earossi

I'm about to begin the effort to secure the services of a car transporter to pick up and transport a car that I have just purchased in California. It's about 1800 miles from California to Chicago; so, I'm looking for the easiest and most cost effective way to get through this effort.

The last time that I had a car transported was about 5 years ago, and I remember the process of sorting through transporters to be tedious and not a good effort. We did finally select a company and the car got picked up and delivered, but it seemed to take a lot of coordination and time. Frustrating.

For anyone who has just recently gone through this ordeal, is there advice/recommendations you could provide that would improve my learning curve? In particular, is there a better way to vet the transport companies?

TIA

rjf

Based on the recommendation of the previous owner of my 993, I used Gran Turismo Motorsports, based in Florida. I worked with the owner, Ken Gold. Ken's company had transported my 993 from California to Massachusetts. I was extremely satisfied with Ken and his team's service.

P-daddy

I've used Intercity and Reliable. No issues.

Dr. Ferdinand

+1 for P-Daddy's feedback, I would go with Reliable and Intercity (the latter has a discount if you just tell them you post on 6speedonline, may be a RL discount as well). I would stay away from Plycar, had a negative experience.

Make sure you shop around, rates tend to vary a lot also based on what else may be going on around the US (e.g. Barrett Jackson, various concourses like Cavallino, Monterey, etc.), the location of pickup/dropoff, your flexibility in dates, etc.

Turbodan

find out if they ship the car or use other companies trucks, otherwise they are just a broker and you never know who is shipping the car. I also suggest getting them to quote an exact timeline as they often will say anything to get the business then the truck brakes down (they claim this a lot) and delays. I would suggest buying a tracking dongle for $30 and you should be able to track the car along the way.

crw

I used Intercity and had the car delivered to a friend who is a car collector, for the winter.

My friend had never owned a 911 and I was not there for the delivery (off the truck and into the storage building.)

My friend did not know the car needed to be started with the immobilizer sequence.

The Intercity driver was unfamiliar with the role of the immobilizer and assumed the car battery was dead because the car would not start when he turned the key. He then proceeded to jump start the car by letting in roll off the truck and putting it in gear. I wondered how may times they did this during the trip when they 1st picked up the car.

There was no damage to the car.

Who ever you use as a delivery service - make sure they have knowledge of how to start a 911 with an immobilizer.

PasPar2

Used JP Logistics - was quick and easy.

pp000830

Whoever you use consider taking a complete set of pictures of your car next to the carrier before it is loaded. I did this once shipping a car for a friend and sure enough there was minor damage noted at delivery. The pictures settled the issue as to when it happened and the shipper's responsibility.

168glhs1986

I just text my broker. Have shipped 20 + hi end cars with her and never an issue.

usually she finds a truck same day and pickup is next day, sometimes that day, sometimes 2 days.

Her record is this for one of my E30 M3 Race Cars in California.. I wired funds at 10 am eastern time and texted her. She found a driver and the car was picked up at 5pm Eastern time. The car arrived safely 4 days later. It arrived so fast it beat the title here !

I routinely ship cars from California to Maryland for $1200 enclosed and professional all the way....although not sure what your price would be thou

LMK if you want her number.

myflat6

Intercity is excellent and a RL sponsor. They have been trusted with many priceless cars from PNA. I have used them for coast to coast shipping twice.

spruden

Intercity - flawless experience with them shipping from CA to the Midwest earlier this winter.

They offer a RL discount. Total pros - very easy. No stress, great driver, etc...

myflat6

Intercity

sammyf

I've used Nick @ Plycar Group a couple of times for my Porsche and Ferrari...

http://plycargroup.com

vincer77

We will be moving back to CA and have a Yukon and my 911 to bring back. Has anyone towed their 911 this kind of distance in an open U-haul type trailer? Dumb idea?

I know a lot of you tow race cars all over, but likely in closed trailers.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Vince,

I would not flat-tow your car for that distance.

Rent a good car trailer or have it shipped, especially if your Yukon is not equipped with a trailer-towing package.