If your destination is an apartment, shipping to an apartment is a little more difficult than shipping to a house or business. You may also wonder if there is an added charge for this delivery to an apartment. We will also review how these fees can change, how to prepare your apartment for delivery and what to expect when shipping a car to an apartment with Car Shipping Center.
Understanding Car Shipping Fees
They discuss extra fees for apartment deliveries and it’s important to understand how car transport shipping rates calculate. These factors affect the price to ship a car.
- Distance: Longer shipping distances result in higher shipping costs in totality.
- Vehicle Size and Type: Transporting larger vehicles or luxury/classic cars often comes along with higher associated costs.
- Transport Type: An open car transport option is typically cheaper than an enclosed vehicle option.
- Pickup and Delivery Location: Additional fees may be charged for urban locations or hard-to-reach areas.
Why Are Extra Fees Charged for Apartment Deliveries?
Not as common, some deliveries to apartments also incur an additional fee, as they may involve other considerations and logistics.
Limited Access for Large Transport Trucks
Apartment complexes often have narrow streets, limited entry and exit points, or very little parking area for larger transport trucks. This may prevent the car shipping company from delivering your vehicle to your apartment complex, especially if your vehicle is being shipped to a city center or other urban area. The driver could therefore need to:
- Deliver the car (also called “tow truck-style” delivery) on a smaller vehicle or a secondary car close to your unit.
- You could park nearby and have drivers for hire collect it, or you could arrange for another smaller car to bring your car to your specific location.
- An additional charge may be incurred if smaller vehicles, equipment or additional labor are needed for a special transportation circumstance.
Lack of Space for Unloading
In an area such as an apartment complex, where parking or unloading may be limited, the shipping company may have to park the truck in a lot away from the apartment, which may require additional time and expense to unload its cargo from the truck.
Navigating Restrictions
There might be more restrictions and rules involved for entrance and exit for an apartment or high-rise building. This could be a higher level of security, or a prior contact with the building managers before being allowed inside the complex. The service may also come with an additional charge.
Types of Fees You Might Encounter for Apartment Deliveries
While the exact price depends on the car shipping company, other common surcharges for delivery to apartments include:
Delivery to a Local Terminal (Terminal-to-Terminal Service)
If access to your apartment is impossible, the shipping company may attempt to arrange for terminal-to-terminal delivery where your car would be delivered to a terminal or nearby point for you to pick up your vehicle. You may also be charged for the shipping company’s time and effort to set this up.
Shuttle or Secondary Vehicle Fee
For this reason, a shuttle fee may be charged by the transport company if the car is to be transported from the transport truck to the apartment using a shuttle bus, especially in the case of cars that cannot be loaded or offloaded by regular car transport companies.
Special Permit or Access Fees
Some apartments require special fees or permits for car shipping companies to enter the complex or park in the rental apartments’ designated parking spaces. Car shipping companies may include these fees in their final price quote.
Parking Fees
Additionally, some crews may charge a fee for unloading or parking the truck near your apartment. If the truck cannot park close by, there may also be charges for additional parking.
How to Minimize Extra Fees for Apartment Deliveries
While delivery to apartments may at times incur additional costs, there are certain best practices to minimize those costs when possible.
Communicate with Your Shipping Company Early
Tell the car shipping company you live in an apartment before they check the details. This makes sure they know what to expect before arrival and they can plan accordingly.
At Car Shipping Center we help you organize the cheapest delivery imaginable, and talk you through any issues you may face.
Provide Detailed Instructions
Let your car shipping company know if there are any challenges in transporting your car, such as narrow roads, difficult parking, or roadblocks, to see if a shuttle or other vehicle is needed.
Consider Terminal-to-Terminal Delivery
For shipping to a busy apartment complex or other difficult to access location, switch to terminal-to-terminal delivery to save money, since terminal-to-terminal costs do not include the cost for accessing tight or difficult to access locations. Keep in mind that you would have to pick up the car from one of their terminals.
Be Available for Pickup
If your car is being dropped off at a local location or terminal, be sure that you are present to take possession of it to avoid any storage or waiting fees.
How Car Shipping Center
Handles Apartment Deliveries At Car Shipping Center, we understand that apartment deliveries can be tricky, and we work hard to make the process as efficient and affordable as possible.
- Pre-Delivery Consultation: We will consult with you ahead of time for identifying the unique features of your apartment complex and provide an accurate estimate if extra charges will apply.
- Flexible Delivery Options: In some cases, we provide shuttle services and terminal-to-terminal delivery in order to reach hard-to-access freight locations.
- Transparent Pricing: All supplementary costs are included within your quote and we will recommend the best way to send your goods at minimum cost.
Understanding and Preparing for Apartment Delivery Fees
Shipping a car to an apartment could create extra fees. However, if you prepare yourself using the right information about car shipping costs, you can minimize any additional fees. A good method to avoid some shipping fees to your apartment is to talk with the shipping company, ask for some delivery alternatives, and manage the process proactively.
Call Car Shipping Center today if you would like to learn more about apartment deliveries or if you want to begin the process of shipping your car. Our staff can make the process easy and answer any questions that you may have.
