
It can almost feel like the worst things happen when money is already tight. Take moving, for instance, maybe in search of a new job opportunity, for school, or even to be with family.
When your new location is too far or risky to drive, the best option is auto transport services. The problem isn’t finding a vehicle hauler to do the job; in these cases, it’s finding the money to pay for the service.
Paying for auto transport in a pinch
In most cases, when we need to pay for something important but don’t have the capital right away, we turn to lending agents for financing options. For example, when buying a new car, recently, more Americans have considered this a viable option to facilitate their auto transport needs for domestic purposes and even for importing vehicles to other countries.
Auto transport financing may be the solution you need to send your car to another state or even another country.
We are a company that cares, and A1 Auto Transport prides itself on offering the most affordable and competitive rates in the auto moving industry. And just like finding financing options to get a new car, you can rack up debt and dig yourself a deeper hole if you aren’t careful.
We strongly advise researching whatever options become available and, more importantly, staying within your means.

How is auto transport typically paid for?
Auto transport companies prefer the most direct means of payment. This is understandable since this is a high-risk business with thin profit margins. Many auto haulers can’t afford delinquent payments and require some sort of guarantee before proceeding with the shipment.
This is why you must pay a sizable deposit before anything can happen. The vehicle transport company has to watch its back, especially since many people are involved in the process and must be compensated.
The typical route is cash-on-delivery. If you don’t pay, you won’t get your car and will face daily storage fees until the balance is received.
Cash
Many smaller auto transport companies will allow their customers to pay cash simply because of the guarantee in it. There are no checks to be cleared, no credit card companies to stop the deposit, and no runarounds.
Others try to avoid large cash deposits for security reasons, or because they don’t have time to make multiple deposits. Of course, they will outline other payment methods that may be more convenient, like direct transfers.
Be sure to inquire about cash as a payment method, and find out what is best for the company. Many small auto haulers need quick access to money for their day-to-day operations, and they would much rather have an envelope with cash over a check.
Debit/Credit Cards
Debit and credit cards are usually the easiest ways to pay for services since they are fast and don’t involve cash. The company must swipe the card, and the money will be sent to their business account.
Some smaller vehicle carrier companies don’t accept cards because of the processing fees involved in each transaction due to the thin profit margin under which the company operates. Since debit card fees are cheaper, some companies may outlaw credit cards in their company policy.
There’s also the issue of reversed payments if a customer decides he/she isn’t pleased with the service or wants to report fraudulent claims to recoup the expenses. It’s much harder for a customer to return the cash once it’s handed over.
It is also not uncommon for a company to require a cash deposit and then allow debit/credit card payments for the balance.
Before booking the transport, contact the auto carriers to determine whether card payments are accepted.

Checks
Checks are a touchy issue for some businesses, and this does not apply solely to the auto transport industry. Once a check is cashed, the money belongs to the company, and a customer will take a lot longer to get the money back.
However, bad checks are still a thing, and when they bounce, it can feel like it’s not worth it to hunt down the customer because of the costs and time involved in resolving the matter. Some unscrupulous customers may even call their bank to stop the payment altogether.
To remedy this, some auto transport companies only take cashier’s checks, not personal ones, and money orders.
Peer-to-peer (P2P) Payments
The new trend is to use P2P apps over cash and cards. This is usually done for security reasons, and they have been branded as an alternative with lower processing/transaction fees.
Some of the most popular P2P methods include PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and so on.
The transfers are instant, and the most popular apps are compatible with most major banks in the U.S. Some of these apps, like Zelle, only allow users to connect debit cards, rather than credit cards to ensure the cash is actually available.
If you plan to use P2P payment, determine beforehand if the tender is acceptable.
Paypal Credit
Paypal Credit, or Bill Me Later, is a suitable financing option for customers who use Paypal often. Paypal allows users to build a line of credit (with the backing of brick-and-mortar financial institutions) and offers it as a loan to be repaid in installments or lump sum.
This option will only work if agreed upon by all parties involved, so get clarification before proceeding with it.
Vehicle Shipping Funding
There are typically two options to finance auto transport if you don’t have cash. The first and most popular is personal loans. The second is to seek in-house financing options from your auto transport company.
Personal loans
Taking a personal loan to finance auto transport means going to the bank or a lending agency, as you would for any other loan, and using the funds to pay for the vehicle transit. Once you meet the basic conditions for the loan, it shouldn’t be difficult to access the funds.
Make sure the loan makes sense, in terms of the payment plan and interest. Shop for the best deal, and don’t jump the gun on the fastest offer.
Taking a loan isn’t always worth it. Do the math, and see how much you’ll pay in the long run versus out of pocket. If you get a bad ‘deal,’ you can pay twice as much!
If you’re moving a state over, auto transport is way cheaper, and no more than a few hundred dollars. If you can use a credit card, and pay it back with a part of your paycheck, it’s more logical to make that sacrifice.
Going the personal loan route typically makes more sense when sending your car across the country, the border, or the ocean to start a new life. This removes some of the burdens of other moving and settling costs and gives you enough time to repay the loan reasonably.
If you’re unsure about taking the loan, discuss it with someone to gain some perspective.
In-House Credit
Lots of companies offer payment plans for their services, but the auto transport business is one where it generally doesn’t make sense.
Small companies
Large companies can afford to absorb shock from non-payments, but most people don't want to take that risk. This is not meant to dissuade customers or make it harder for them; it’s simply about the continuity of business operations.
Look at it this way: many of these vehicle-moving companies cannot afford to miss out on funds. In many cases, drivers have to maintain their vehicles, buy fuel, pay for lodging and food, and, at the end of the day, make a reasonable living from providing these services. These high overhead costs require constant cash flow through the auto shipping business. If there’s no cash, many of these companies cannot operate, and they don’t have the backing of banks to recoup lost earnings.
Outside of this, some smaller companies cannot offer in-house financing options because the shipping process involves two different companies. One is the auto transport broker, and the other is the auto transport carrier. The broker finds the airline to do the actual shipping and will require a deposit for that service. The next is the carrier fees that are collected on delivery.
A payment plan complicates things as it’s not one entity. You would be bonded to two separate payment plans, which would likely cost more in the end.
Large/independent companies
The shipping companies that do offer payment plans do so mainly because they function as both the broker and the carrier. They usually have the infrastructure in place to protect them against risk and have positive cash flow.
The interest rates and payment plans may be pre-set. However, this varies across different auto transport companies, so research is definitely needed.
How To Make Car Shipping Cheaper
The easiest way to determine the cost of your car transport is to get an online quote. Compare with other quotes to get the best price options.
Use the FREE, No-Obligation Quote Tool today to find out how much shipping your car will cost.
Did you know that your quotes are rough estimates, and you can pay less than you expected? Here’s how you can make your auto transport cheaper:
Look for discounts
A discount is a great way to save money on car transit. Special discounts are usually available year-round for military personnel and students. You may even find special discounts for senior citizens.

Companies sometimes offer other discounts to a certain number of customers as an incentive to book immediately.
If you don’t see any discounts readily available on a company’s website, call and ask to speak to someone in sales. You may be eligible for discounts you didn’t even know existed.
Ship offseason
Demand for auto transport decreases during the off-season, particularly around winter. Auto haulers try to incentivize customers by lowering rates for transport services.
The best part about shipping off-season is that you can usually find an available shipping date much sooner than you would during peak season. You may even receive your shipment sooner if weather conditions permit.
Opt For Open-air Conveyance Over Enclosed Shipping.
Transporting a car by land is typically done in two ways: open-air transport or enclosed shipping.
Open-air transport means that the car will be loaded onto the truck, usually with several vehicles, and shipped exposed to the elements. This method is cheaper since the transport is shared and the car can carry more vehicles simultaneously.
Enclosed transport is more expensive since the car is shipped in a covered carrier. These carriers usually carry a maximum of four vehicles that share the cost.
When you opt for open-air shipping, the overall cost of shipping your car will be less.
Terminal-to-terminal Delivery Vs Door-to-door Delivery
Taking your car to the company’s terminal yourself will cost the carrier less, therefore you will be charged less for the service. The same is true when you pick it up yourself at the destination terminal.
When a carrier comes to your house or a predetermined location for pickup, the company uses more time and energy, and you will have to pay more for the service. You will also be charged to drop it off anywhere other than the company’s terminal.
Terminal-to-terminal delivery will save you money, but it should also make sense. If you live a distance from the terminal and have to, for example, Uber there, opting for door delivery in a new area may make more sense. Ask about terminal-to-door or door-to-terminal delivery options.
Car shipping with A1 Auto Transport
Agents are always available to discuss your auto financing options and the most cost-effective way to transport your vehicle. We guarantee the fairest prices, and the expertise to get you there sooner without breaking the bank.