Most of the time, if a vehicle has to be shipped last-minute, the resulting cost will be higher. If you are in such a situation, the first thing that may come to your mind is whether last-minute deliveries are more expensive. The short answer is yes—that is the case most of the time. But a part of the reason that you would want to know so that you are able to make an informed judgment is that one can get familiar with the difference of the cost.
With this article, we want to explain to you why the last-minute deliveries cost more, the factors that influence that cost, and how you can manage the costs in case you have an urgent booking. Moreover, we are going to provide you with the information on how Fast-Car-Transport.com can be of help for you in case you have a last-minute delivery, giving you not only a free and fast service but also a complete check of your pricing without extra charges.
Step 1: Why Last-Minute Deliveries Are Often More Expensive
In general, last-minute deliveries are charged with sky-high costs. Major reasons behind higher costs are the different requirements that take place in the expediting process. Even if you would be able to deliver your car in a shorter time, the complex logistics that are behind these expedited services usually increase the prices.
1. Availability of Transport Vehicles
Imagine you are a last-minute person who decides to ship his car only then. In that case, the companies that transport your car are perhaps not in a position to make you a good offer because they probably have a limited number of transport vehicles available. Just like many other car-shipping companies, Fast-Car-Transport.com, for instance, schedules shipments way ahead of time to get the most out of their routes and reach maximum productivity. In this case, when you ask for a next-day or last-minute shipment, you probably have to pay a high price to be accommodated in one of their available transport vehicles.
Example: For instance, during the period of a year when demand is high and therefore, the supply of transport vehicles for express shipments is low, last-minute booking of an express transport option could be subject to rather high fees.
2. Expedited Service Costs
When a shipping is done in a rush, the very essence of the process is to have the vehicle delivered at the shortest time possible. In case a delivery is requested shortly before it should take place, the transport-bureau staff may have to reschedule, change the driver, or even go faster thereby incurring additional expenses. The money paid for this kind of service which is faster is often part of the total amount of money.
Tip: If you want to save money, it is advisable that you schedule your delivery in advance so that the company has enough time to plan without the need for expedited services.
3. Priority Scheduling and Resources
A last-minute booking is a direct way to ask for a priority schedule. Transport companies might have to reschedule their planned shipments, thus they are not following their normal routes. Fast-Car-Transport.com handles that a priority scheduling is kept for last-minute shipments, however, this service is not free.
Example: A car transport firm may decide to pay for overtime hours or rent an additional vehicle so as to meet the delivery deadline if a next-day car delivery is requested.
4. Increased Risk of Route Adjustments
In cases of emergency deliveries, it is likely that the routes will have to be modified in order to enable a quicker transit. Among the implications that come with such a situation are additional fuel costs, detours, or the use of less efficient routes due to the request being of an urgent nature. The necessity of having flexibility in the planning of routes can contribute to the overall shipping costs.
Tip: If you were more flexible with your delivery times or locations, then you might be able to avoid some of these extra charges as the carrier would be able to plan the route more efficiently.
Step 2: Factors That Influence the Price of Last-Minute Deliveries
There are several major factors that affect the amount of money you will have to pay for transportation of your car at the last minute. Here is what you should know:
1. Distance and Destination
The longer the distance between the places of pickup and delivery, the less the price will be. Usually, shipment of long distance is more expensive than delivery within the local area, and last-minute long-distance deliveries need more money for the fast shipping.
Example: A last-minute delivery from California to New York will be very expensive compared to a local transport request within the same state.
2. Vehicle Type
The cost of the shipment will depend the vehicle type as well particularly when it comes to last-minute deliveries. If it is a luxury car, an oversized vehicle, or a classic car that is required to be handled specially or with some equipment, then short notice transportation will be more expensive. Such cars usually need fully enclosed transport, which is a more expensive car shipping method compared to an open transport one.
Tip: If your car is either a luxury or an oversized vehicle, then be sure to get the right quote and also be sure of the correct equipment for the transport.
3. Seasonality and Demand
The cost of shipping varies with a season. The time of day or week in which you decide to ship might be irrelevant during the summer or Christmas season, which are considered peak shipping times. However if you need a delivery made at the last minute and it has to be transported during a peak shipping period, this service will undoubtedly cost you more inasmuche as the demand for shipping services is very high. During those periods transport companies may even be fully booked, therefore, the few that will be available for urgent shipments will charge you higher prices.
Example: In case you are attempting to schedule the quickest delivery during the holiday season, you may be asked to pay extra because there is a high demand for shipping services at that time.
4. Shipping Method
Another factor that the shipping method has been chosen is the cost of the shipping. Normally, open transport is more affordable and is more widely available for last-minute shipping, while the enclosed one is more expensive but gives a better continuity especially for the cars of high value. If you require enclosed transport in a hurry, then the cost will be considerably more than open transport.
Tip: If your car is not a luxury or high-value vehicle, then you can choose open transport for a delivery made at the last minute and still save money.
Step 3: How to Manage the Costs of a Delivery at the Last Minute
In case you have to deliver a vehicle at the last minute, you can control the costs in several ways, keeping the quality and the speed of the delivery intact:
1. Reserve Your Slot in the Earliest Time Possible
Try not to procrastinate when it comes to the scheduling of your car transport. The more ahead you book, the lower the rates you get. Fast-Car-Transport.com is usually more affordable when you make your bookings sooner, and it allows them to plan the best route and choose the most suitable transport for your car.
2. Use Real-Time Tracking to Stay Updated
Select a service that provides real-time tracking. By doing this, you not only follow the journey of your vehicle but also get continuous updates from the freight company. Moreover, this can eliminate the chances of delays that your transport might suffer without you being informed which may result in additional costs.
Tip: Every shipment with Fast-Car-Transport.com is provided with real-time tracking so that you can organize yourself and be informed.
Step 4: How Fast-Car-Transport.com Handles Last-Minute Deliveries
At Fast-Car-Transport.com, we know that there are times when you need a delivery in a hurry. So, the following are the ways we use to manage last-minute shipments:
1. Experienced Team
Our team has an outstanding experience and is always ready to react to last-minute shipping needs in a prompt way. They work not only to deliver on time but also to keep the shipping costs at a manageable level.
2. Flexible Shipping Options
If you want to take your standard car on an open vehicle or put your luxury car in a closed transport, we have the shipping solutions that will suit your requirements and also give you the possibility to ship even in short notice.
3. Competitive Pricing
Although sometimes it is more expensive to deliver goods at the last minute, we try to maintain our prices at a competitive level. Even if the shipping is more urgent, there will be no hidden fees in our open pricing system.
4. Real-Time Tracking and Support
Thanks to the constant tracking and customer support, which is always available, the transport situation of the car can be known at any time.
To sum up, last-minute shipments tend to cost higher due to the mentioned reasons. Yet by proper scheduling and collaborating with a reliable company like Fast-Car-Transport.com you can still have the safe and speedy delivery of your vehicle without exceeding your budget.
In order to save money from being wasted, it is advisable that you make your shipment booking well in advance, select the most appropriate transport mode and be delivery time-wise. Next time your vehicle will have to be shipped in a hurry, rely on Fast-Car-Transport.com to grant you the timely, affordable, and safe transport. Call us now and get started on your last-minute car delivery!
