Does it matter if one is looking for a classic car transport or a broken-down jalopy transport? Does it make a difference if one is shipping a large truck versus a Smart Car?

The answer is yes, and no.

First off, cost will vary depending on the type of vehicle being shipped. An extreme large SUV, say, the Chevy Suburban, might actually take up two spots on an auto transporter and thus cost twice as much. Other than that, cars configured in a way which require specialty harnessing will likely cost more money because they pull more on a car transporter’s resources. A lowered truck, for instance, my need a unique type of hookup to ensure its safe passage.

Another important consideration is the condition of the car. Cars must have working breaks or no one will ship them. This has to do with safety regulations beyond any company’s power. (Do not try to fool a company, they’ll surely find out and they might even sue you for breech of the contract you will surely sign before shipment begins.) Cars which are not able to move on their own may be shipped in some cases. However, because this requires a tow truck and extra labor it increases the price tag of shipping.

In some instances, it is actually more economical to get that new battery installed so the car can move on its own power to bring the transportation costs down, though this is not always true. It is also worthy to note that pickup and drop-off locations can influence the nature of a car shipment. If you’re Volvo wagon is going to or coming from some country back road, where the path is extremely narrow, it is likely that an auto transporter will refuse to go there. Then you’ll have to go to a designated drop off or pick up point, such as a Whole Food store.

On the other hand, if your vehicle is easily accessible and the destination poses no problem, you don’t have to worry about it. In these cases, the type of car and the other considerations involved with them do matter in the overall equation of shipping your car. However, if you have a brand new Ferrari in LA chances you will not have to worry about the abovementioned issues. Overall, the type of car you’re shipping does matter, but how much it really up to you.