Interstate Car Transport

[switched Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close switched]

Has anyone used a car transport company to relocate a vehicle interstate? What would be my options if I were to relocate it from Adelaide to Far North QLD and back? I don't want to spend 35-40 hrs driving driving just to get it to the cape... and then another 35-40hrs to get it back :evil:

[bitdist Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bitdist]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

I'll be very interested in this thread as well, as that is what a few of us want to do next year !
The biggest problem with a lot of them is that they will only take empty vehicles - no camping stuff etc

cheers

[bgreeni Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgreeni]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

Depending on how you price your own time, I think driving will be much cheaper.
A few years back I needed to get a boat from Sydney to Perth (a 5m trailer sailor so not a big boat)

Turned out it was far cheaper to drive Perth - Sydney, pick up the boat and tow it back. Took 6 days plus a day in Sydney.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

We have transported 3 cars between ADL and SYD. Can't remember which direction is cheaper as there tends to be more cars going in one general direction. So when the truck is emptier in the other direction, the cost is cheaper. They will request that there is nothing in the car or otherwise, they will not take responsibility for lost/damaged items.

I think you are better off driving it up there unless there are other options.

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

I transported our car last year from Darwin to Karratha for $900 using "just moving cars"

that was well cheaper then the cost of the fuel, flights one way and 3 days off work.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

We shipped our 4wd and trailer to and from WA during our sojourn there in the 90s. We used one of the big reputable companies. Not sure if I would do it again. On the trip over the spotlights, snorkel head and a few bits of trim went missing. On the way back the lights again disappeared along with the very wide jockey wheel I made up to cope with all the sand camping we did in WA. Sure insurance covers the cost of replacements but there is still the agony of getting that sorted and if you are transporting for a trip time is a problem too. This may be out of the ordinary but quite a few of us lost stuff and when you look at the itinerary there wasn't much time when the car was unattended.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

The other thing to consider is that the time it takes for your car to be transported may be faster than you driving up there yourself but not as fast as flight time. So you will need to drop the car off a few days before you fly. Then on the return journey, you drop off the car on the same day you fly and then be without the Prado for a few days back in ADL as you wait for the transport company to bring the car down.

And if your 4WD accessories get nicked off on the way up there, you won't be having a pleasant holiday when you go pick up the car. In reality, the things get nicked off by insiders because these trucks rarely stop as they go from depot to depot and there is high security at the compound where the car is parked awaiting your pickup.

The other thing these companies told me is that the keys are left in the car while the car is on the truck. This is so that they won't lose the keys and that they can load and unload the car quickly. I wouldn't be trusting my holiday luggage and 4WD accessories to these guys.

You can however, opt for the premium transporter where your car is shipped in its own container but it will cost a bomb. However, it depends on how much you value 40hours of driving.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

You might also consider flying up and hiring a 4WD out of Cairns.
On a limited timeframe, we flew from Melbourne and hired a 4WD camper out of Darwin to do Kakadu, Litchfield NP etc a couple of years ago - it worked out great.
Naturally I would have liked to take my own car- but this had a fridge, EPIRB and all the stuff you'd want in it. We took our own GPS and UHF CB radios, and a few other essentials.

Here's some options for hire http://www.capeyorktour.com/cape-york-4wd-hire.html Pretty heavy excesses, looks like.

[switched Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close switched]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

Just received a few quotes from car carrier companies, they will transport from Adelaide (depot) to Cairns (depot) for a cost of (wait for it.........) $1832, each way :shock: :shock: :shock:
The second quote was $2518 door to door, or $1598 depot to depot. The time was approx 15 days to transport each way.

Needless to say I'm looking into other alternatives, especially since the truck will have everything I'm going to live out of for a few weeks and I wouldn't want the hassle of replacing stolen goods.

36 hours from Adelaide to Cairns @ a total of 3333Kms, 11L per 100km (approx), 366Litres @ approx $1.30L = $476 each way. I could theoretically do 3 days of 12hrs driving and stopping only for eat and sleep :shock:

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

Just received a few quotes from car carrier companies, they will transport from Adelaide (depot) to Cairns (depot) for a cost of (wait for it.........) $1832, each way :shock: :shock: :shock:
The second quote was $2518 door to door, or $1598 depot to depot. The time was approx 15 days to transport each way.

Needless to say I'm looking into other alternatives, especially since the truck will have everything I'm going to live out of for a few weeks and I wouldn't want the hassle of replacing stolen goods.

36 hours from Adelaide to Cairns @ a total of 3333Kms, 11L per 100km (approx), 366Litres @ approx $1.30L = $476 each way. I could theoretically do 3 days of 12hrs driving and stopping only for eat and sleep :shock:

Just think of the things you would see on the way and the choices in direction you could take.

[bgreeni Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgreeni]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

I did Townsville - Perth a few times - by far the quickest was via Tennent ck and Port Augusta. Don't forget if you want a fast trip that the NT has higher speed limits. Also few towns on that route means higher average speed as you are not constatntly slowing down.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

Just think of the things you would see on the way and the choices in direction you could take.

Yeah Just set the gps to shortest route and see where it takes you :wink:

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

15 days to do a 3 day trip?? :shock: :shock: Where are they taking your car? 2 laps around Australia?

[teza h Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close teza h]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

Yeh I'v looked at this option as well,it's a question of time.I'd like to do WA but it is a 5 day drive,sleeping at night, each way without stopping,Iv done this drive about 12 times over the years,but never touring in the 4by, and it never gets any shorter.Thats 10 days drive out of your 4 week leave, and it's hard going driving for 5 days,only stoping for fuel,food n sleep.
I'v had a few quotes that average out at around $1400 each way, witch I thought was'nt to bad ,BUT the problem is that you must have an empty vehecle,,,,,as it's been said. So how do you go geting all your gear there????
Dose any one know about sending it by rail???? Probably the same problem regarding your gear.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Re: Interstate Car Transport

Hi

We've looked at a long distance trip from Brisbane to Perth and our thoughts are to drive to Perth looking at what we want on the way and then on the way back putting the car on the train, getting a sleeper and having a relaxing time on the way home. As for loss and damage check with your insurance company as to what they cover, ours covers the car and personal items as well.

Regards, Richo.