Shipping Your Car Across the Country: The Ultimate Guide

In addition to the other items on your moving to a new location checklist, transporting your car could be challenging. Although it's normal practice to put your clothes in boxes and hire movers to help you move your furniture, you might not be aware of the concept of shipping an automobile across the country. What's the best way to achieve that? What is the cost, too? If you are considering shipping your car, this information is all you need to know.

Car transport: why do it?

There are several circumstances where it makes more sense to ship your car across the country than to drive it. For instance, you might desire to own several automobiles or keep your car's mileage low. Additionally, since you can fly while it goes a long distance, exporting your car is frequently more convenient than driving it yourself.

Cross-country Car Shipping Costs?

Moving can be made much simpler and more convenient by shipping your car. But you might be wondering how much it will cost. Sadly, there is no simple average because to the wide range of owner expenses.

Your exact price will depend on a variety of factors, including

Your Vehicle’s Size

how big the car is. Is it a two-door coupe or a four-door extended SUV? The shipping prices for these two different car kinds are quite different.

The Distance

How far is your car being dispatched? Shipment across shorter distances typically costs more per mile. There are shippers who just charge $0.40 per mile, and there are others who may charge up to $1. As an example, it would cost approximately $750 to deliver a car 1,000 miles from Phoenix to Dallas. On the other hand, driving your car 3,000 miles from Seattle to Miami would likely cost you around $1,300.

Pickup Location

Where you pick up your vehicle will affect the ultimate price. It may cost more to have your car transported to a remote location. These places can be difficult to find, and they might not offer convenient lodging or meals for delivery drivers. All of these components may raise the price. If you need to have your car delivered to a remote location, you have other options. You might want to consider having your car delivered to a nearby town or another suitable location rather than to your door in order to save money.

The Vehicle’s Overall Condition

Some companies that specialize in shipping cars only ship premium vehicles. Some are appropriate for all autos. The cost of shipping your car will depend on how well-maintained it is overall.

Open Carrier vs. Enclosed Truck

You essentially have two options when it comes to shipping your car: an "open carrier" truck or an enclosed truck. Usually, enclosed freight is more expensive.

In exchange for the higher costs associated with an enclosed truck, you get peace of mind. Your car will be better protected from any damage it can experience during shipping, as you can see.

Even though enclosed shipping offers more protection, if you don't drive a high-end car it might not be worth it. Vehicles transported by open carrier trucks typically arrive in excellent condition, and you might be able to save some money.

Which is the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country?

Before deciding whether to ship your car or drive it across the country, make sure to calculate the complete cost of doing so, including all charges. This budget should include gas, food, snacks, overnight stays, tolls, and other expenses in addition to gas. After adding everything up and comparing prices, the majority of consumers discover that driving their car is not significantly more expensive than exporting it. It might even be less expensive in some cases.

In light of this, the following options are more affordable:

Shipping Your Car Terminal-to-Terminal

"Terminal-to-terminal shipping," which involves delivering the automobile to a nearby storage facility and picking it up at a terminal close to your new home, is the least expensive method of transporting a car. However, if you're going to or from a remote or rural place, you might not have access to terminal-to-terminal options. Although shipping from one terminal to another is less expensive, you should be aware that it is also a little slower and can need you to leave your car in a port for at least a few days. If you have the time and don't mind spending a little more money, terminal-to-terminal shipping can be a great option for moving your car without driving.

How Do I Choose the Best Shipper?

Because there are so many shippers to choose from, it could be challenging. When it comes to pricing, binding price is a crucial factor. Avoid working with any shipping companies who offer you a wide range of shipping quotes, with one end being a great deal and the other being a rip-off. Why? Because you're probably going to end up paying a "rip-off" price. Ask for a firm price estimate instead. If the shipping company does not offer a more constrained pricing range for your shipping charges, you should demand one.

Getting a fixed pricing estimate is always a good idea, but if you are shipping your car to a rural or remote location, it might not be possible. They might not be aware of the costs because they have never traveled to that part of the nation.

While you don't want to overpay, it's important to remember that cheap car shippers might not handle your car correctly and might use unqualified drivers to transport it. Do your research and select a company with a successful track record.

Can I pay someone to drive my car across the country?

You can hire someone to drive your car for you. In fact, it's frequently a great way to reduce expenses. There are a few things you should consider, though:

Do You Trust the Person?

The last thing you want to do is give your car's keys to someone you don't trust. Even while the driver of your car need not be a close friend or a relative, you should at the very least want to see their driver's license and some proof of their prior work-related experience. It's probably not a good sign if they are unable to provide you with this kind of basic information.

You might be able to find out more about your potential driver by looking through their social media profiles. If someone has a sketchy-looking Facebook or LinkedIn profile, you should consider it twice before hiring them (or none at all).

Do you insure independent drivers?

If you're considering hiring an independent driver to transport your vehicle, it's imperative to ascertain whether or not they are qualified.

1. if they have insurance

2. if your insurance will cover them.

Some insurance packages authorize independent drivers, while others do not. If your insurance does not cover any accidents that your hired driver causes, you may be held financially liable. Contact your insurance provider if you have any questions about this.

Can I Put Items In My Car When I Ship It?

You can usually transport some of your belongings while keeping others in your automobile. This is entirely up to you if you are dealing with an individual driver, and it is normally okay if you are working with a shipping company.

However, bear in mind that you shouldn't use your car as a cargo container and that you should leave enough room so that the driver may sit comfortably. Additionally, you should avoid storing anything fragile or perishable if you are working with a shipping company. Nevertheless, a few boxes, some clothing, and other items ought to be acceptable as long as they don't dramatically increase the weight of your vehicle.

If you are adding more than, say, fifty pounds of luggage to your car, you should call the shipping company to make sure it is alright. They won't typically run into any problems, though a heavier load may increase your delivery costs.

Conclusion

When determining whether to drive or ship your car to your new home, you should ultimately consider your own particular circumstances.

Using a shipper to move your car might be a sensible option that simplifies relocation, albeit it is not the only one. Prepare your luggage, do your research, consider your options, and, whatever you do, always travel safely!

Eve Anderson, a quirky, sharp, and meticulous copywriter with a communication degree from Washington State University, is a quirky, sharp, and meticulous writer.