If you are moving or need to ship your car during the holidays, one of the most important things you should think about is the availability of the holiday auto shipping service. The holidays are a time when a lot of people move, buy new cars, or send their vehicles to their families, but it is getting harder to arrange these shipments as the carriers face too much demand and not enough space.
In this blog post, we will discuss the factors that affect the availability of the holiday auto shipping service, the importance of planning ahead, and how to make sure that your car is shipped on time during the busy season. Whether you are moving during the holidays or just wanting to ship your car, it will be much easier if you have a clue about what is going to happen.
Why is Holiday Auto Shipping Service Availability Different?
Holidays, mostly those around major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, are the time when vehicle shipping services are in high demand. The large number of requests, along with some difficulties in logistics such as holiday closures, can have a great impact on the availability of carriers as well as transport slots. The following are some reasons for limited holiday auto shipping service availability during these times:
1. Overwhelming Demand for Shipping Services
The holiday season is a time when people decide to move, go and visit family, or take a car from another state and so on. Eventually, this situation will cause a surge in requests for car shipping services. At the busiest times, shipping companies may have so much work that they are unable to meet all the requests in time and thus become the cause of the delay of availability or the delivery of the goods taking longer than expected.
2. Holiday Closures and Reduced Operations
For most of the year, shipping companies are usually open and running their business as usual, but during the holidays, the situation is quite different. Most of the employees in these companies go on a holiday break, so the company itself is operating with a reduced staff. The consequence of this is the reduction of operations, the carriers’ availability being less, and pickup and delivery being at limited times. During Christmas and New Year’s Day, for example, there can be a complete stoppage of work or a couple of working days, and in such cases, scheduling your shipment will become a problem.
3. Weather Challenges and Travel Delays
Winter harsh weather, including snowstorms, ice, and freezing temperatures, is some of the phenomena that can hinder the shipping process to be delayed or even stopped. In such periods, we get the occurrence of dangerous road conditions and delays, and the situation is worse during the holidays. Under such circumstances, some services may not be available, or the delivery may take longer than expected.
4. Special Shipping Needs for Holidays
Car shipment during the holidays means new and different requirements. The majority want their cars to be delivered on a particular date (for example a move during the holidays or a present), thus there might be a shortage of cars or longer delivery times due to traffic or bad weather which can cause a problem with their plan.
How to Plan for Holiday Auto Shipping Service Availability
To steer clear of the holiday season shipping problems for your vehicle, it is essential that you plan ahead and have a clear understanding of the process. These are the few ways that can guarantee timely shipping of your automobile:
1. Book Early for Holiday Shipping
One of the most valuable things you can do when planning holiday auto shipping is to get in touch with the transport service and secure your spot as soon as possible. By booking early, you secure a transport slot for your vehicle especially at the time of the year when the holiday season is at its peak and the available slots are getting filled quickly. The earlier you book, the more convenient your pickup and delivery dates will be.
In fact, it is recommended that you schedule your shipment no less than 2-3 weeks before the date of pickup. This allows the company that is in charge of the shipping enough time to place your vehicle on the schedule and also gives you more carriers to choose from.
2. Work Methodically With Pickup And Delivery Dates
It’s absolutely necessary to keep a flexible attitude towards your pickup and delivery dates, especially during the holidays. Carriers might not be able to meet your exact dates, particularly at times of high demand or when there holidays are closed. By extending the range of your delivery windows, not only will you be able to find a carrier but also reserve a place for your vehicle.
Sometimes, terminal-to-terminal shipping (where you drop off and pick up your car at designated terminals) might be more convenient in terms of flexibility than door-to-door services, as you can always rely on the terminals being open.
3. Plan for Weather and Road Conditions
It is important you prepare for winter weather that may delay your journey with the car in the case of snowstorms or freezing temperatures. Most companies of transport are always prepared for the extreme weather conditions, however, these can still cause the deliveries to be delayed. If you are sending your car to a place that is going to be hit by severe weather, it is a good idea to make a plan that includes more time to cover possible delays.
The best thing to do is to look for a booking during the holidays and be sure to watch the weather forecast. In addition, you may ask the shipping company how they handle the situation in case of bad weather. Some companies allow your car to be transported in a closed transport giving it extra protection from the elements in the case of a severe winter.
4. Communicate with Your Shipping Company
The most effective communication between you and your auto shipping provider is the main factor that ensures the vehicle to arrive on time during the holidays. Inquire about their holiday schedule, the delays they foresee, and the precautions they take in order to overcome the challenges presenting themselves as obstacles in the way of delivery. If your vehicle is to be delivered at a certain time only and you need it for an occasion such as a family gathering, then I suggest you inform the service provider that you are booking it through.
Your carrier of choice must be upfront about their availability, how they are planning to get through the busy season, and what are the possibilities if there will be a change in time or delivery. Through the maintenance of being in constant communication, you will be able to have access to updates and consequently be able to adjust your expectations.
5. Consider Expedited Services
In case you want your car transport to be done as soon as possible at the holiday period, you may choose an expedited or a priority shipping. Generally, this alternative is more expensive, but it ensures a faster delivery and a better customer service. Thus, through an expedited shipment, your car can be collected and delivered in time even at the busiest periods.
In case you only have a short time to execute your consignment, you may as well consider the company’s expedited shipping solutions and if they are able to offer you a quicker way to achieve your goal.
How Holiday Car Shipping Service Availability Can Impact Your Costs
Besides possible delays and limited availability holiday auto shipping service availability can also affect the price of vehicle transport. The reason is that there is a higher demand for shipping services during the holidays, and so the rates may be higher than in non-peak periods. Below are a few factors that could influence your shipping costs during the holidays:
- Increased Demand: As was mentioned more people shipping vehicles over the holidays is the main reason that prices go up because of the limited number of transport options available.
- Expedited Shipping Fees: For instance, if it is a hurry to you that your car is to be shipped, you will have to pay more for the holiday expedited services.
- Weather-Related Delays: In case your car shipment is held up due to the weather, storage or slow delivery fees might be charged on top of that.
If you do not want to pay high rates, it is a must to reserve in advance, get rates from different carriers, and be willing to ship on different days.
It is possible that less service will be available for the holiday car shipment because of different reasons, such as higher demand, holidays and bad weather delays. You can make sure that your car will be shipped securely at the time that you want even at the busiest time of the year if you plan in advance, book early and stay flexible with your dates.
At Car Shipping Auto, we have a thorough understanding of the holiday car transport situation. The proficient team of ours is always at your disposal to facilitate you with the procedure in such a way that your car will be the last to be delayed and will be in great condition. Get in touch with us when it’s most convenient for you to get a quote tailored to your needs and let us take care of your holiday auto shipping!
