Snowbird Auto Transport Services
Who Are Snowbirds
Typically thought of as retirees or baby boomers who head south in the mid to late fall to flee the miserable winter weather conditions of the northern regions to play the most spectacular golf courses, pristine tennis courts, racquetball or pickleball then returning to the north in the spring 4-6 months later. In reality, a snowbird is anyone who wants to live in a warm sun-drenched climate for a more active lifestyle during the winter months or who just wants to take a quick trip down south for a few weeks. New trends show an increase in the number of families who follow the sun. Gen X’ers and Millennials as well are headed to the sunbelt for the gorgeous beaches, stunning hiking, walking, and biking trails. Beautiful sunrises, breathtaking sunsets, fun-filled evenings with social gatherings, craft beers, and of course all the nightlife. Regardless of age or the duration of stay, who wouldn’t want unforgettable memories in the warm sunny weather driving their own vehicle they know, trust, and are proud to drive.
Why Snowbirds Go South
- The frustration of driving in challenging northern winter conditions. A lot of time getting around and extra fuel.
- Accidents on snow, ice & sleet-covered roads or low visibility lead to serious injuries or deaths.
- Hard on your vehicle, much more wear and tear during winter months. Decreasing vehicle value.
- Headaches of day-to-day life due to the cold temperatures, wind, snow, gray & gloomy for months. Days even weeks at a time without the sun.
- Digging your car out and scraping the ice from the windshield and windows. Starting vehicle to allow plenty of time to defrost and warm up.
- Shoveling or snow blowing your driveway, sidewalks, and mailbox, sometimes multiple times a day or each time after the snow plow comes by burying your driveway again. Shoveling porches & decks. Applying salt to the driveway, sidewalks, and porches in icy conditions.
- Constant cleanup of tracking it all in your home. Piles of boots, coats, hats, and gloves are at the front door.
- Taxing on your body, back, and joints. Millions of Americans are injured due to slip and fall injuries, not to mention muscle strain from shoveling or scraping ice off of cars. Could be even more dangerous for anyone with a heart condition or other serious concerns.
- Mental health issues. Studies show that extreme weather changes can negatively affect mental health. During times of extreme cold, people stay inside more and actually detach from normal activities. This form of hibernation can increase depression. With winter days being shorter and very little sunshine, our bodies produce less serotonin and more melatonin.
- Brutal cold, dark northern winters can be very hard on a marriage and family life.
Please Consider Before Driving or Towing Yourself
- High fuel cost, hotels, food and other travel expenses.
- Dangerous risk of car accidents within traffic or due to hazardous weather conditions.
- Emergency breakdowns or accidents due to tire blowouts or a multitude of mechanical failures.
- Decreases the value of your vehicle with more miles and additional wear & tear. Damage from road debris & rock chips decreases value even further.
- If you’ve been making the incredibly long, tiring drive down a few years and the daunting road trip has lost its appeal or the novelty of the journey has simply worn off.
- Declining health no longer allows or maybe your back or legs can’t take the grueling drive for days.
- Poor vision makes driving in the rain, snow, fog even more difficult. Glaring oncoming headlights at night.
- Do not feel safe or comfortable driving hundreds of miles a day, thousands over the entire trip.
- Carjacking or vandalism of vehicles or items in the car or worse yet kidnapping.
- Increasing road rage across the country.
- If you are experienced in proper towing and are sure of the method of towing that works for your vehicle and have an equipped large truck or RV you can flat tow, pull a trailer or tow dolly.
- Additional fees if you do not have your own trailer and many things to consider.
- Flat towing is an option if your transmission can safely accommodate but you will need some modifications, some electrical wiring, safety cables and possibly a supplemental braking system.
- There are several drawbacks with trailer towing or using a tow dolly such as a lot of extra weight impacting your already poor fuel mileage, more wear and tear to your vehicle, more maintenance for the trailer, and the extra tires to maintain and worry about. Not to mention you’ll need a place to store the trailer which could be additional fees depending where you are staying.
Why You Should Use Our Snowbird Shipping Services
- Convenience, saves time & money.
- Peace of mind. Much safer than driving or towing. All of the above issues of driving or towing yourself.
- Common sense and cost-effective compared to all the issues driving it or towing yourself.
- The hassle and expense alone of renting just a small modest car that you may not enjoy or want to be seen in can cost $500 or more per week after all the small print with the possibility of additional fees when it’s returned.
- No additional mileage to your vehicle. Wear & tear plays a vital role in keeping your resale value higher.
- Who wouldn’t want their own car they are familiar with, trust, and proud to be seen driving.
- Realistic accurate pricing. Do not be lured or fooled by the low prices by big-name companies with telemarketer-style tactics. During the snowbird season rates greatly increase due to the extremely high demand. Reputable auto transport companies have more than enough to choose from with hundreds of thousands of snowbirds going south in the fall or back north in the spring to be wasting time playing games.
- We work with high-quality open and enclosed carriers. Primarily our close relationship carriers when possible.
- We verify the carrier’s DOT requirements, proof of liability & cargo insurance, and we do background checks.
- We are fully licensed and bonded.
- We value each and every customer and are looking to build long-lasting relationships.
- Honesty, integrity, authenticity, and enthusiasm are very important to us.
- Friendly communication environment throughout transport and we also follow up with you after delivery.
- No deposits, money down, or hidden fees of any kind.
- Investing in a quality service.
“What’s your destination, we deliver!”
Popular Snowbird States:
- Florida
- Arizona
- California
- Texas
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Nevada
- New Mexico
Popular Snowbird Cities:
- Naples, Fort Myers, Venice, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Cape Coral, Sarasota, St Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Dunedin, New Port Richey, Holiday, Port Charlotte, Orlando, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Melbourne, Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Port St Lucie, Lakeland, Ocala, The Villages, Kissimmee, Avon Park
- Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Tucson, Green Valley, Yuma
- Irvine, Thousand Oaks, Yorba Linda, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio
- Corpus Christi, Rockport, Port Aransas, South Padre Island, Mission, McAllen, Brownsville, Galveston, Beaumont, Friendswood
- Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, Mobile, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope
- Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs, Bay St Louis
- New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport
- Atlanta, Macon, Savannah, Tybee Island, Jekyll Island
- Outer Banks, Hatteras, Morehead City, Wilmington, Leland, Southport, Charlotte, Denver, Mooresville, Durham, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary, Greensboro, Pinehurst Village, Ashville
- Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Bluffton
- Las Vegas, Paradise, Henderson, Boulder City, Laughlin, Mesquite, Carson City, Primm
- Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Las Cruces, Caballo, Taos, Los Lunas, Tucumcari
Open Transport:
Open transport carriers are similar to those you see transporting cars to and from the dealerships. These vehicle transporters are the most widely recognized by the public and range in size from 2-3 car non-stacking trailers pulled by a full size truck up to a 8-10 car trailer pulled with a semi. Open transport is safe and the most economical but is exposed to inclement weather, road conditions, debris, rocks and anything else on the road. There are typically more stops for pickups and deliveries making the transit time longer.
Enclosed Transport:
Enclosed auto carriers also range in size and capacity from small 2-3 car trailers pulled by full size heavy duty trucks to the large 5-6 car ramp load trailers or top of the line 5-6 car horizontal liftgate trailers both pulled with a semi. Since all of these carriers are completely enclosed, the vehicles safely secured inside are not exposed to any weather, debris or rocks from the road conditions while in transit. They cannot be seen by curious or malicious people along the way. Enclosed auto transporters are highly recommended for luxury cars, exotics, classics, muscle cars, restomods, vintage or any vehicles with low ground clearance. It’s a far better service due to less stops for pickups and deliveries, vehicles are handled more carefully, being shuffled less and shorter transit time. Anything or anyone who requires that extra peace of mind. Enclosed auto shipping costs more than open transport due to higher demand for all of the above, the white glove service and there’s less enclosed carriers available making it an exceptional value.
Enclosed Transport:
Enclosed auto carriers also range in size and capacity from small 2-3 car trailers pulled by full size heavy duty trucks to the large 5-6 car ramp load trailers or top of the line 5-6 car horizontal liftgate trailers both pulled with a semi. Since all of these carriers are completely enclosed, the vehicles safely secured inside are not exposed to any weather, debris or rocks from the road conditions while in transit. They cannot be seen by curious or malicious people along the way. Enclosed auto transporters are highly recommended for luxury cars, exotics, classics, muscle cars, restomods, vintage or any vehicles with low ground clearance. It’s a far better service due to less stops for pickups and deliveries, vehicles are handled more carefully, being shuffled less and shorter transit time. Anything or anyone who requires that extra peace of mind. Enclosed auto shipping costs more than open transport due to higher demand for all of the above, the white glove service and there’s less enclosed carriers available making it an exceptional value.
FAQs
For normal orders, we recommend that you place your order at least 10 days in advance of your estimated shipping dates, 14 days prior to have the best results. Due to the extreme demand during snowbird season 2 to 4 weeks prior is needed.
Door-to-door service means the auto transporter will pick up & deliver your vehicle as close as possible at the driver’s discretion. In a lot of cases because of the size and length of the semi-tractor & trailer or the length of smaller trucks and trailers, this may be impossible due to the low clearance of bridges, narrow streets, tight corners, low-hanging tree limbs, or power lines. In some cities or subdivisions, it is illegal to bring large trucks into certain areas & the carrier can be fined not to mention it can cause damage to the vehicles on the trailer or vehicles on the street. In this case, the carrier will determine an alternate location that’s legal & safe to load or unload.
Auto transport carriers have the authority and insurance coverage to ship vehicles only. They are not permitted to haul personal belongings or household items of any kind therefore please do not leave or put anything in the vehicle. Lightweight non-breakable, non-valuable items such as clothes or bedding discreetly placed in the trunk may be acceptable if the carrier approves. Vehicle owners take full responsibility for any damaged, lost, or stolen items and violations of this policy. Under no circumstances shall vehicle owners transport any illegal items or hazardous substances. In the case the vehicle owner violates these rules they may be subject to any penalties or fines.
The owner or someone designated by the owner must be present at pick up & delivery to have a vehicle condition inspection done & sign the release form, and bill of lading. Please have your valid photo ID as proof if needed.
Yes give us a call, text, or email and we will gladly assist in providing you with a pickup or delivery status asap. We take pride in having a friendly, open communication environment to keep our clients informed of where your vehicle is throughout its journey.
All auto transport companies must have the proper insurance required by federal law and is included in our estimate. It is always a good idea to have your own auto policy in place in the event something out of the carrier’s control happens during transport that the carrier’s insurance may not cover.
Yes, it is always best to be properly running and driving. But if your vehicle is inoperable (inop), it must be brought to our attention when placing the order to make the appropriate arrangements to assign a carrier who has a winch to properly load and unload the vehicle safely & professionally. There is an additional fee for the special equipment and the extra work involved. If a vehicle becomes inop during transport the carrier has the legal right to charge accordingly.
Any damage that was not listed at pickup must be noted upon delivery on your bill of lading & acknowledged by the driver & signed by both agreeing. The carrier must always be paid in full for transport. Any damages reported after signing the bill of lading & the carrier leaves will not be considered or covered. As the owner of the vehicle, you must file your insurance claim directly with the designated carrier. We cannot do that for you.
(We are not a carrier and not responsible for any damages and are not involved in insurance claim decisions whatsoever.)
Reviews
“Fountain Transport Services is absolutely the best in the vehicle transport industry. I spent two weeks calling, emailing, getting quotes, and reading reviews on about every vehicle transport company I could find during internet and forum searches. After two weeks, I was frustrated and disappointed that there were no vehicle transport companies I felt comfortable with using. I was looking for an enclosed transport for a 2018 Camaro ZL1. I wanted more than anything someone that I knew I could trust, and that was not going to charge me more than what they originally quoted. Luckily, I came across a transport driver that told me to call Dave Fountain at Fountain Transport Services. He said Dave is the best and will make sure your vehicle will get to you safely and at a fair price. Before I called Dave Fountain, I found his website and read through it and was impressed. I called Dave that evening and after a 1 hour phone call where he took the time to explain what he does, how much he cares about his customers, the drivers he uses, and making sure my vehicle would get to me safely, I was sold. Dave and the transport driver Emmanuel did exactly what Dave said they would do and my 2018 Camaro ZL1 was delivered in perfect condition. I wrote this review because I feel that anyone looking for a vehicle transport company should give Dave Fountain a call. He will get the job done and make you feel at ease through the entire process. Fountain Transport Services and the transport driver Emmanuel are a shining light that sticks out in what I call the dark hole that is the vehicle transport industry. I hope this helps anyone that is looking for truly great service! Thank you Dave and Emmanuel.”
-Clint Sparks
“I was amazed at this shipping company. I have never shipped a car from Florida to Wisconsin but Dave and his team made this experience one to remember. Dave made this trip feel like it was the most important delivery he had going on at the time. Great priced company that out beats any other transportation service I seen! My car was delivered to me looking beautiful! I couldn’t be more happy and pleased with the service Dave provided to me. He even called me after it was delivered to ensure everything was ok and to make sure I was happy. How many owners of a company do that for their customers? I don’t know anyone that does that EXCEPT Dave from Fountain Transport Services. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this company to ship your classic car or any car for that matter.
Dave, thank you so much!”
-Pete Guajardo
“This was my first time ever having a vehicle shipped and I was very nervous!!! I had heard of many horror stories, but my story was far from that! My story and experience was extremely positive. My car was picked up and dropped off as expected. I was continuously advised throughout every step of the process. I can’t say how completely happy I am with using this company!!! The rate for shipping was fair and zero hidden fees. I didn’t have to pay anything until my car had safely arrived.
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!!!! That’s really all I can say! You won’t be disappointed if you choose this transportation company.
Thank you Dave!!!!!!!! “
-Josh S.
“I had Fountain Transport Services move a recently purchased vehicle halfway across the country. This after being recommended by a friend that had also used Fountain.The move went off without a hitch. Dave was super helpful beforehand, answering my questions truthfully and put me at ease. Constant communication throughout the move kept worries to a minimum.
Dave went above and beyond dealing with unforeseen obstacles and delivered on time.
I will use Fountain again as well as highly recommended.“
-Dan Swanson
“Whether you are a car enthusiast or you are just trying to get your car cross country in one piece, Fountain Transport is the way to go. I worked closely with Dave, he is hands on and high touch. In a world where you can’t even get a live person on the phone anymore, Dave was there helping every step of the way. I shipped a 2022 Mazda MX-5 RF about 800 miles. The price was fair and the attention to detail was exceptional. The transport driver was thorough, looked over every detail of the vehicle before loading it and then communicated those details directly to me (who was 4 states away). The car arrived in exactly the condition it left the lot. The truck it arrived on was clean, the driver was friendly, and you could tell he really cared about cars. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Would absolutely do business again.”
-Brian H.
“I had a great experience with Dave! I moved my vintage van from Iowa to Arizona. Dave was helpful, available for questions, had good communication and follow-up. The process was pretty straightforward. The price was in-line with other quotes, but I felt good about Dave. He was respectful, personable and trustworthy from start to end. It was a bonus that I could help support a local businesses. The driver he contracted was nice and prompt! They got my van safely to it’s new home sooner than I expected! I highly recommend Fountain Transportation Services and wouldnt hesitate to use them again.”
-Joshua Wooden
“Delivered my car from Pennsylvania to Alabama in 24 hours enclosed delivery with exceptional contact during the entire transfer. My car was delivered to me as if it was a baby! Lol which it kinda is! It was unloaded in perfect condition. I love this company.”
-Lisa Snow
“Fountain Transport Services did a fantastic job as they have done for me in the past, the car was picked up, put on a truck and transported to me without any problems. The driver was polite and courteous, and called us when he got close so we could schedule to meet and receive our car with him.”
-Greg Seymour
“I have used Fountain Transport Services many times and I have always received fantastic service! Dave is very fair and I always trust the carriers that he decides to use. He is also a great guy and very gracious. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs shipping services!!”
-Rudy Sedillo
“Could not be happier with the service.
Dave is very detail oriented. He and his driver stayed in touch with me through the whole delivery. The driver was very professional and knowledgeable. Would use his services again. Thank you!”
-Paul Johnson
“I’ve been using Fountain Transport for several years shipping my car to Iowa and California. Every trip has been very successful with professional drivers (sometimes the same one). Dave’s personal touch really adds to the experience. Several of my friends ship their cars with Dave with the same success.”
-Dick Lockridge
“Have used Dave Fountain for three years and have been totally delighted with his professional efficient service. Have recommended to many of my friends who have had the same great experience.”
-Bob Messey
“If anyone needs a great/reliable transport service I highly recommend Fountain Transport Services. They gave me the white glove treatment on my 69′ from North Carolina to Florida in an enclosed trailer at more than a reasonable rate!”
-Marc ‘Doc’ Mires