The Real Cost of Car Hauling, And How SHIFTR Pays for Itself

If you’ve been relying on tow trucks, transport contractors, or borrowed car trailers to move vehicles, you’re likely spending more than you think.

On the surface, it looks manageable. But once you factor in waiting time, outsourcing fees, licensing, and staff hours, the true cost adds up quickly.

That’s why the SHIFTR hydraulic car trailer was built, to give business owners a smarter, safer, and more cost-effective way to move vehicles without the overhead.

Let’s Break It Down: What Are You Actually Spending?

Here’s a typical cost breakdown for short-haul vehicle movement using traditional methods:

1. Staff time, two people for around 30 minutes
2. Waiting time and job delays, lost productivity
3. Local tow truck bookings per job
4. Wear and tear, plus missed opportunities
5. Insurance and compliance costs tied to tow vehicles

Multiply that across several jobs per week, and you’re quickly into thousands per month just to move vehicles from A to B.

ROI That’s Easy to Justify

With SHIFTR starting at $17,995 NZD, the numbers speak for themselves:

• Move vehicles using your existing ute or SUV, no special licence or external operator
• Load and secure solo, no need for a second staff member
• Keep transport in-house and avoid per-job outsourcing costs
• Lower insurance costs, often covered under your existing vehicle policy
• Faster turnaround, more jobs completed, less downtime
• Minimal maintenance, no engine, gearbox, or complex systems like a tow truck

Just a few short-haul jobs per week can pay off your SHIFTR within a year, often sooner.

Your Business Shouldn’t Be Built Around Other People’s Schedules

Every time you rely on a third party, you lose control of timing, quality, and margin.

With SHIFTR:

• Move vehicles when it suits you, no booking delays
• Present a more professional image with clean, modern equipment
• Control the quality and safety of every load
• Add capability without committing to another vehicle in your fleet

For workshops, mobile services, event teams, or dealerships, SHIFTR gives you back time and control.

A Smarter Investment Than a Tow Truck

You could invest heavily in a flat deck truck. That brings:

• Commercial registration requirements
• Special licences and operator compliance
• Higher fuel and insurance costs
• Additional training
• Limited flexibility across job types

Or you could invest in SHIFTR and use it daily with the vehicle you already own.

It handles the same types of jobs, more efficiently, with less cost and complexity.

Start Saving. Start Moving.

SHIFTR isn’t just a car trailer. It’s a smarter way to run your business.