a shipping vendor moving a vehicle from a dealership with inventory, despite the car chips shortage.

Manufacturers aren’t producing semiconductors necessary for many vehicle functions quickly enough, but you can still buy your ideal car if you get creative.

Key takeaways

  • The global semiconductor shortage is causing problems for car manufacturers
  • The result is fewer vehicles available for buyers
  • This shortage could last until 2023
  • It’s still possible to buy the want you want if you’re willing to get creative

If you’ve attempted to purchase a new vehicle over the last couple of years, you might have noticed less inventory. This shortage has trickled down to the used-vehicle market, as many buyers are settling for pre-owned models when they can’t find new vehicles they want.

This lack of inventory happened because car manufacturers are struggling to fulfill demand because of a global semiconductor-chip shortage. These chips power many vehicle features: power windows, infotainment systems, backup cameras, and emergency-braking systems.

This car-chip shortage has left many vehicles sitting on the assembly line waiting for parts to arrive. Manufacturers are also releasing popular models without certain features. 

Of course, vehicle shoppers are wondering: when will chips be available for automotive manufacturing? The shortage could last well into 2023, but it’s still possible to find the vehicle you want if you’re willing to expand your search.

Here’s how you can find your ideal vehicle, despite the chip shortage.

About the chip shortage

Semiconductor-chip production is intricate. In fact, it’s incredibly complex, with each chip taking over three months to create. 

Chip manufacturers need massive, dust-free facilities, in addition to expensive, specialized equipment. As a result, few global locations are equipped to make these semiconductors. 

When the CoViD-19 pandemic hit, chip manufacturers shut down for months to stop the spread of the virus in their facilities. This slowdown in production decreased manufacturing; the industry has yet to recover. 

Semiconductor chips are used everywhere: cell phones, computers, refrigerators, washing machines, and nearly every other convenience of modern life. There aren’t enough to go around, and car manufacturers are waiting in line, slowing global production.

Lack of available inventory

The lack of available semiconductor chips eventually led to a lack of new vehicle inventory. Car lots worldwide lack certain models because manufacturers don’t have the parts to finish production. For example, Toyota produced about 25,000 fewer vehicles in North America in February 2022 alone, while GM cut features like heated seats from some of its most popular cars and trucks.

Estimates suggest that Ford’s sales declined by 1.25 million units in 2021, Volkswagen’s fell by 1.15 million, and GM and Toyota lost 1.1 million.

The vehicle-production drop triggered the sales drop, not consumers’ willingness to buy. Buyers are left scrambling to find the makes and models they want.

How to find your car

Get creative with your search if you’re set on purchasing a specific vehicle during the chip shortage. You might consider used vehicles instead of buying new ones. The problem? Used-vehicle inventories are also low because many consumers are going this route. Finding your ideal vehicle locally could be a challenge.

Another option is shopping for your car out-of-state. Expanding your search area gives you a better chance of locating a specific vehicle at a palatable price. Start with an online search. Looking at dealerships nationwide creates thousands of possibilities and provides some leverage as you negotiate the price. 

Once you locate the right car at an acceptable price, you’ll have to get it home. Some buyers fly to finalize the purchase and drive their new vehicle home, but there is a faster, easier, and possibly more cost-effective way: auto transport.

The car-shipping experience

Shipping your vehicle to your home sounds like a hassle, but it’s surprisingly simple. The gist: finalize your purchase, hire a carrier to deliver the car from the dealership to your house or a nearby terminal. 

This process eliminates booking a flight or begging a friend or relative to drive you to another part of the country. You won’t have to drive your new car a long distance, putting it at risk of damage and paying sky-high gas prices

Finding a reputable car shipper can be challenging, especially if you search without assistance. However, car-shipping brokers can help you arrange transport, eliminating guesswork and ensuring your chosen carrier is licensed, insured, and vetted.

Your car shipping broker

Car-shipping brokers are excellent resources; they’ll post your request within their network and provide quotes. This approach is far easier than searching hundreds of carriers online because it streamlines your search. It’s also very likely to save you some money.

Mercury Auto Transport is a car-shipping broker in business since 2007. Our extensive network of carriers, including all national dispatch boards, allows us to quickly provide you with quotes once we have your information. Once you accept an offer, we guarantee your price. Contact Mercury Auto Transport today for more information or to receive a quote.

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What Our Customrs Are Saying

FAQs

We feel it’s important for you to know how we determined your quote. Quotes are based on what the market demands for cars to be moved at a given time. Each quote is compared with the current rates on the National Load Board before being sent to our customers and will be reviewed periodically through the process.

Other companies might offer you a lower price to obtain your business. This method is ineffective because if the car does not pay the correct amount of money, it will run the probability of not getting loaded or transported on time. You will not get this information from our competitors. Truck drivers always take the loads that pay the most first, leaving the loads that are mispriced to be moved last or not at all. We try very hard to avoid this with our customers by quoting a fair but realistic quote up front. Visit our How we determine your quote page for more information.

Understanding auto transport insurance is important and we think it’s valuable to explain how it works. As part of providing a great car transport service, it is our job to guarantee that the carrier we assign to pickup your vehicle is licensed and insured. Click here to check out our license.

When you go with Mercury to ship your vehicle, you can rest assured that the carrier assigned to move your car is fully insured and licensed with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier and Saftey Administration).

Your vehicle is covered by the carrier’s insurance policy that is doing the shipping. Depending on the type and size of the truck/trailer that is shipping your car, the insurance policy can cover from $100,000 to $1,000,000 of damage.

We have also provided a checklist to explain what you need to do at both pickup and delivery in case there are any issues so, you can file a claim and know that everything will be taken care of.

It is rare but, time-to-time there may be accidental damage while in transit and it is good to know that your carrier’s insurance will protect your auto shipment in that event.

To view a sample BOL (Bill of Lading) and learn what to do in case of accidental damage, please check out our Condition Report and Procedure checklist.

When comparing auto transport companies, keep in mind that low-priced quotes often result in delays in getting your vehicle loaded. Choosing the right broker is vital to getting a reputable carrier for the lowest price possible.  

We feel it’s important for you to know how we determine your quote.

When you’re looking for a car shipping rate, you want to understand how auto transport works. Prices are based on seasonal market demands for cars to be moved at any given time. Each quote is prepared based on the season and the current national rates.

When comparing auto transport companies, keep in mind that low-priced quotes often result in delays in getting your vehicle loaded. Choosing the right broker is vital to getting a reputable carrier for the lowest price possible. Not all brokers are created equal in this talent.

Mercury does a thorough background check with each carrier for every shipment. We verify their ratings, references, and in addition, we obtain a certified copy of their insurance certificate, directly from the government agency that it is on file with.

You can have peace of mind knowing that the carrier shipping your vehicle is the very best and that there are no surprises guaranteed.

Mercury Auto Transport is licensed, Bonded and Insured. Our FMSCA Motor Carrier Number is MC647319.

While we do our best match your auto shipping needs with the most responsible carriers with the best track records, from time-to-time there may be accidental damage while in transit, it is good to know that the insurance of the carrier we locate for you will protect your auto shipment in that event.

Shipping a vehicle can be stressful if you don’t know what to do.  This is why we believe it is paramount to have our highly trained agents be your main point of contact from start to finish.

They will go over everything you need to know so you can relax.  In the meanwhile, we prepared this checklist.  This includes everything from pickup to delivery and how to make sure your car is ready for pickup.

When it comes to car moving, we want you to be ahead of the game!  For any questions and further assistance our agents are standing by, (800) 553-1828.  Please read our checklist to prepare your vehicle to learn more.

There are several ways you can ship a car.  The options include enclosed trailer, open carrier transport, flatbed truck, door-to-door shipping services, and to or from a terminal as well.  The most popular of the options is a 7 to 10 car open carrier.  These large trucks can accommodate almost any size vehicle including carsSUVstrucksjeeps, and vans.

Open car transport, door to door is also the best way to get the cheapest auto transport rate possible.  To learn more and see what transport method is best for you, please fill out our free quote form and one of our representatives will respond to you within minutes.  You can also call us at (800) 553-1828.

We present offers from FMCSA Licensed and Insured Carriers. When you accept an offer, we send your service agreement that guarantees the price, door-to-door service, and 100% bumper-to-bumper insurance. There are never any hidden fees or charges, guaranteed.