How to Start a Car Hauling Business

For anyone with the knowledge to make it happen, learning how to start a car hauling business is a good opportunity to have your own – very profitable – business. You will be hauling cars for a number of different reasons. Some people will be moving and need their cars transported, some will want a salvaged car brought to their location so they can restore it, and others will have you transporting their prize possession to and from car shows.

It is common for the owners of luxury, exotic, or antique cars to hire a service to transport their cars rather than driving them and exposing them to the elements. Of course safely getting the cars to their destination in the exact condition in which you picked them up is your most important job when you start a car hauling business.

What You’ll Need to be Successful

While you will need to spend quite a bit of money for one or more trucks and/or trailers to transport cars, your other overhead is fairly low. There is no need for a ritzy office, state of the art computers, or anything too fancy. In fact, you can work from home. For transporting the cars, you will want to tailor your transport vehicles to the services you plan to provide. For example, if you plan on moving only salvaged cars, an open flatbed trailer might be all you need. On the other hand, if you want to transport expensive, exotic cars, you will definitely want to invest in an enclosed trailer. It only takes one rock chip or scratch to negatively affect your reputation.

To save money on hotel rooms, it is a good idea to invest in a truck with a sleeper for those long road trips across the country. Also, you will need to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and be certified in the type of vehicle you plan to use. This will require you to take classes and pass both written and driving exams, as well as a physical.

Also check with the current Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations to see if you need a hazardous materials permit, as most of the cars you transport will have fuel in them. In any case, you will be required to keep a driver’s log detailing all the trips you make. Again, check with DOT for current regulations.

Keys for Success

On time pickup and delivery of vehicles – every time – will be your primary concern when you start a car hauling business. And of course delivering your vehicles without any damage is equally important.

Figuring out your expenses accurately will help you maintain a healthy profit margin. Be sure to account for all your costs, including fuel, insurance, payments on your vehicles (if any), and maintenance costs. You might be able to reduce your fuel costs by applying for a corporate discount with some of the national gas companies. Another way to maximize your earnings is to arrange for returning home with a full load as much as possible. The more often you can keep your truck or trailer full, the more you will make. Conversely, empty trips will drain your profits.

Beyond that, take great care of your customers and their cars, and you will find success when you start a car hauling business.

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