One of the biggest decisions you will need to make when moving across the country is whether you want to move your own vehicle yourself, or if you want to hire a moving company to do the moving for you. Many drivers do not have experience in moving cars, but it is important to know all of your options before making your ship-vs-drive decision. If you cannot afford the time away from your job to personally transport the vehicle, then shipping might make the most sense.
If you are fortunate enough to have a friend who lives in the same area as you and wants their vehicle shipped, then carpooling for transportation could save you a bit of money, as it is cheaper to transport more than one car versus each. While it is not convenient to take days to travel, you are probably going to save some money over using a vehicle transportation provider for transportation. Shipping a car cross-country might not have crossed your mind at all, but there are strong reasons to opt for an auto transportation over an individual drive-through service, although each transportation method will have pros and cons.
When it comes to shipping cars cross-country versus driving, your decision will be affected by the actual distance to your new home, the amount of time it takes you to complete the move, the cost of shipping the car (as opposed to driving across the country), and the level of convenience you want. The time of year in which you are moving will also affect whether to ship your car or drive cross country — particularly if you are moving to the most northern parts of the U.S. If you are limited in your free time, have some immediate obligations immediately following the move, or simply do not like the idea of spending a few days driving, shipping car across country and flying into your new home is the best choice.
If you do wish to send cars cross-country via train, however, you will have to be aware that it may be somewhat difficult to find an open spot on any given day, since rail transportation is mostly meant to be used for car dealerships moving dozens of vehicles at a time; Hire a Driver: There are people that will drive cars cross-country for a fee, so you could hire someone to drive your vehicle to your new home for you. Shipping by train – For long distances, rail transportation is somewhat cheaper than conventional truck transportation (you may be able to save around $100 by moving your vehicle from coast-to-coast). Moving a vehicle by train can cost just a few hundred dollars, depending on distance. For instance, it could cost $1,500 to move a car from Louisiana to Nebraska, door-to-door, when moving by rail.
Like with car-shipping options for trailers, prices vary depending on the distance and features you want. The type of vehicle transportation services you select will greatly impact your moving costs.
Since the car transportation industry can vary in their prices, it is best to get a free estimate from top auto transportation companies in order to get a better idea of how much your shipment will cost. At the end of this article, we have also provided a free auto shipment calculator to help you find the lowest prices on cross-country auto transportation. We can help you send your car anywhere in California, whether that is just crosstown or across the country, and with our easy-to-use car shipping calculator, you will know exactly what it is going to cost. Simply input some basic details about your vehicle, condition, and location, and it will provide a quick shipping estimate as well as an option for a free estimate.
While vehicle shipping can help save you time, secure the vehicle, and may be more convenient, it can also be costly, and most people will need to factor in vehicle shipment costs into their moving expenses. In fact, shipping your vehicle via a vehicle trailer may get pricey if you need a covered carrier or door-to-door delivery. Through your research, you will learn that auto transportation can be a solid option, since many people have trusted this form of transporting their vehicles to move them across country. Car transportation costs typically differ between various transportation carriers, with prices rising when adding options like specific shipping dates or enclosed versus open carriers.
If you are moving your vehicle state-to-state, you are certainly better off. If you bought the car hundreds of miles away in another state, you will have to drive it there before you can bring it home. When you get to your destination, you might have to rent one before you can have your car.
The cost to get your vehicle transported and delivered to you is far less expensive than driving it yourself. The cost to ship a car cross-country will vary depending on your vehicles size and weight, what kind of insurance you want, and the rates of the car-transporting company you select to move your vehicle. If you are planning on sending a vehicle 1,000 miles or longer, it will cost $0.78 per mile, which makes it most effective for longer trips.
The cost to send all of your home goods and personal possessions with one moving company: You will be able to bring just a few personal items when traveling via plane or train, and you will have to trust any of your other belongings to a moving company (if you decide to drive to your new house, you can bring a few items with you). When you are moving your vehicle, you will not need to worry about the hazards of driving long miles, wear and tear, gas, any repairs needed, or hotel, meals, and supplies during your trip. Shipping is a far safer way of moving a vehicle cross-country: using reliable auto transport services will limit wear on your car, minimize your chances of an accident, and keep your car protected from adverse weather conditions. If you are planning on using a open-air carrier to transport your vehicle, expect to pay between $600 to over $1,600.
