Summer is one of the busiest seasons for auto transport across the United States. Whether you’re a college student heading home, a military family relocating, or simply trying to coordinate the sale or purchase of a vehicle, understanding how summer impacts the car shipping process can help you avoid delays and frustration. This guide offers practical summer car shipping tips so you can book with confidence and ensure a smooth transport experience.
Why Summer Is Peak Season for Car Shipping
During the summer, the roads get busy. Several seasonal factors contribute to this annual surge:
- Families relocating for work or personal reasons often choose summer to avoid disrupting the school year.
- College students are either heading home or preparing to move for internships or a new semester.
- Military families frequently receive PCS orders during the summer months.
- Snowbirds who spend winters in the South begin heading back north around late spring and early summer.
Because of this spike in demand, transport schedules fill up quickly, and prices can rise accordingly. Higher fuel costs, traffic, and route congestion also impact availability and rates. That’s why booking early, ideally 2–4 weeks ahead, is one of the smartest moves you can make if you want to ship your car in summer without added stress.
How to Prepare Your Car for Summer Transport
Once your booking is secured, it’s time to get your vehicle ready for pickup. Proper preparation ensures a smoother process and minimizes any potential issues during transit.
Here are a few important steps:
- Clean your car inside and out: A clean exterior helps your driver perform an accurate inspection, while removing clutter from the interior prevents items from shifting or causing damage during transport.
- Remove personal belongings and custom accessories: Items like GPS units, toll passes, or loose electronics should be taken out. Roof racks or spoilers that could interfere with loading should also be removed or secured.
- Check fluids, battery, and tire pressure: Make sure there are no leaks, your battery is fully charged, and tires are inflated to the proper level. This makes loading and unloading easier and safer.
- Leave only ¼ tank of gas: This reduces vehicle weight and is a standard requirement for most carriers.
Being proactive about preparation not only protects your vehicle, but it also demonstrates responsibility, something experienced carriers appreciate.
Open Carrier or Enclosed? Choosing the Right Option
A key decision when scheduling summer vehicle transport is whether to use an open carrier or enclosed transport. Each has its benefits, and your choice depends on the type of vehicle you’re shipping and your priorities.
Open Carriers:
- Most common and widely available
- More affordable and faster to schedule
- Vehicles are exposed to weather and road debris
Enclosed Transport:
- Provides full protection from the elements
- Ideal for luxury, classic, exotic, or collector cars
- More expensive and may take longer to schedule
If you’re transporting a standard sedan, SUV, or family car, an open carrier is typically your best bet for balancing speed and affordability during the auto transport summer season.
For high-value or vintage vehicles, enclosed shipping is worth the investment for peace of mind.
Tips for Booking with Confidence
With so many transport brokers and carriers online, it’s important to choose a provider that is licensed, bonded, and insured. Don’t just go with the cheapest option, make sure your vehicle is in trustworthy hands.
When booking, keep these tips in mind:
- Verify credentials: Use the FMCSA’s website to confirm that your car transport company is properly registered and insured.
- Ask about timing windows: In the summer, flexibility can be the difference between a quick pickup and a long delay. Understand your pickup and delivery windows clearly.
- Discuss route logistics: Some rural areas or remote regions may require additional planning. An experienced broker can help you navigate these challenges.
At American Car Transporters, we pride ourselves on offering personalized service and nationwide coverage. With years of industry experience, we know the seasonal ins and outs of vehicle shipping, and we’re here to make the process easy and worry-free.
Book Early and Travel Stress-Free
Summer doesn’t have to mean delays or headaches. With proper planning and a reliable partner, you can transport your vehicle safely and affordably, no matter where your summer plans take you.
Planning a summer move or shipping a car across the country? Trust American Car Transporters to handle the details. Call us today or request your free quote online to secure your spot before peak season fills up.
