Can you save money shipping multiple vehicles?

It can be slightly disturbing knowing you've got to ship more than one vehicle when moving as a family or as a car dealership trading vehicles.

Many first-time multiple-vehicle shippers often ask: Can I save money by shipping multiple vehicles? The short answer is "YES," but it's not that simple. Many people get it wrong. As a shipping company that has shipped over 80,000 vehicles, we've seen it all. Therefore, we've carefully put together a tailored breakdown to help you save money when shipping multiple vehicles.

What Is Multiple-Vehicle Shipping?

It is simple: shipping multiple vehicles means sending two or more vehicles with a single carrier to a single destination. Here's how the system works:

• Open carriers are the standard choice for shipping multiple vehicles, possessing the capacity to carry 7–10 vehicles at once.
• This setup helps streamline logistics, routes, and delivery timelines. Instead of picking cars up one at a time, they are loaded all at once, reducing the total cost.

Who Uses Multiple-Vehicle Shipping?

• Dealerships (most common): Franchise dealerships, such as NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association), sell over 15 million vehicles annually and heavily rely on multiple-vehicle shipping for their transportation.
• Auction and fleet transfers
• Families relocating
• Corporate fleets: Companies move vehicles in bulk for operational purposes, such as rentals. Multiple-vehicle transport offers shippers a cost-saving option, allowing you to save 20–25% when shipping 3–4 vehicles.

Why Is Multi-Vehicle Shipping Cost-Saving?

Let's break down the operational reality:

• Shared logistics costs: If you're shipping multiple vehicles, the logistics cost is shared, reducing the price per vehicle.
• Distributed overhead: Overhead costs are distributed across all vehicles in transit.
• Unified locations: Utilizing the same pickup and drop-off points lowers overall expenses.
• Bulk discounts from carriers: Consolidating space on the trucks cuts down on logistics hassles and increases the carrier's profit per trip, which benefits you in the long run.

Factors Influencing Multiple-Vehicle Shipping

• Distance: Distance plays a significant role in how much you will spend and save on multi-vehicle shipping. The farther the distance, the cheaper the shipping cost per mile. For short rides under 200 miles, the cost is $2.92 per mile; for rides up to 1,000 miles, it drops to $0.78 per mile.
• Transport Type: Open transport is the best option for multiple vehicles. However, in certain cases where enclosed transport is required, the cost skyrockets.
• Fuel and Carrier Availability: Fuel prices directly influence multi-vehicle shipping—when fuel prices spike, shipping costs increase, and vice versa. Furthermore, during peak seasons like summer, carriers get fully booked, raising shipping costs due to lower availability.

Where You Won't Save Money Shipping Multiple Vehicles (The Pitfalls)

Few people are telling this truth: not all shipping situations encourage cost-saving. Here are the key instances where you should be vigilant:

• Shipping at different times: When you have multiple vehicles and ship them at different times instead of simultaneously, you lose out on bulk discounts.
• Locations are far apart: Shipping multiple vehicles to entirely different destinations means separate pick-ups and drop-offs, causing the carrier to treat them as separate jobs.
• Choosing the wrong carrier type: Open transport is cost-effective, whereas enclosed transport is expensive. If a situation mandates enclosed transport, understand that this option does not offer cost-saving windows.
• Failing to compare quotes: If you're a budget-conscious shipper, skipping quotes from a reputable transport company and at least 2 competitors prevents you from finding the most efficient service at an affordable price.

Best Strategies to Maximize Your Savings

1. Ship all vehicles at once: Timing is highly important. Shipping multiple vehicles together to the same location secures a better deal.
2. Use open carriers if the situation permits: If you aren't shipping luxury or classic vehicles, open carriers are safe, reliable, and much cheaper.
3. Use one carrier company: Consolidate your shipment with a single carrier for greater leverage in cost negotiations.
4. Be flexible with pickup or delivery dates: If you're in a rush, your shipping costs rise. Carriers reward shippers who offer flexibility with dates.
5. Ask for a multiple-car discount: Don't assume companies automatically apply discounts. Always ask upfront (e.g., "How much is the discount for 3 vehicles?") to ensure you capture savings instead of paying individual rates for each vehicle.

Final Thoughts

It is not just about shipping more cars; it is about logistics and how they work. By understanding the strategies for saving money on multiple-vehicle shipping, you can align your approach accordingly and maximize efficiency.

FAQs

Can you save money shipping multiple vehicles?

Yes. You can save money on shipping multiple vehicles because it helps the carrier streamline the process by using a single logistics path, location, booking, and carrier, prompting auto transport companies to offer bulk discounts.

How much does it cost to ship multiple vehicles?

The cost depends on several key factors, including distance, location, carrier type, and fuel prices. Shippers typically secure a 10–25% discount off the original price when shipping multiple vehicles.

What's the cheapest way to ship multiple vehicles?

The cheapest way to ship multiple vehicles is through open-carrier transport.

Is it better to ship cars together or separately?

Shipping cars together offers greater cost savings and administrative advantages. Shipping separately requires booking, transporting, and paying independently, which is both stressful and expensive.