A major factor in auto transport cost, besides vehicle type and distance, is seasonal factors. Understanding these seasonal fluctuations and how they affect car shipping prices enables you to plan ahead and choose wisely when it comes to transporting your vehicle from one place to another.

1. How Auto Transporter Prices Are Influenced by Seasons
The auto transport industry has its own rules for determining the cost and time it takes
to ship a car. Unlike standard package shipments, which depends exclusively on the
package size and delivery date, auto transportation prices vary due to several factors,
such as weather, location, make and model, vehicle condition, vehicle weight, and
season. A major factor in auto transport cost, besides vehicle type and distance, is
seasonal factors. Understanding these seasonal fluctuations and how they affect car
shipping prices enables you to plan ahead and choose wisely when it comes to
transporting your vehicle from one place to another.
Summer Auto Transport – faster service and competetive prices
The period comprised between late spring (May) and early autumn (September) is
conventionally a very busy season for the auto transport industry. This is the time which
offers the best weather conditions for safe and fast auto transport. The roads are clear of
snow, the days are longer and the weather makes it pleasant to be outside. There is no
secret that most people who do ship their cars, choose to transport it from one place to
another precisely between May and September. Having the car brought to your door on
time, in clean condition and free of salt is an argument strong enough to convince any
car enthusiast.
Summer is also the time when most people leave for extended vacations, which can
make the roads very busy. When the distance is too great to drive, auto transport
companies are hired to pick up and deliver the vehicle it to its destination, preferably fast
and without any hassle. Pair these two situations and you have an exodus of people
shipping their cars which leads to busy auto transport companies. When these companies
have an high supply of vehicles to ship, they choose wisely, which means they go for the
higher priced ones first. It is at these times that customers will have to pay higher prices
in order to get their car shipped on time. When the demand for cars needing shipped is
higher and the supply of trucks is the same, prices tend to go up.
As with any other service, when there are enough cars that need to be shipped to keep
all transport companies busy, prices tend to increase. So, if you plan to ship your car
during busy season, prepare to pay much more than you would during late autumn or
winter.
Another aspect to seasonal pricing is customers that go down south during the winter
months and go back north in the spring. These type of clients are called "snow birds".
They escape the cold northern winters and go to Florida and other warm southern states.
The prices for shipping your car down south during the fall season is higher due to the
increased demand. The prices flip flop in the spring, when they go back north. Keep this

2. mind next time you are planning to escape the cold winters in the north for the beautiful
Florida sun.
Winter Auto Transport – longer delivery time, yet a little more expensive
Wintertime comes with a lot of problems for auto transport carriers, especially in
northern states, where heavy snow can slow down traffic and even close roads which
lead to delays. Transporting cars from, to or through states such as North Dakota,
Wyoming, Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota, can be quite troublesome and at times
even risky. There have been cases in which car hauler trucks have lost control and spun
off of the highway. Also, notable delays are registered when the snowfall exceeded
normal expectations.
These potential risks deter some carriers from going to certain routes, which can
decrease the supply of carriers in an area, which in turn increases the shipping price.
During the winter season, there is a high probability that pick up times will be longer
than usual due to less supply of trucks and weather conditions. It may take up to a week
for a carrier to pickup your vehicle, which can cause problems if you are in a hurry to
ship your car. It is recommended that in the winter season you should contact an auto
transport company at least three weeks in advance to your preferred ship date. This early
booking will assure that carriers have sufficient time to pick up your vehicle.
Auto transport costs change periodically in accordance with several factors. Therefore, it
is advisable to receive several car shipping quotes from different transport companies
and save on your shipment.
Source: Auto Shipping Quotes