I've been looking around for a couple weeks, now I'm getting ready to start making offers...actually already had one offer turned down, oh well.

Anyway, I'm looking for advice on shipping, having never purchased a car that needed to be shipped before.

Good carriers? Bad carries? Warning signs?
Open? Enclosed?

Unless I get super lucky and find a car close by (unlikely) I will be shipping, and it is still the dead of winter here...snow, ice, salt, gravel, oh my. I live near Buffalo, NY.

For example, a car I really like in California, looks like it would be about 1k to ship open, 2k to ship enclosed. Is it worth it to go enclosed?

 

Lots of threads on this if you search.

Most people here will recommend enclosed.

Most people will also recommend Intercity. They're super reliable, a site sponsor and offer a discount if you mention your a RLer when you request a quote. That should probably be you're first option.

Also recommended:

Thomas Sunday
JP Logistics

 

Beware of low priced truck brokers. Some will quote a price much lower than market, then place an order on a central dispatch system, and wait for a truck owner-operator to accept the move. It could take weeks for your vehicle to get picked up, and then you don't know what kind of equipment or driver will be handling and transporting your car.

Truck brokers aren't necessarily bad, but just be sure you know who you're dealing with. The best service will be from an operator like Intercity. You will pay a little extra, but it's well worth it. You often get what you pay for.

If you are transporting a high value car, you will probably want to pay a little extra for an enclosed carrier, and protect your investment from the elements.

 

I used JPLogistics - great experience

 

I paid $1400 from New Hampshire to Calif Intercity closed dead of winter

 

Wow, that is way less than I expected. Kind of makes it a no-brainer, thanks for all the replies.

 

The best I have used was Intercity and I have had 5/6 Porsche's shipped.

 

Great experience here with Intercity (Jim).....got my turbo cab here, and took my C4S cab on the return trip.

 

Just wondering, are the prices at all negotiable? I'm not going to fight anyone for $50, but I'm at the limit of my budget on this, so every little bit helps.

 

This is more about being inpatient and nervous about being the first time shipping a car. My car was paid for, check cashed by independent dealership specializing on moving/selling other peoples cars. Basically a broker with a website and warehouse. Now I want my car, like now. The broker set up a trucker. Open trailer, gave me his name and phone number to call him in case I wanted to check on when my car was being picked up or in transit back to me. I call him and he couldn't speak any english. Like talking to an alien. He gets mad that I called and refuses to pick up my car. Now almost a week since the check is cashed and my car is still in the middle of the country. Long story short I hire my on trucking company. My search was about the fastest to go get my car.
I find a trucking company and they find a trucker with a 3 car wedge trailer in the area. He gets my car and drives it back to me on the east coast in a 1 1/2 days.
Cost $600. Car is fine, trucker is a peach of a guy, he puts my car at the back so it doesn't face the road debris. I did call the closed trailer guys like Innercity but they were a another week out and about $$1600. I just wanted my car fast. They had my money the check was cashed.

 

This is exactly why you need to know who you're dealing with. Go with a reputable trucking company that other people recommend or have experience with.

 

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Oops

 

I don't have any idea about bad carriers. I used All America auto transport company to ship my car recently using enclosed trailer. It was my first shipping and really had a nice experience. I would suggest you to choose enclosed method. You can ask your auto shipper for shipping advice. Most of the shipping company provides solutions to all our shipping queries like the one i got from my auto shipper. Have a nice move.

 

I used McCollister's a few months ago to transport my 997 that I purchased out of state and it was a great experience. All the non broker shippers were about the same price from the quotes I got. I was able to place the request to McCollister's and my car was picked up the next day and was on its way to me. They have live tracking and I was able to call the driver at anytime to check on status. Delivery happened exactly when they said it would and with no issues.

 

Good afternoon,
Here to help. Please PM me if you are interested in rates and timing.
Read ore recommendations and reviews right here on Rennlist, BBB , Yelp

Liz