Amtrak Shipping Alternatives probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think about shipping your vehicle. However, the company’s Auto Train service combines cheap car shipping with relaxing passenger train travel. The catch is that there’s only one route, which makes Amtrak car shipping an unrealistic option for most drivers.
Amtrak Shipping Alternatives probably isn't the first name that comes to mind when you think about shipping your vehicle. However, the company's Auto Train service combines cheap car shipping with relaxing passenger train travel. The catch is that there's only one route, which makes Amtrak car shipping an unrealistic option for most drivers.
If Amtrak shipping doesn't seem like the right choice for you, we have a quality and reliable Amtrak Shipping Alternatives service for you.
For AE GLOBAL FREIGHT FORWARDING SERVICE
FAQ
Q: How Does Amtrak Car Shipping Work?
A: Shipping cars via the Amtrak Auto Train is a pretty straightforward process for most owners. That said, you must follow some simple steps and stick to the schedule to make it a success:
Book your tickets: You'll need a passenger ticket and a spot for your vehicle on the Auto Train. As with any other travel appointment, it's best to book tickets on the Auto Train in advance since spots can fill up quickly.
Pack your car: Amtrak allows you to load up your vehicle with personal possessions before it's loaded onto the hauler. That's something that's either discouraged or outright forbidden by most auto transport companies.
Drive to the train station: Whether you're leaving from the station in Lorton, Virginia, or Sanford, Florida, you must check in your vehicle for loading onto the train by 3 p.m. at the latest. There are no exceptions, so it's smart to get to the station far earlier.
Retrieve your car: After the 17-hour trip, you'll collect your vehicle once it's unloaded. As you might expect, unloading all of the cars can take quite some time. You can pay $95 for priority offloading to ensure your car is one of the first 30 to be unloaded from the Auto Train.
Q: What Affects the Cost of Car Shipping?
A: Amtrak car shipping comes with extremely straightforward prices. When it comes to using traditional auto transport companies, it's slightly more complicated to determine your rates. With standard shipping companies, what you'll pay for a vehicle shipment depends on the following factors:
●Shipping distance: Long-distance shipments come with lower per-mile rates but significantly higher costs overall.
●Time of year: There's more demand for car shipping services in January and during the summer months. This means that you could face higher auto transport rates.
●Transport type: Shipping your car on an open trailer is cheaper than if you use enclosed auto transport, which offers protection against road debris and bad weather.
●Vehicle size: Trucks and SUVs cost more to ship than smaller and standard cars.
●Vehicle condition: Inoperable vehicles cost more to ship because they're more difficult to load and unload from trucks.
●Delivery method: Door-to-door transport involves picking up and dropping off vehicles as close to their home addresses as possible. This is pricier than using centralized terminals at both ends of a vehicle shipment, as occurs with Amtrak car shipping.
●Competition: The greater the competition for a route, the less your per-mile rate could end up being. Routes from the Northeast to Florida and back are known for lower costs.
●Price of fuel: Higher gas prices mean higher auto shipping costs.
