Moving cars around Australia isn’t as simple as you’d think. Trust me, I’ve been in this game long enough to know that Mother Nature loves throwing curveballs at us transport folks.
I started in this industry back in 2011, and let me tell you – I’ve seen it ALL. From cars nearly floating away in Queensland floods to a carrier getting stuck in a dust storm so bad the driver thought he’d landed on Mars.
Summer – The Scorcher
Summer here is BRUTAL on cars and drivers alike. December through February can be an absolute nightmare, especially if you’re moving vehicles through the center.
Had this customer last January who insisted we transport his BMW convertible from Sydney to Darwin right in the middle of a heatwave. I tried to warn him but he wouldn’t budge on the timing. Poor car arrived with the dashboard literally warped from the heat despite all our precautions. The rubber seals had started to melt a bit too.
What happens to cars in 45+ degree heat while being transported?
- Tyres get affected by the hot road surface and pressure builds up
- Any tiny paint chips can start to spread in extreme heat
- Electronics don’t love it either
- And the poor bloody truck drivers deserve medals
My mate Johnno who drives one of our carriers reckons he goes through about 8 liters of water on those summer runs across the Nullarbor. Says he’s seen the road literally shimmering like water ahead. Freaky stuff.
And don’t even get me started on the bushfire detours. Last year we had to add 300km to a Melbourne-Sydney route because the usual way was cut off by fires. Customer wasn’t happy about the delay but what can you do? Better late than burnt to a crisp, I say!
The Wet Up North
I remember back in 2019, I flew up to Cairns to help sort out a right mess during the wet season. Had 3 car carriers stuck because the highway south was underwater in 4 different spots.
Ended up having to rent a warehouse for a week just to store the cars until the water receded enough. Cost us a fortune but what else could we do?
The thing with the northern wet season (roughly Nov-April) is that it’s not just a bit of rain – it’s like standing under a fire hose sometimes. Roads turn into rivers so quick it’ll make your head spin.
This one time we were transporting a collection of cars for a dealer in Darwin, and the lead driver called me at 5am saying “Boss, I can literally see fish swimming across the road. Actual fish. What do you want me to do?”
We had to wait 3 days for that one to clear up. The dealer wasn’t impressed but showed him the photos of the flooded road and he shut up pretty quick.
Tips if you’re shipping during the wet season:
- Be flexible with dates. Seriously.
- Make sure your car doesn’t have any leaky seals
- Patience… lots of patience
- Maybe just wait till the dry if you can?
Winter Woes in the South
Look winter isn’t as dramatic as summer or the wet season, but it comes with its own headaches, especially down in Tassie or through the Snowies.
Black ice is the worst. Can’t see it till you’re already sliding on it. We had a driver nearly lose it coming down from Thredbo last July with a full load. Scared the daylights out of him. Now we avoid certain mountain roads entirely during the coldest months.
Fog is another pain in the backside. Try navigating a 15-meter car carrier through fog so thick you can barely see the hood ornament. Not fun.
I’ve got a regular customer who moves his vintage car collection between Melbourne and Sydney twice a year. Smart bloke – always books for April and October to avoid the weather extremes. Wish all customers were that switched on!
Spring – The Trickster
Spring feels like it should be perfect, right? Not too hot, not too wet, not too cold. But nope, it’s got its own special brand of trouble.
The wind, for starters. Those big car carriers are basically giant sails on wheels. We had one blown clean off the road near Port Augusta a couple of years back during one of those wild spring storms. Driver was ok thankfully, but it was a proper mess to sort out.
And the sudden temperature changes? Cars don’t always like that. Had a fleet of new vehicles we were moving from the docks once, and half of them had condensation issues inside after they went from cool storage to hot weather then back into air-conditioned holding.
Don’t even talk to me about hay fever season and pollen. The amount of times we’ve delivered cars covered in that yellow dust… customers think we’ve not looked after their cars properly, but what are we supposed to do? Put giant face masks on the carriers?
What We Do About It All
Over the years I’ve developed a bit of a system:
For summer runs through the center or north, we try to travel at night when possible. Cooler for the cars, cooler for the drivers. Everyone wins.
During the wet season up north, we build in buffer days. Better to promise delivery in 7 days and do it in 5 than the other way around.
Winter in the mountains? We check the ice reports obsessively and sometimes take the long way round if conditions look dicey. Rather add a few hours than risk a whole carrier.
And we’re constantly watching weather alerts like hawks. The Bureau of Meteorology website is permanently open on my computer.
Some Real Talk About Timing
If you’re flexible about when you need your car moved, here’s the inside scoop:
Best times for different routes:
- East to West (or reverse): April-May or Sept-Oct
- North to South: May-September (avoid the wet season like the plague)
- Tasmania: November-March unless you enjoy rolling the dice
Worst times:
- Darwin or Far North QLD: January-February (peak wet season)
- Central Australia: December-February (unless your car enjoys sauna conditions)
- Alpine areas: June-August
My Final Thoughts
Been doing this car transport thing for 10+ years now, and the weather seems to get more extreme every year. Used to be you could pretty much predict the seasons, now it’s anyone’s guess what Mother Nature will chuck at us.
One thing I’ve learned – always be straight with customers. If there’s weather causing delays, I just tell ’em how it is. Most people get it. The ones that don’t probably think rain comes from garden hoses.
If you’re booking transport for your beloved vehicle, just remember – the cheapest quote might not account for proper weather planning. Ask questions about contingencies. A good transport company will have answers ready.
