Transporting Cars

The automotive industry offers tons of excellent gigs and side hustles, from flipping cars to selling junk cars for scraps.

If you like driving but want a more lucrative job than ridesharing and delivering, you should consider transporting cars.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this gig and what you should expect to earn from it.

An Overview of Transporting Cars: A Primer

Transporting cars can be an excellent way to earn extra money, especially if you already have a truck and trailer to handle the job.

This flexible side hustle includes transporting a number of cars, ranging from one to dozens, from one point to another.

There are different types and forms of car hauling, including open and enclosed transport, and each of them has its own pros and cons.

The best thing about this job is that you don’t need any special education to do it. However, you’ll typically need a commercial driver’s license and proper training to handle large trucks.

How Much Can Transporting Cars Earn You?

Transporting cars can be a remarkably profitable transportation industry gig. In fact, auto transport companies pay heavy-truck car haulers anywhere between $58,646 to $90,737 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.

However, your earnings transporting cars depend on a wide range of factors, including:

• Whether you’re paid by distance, time, or by car.
• The type of vehicle you’re transporting, especially for valuable vehicles like exotic cars and larger vehicles like recreational vehicles, pickup trucks, etc.
• The delivery location
• Shipping quotes
• Expenses like fuel prices in your region
• Whether you’re offering complete protection and insurance policies on your services

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Transporting Cars Side Hustle?

The primary expense to start a car transporting side hustle is, of course, the transportation truck. Buying a specialized truck and trailer for car hauling can start at $30,000 or higher.

However, if you already have a truck, you can cut the costs of transporting cars considerably. In that case, you only need to take care of simpler aspects, such as registering your business.

Besides the transport vehicle, you’ll need to include various ongoing expenses in your calculations, such as:

• Current fuel prices.
• Liability insurance with cargo insurance coverage
• Maintainance costs

Where Can You Find Transporting Cars Gigs?

If you’re interested in helping people move their vehicles and get paid in the process, this section will show you where to find lucrative gigs.

Where to Independently Find Transporting Cars Work?

To work independently in car hauling, you need to already have your own truck, as the entire process depends on this costly investment. Luckily, finding work after this main hurdle should be quite simple.

The best way to find car transporting gigs is by networking and contracting with car dealerships. This provides a sustained income for a reasonable price.

However, if you want to earn more, you should check classifieds and local ads for people wanting to transport their vehicles privately.

This gives you the ability to negotiate a fair price, especially if you add in lucrative features like clean car guarantees.

Gig Economy Companies That Offer Transporting Cars Work

Finding car transporting gigs through companies is much easier than working alone. This also provides you with consistent work depending on your schedule.

The most popular car shipping companies include:

• Montway Auto Transport
• Sherpa Auto Transport
• American Auto Shipping
• AmeriFreight
• Easy Auto Ship
• Ship A Car Direct

These companies offer consistent workflow and some of them even have competitive rates. They also let you pick various aspects of the shipping process, such as preferred vehicle types and delivery times.

Why You Should Consider Transporting Cars As a Side Hustle

There are various reasons why transporting cars might be an excellent gig for you. Here’s a quick look at three of them:

• Flexible Work Schedule: While committing to deadlines is fairly critical in this business, you can always set up your gig schedule in a way that suits your primary job. This also allows you to take as many breaks as you like while on the job without being late.
• High Profitability: Car hauling is one of the highest-paying trucking jobs. The best part here is that it’s practically similar to other trucking jobs.
• Rewarding Experience: transporting cars involves long-distance rides, which is a great change of pace if you appreciate road trips.

Problems With Transporting Cars As a Side Hustle

While it’s an excellent gig, you should also factor in the drawbacks of transporting cars before venturing into it. Here are some common downsides associated with this side hustle:

• High Upfront Costs: Unlike many gigs that need no initial investment, you’ll need to pay a significant sum to buy or lease a specialized truck and trailer for hauling cars. However, it shouldn’t be a problem if you already have them.
• Long Work Hours: Most car deliveries will need you to stay behind the wheel for over 6 to 10 hours, which can get pretty exhausting as you keep working.
• Competition: Several large companies specialize in car transportation. This can make it difficult for independent car haulers to compete in an open market.

Frequently Asked Questions