Car Transport Service by Car Carrier
Need to move a car to another city? ARC Car Transport loads your car onto a carrier truck and delivers it to the destination, so the car does not have to be driven there. This page explains how car transport works, what decides the cost, how to prepare your car, and what your written quote will tell you.
What car transport involves
Car transport — also called car shifting, car shipping or car carrier service — means moving a car from one place to another on a truck built to carry vehicles, rather than driving it on the road. The car is checked and loaded at the pickup point, secured on the carrier, transported by road, and unloaded and handed over at the destination.
Customers usually choose a car carrier when they are relocating for work, moving home to another state, buying or selling a used car in a different city, or sending a car to a family member. In each case the goal is the same: get the car to its new location in the same condition it left, without the owner spending days on the highway.
ARC handles the arrangement from enquiry to handover. You tell us where the car is, where it needs to go and which car it is. We send you a written quote, agree a pickup date with you, and keep you informed until delivery. You can read each stage in detail on our car transportation process page.
When a car carrier makes more sense than driving
Driving your own car to a new city can look cheaper at first glance. Once you add everything up, the gap often narrows, and for long distances a carrier frequently comes out ahead on cost, time and stress. Here is a fair comparison:
| Consideration | Driving it yourself | Car carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Kilometres on your car | Every kilometre of the trip is added | Only short movements at loading and unloading |
| Running costs | Fuel, tolls, food, possibly hotel stays | Included in or listed on your quote |
| Your time | One or more full days of driving, plus the return journey | You travel separately by train, bus or air |
| Wear and risk | Tyres, brakes, servicing; highway fatigue | Car is secured on the carrier |
| Best suited to | Short distances, or when you want a road trip | Long distances, relocations, new or second-hand car purchases |
If you are moving your whole household, a carrier also means you are not trying to drive a car and supervise a house move at the same time.
Types of car carrier
Vehicle carriers in India generally fall into two groups:
- Open carriers carry several cars on an open multi-level frame. They are the most widely used option and are usually the more economical choice. The car is exposed to weather and road dust during the journey.
- Enclosed or closed-body carriers carry cars inside a covered container or body. They give more protection from rain, dust and stones, and are often chosen for new, luxury or vintage cars. They generally cost more and may be less frequently available.
Which carrier ARC uses for your shipment depends on the route and availability. [To confirm: carrier types ARC actually offers (open / closed / single-car) and on which routes] Ask us when you request a quote and we will tell you what is available for your route and date.
What decides the cost of car transport
There is no single price for car transport, because several things change the cost from one shipment to the next. Knowing them helps you compare quotes fairly.
Distance and route
Longer routes cost more, but not in a straight line. Routes between major cities with regular carrier movement can be more economical per kilometre than routes to smaller towns, where a carrier may need to make a special detour.
The car itself
A hatchback takes less space on a carrier than an SUV or a large sedan. Size, weight and ground clearance all matter. Very low cars, modified cars and non-running cars may need special handling, so mention these when you enquire.
Pickup and delivery points
Collecting the car from your home and delivering it to your new address involves more work than a handover at a loading point. Narrow streets, housing-society rules and city traffic restrictions on large vehicles can affect how pickup and delivery are arranged.
Type of carrier
An enclosed carrier, where available, usually costs more than space on an open carrier.
Timing
Demand rises around festival seasons and the months when many families relocate. A flexible pickup date can sometimes help.
Optional services and taxes
Extra protection, additional packing, storage and taxes can all affect the total. These are listed on your quote so you are not guessing.
What your written quote tells you
A verbal figure over the phone is easy to misunderstand. That is why ARC puts the quote in writing. It shows the pickup and delivery locations, the vehicle, the price and what that price covers. If something can be charged separately, the quote says so up front rather than at delivery.
Items that may appear separately on a car transport quote:
[To confirm: list of charges that may be added to or listed separately on a quote, e.g. GST, packing, pickup/delivery, tolls, parking, waiting or storage — include only items ARC confirms]
Read the quote carefully and ask about anything that is unclear before you confirm the booking. If your plans change — a different pickup address, a second vehicle, a later date — tell us, because these can change the quote.
How to prepare your car for transport
A little preparation makes pickup quicker and protects you if there is ever a question about the car’s condition. Before the pickup date:
- Wash the car. A clean car makes it easy to see and record existing scratches, dents and chips during the condition check.
- Photograph it. Take clear, date-stamped photos of all four sides, the roof, bumpers, wheels and interior. Keep them until delivery is complete.
- Remove personal belongings. Take out valuables, documents you don’t need to hand over, sunglasses, chargers, toll tags you want to keep, and loose items in the boot.
- Remove or secure accessories. Detachable roof racks, bike racks, spoilers and aftermarket antennas are better removed or firmly secured.
- Keep only a little fuel. A car does not need a full tank on a carrier, and less fuel means less weight. We will tell you if there is a specific level to keep.
- Check the battery and tyres. The car needs to start and move under its own power for loading. Tell us in advance if it does not run.
- Turn off the alarm or tell us how to disable it, so it does not drain the battery in transit.
- Note warning lights and known faults and mention them at pickup.
Documents
Vehicle transporters in India typically ask for copies of the car’s registration certificate (RC), a valid insurance policy and the owner’s photo ID, and sometimes an authorisation letter if someone other than the owner is handing over the car. Keep the originals with you unless we specifically ask for them.
[To confirm: the exact list of documents ARC requires for car transport, and whether originals or copies]
Pickup and delivery
At pickup, the car is inspected with you present and its existing condition is recorded before loading. [To confirm: confirm: does ARC prepare a written vehicle condition report at pickup, signed by both sides, and does the customer get a copy?] Check the record carefully — it is the reference point used at delivery.
At delivery, inspect the car against that record before you sign for it, ideally in daylight. Walk around the car, check the interior and start it. If you find anything new, note it on the delivery document and photograph it straight away; that makes any follow-up much simpler for everyone.
If you cannot be present yourself, you can nominate someone to hand over or receive the car. Let us know their name and phone number in advance.
Transit time
The time your car spends on the road depends on distance, the route and the carrier schedule. Weather, festival traffic and state-border checks can also affect it. We share an expected timeline with your quote and tell you if anything changes. [To confirm: typical transit-time ranges ARC is confident publishing, or remove this line]
Insurance and responsibility
Before booking any vehicle transport, it is sensible to ask what cover applies while the car is on the carrier, what it includes and what it excludes, and how a claim is made. [To confirm: ARC’s transit insurance / liability arrangements, as confirmed by the owner] The full conditions will be in our Terms and Conditions.
Updates during transit
We do not currently offer live online vehicle tracking. For a status update, call us or use the shipment update request form. [To confirm: how status updates are given, e.g. phone call / WhatsApp / SMS]
Car transport FAQs
Is car transport by carrier better than driving the car myself?
It depends on the distance and your situation. For short trips, driving is usually cheaper. For long routes, a carrier avoids adding hundreds of kilometres to the odometer, saves you fuel, tolls, food and return travel, and frees you from days behind the wheel. Many people relocating with family find the carrier simpler because they can travel separately by train or air.
How long does car transport take?
Transit time depends on the distance, the route and when a carrier is scheduled to leave. We give you an expected timeline with your quote rather than a single figure for every route. [To confirm: typical transit-time guidance ARC is comfortable publishing, if any]
Will my car be driven during transport?
The car travels on the carrier. It may need to be driven a short distance at pickup and delivery — for example, to load it onto the carrier or to move it from the carrier to your gate — which is why we note the odometer reading at handover. [To confirm: confirm whether ARC records odometer reading at pickup and delivery]
Can I keep luggage or household items in the car?
Please do not. Personal items in a car can shift and cause damage, are not part of the vehicle being transported, and can create problems with checks along the way. Remove valuables and loose items before pickup. [To confirm: ARC’s rule on items left inside the car, e.g. none allowed / boot only]
Do you offer door-to-door car transport?
[To confirm: whether ARC offers doorstep pickup and delivery, and on which routes; any limits for narrow lanes or housing societies]
Is my car insured during transport?
[To confirm: whether transit insurance or cover is offered, who provides it, what it covers, and how claims work] Please ask about cover before you book and read the Terms and Conditions.
Moving a motorcycle too? See bike transport and our wooden crate packing option. For more questions, visit the FAQs page.