> On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 11:46:20 -0400 Steve MacSween
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>> I am currently dealing with these guys, to move my 240d from Texas to
>> Canada. So far they have been very good overall. The final verdict will
>> be in when the car arrives (approx. 10 days).
>>
>> http://www.aa-auto.com/
>
> So, how much does it cost to ship a vehicle?
Depends on where to where, and time of year, not just mileage between the
points. Some states (LA, for example) are sort of, forget it. Dunno why
exactly. FLA, most of CA, OK and TX are easy, I know that much. If your
start or end point is near one of the major regional dealer auctions, it
will be easier/cheaper.
For example, a reputable company will probably charge in the $800 region,
retail, for taking a car from Texas or California to New England. Like
everything else, if you know someone in the car biz, dealers get it for
less. (And before someone chimes in with "I had mine sent a few years back
for $400, ask yourself how much diesel cost back then too.)
Caveat emptor. Shop for reputation and price, not just price. All these
guys
are just brokers, they either sub to owner/ops or to smaller regional
companies (not unlike how the furniture moving business really works). I
imagine my car will see two or three different trucks at least, on its way
up here. (Which is why non-running cars cost a fortune to ship.)
Some companies will tell you they'll do it for much less, and from the
horror stories I've heard and read, at best you'll probably see the car in
about triple the time frame you expected, at worst it will turn up that
much
later but not even where it was supposed to land.
However, always expect it to take longer than they tell you.
Mac
Aylmer, Quebec
'60 Mercedes 220s / '82 240d
'75 Volvo 164e / '88 Volvo 245
Also, of course, depends on the vehicle, but from my experience, your
estimates are low. I would start off getting an estimate from DAS, who is
kind of the "industry standard" right now due to theri partnership with
ebay. They are very reputable, and on the slightly higher than normal side,
but have ALL the options you want-bonded and licensed and insured, etc.
From my experience of shipping about seven to ten vehicles for people over
the past six or seven years, I would say a good cross-country price is abotu
$1200 right now. Pick up truck will be a bit more, Karmann Ghia will be a
bit less. I shipped a Ghia from San Fran to KY about five years ago, and it
was $875 then-gas and diesel were MUCH cheaper!!!
I also found an independent guy to grab a BIG crewcab 4X4 for me and bring
it from So Cal to GA for me for about $900, but he was none of the above-not
bonded or insured, just a guy taking a load one way that wanted to help pay
for the gas home. All of the companies I spoke with were over $1400 for
that one, I think, and that was last fall before the prices bumped up again.
Anyway, as I said, from MY experience, DAS is slightly high, but not a LOT
higher than the average will be. There are still others that are MUCH mroe
than them, as well as many that will be a little less than them. I think it
is kind of like local gas prices-they are all pretty close. If one guy is
willing to do it for $1000, another guy may go down to $925 to get the
business, but no one will go back below that. Same the other way. If one
company is going to charge $1000, no one wants to go TOO much under that
because they want to make some money too!!!
There is an internet list of old tractor enthusiasts that often make soem
offers to do some shipping just a little bit cheaper. I cannot recall the
web site, but have found individuals going somewher eto deliver or pick
something up once in a while and they will sometimes do a cheap return run,
or since their equip is so big, they sometimes have a WHOLE flatbed semi to
handle their tractor, but have room for a car on back. Do an internet
search and see if you can track this down. Also, look on craigs list and
ebay-sometimes some individual is doing the same thing. Again, often these
are not companies, but just "good old boys," but I have had god luck going
this route. Car enthusiasts tend to take care of cars!
Good luck!
Michael
