Shipping a Vehicle During the Holidays

How to Ship a Vehicle During the Holidays

The holidays are always a busy time for everyone, including businesses. While ideally, you won't need to ship your vehicle during the holidays, sometimes, you don't have a choice. But even though many auto transport companies are operating during this time period between Thanksgiving and New Year's, you should be aware of a few things in order to ensure that your vehicle is transported with as little delays as possible.

Avoid the Day After Thanksgiving

No matter what, you should always avoid trying to schedule any auto transport services the day after Thanksgiving. Even though it may seem convenient to do so since many people are off from work, unfortunately, most auto transport companies are also closed. If you do manage to get in contact with an auto transport company on that Friday, chances are that they will not even get the ball rolling, in terms of scheduling it, until the following Monday.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

When it comes to shipping your vehicle during the holidays, the earlier that you arrange it, the better. It's recommended that you schedule your auto transport services at least two weeks before an upcoming holiday. That way, you'll have a much greater chance of it being transported on time and without any delays.

Show Some Flexibility

You should have some leeway in the shipping dates that you have in mind. Since many auto transport carriers are off during parts of the holidays, the ones that are actually operating may be inundated with shipment loads. Plus, don't fail to take into account the delays associated with holiday traffic, which can be a nightmare around Thanksgiving. So show some flexibility in terms of pickup times and your preferred delivery window when you're discussing things with the auto transport company.

Be Aware of the Post-Christmas Break

The week between Christmas and New Year's is often the hardest time of the year to book auto transport services. Many of the carriers are not operating during this time, as most drivers choose to take off to spend time with their families. It'd be much better to make arrangements at least a week prior to Christmas or a few days after New Year's.

Expect Higher Costs

Since many auto transport carriers do not operate during the holidays, the ones that do will often charge more than their usual rate. Think of this as a “holiday tax.” After all, this is simply following the principles of supply and demand. The closer that you need your vehicle delivered to a holiday such as Christmas, the more that you will have to pay. How much that amount depends on the particular company. You can always try to negotiate the amount with them, rather than settling for the price that you're initially quoted.

We at A-1 Auto Transport hope you enjoy the upcoming holidays. If you are in need of any auto transport services around this time, we'd be happy to help. Contact us today for a free no obligation quote!