Interstate car transport in Australia is a huge industry. It forms an integral part of the logistics scene in the country. 3PL companies and freight forwarders, both work closely with car transport companies. Some freight forwarders even have their own car transport systems set up. If you are even a small player in the large logistics network of Australia, pricing is an important parameter. It affects your decisions and the way you move forward with your business. The same goes for car transport companies.
To understand how pricing works for interstate car transports in Australia, one must first recognise the factors that affect it. We are here with some of the major aspects that influence the costing for interstate car transportation. If you are part of a car transport company or are looking to move your own vehicle interstate, this might come in handy.
Distance
Distance is the reigning factor that affects all logistics costs. A car transport from Perth to Melbourne, for example, would need to traverse a distance of 3,400 kilometres. Of course, the load will be reduced on the way back but the total distance would be somewhere around 6,800 kilometres. Some best interstate car transport in Australia optimise their process by having a load on both sides of the trip. In any case, the distance covered will undoubtedly govern the final cost. All the other factors are added to the equation and then multiplied with the distance. Also, there is no way, obviously, to optimise this except by choosing the smallest route possible. Of course, the condition of the roads should also be good.
Fuel Prices
Another important factor is the price of gasoline. Car transport services are heavily dependent on this particular parameter. Fuel prices fluctuate over time and are influenced by global supply chains. Due to the recent incidents in Ukraine, for example, gas prices over the world rose dramatically. This resulted in a cost increase of interstate car transport prices in Australia. Fuel prices are also dependent on the current tax rates. If the government levies a higher rate, car transports rise in cost too.
The weight and size of the car being transported
The heavier the car, the more costly the transport will be. Now, the weight of your car can be a very dynamic factor. It directly affects the trailer being used to transport the vehicle. Different interstate car transport services have different constants used to calculate the final price using this factor. However, the general rule says that weight is directly proportional to the cost.
Another factor is the size of the car. Wider cars take up more space on the carrier. Transport companies optimise the process as much as they can. However, the space taken cannot be tweaked. Therefore, smaller cars are cheaper to transport. These factors add up as the distance between the source and the destination increases. In a nutshell, a sedan would cost less to move than let’s say, an SUV.
The make of the car
This is a little different from the weight and the size. This means that the make and the cost of the car can also affect the price of transporting it. This is because some additional services may be required in specific cases. For example, if it’s a Bugatti that you’re moving, there may be additional prices to ensure the safety of the car. High end models cost more to move, in a general sense. The make of the car can also imply the kind of wheels or the body type of the car. Well, these may relate to the size and weight factor again. Metal body cars are heavier and therefore cost more to move.
All in all, it is safe to say that all three parameters – size, make, and the weight – play an important role. If you are a car owner looking for transport services, it is best to understand these parameters in detail. Talk to your interstate car transport company about how these factors will affect the final price of moving.
Demand
Interstate car transport companies in Australia are highly demanded during particular seasons. These are usually the summer months or when there are comparatively less rains. Car transport from Sydney to Perth, for example, was affected by the floods that ravaged the country in 2022. During the busy seasons, prices go up by quite a margin. In order to avoid expensive transportation, try to move your vehicles during the off-season.
Also, top interstate car transport companies are not available during the busy seasons. They are all booked. To get the best out of this service, it is wise to look for good companies in advance and book them as soon as possible.
This cat and mouse story is always unpredictable though. There are several factors that affect this. Again, talk to your transport company about this and ask them for estimates before hiring them.
Taxes and duties
Interstate transports are also affected by state taxes for commercial logistics. These may different from state to state. Therefore, an interstate car transport from Perth to Melbourne might cost different than it would cost for Sydney to Perth. This is, of course, when all the other factors are neglected.
State taxes and duties can be understood better by visiting the official website. Car transport companies also mention these factors in the estimates they give you.
The mode of transport
There can be several different roadways options to move your car to another state. The size of the carriers also play a role. The larger the carrier, the more expensive it is to transport your car. It also consumes more fuel and takes more time to cover a certain distance.
However, when we talk about the mode, we are usually talking about these two categories of carriers:
Open carriers
These are a little unsafe but are cheaper than the enclosed car carriers. These come in all kinds of sizes. Again, these can be subdivided into multi-level car carriers and single-level car carriers. They have different cost factors as well.
Enclosed car carriers
To add a little bit of protection to your vehicles, you can go ahead with an enclosed carrier. These are comparatively safer and offer more protection. From weather elements. High end cars or luxury cars such as Bugattis and Lamborghinis are usually transported through these enclosed carriers.
Depot service or door delivery
Finally, one of the factors that affects the pricing is the kind of service you have purchased from the car transport company. The former i.e the depot service will bring your car to the nearest depot from where you can take it to your preferred location. As the name suggests, door delivery brings the vehicle right to your location. Naturally, the former is cheaper and should be preferred if you have the means to take the car for the rest of the way.
However, the car transport company must have a depot in the destination city. Most companies have depots set up in large cities such as Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, etc.
In conclusion, it is hard to determine the exact amount of how much you will have to pay for your car. All these factors have their say in the final cost.