Shipping a car to or from Louisiana: Everything you need to know

If you’re in the process of relocating for personal or professional reasons, then you must be pinging between work, family, and the never-ending process of moving. All of this must’ve pushed your stress levels at an all-time high, and moving your car adds to the misery. Well, we’re here to relieve some, if not all, pressure off your shoulders. 

In this blog post, we’ll lay down everything you need to know and do to get your car transported to Louisiana. But, to give you some relief, it’s not as hard as it looks. So, let’s get your vehicle moved to the Pelican State!

Five different ways to ship a car to or from Louisiana 

To the surprise of many, there are five different ways to get a car transported to or from Louisiana. All these options come with their set of pros and cons. Note here that there’s no “best” option as it all depends on you. Let’s understand what each option has to offer to make the right choice to get your car moved.

1. Drive the car yourself

The most obvious option is to drive the car by yourself to Louisiana. This way, you won’t have to worry about safety and spend time finding a reliable service. However, there are things that you must be wary of. 

Firstly, driving yourself makes sense if you’re shifting to or from a neighboring state and the drive takes one or two days. Anything more than that will become stressful unless you’re looking for a long ride to unwind yourself. 

Along with the time you’ll invest in driving, you will need to take fuel, food, and accommodation costs into account. And, of course, your car will undergo wear and tear due to long-distance driving.

If you are in adventure mode, you should go with this option and have nothing else to do.

2. Hire a driver

If you can’t drive yourself, then why not hire someone to do so? Well, you indeed can. The first requisite is finding a reliable driver, which is a challenge as you cannot just give your car keys to the first person you come across. And like the previous option, this will take a toll on your car as well.

Some companies and individuals offer these services, most of whom are students or retirees. Before going with this option, you must be 100% sure of their trustworthiness. We suggest you take referrals from your friends or relatives who might have used such services in the past.

3. Ask a friend or family member to drive

A little awkward, but a sensible option is to have a friend or relative drive your car to or from Louisiana. Unlike the previous option, you won’t have to be concerned about their reliability as you know them. However, you must ensure their capability as a driver as it will not be an easy ride.

4. Ship it by a plane

The fourth way you can ship your car is by plane. It’s an unusual and expensive option as the cost itself can exceed the value of your vehicle. However, it could be a viable option if you’re shipping your car internationally. It’s a safe and super-fast method of carr shipping.

5. Hire an auto transport company 

Last but not least, you can choose to ship your car by hiring a car shipping company. This is the most popular option to transport a vehicle to Louisiana as it provides safe and hassle-free shipping. Once you hire a car shipping company, you can relax as they’ll pick up your vehicle from your doorstep, do all the paperwork, and deliver it exactly where you want.

The government vetted and licensed car shipping companies; thus, you don’t need to worry about their trustworthiness. Plus, your car remains protected under insurance coverage in case of any damages occur along the way.

Car shipping cost is the only question that might arise in your brain. Yes, you’ll need to spend some money after it, but the peace of mind you get is unmatched. Plus, your car will not go through the wear and tear of driving long distances.

Different types of car shipping services to or from Louisiana

There are two ways you can get your car shipped to or from Louisiana: open car shipping and enclosed car shipping. Both options have their pros and cons. Let’s have a quick look at them to make the right choice.

Open car shipping

As you can guess by its name, open car shipping is the shipping mode in which your car will be loaded onto an open truck. This exposes the cargo and vehicles to the outside weather. However, you don’t need to worry about safety as the car shipping companies take precautionary measures to avoid any damages caused by the weather conditions.

Open car shipping is the most preferred type of car shipping as it provides a cost-effective way to ship the car. So it’s no surprise that most car manufacturers ship their cars by open car shipping.

Enclosed car shipping

If you decide to ship your car by enclosed car shipping mode, the shipping companies will keep your car in an enclosed truck. This layer protects your vehicle from extreme weather conditions such as wind, rain, and snow.

Enclosed car shipping is 30-40% more expensive than open car shipping. Going with this option makes sense if the weather conditions are too extreme or your car is antique, rare, or expensive.

How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Louisiana?

The car shipping cost to or from Louisiana will be a make or break factor for choosing a car shipping company. We know you’re looking for us to give you a number here so that you can quickly decide whether to hire a car moving company or not. Unfortunately, it would not be right to write a number as it depends on various factors. You must understand these factors to be prepared at the time of negotiation with a car shipping company. 

Distance

The most significant factor influencing the cost to ship a car is the distance, as it directly affects driver wages and truck fuel costs. The higher the distance, the more is the cost and vice-versa. 

We want to point out that the ‘distance’ means the distance between the pickup and delivery points and not the distance between two states or cities. Car shipping companies will charge more if you live in a remote area as they will need to drive the car from your place to the car boarding point.

Shipping type

Whether you’re choosing open or enclosed car shipping.

Vehicle type

Typically, cars higher in weight and size (e.g., SUVs) will cost you more as the government regulations limit the amount of weight a car shipping truck can carry. Thus, a car shipping company will ask you for the make, model, and manufacturing year of a car when generating a quote.

Condition of car

A car shipping company will need to attach a dysfunctional car to a truck to get it to the shipping point. This will add to the cost.

Route

Car shipping companies that ship cars on popular routes tend to charge less. Thus, make sure you ask them about it when you inquire.

Gas price

Car shipping costs increase when there’s a rise in fuel prices and vice-versa.

Time of the year

The weather conditions play a part in determining car shipping costs as companies tend to charge more in challenging climate conditions like rain and snow.

All the knowledge is good, but you’re still curious about the exact cost to ship a car to or from Louisiana, aren’t you? Well, your prayers are just about to be answered. We at Sakaem Logistics have developed a real-time quote calculator that will give you an almost exact idea of the shipping cost. If you want to know more, you can drop us an email, and our team will be right back at you.

Tips to save money

Let’s have a look at some tips that will save you some bucks:

• Book early
• Ask if you’re eligible for discounts (students, veterans, etc.)
• Choose the right shipping time
• Ship multiple cards at once
• Choose the correct shipping method (open or close)

How long does it take to ship a car to or from Louisiana?

As you’d already know, the time it’ll take to ship a car to or from Louisiana will depend on a lot of factors. We’ll get to them in a bit, but before you need to know that it can be divided into two parts: the time taken to pick up your car and the time taken to ship/deliver. 

Below are the factors playing a part in the time it’ll take to get your car to or from Louisiana:

• The number of stops made each day by the carrier
• The traffic flow
• Weather conditions
• Detours
• Road construction
• Heavy traffic
• Pickup/Delivery Locations

How does the process of shipping a car to or from Louisiana work?

Most people think of the car shipping process as complicated and tiring. Well, let us tell you that it’s nothing like that. You can get your car shipped across thousands of miles without moving an inch. All you need is a phone and an internet connection. Let’s see how!

Step 1 – Get multiple quotes

The first step to get your car shipped to or from Louisiana is to get quotes from car shipping companies. We suggest you get at least three quotes so that you can compare and make an informed choice. 

The good news is that most companies allow you to generate instant quotes through their websites. You’ll need to enter a few details, such as zip codes of pickup/delivery locations, car details, and the shipping mode you want to choose. 

Once you have enough quotes, you can compare and choose the one that fits the bill for you. East first step, isn’t it?

Step 2 – Book the shipping

After finalizing a car shipping company, it’s time to confirm the shipping by placing the order. We’d suggest you confirm all details such as terms, offerings, costs, etc. so that it doesn’t create problems later.

Step 3 – Get your car picked up

Once you order the shipping, the auto transport company professionals will arrive to collect your vehicle. First, the team will come to inspect your car and note any damages on the Bill of Lading (BoL), which you’ll be asked to sign. Then, they’ll load your vehicle onto the shipping truck.

After your car has reached the delivery area, you will be contacted to confirm your availability. Make sure you check your vehicle thoroughly before accepting the delivery and signing the Bill of Lading (BoL).

How to get a quote to ship a car to or from Louisiana

The first step to get the ball rolling is to generate a quote and guess what! It’s super easy to get quotes to get your car transported to Louisiana. 

To reiterate our earlier point, you need to get at least three quotes to choose the best one among them. Plus, it would help to examine each quotation in detail as some companies tend to add additional fees later on. If needed, clarify this with the shipping companies in writing.

These quotes can be instantly generated from the websites for moving companies. You’ll need to enter the following details to create quotes:

• Pickup and delivery locations (zip codes)
• Shipping method (open/enclosed)
• Information about the vehicle, such as its model, year of manufacture, and company
• First available pickup date
• Phone number and email address

After submitting the details, you’ll be able to see the quote in your browser and will also receive it at your email address. 

A typical car shipping quote will have the following details:

• Shipping costs
• Your vehicle details
• The delivery address and pickup location
• Car condition
• Type of service: Open or Closed
• First shipping date
• Distance to be covered
• Timeframe for delivery

How to find the best auto transport company to ship my car?

Choosing a car shipping company will be the most critical decision of the car shipping process, and you shouldn’t leave a single stone unturned when it comes to the vetting process. 

Let’s have a look at some considerations that you must not miss.

License & insurance

Interstate shipping services require that car shipping companies have a license to carry out their services. You can visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator (FMCSA) website to verify the US DOT number of car moving companies. Additionally, it would help to inquire about the insurance they will provide.

BBB Rating

Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredits companies so that people can be aware of a company’s trustworthiness. Therefore, you must check the BBB rating of all car shipping companies you’ve shortlisted.

Customer testimonials

Along with the BBB rating, reviews given by past customers can help you understand the kind of experience the company offers. In addition, you can visit independent websites and social media networks to check their reviews.

Mode of transport

You must make sure that the company offers the shipping mode that you want to choose.

Service experience

Rather than doing everything over email and website, we suggest you talk to the car shipping companies and inquire about everything you could do. This will help you learn about their internal processes and the kind of experience you’ll have if you choose to go with them.

FAQs regarding shipping a car to or from Louisiana

What documents do I need to prepare to ship my car?

You must keep the below documents ready before the car gets picked up:

• Vehicle registration documents
• Insurance documents
• Bill of sale/Bill of lading
• Original vehicle title
• Unexpired identification (i.e., driver’s license or passport)

How to get my car ready for shipping?

• Remove documents and personal items from your car
• Keep one-fourth of your fuel in the tank
• Keep the battery in fully-charged condition
• Ensure tires are in good shape
• Take pictures of your vehicle to verify damages later

What if my car gets damaged during the shipping process?

Car shipping companies provide insurance coverage so that your car remains protected against any damages. However, you must confirm all the coverage details with your car shipping company before you confirm the order.

How can I pay the auto transport company?

Most car shipping companies accept credit and debit cars. Some of them also take PayPal payments.

What is Bill of Lading (BoL)? Why is it used?

A bill-of-lading (BoL) is a document that details the vehicle’s condition, including damage to date, make and model. You will be asked to sign it at the time of pickup and delivery as acknowledgment. It is used to provide transparency between the customer and the car shipping company.  

What is expedited car shipping?

Express shipping allows your vehicle to be shipped faster. It’s an additional service that car shipping companies offer and can be expensive. However, it could be a great option if you want your car to be moved immediately and don’t mind paying extra bucks.

What is top load service?

If you choose the top-loading service, your vehicle will be placed at or near the top of the car shipping truck. This way, it remains protected from dirt and rocks. Companies will charge you extra money if you want to opt for this.

How long does a quote last?

There may be a variation in the validity of a quote depending on which shipping company you choose. Most quotes will be valid for seven working days. Prices may change depending on the factors discussed earlier.

Pros and cons of moving to Louisiana

Located in the southern part of the US, Louisiana is known as ‘The Pelican State.’ It is home to a rich history, diverse culture, and immense natural beauty. Living in Louisiana is a unique experience. Let’s see what the place has to offer.

Pros of living in Louisiana:

• Rich culture and history
• Diverse culture and strong community
• Good weather
• Natural resources
• Low living costs
• Buzzing with festivals and sports

Cons of living in Louisiana

• Prone to natural disasters
• Extreme weather at times
• Limited economic opportunities
• Poor education and healthcare

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