship My Car
There may be any number of reasons why you are shipping your car to or from Chapel Hill, NC. Here is what we see most often.
I’m Moving To Chapel Hill, NC And Need To Ship My Car
The average American will move 12 times in their life. About 53% of the time, it is less than 50 miles away. So no need for those folks to ship a car. Another 12% of the people move 50-300 miles away. Again, very few of them will need to transport a vehicle, but it may occasionally happen. That leaves 35%, or roughly one third of all Americans, who will move to a new city over 300 miles away. That would mean about four long distance relocations for the average American in their lifetime. It is those people who find us by word of mouth or searching online, “car shipping service near me”, and request an auto transport quote – say to Chapel Hill, NC.
Chapel Hill, NC Auction House, Dealership or Individual Car Purchase
Nationwide in 2018, there were 9.9 million vehicles sold at auction houses. Add to that hefty figure, automobile dealerships also selling to out of state buyers and there are likely over one million vehicles sold that way every month. The vast majority of those vehicles will require car shipping services, and they call us at 800-600-3750. Or they find our home page.
But wait … there’s more. The internet is teaming with online car buying sites that have vehicles listed for sale by individual owners and dealerships. Many customers buy vehicles listed online at: KBB, Edmunds, Cars.com, CarsDirect.com, Autolist, Carvana, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Vroom, and eBay Motors. After the purchase, they contact Direct Express Auto Transport to ship cars across the country.
I’m Shipping My Vehicle To A Family Member In Chapel Hill, NC
We often talk to customers who are shipping a vehicle out of state to a family member. Sometimes it is a parent transporting a car to a son or daughter. Sometimes it is a grandmother or grandfather who has passed away and a family member is inheriting their vehicle. Whatever the reason, we are here to help ship your car to Chapel Hill, NC.
There Is A Car Show In Chapel Hill, NC
Seems like every few days, there is a car show somewhere in America. Especially in the good weather months and warmer winter climates. It is actually a high stress situation for anyone trying to get a collector or sports car to a car show on time. Responsible auto transport brokers should not guarantee delivery dates to Chapel Hill or anywhere else. That doesn’t sit well with folks who need their vehicle delivered by a particular date.
Chapel Hill, NC Auto Transport Seasonal Fluctuations
As the seasons change, there are fluctuations in the auto transport industry. The peak car shipping season is April through October. There are nearly 50% more car shipments during those warmer weather months than there are in November through March. That is a huge seasonal fluctuation, which creates changes in auto transport pricing too. Sometimes it is higher in one direction than the reverse. It is always good to periodically check our car shipping rates to or from Chapel Hill, NC.
Snowbird Auto Transport
The most popular form of seasonal car shipping is called Snowbird Auto Transport. A “snowbird” auto shipping customer is usually from a colder northern state, who then heads south for the winter. Renting a car for months is too expensive. So the snowbird customer will ship a car instead. Smart.
Most people who escape the winter, head to a state that enjoys year-round summer weather, such as Florida. Warmer weather is also found in southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The Gulf of Mexico coast states of Louisiana and Alabama are also favorite destinations.
Chapel Hill, NC College Student Car Shipping Services
For the most part, we see a flurry of college student car shipping every May and June, and then again in August and September. Maybe it was always dangerous for a college student to drive across the country alone in the 60’s and 70’s, and we just didn’t realize it, but we get it now. The safest and smartest thing to do is to ship a car to your Chapel Hill, NC college student and fly them there.
College enrollment statistics show that Chapel Hill, NC students are most likely to ship a car to California, New York, Texas or Florida. But it is a big country and America has wonderful universities and colleges in every state.
Chapel Hill, NC Military Car Transport
The thing that military personnel know is that car transport carriers are not allowed on the military base. Sadly, it is due to the potential for terrorism. The car transport driver and military personnel must meet outside the base gates or someplace nearby. Communication is key in those situations. We are honored to assist military personnel shipping a vehicle to Chapel Hill, NC.
Corporate Relocation to Chapel Hill, NC
We are experts in Corporate Relocation to Chapel Hill, NC, and as well, other large organizations. Whether your company is picking up the car shipping tab, or you are footing the bill yourself, we are a wealth of information and competitive pricing.
Why Choose Our Car Shipping Company?
The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator
Our company, Direct Express Auto Transport, originated the first online car shipping quote calculator, back in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated and reliable auto transport cost calculator available in the car shipping industry. We offer three unique options that we call tiers of auto shipping estimates to or from Chapel Hill, NC.
The standard rate is the cheapest car transport quote, but it may take longer. The carrier fee is very important to the speed of a vehicle shipment assignment to a car hauler. Use it if you have some flexibility and can be patient.
The expedited rate is a slightly higher auto transport quote, but the service is usually much faster. The higher carrier fee creates a faster vehicle shipment assignment to a car hauler. Use it to separate your car shipment order from the pack.
The rush rate is a much higher car shipping quote, but the exceptionally fast service makes it worth it to people who are in a huge hurry. The high carrier fee causes a faster reaction and vehicle shipment assignment to a car hauler. Use it to jump your car shipment order to the front of the line.
Top Chapel Hill, NC Auto Transport FAQ’s
How Far In Advance Should You Set Up Your Chapel Hill, NC Car Transport Order?
We recommend scheduling your Chapel Hill, NC car transport order anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to ship your car next day or on the very same day, but providing us with a longer lead time allows us to schedule your vehicle transport better. You want the most current pricing, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship your car.
Should I Ship My Car Open or Enclosed to or from Chapel Hill, NC?
About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe.
If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $100,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. But it is up to the customer to decide what is best for him or her. Direct Express Auto Transport is an industry authority and can guide you on that decision.
Is It Better To Pay An Auto Transport Deposit?
The easy answer is yes, it is better to pay an auto transport deposit on your order. Carriers prefer getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery for services rendered, and who doesn’t? A partial credit card payment and balance due upon delivery accomplishes that. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the carrier trusts the broker, like they do us. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us.
Should I Insure My Vehicle While In Transit to or from Chapel Hill, NC?
All auto transportation carriers are required by the US Department of Transportation to have a current and valid insurance policy on file. Direct Express Auto Transport double checks the insurance policy prior to assigning the customer vehicle to any carrier.
We recommend that a customer not depend entirely on the car shipping carrier’s insurance policy because sometimes acts of God, such as hail, sleet, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and more might damage your vehicle. Those things are not covered by the carrier’s policy, but they would be by your personal policy. Remember, car transport service drivers are only responsible for negligence.
When I Ship My Car, Can I Put Stuff In It?
The strict D.O.T. decision is no, you cannot ship personal items inside your vehicle. The reality, however, is that most vehicle transport drivers will allow about 100 pounds or less. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Department of Transportation law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle. But it’s rarely enforced. Car transport drivers estimate the weight of each vehicle before getting on the road. They don’t want any problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum.
Some Chapel Hill, NC car transport drivers will accept a tip ($50-$300) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t, or simply can’t, due to the overall weight. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The driver is there to ship your car, not move your personal belongings.
How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle In Chapel Hill, NC?
Over 90% of our orders ship within one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most Americans live in a major metropolitan area, and are likely to ship a vehicle to another highly populated area. That makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days. Chapel Hill, NC is a fairly large metropolitan area, so we would expect a timely carrier assignment and pick up.
If either of your shipping locations are away from high population areas, in other words in a remote place, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city. That will increase your chances of shipping timely. Or you could add more money to the transport carrier fee, which may entice a driver. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your car.
How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle To Chapel Hill, NC?
Delivering your car to Chapel Hill, NC is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. After your vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly one day of transit time for every 500 miles distance.
In Transit Delivery Time Estimate Guide
100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days
Depending on the shipping route distance, the weather, vehicle size and locations, it could take more time. The carriers will often estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they usually arrive earlier.
How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?
In Chapel Hill, NC, clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.
Keep extra items to a minimum and place them in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give a set of keys to the auto transport carrier driver. Advise the carrier driver of any special problems regarding the vehicle, such as difficulty starting, steering, or braking.
Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers once they arrive in Chapel Hill, NC, and they will treat you in the same manner. Most people tip them $50 to $100 for a job well done.
Reviews From Our Customers
Place scroll bar here.
