Various Vehicle Transportation Options
Are you relocating, going on holiday, planning an extended business trip, or have you bought or sold a vehicle? Do you need to move your car over a long distance and do not want to drive it yourself?
Deciding which options are available for vehicle transport could make this decision easier. Keep in mind that rates are determined according to the distance and route, as well as size, value and condition of the vehicle to be moved.
Decide on the following:
– Are you looking for the cheapest option and can get by without a car for up to a week or two?
– Do you mind if the car is being moved by different people while being transported?
– Do you need your car as soon as possible and are willing to pay more to have peace of mind that your car will get to its destination as soon as possible, with the least worries/risk?
Try to book your transport well in advance, as space is limited. Most car carrier companies also close for a few weeks over the festive period, which is something you should keep in mind.
Direct Door to Door transport
The fastest option, with the least risk, is for a company to collect the vehicle with a carrier truck from your address, then drive directly to your destination (without going to a depot first) and deliver the vehicle to your address immediately upon arriving. Collection and delivery depend on the address, as these vehicles are quite large. The driver will call 30 to 60 minutes ahead of collection/delivery, and if the address is not accessible for the truck, he will arrange to meet you at the nearest access point (usually no more than one or a couple blocks away). The ideal location is a flat open area close to your address (such as a service station or parking area).
Direct door-to-door transport should be your first choice, even though the price might be higher than for the other options.
The window for something happening is quite small, you will have your car delivered in only a couple of days, and the disruption to your life will be minimal. Some companies might even allow you to transport some small items in the boot of the vehicle, up to a certain weight (by special request, and at your own risk).
Depot to depot transport
With this option you can arrange to drop off your vehicle at a depot heading to the destination at a specific time and weekday. Once booked in the vehicle will be scheduled on the first available carrier and transported to the required destination where it must be collected by yourself or your appointed driver. This is a relative stress-free option to move your car, although delivery dates cannot be guaranteed. Up to a week has to be allowed for delivery in some cases. Note that the carrier may not be able to commit to an ETA. Delivery to and collection from the depot might incur extra costs and effort on your side.
Keep in mind that depots are usually closed over weekends, and that vehicles have to be dropped off and collected during certain times. The rates for depot-to-depot transport are usually lower, but this might take a lot longer than a door-to-door option. Depots will only accept vehicles in full running condition, and no luggage/goods are allowed in vehicles.
Depot/car dealership to a car dealership/depot
You arrange to drop the vehicle off at a depot. A car carrier will transport the vehicle as soon as possible to a car dealership of your choice, close to you. The same can be arranged from a car dealership to a depot. Please note that you will have to make an arrangement with the car dealership close to you, and supply us with the name of the dealership, name and numbers of the contact person for collection or delivery. Note these carriers only run between depots and dealerships and cannot stop at private addresses.
Door to door transport (via depots)
Some companies may offer a “door to door service” (collecting the vehicle from your home with a driver, trailer or car carrier), and then taking it to a depot, from where it will be scheduled on a carrier for transport to a depot at the destination). Upon arriving at the destination depot the vehicle might be loaded onto a carrier again, or driven to your address). This option increases risk, as it may be loaded and offloaded a few times by different people, and might be left standing in a depot for a few days. Timing is also not defined, as the company will wait for their trucks or car carriers to be fully loaded before leaving.
Transport by train
Train transport is currently not available for vehicles in South Africa.
Autofreight offers both a depot-to-depot and door-to-door service on all of the major routes throughout South Africa.
Our premium option is for door-to-door on the route between Gauteng and Cape Town.
Our door-to-door car carriers leave on Tuesdays from Pretoria or Johannesburg, directly after collecting vehicles from our client’s addresses. We have two full-time truck drivers who take turns with driving to Cape Town, while taking great care of the load. They usually arrive late Wednesday in Cape Town, and start delivering vehicles, latest Thursday morning. They then collect vehicles and leave Cape Town to be back in Gauteng on Fridays, once again delivering to our clients’ homes, or the closest access point.
We regularly get compliments about our staff and drivers, as well as the fast delivery time. We also offer shuttle services to and from ORT and Cape Town International.
Autofreight has been in the transport business for 24 years, transported thousands of vehicles, and we plan to be here for many years to come. We are big enough to offer the best service, and small enough to care.
Contact the Autofreight Team on 0861 288 637 / 082 937 1288, info@autofreight.co.za, or complete a free Quote Request.