Ship Car By Plane: A Complete Guide to Fast and Efficient Vehicle Transport
Air freight is generally one of the fastest methods of shipping a vehicle and is often used for overseas transport of cars. It is typically more expensive in comparison to other methods of transport, but is much faster and more reliable. Consider the breakdown of air car shipping, the benefits, the costs, and tips for process success.
Why Ship a Car by Plane?
Transporting a car by plane, like all air freight, is relatively costly. Nonetheless, air is used in very specific situations: as part of relocating a car across borders, for transporting vehicles purchased by car collectors and dealers, when notified with little time before the shipment is due, and for high-value cars. Ship car by plane is the fastest and safest way to ship a car.
The Benefits of Shipping a Car by Plane
- Speed: Car shipping by air is the fastest method of shipping a vehicle over long distances, taking days rather than weeks as by road or sea.
- Security: Air transportation is more secure, especially for expensive luxury or classic vehicles which are treated with special care and transported in enclosed containers.
- Global Reach: You can ship your car to anywhere in the world via air transport. It is especially useful for getting to remote locations that can take long to reach via sea freight or ground.
| Aspect | Air | Ground | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast (2–5 days) | Medium | Slow (weeks) |
| Security | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Cost | Expensive | Moderate | Affordable |
| Reach | Worldwide | Regional | Limited routes |
Detailed Aspects of Shipping a Car By Plane
Consider a number of important factors when shipping a car by air including vehicle preparation, cost, and required paperwork.
The process of shipping a car involves steps of choosing a suitable carrier, preparing the vehicle for air transportation, and ensuring that it meets all necessary requirements under law. These steps show how this process functions.
- Prepare the Car for Shipping: You need to do several things before the car is shipped. Remove all personal items. Clean the car. Make sure that it is in good working order.
- Loading: Cars go into special shipping containers or get driven onto the flatbed in the aircraft’s cargo hold then get strapped down so the car does not slide around during transport.
- Arrival and Unloading: Once the car arrives to its destination airport, it is offloaded and undergoes customs clearance.
Costs of Shipping a Car by Plane
Transporting a car via airplane is generally more expensive than other modes of transport, but the costs vary according to aspects of:
Measure the vehicle’s dimensions, weigh the vehicle, and determine its capacity. Cars that are bigger and heavier need much space and have the capacity and therefore cost more for shipment. For instance, luxury cars, trucks and SUVs cost more relative to small-sized sedans to ship.
- Shipping Method: This can depend on whether your shipment is in a container or sitting in the hold of the plane. Enclosing your package can add extra costs, as opposed to keeping your package in the hold.
- Insurance: Most air transporters offer a basic insurance plan as standard, though if your vehicle is high-value, additional insurance might be worth purchasing, albeit for an increased cost.
Timeframe for Shipping a Car by Plane
One major advantage of shipping your car using air freight is the speed. Most domestic airline shipments take 2-5 business days to arrive at a destination. International shipping times vary depending on destination, ranging from 5 to 10 days. Consequently air transport is often particularly suited for time-critical shipping, such as moving to a new city to start a job or shipping a luxury car.
Most regions do not have international air cargo services specifically for cars and air freight is limited to a few airports.
Comparison of Shipping Methods for Cars: Air vs. Ground and Sea
Air freight is among the fastest methods for transport in existence, but it’s not always the best option. We’ll compare shipping products by air versus ground and ocean freight. Then we’ll look at the advantages to each mode of transport.

- Air Freight has the perks of speed and security, but the highest pricing.
- Ground Shipping is also the most versatile, balancing speed, cost, and security of packages.
- Sea Freight is inexpensive. It is the slowest shipping method.
Maybe you’re moving for work and need your luxury sedan shipped from New York to Los Angeles.
- Air Freight: You can get your car delivered faster and in a stronger, more secure shipping container. The air freight service is, of course, more expensive. Looking at 3 days delivery.
- Ground Shipping: Your car can be shipped ground if you are looking to save some additional shipping fees. Ground shipping usually takes 7-10 days, and may be shipped on an open truck. It is cheaper but takes longer than conventional vaccination.
Air freight is the best option when the shipment is highly time sensitive. Alternatively, ground shipping might be an effective alternative when the lowest cost is the priority and time is not.
Practical Tips for Shipping a Car by Plane
If you are shipping a car by plane, you can follow these practices to ensure success.
Choose the Right Company
Not all cargo companies offer air freight services. Find cargo companies and freight forwarders with a focus upon vehicle transportation and air freight shipping services. To select a good service, a person must read through reviews, check on qualifications, and look over testimonials.
Understand the Costs Involved
Air freight has a higher price over sea or ground freight. Contact your shipping company about a quote. This price quote covers all costs such as insurance, handling and other customs costs.
Be Prepared for Customs
International shipping may require that customs clear items. It is important to care for all necessary papers. Provide proof of ownership, customs declarations, insurance, and so on with these papers to avoid delays.
Consider Additional Insurance
Although air freight companies usually insure shipments, this likely does not suffice for high-value vehicles, and someone should purchase extra insurance to adequately cover them.
Shipping a car by air Canadian Car Shipping is the fastest and safest way of transporting a car. It is the best option to quickly and safely transport your car and although the most expensive option, may be worth the extra price if your car is quite valuable or if you need to get it somewhere quickly. By understanding the shipping methods, costs and preparations for an air shipment, you may make your air shipment as smooth as possible.
