Can I Ship a Parts Car?
One of the things you need to know and understand about shipping a car is the way it’s shipped, which can make it hard to find a company willing to ship a parts car. Simply put, a “parts car” is a vehicle that typically doesn’t run, often has parts missing, and is used as a way for mechanics to find parts they need for other vehicles without having to resort to buying them online or hiring someone to fabricate a new one. Parts cars can be invaluable, but they can also be harder to ship considering many of them are torn up, missing key parts, don’t have seats or sometimes even full bodies. Naturally this can be tough to ship.
Most of the time, carriers will simply drive the vehicle they are shipping onto their transport truck. That way they have complete control over the loading and unloading process and have an easier time positioning the vehicle correctly. But when you’re trying to ship a parts car, many times the carrier won’t be able to load the vehicle because it doesn’t run. This places the vehicle firmly in the “non-running” part of the vehicle shipping industry, which typically increases prices for your shipment and also makes it more difficult to find a truck that can actually load it. If a carrier can’t drive the car onto the truck, they’ll have to use a winch to get it up there, and not all carriers have one.
Then there’s the thought of damage. While it may seem counter-intuitive to talk of damage to a parts car, when a carrier is looking to ship a parts car they have to take into account everything. Some parts cars are beaters that look like garbage (because they are), but sometimes mechanics and body shops are trying to keep their parts cars intact in order to use pieces of the body. This means that a carrier has to account for all possibilities, and some may not be willing to take a half-disassembled vehicle, or one that has parts scattered around the cab, because of the risk of damage.
If you’re interested in getting quotes to ship a parts car don’t hesitate to fill out our free online quote request form and get free quotes from top shipping companies. It’s free and easy, and what’s more is that it gives you control over who you speak to and who you ultimately book with. We recommend speaking to one of their agents to learn more about their policies in regards to shipping a parts car, and to get their advice in regards to how to approach shipping yours. You can also speak to one of our own agents any time, toll-free, at 800-930-7417, should you need help getting your quotes or learning more about how shippers go about moving a parts car.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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