Did you know that it’s approximately 2,200 miles between Seattle and Alaska?
Even though Seattle is the closest large US city to Alaska, it’s still a long way to drive between these two destinations. Therefore, it makes sense why so many people choose to have their cars shipped instead of driving them on their own.
To help you figure out how to choose the right auto transportation service to ship your car, we’ve written a guide. Keep reading and we will tell you everything that you need to know.
Alaska Auto Transportation Service: The Best Options
There are two methods that most people use to ship their cars: enclosed and open car haulers. Here are the benefits and downsides of each of these services.
Open Car Haulers
These are the easiest kinds of car haulers to recognize and they are the same kinds of haulers that car dealerships use to get new cars delivered. There are no roofs or walls on open haulers, which means that they are exposed to rain, sleet, and snow.
It’s a good idea to transport your car with an open car hauler if you are in a hurry. Since they are much more common than enclosed haulers, there’s a good chance that the company you choose to work with will have a space available for your car.
As long as you don’t have a new or classic car that you want to keep in pristine condition, it’s usually the best option to transport your car with an open hauler.
You should also remember that it can get cold and snowy in Alaska in the wintertime. This means that your car will likely have ice on it when it arrives in Alaska.
Enclosed Car Haulers
If you are worried that the wintery weather conditions will do damage to your car, it’s a good idea to use an auto transportation company that uses enclosed car haulers.
Most open car haulers have space for a couple of vehicles, which means that your car will be traveling alongside other people’s cars. In general, a hauler that can carry more cars will cost less to transport your car than a hauler that is only designed to carry one or two cars.
Since enclosed car haulers that travel to Alaska tend to be harder to find than open car haulers, you’ll need to have a flexible schedule if you choose to use one.
It’s a good idea to call an Alaska car shipping company as early as you can to book a space for your car if you want to increase the likelihood that you’ll find one that has space.
Also, keep in mind that enclosed car haulers tend to charge more for transporting people’s cars than open car haulers.
People who need to transport expensive and valuable cars tend to use enclosed car haulers so that they have peace of mind in knowing that their cars won’t be damaged by the ice and sleet.
Ship a Car to Alaska: Understanding the Transport Process
For most people, it makes much more sense to ship their car to Alaska than it does for them to drive their car themselves. Here are the basic steps involved in shipping a car to Alaska.
Reach Out to an Auto Transportation Service to Get a Quote and Book
Make a list of several auto transportation services that you’re interested in hiring to ship your car. It’s a good idea to have three to five transportation services on your list. Call each of these companies and ask for a quote.
Most auto transportation services have three different kinds of service: economy, standard, and expedited. Though you’ll get your vehicle to Alaska much more quickly by choosing an expedited service, it’s probably going to cost you more than other kinds of services.
Schedule a Car Pickup and Transport
If you want to avoid one of the top car shipping mistakes, don’t forget to prepare your car for shipping before you have it transported. Make sure that your car is clean and that you’ve taken all of your personal belongings from its interior.
Some car transport services allow you to track where your car is at on its journey, and others do not. Be sure to ask if this service is available for your car before you have somebody pick it up.
Receive Your Car in Alaska
When the driver of the hauler that’s carrying your car arrives in Alaska, you’ll need to meet at an agreed-upon location and pick up your car. If you are not able to be there to pick up your car, you can assign this responsibility to a friend or family member.
Before the auto transport service can hand your car over to you, you’ll need to go through one last inspection to verify that your automobile is still in perfect condition after it’s made its long trip.
Choose the Best Auto Transportation Service to Ship Your Car to Alaska Today
If you’ve been uncertain about how to ship your car to Alaska with an auto transportation service, it’s important to know whether you want to use an open car hauler or a closed car hauler. It’s also a good idea to get a quote from several different transportation services before choosing one to use.
If you are ready to ship your car to Alaska, we are here to help you. Please contact us today to get a free quote.