abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
anyone have a recommendation on who to contact to have a car shipped from Los Angeles to NJ? no need for it to be enclosed. open is fine.
automotive transport from Los Angeles to nj advice?
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I don't know who to recommend, but get 3, 4, 5 quotes and get everything in writing before you commit to anything. Of all the times I used shippers I got ripped off on all but two (higher than expected gas costs, weather delays, dents caused by a meteor, local storage lot problems, vandals stole parts, blah blah blah). I don't trust shippers at all.
Mopar Tim comes to Carlisle every year except last year he brings cars from San Diego area. We share a group of spaces. He couldn't come last year personal reasons. We alternate every year on paying for the six spaces I payed last year he payed for this year I can reach out to him. He doesn't post much in here anymore.
I agree with Tom. It's a shady business. The vultures circle.
missing linc
Loose nut behind the wheel
They have your car, you want it back, you're going to pay. I got screwed like that once too.
Don't do it! Buy somethin local! lol
Or make it a trip and go pick it up yourself. I've done that plenty of times, to save the headache of hiring a company and possibly getting ripped off. The longest trip I did straight there and back was 44 hours round trip. It was tiring, but at least I had peace of mind knowing that my prize was right in the rear view mirror on the trailer.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
yea, not worth it. the time and money woudln't be worth it.. didn't realize that shipping a car was so risky.
With diesel fuel at $5 ish a gallon expect a decent surcharge there. Diesel here is 7.89/gallon
I hope the car runs/drives /stops!!
Diesel here today $5.35 cash! We are an hour from the refineries, not that makes any difference!
Diesel here today $5.35 cash! We are an hour from the refineries, not that makes any difference!
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
thats a long way off.
I have used Montway 4 times with luck. CA to NE was $1500 ish. i think i did OH to NE for 1200.
they basically just farm it out to approved independent carriers. you can haggle the price too if i recall. I have
That's where the problem started for a friend of mine. A broker gets your info, and the carriers start contacting you with their lies, because they know other carriers are trying to get you, too. Vicious.
I don't know Mopar Tim. But that's the way to do it; someone you know you can trust.
Gadabout
Well-Known Member
From the Department of Fools Rush In: I've bought two vehicles and had them shipped. The problem wasn't the shipping, it was that when the seller, in my case a "reputable" dealership, have the car appraised and photographed, the appraiser's photography angles eliminated the worst of the damage. In the avatar, at left, it appears like a pretty sturdy '60 Val. When it arrived, the interior looked as if racoons had nested in it for decades, the tires were four different sizes, the radiator plugged with rust, bearing knock, electricals mostly toast, and on and on. Being the A Body Fan I am, I probably still would have bought it and poured in the money that I did, but I would have negotiated a lower price than 10K. It has taken two years and a lot of searching for obsolete parts, but she runs pretty well now.
Moral of the story, unless you are very wealthy, don't be a dum bass like me and get your own appraiser.
The "other car" was a '65 Ranchero that was in such awful shape, I ended up selling it for little more than scrap. That one was from a private owner, who again, photographed it to make it seem like NOS.
Moral of the story, unless you are very wealthy, don't be a dum bass like me and get your own appraiser.
The "other car" was a '65 Ranchero that was in such awful shape, I ended up selling it for little more than scrap. That one was from a private owner, who again, photographed it to make it seem like NOS.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
if it was an expensive "nice" car i would do it.. i have seen detailed pics of the car, its a mess which is what i wanted. the time and money to get there would cost more then the car in this case..lol
Well there's a website (forgot the name, you can search it) where you enter what you're shipping, and to/from, and 35 companies email you with quotes within 2 hours (the website is not a shipping company). Their prices will vary because some trucks are going in that direction anyway, and some have to go out of their way to pick yours up/drop off.
Then after you find a few shippers that you're considering using, go to Best Auto Transport Companies - Ratings As of April 2026 - Transport Reviews
And you can see real customer reviews of the shippers. Keep in mind that shipping is a shady industry, so companies come and go by the month. In addition, companies with bad reviews just shut down and open up under a new name. Also, lots of companies use numerous names for the same company too, so beware.
Then after you find a shipper, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING, INCLUDING THE OVERALL COST TO YOU. Then when they're at your doorstep saying they need an additional $1000 because gas was higher than expected or else they'll drop the car at the local storage yard until you pay, in addition to the daily storage cost of $150 per day to sit in the yard; then you can show them the doc and tell them to drop the car or else you'll call the cops.....
Overall, it's a stressful experience until it's physically sitting in your driveway. That's why I always prefer to drive if it's a prized car; but if it's a low value car then not as big of a deal to ship.
Then after you find a few shippers that you're considering using, go to Best Auto Transport Companies - Ratings As of April 2026 - Transport Reviews
And you can see real customer reviews of the shippers. Keep in mind that shipping is a shady industry, so companies come and go by the month. In addition, companies with bad reviews just shut down and open up under a new name. Also, lots of companies use numerous names for the same company too, so beware.
Then after you find a shipper, GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING, INCLUDING THE OVERALL COST TO YOU. Then when they're at your doorstep saying they need an additional $1000 because gas was higher than expected or else they'll drop the car at the local storage yard until you pay, in addition to the daily storage cost of $150 per day to sit in the yard; then you can show them the doc and tell them to drop the car or else you'll call the cops.....
Overall, it's a stressful experience until it's physically sitting in your driveway. That's why I always prefer to drive if it's a prized car; but if it's a low value car then not as big of a deal to ship.
fastdodge
Active Member
I've only ever paid to transport a car once. I had good luck going with a broker site for a motorcycle, however for a car the quotes were all over the map and the timeline was nebulous. I reached out to a few friends in the classic car selling biz and was pointed to Intercity Lines Auto Transport.
They custom make their own enclosed trailers specifically to haul cars. Their drivers are employees not contractors and from my experience, they actually know about classics.
Timeline and quote were both as presented. Car came through tip top. If I ever have to transport a car again, they would be my go to.
Hope this helps!
They custom make their own enclosed trailers specifically to haul cars. Their drivers are employees not contractors and from my experience, they actually know about classics.
Timeline and quote were both as presented. Car came through tip top. If I ever have to transport a car again, they would be my go to.
Hope this helps!
We want to see?
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
nothing really to see. just something i may have been interested in buying. if it were closer i might of made the purchase. doesn't seem worth it now.
i've been wanting something with its bumps and bruises and patina/crap paint. something i don't care much about its looks. i'd set it up like our 70 dart suspension wise and pretty stock small block.
i'd really like to have a 70-72 duster. haven't had one in a long time. they have gotten expensive though. i did find a scamp that was perfect but man it sold fast. i thought it was a decent deal. must have been a damn good deal with how fast it sold. i've had my eye on a 69 4 door dart that has the perfect look that i'm after but not sure i'd be happy with a 4 door. on the other hand a 4 door that has pep and handles could be fun too.. that one is only a couple hours from me too so i could easily go get it.
I have transported a few cars for fellow members. It started with a post and I just so happened to be transporting a vehicle the opposite way for my dad so I would have been deadheading one way. That paid for fuel. Later, I transported a car for the same guy. That was kind of a unique situation because we were both Okies living in So Cal and happened to be moving Mopars back and forth at the same time. This gentleman and I made a personal/ friend deal and that's all it was, based on trust. Also, his cars were nothing grand enough to need anymore insurance than what my State Farm policy wouldn't cover (sub-$5k). I only have an open car trailer and I wouldn't even transport a show car for a friend cross country, too much risk.
This gentleman was not able to meet me when his car got to Oklahoma so he and my dad arranged to have the car stay there for a few weeks. I have since moved back to the same family land from San Diego and would describe it as a Mopar Ranch. We have them coming out our ears out here on 65 secure acres. I still go back to San Diego and Phoenix several times a year and would be open to similar trips but it would have to work out to where I was needing to haul something out there from here. Also, I'm a full time student now and very busy with an internship. The only thing I need to haul to San Diego is an engine this summer so no trailer trips for me. My dad, son, and myself are mulling over going to Carlisle but it's probably not going to happen.
So, all that to say, if it's just a low investment car that doesn't require specific handling (covered transp. and storage) you can look at the friend network. That's the purpose of community! Of course, there are times when an actual business is best but driver/project cars and a few trustful Mopar dudes spread out across the country sometimes works.
This gentleman was not able to meet me when his car got to Oklahoma so he and my dad arranged to have the car stay there for a few weeks. I have since moved back to the same family land from San Diego and would describe it as a Mopar Ranch. We have them coming out our ears out here on 65 secure acres. I still go back to San Diego and Phoenix several times a year and would be open to similar trips but it would have to work out to where I was needing to haul something out there from here. Also, I'm a full time student now and very busy with an internship. The only thing I need to haul to San Diego is an engine this summer so no trailer trips for me. My dad, son, and myself are mulling over going to Carlisle but it's probably not going to happen.
So, all that to say, if it's just a low investment car that doesn't require specific handling (covered transp. and storage) you can look at the friend network. That's the purpose of community! Of course, there are times when an actual business is best but driver/project cars and a few trustful Mopar dudes spread out across the country sometimes works.
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abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
oh that definatley decsribes the car..lol
Tell you what @abodyjoe . If I do decide to take a car out West in the future I'll let the community know I'll have an empty trailer from CA to OK here. I'm open to storing a car in open air or my little HF car tent (sorry shop, garage, and carports are full of Mopars already!). I am also open to traveling a little further east a few hundred miles of OK to finish a transport but not NJ.
This could be an option where it cuts down on a pro transporters mileage or give time to have the owner retrieve it from the ranch.
Again, for anyone reading this, I'm not in the business of doing this. I only do this to benefit a transport I am already doing for myself, where I am empty one way, for a FRIEND. I have my boundaries like I already said. I view it like the for sale ads. I have interacted with abodyjoe since my first FABO account back in '05. I look at stuff like that and it's not even about making money. For my trips for others I have only ever had them cover my fuel for their half of the trip and one hotel (SoCal to OK requires one sleep).
This could be an option where it cuts down on a pro transporters mileage or give time to have the owner retrieve it from the ranch.
Again, for anyone reading this, I'm not in the business of doing this. I only do this to benefit a transport I am already doing for myself, where I am empty one way, for a FRIEND. I have my boundaries like I already said. I view it like the for sale ads. I have interacted with abodyjoe since my first FABO account back in '05. I look at stuff like that and it's not even about making money. For my trips for others I have only ever had them cover my fuel for their half of the trip and one hotel (SoCal to OK requires one sleep).
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