Transporting your car might be difficult when moving to a new location, on top of all the other things on your moving checklist. Although packing your clothes in boxes and hiring movers to help you move your furniture are common practices, you might not be familiar with the idea of shipping an automobile across the nation. How do you go about that? And what is the price? Here is all the information you require if you are thinking about shipping your car.
Why Transport a Car Across the Country?
There are many situations where shipping your car across the country makes more sense than driving it. For instance, you might want to keep the mileage off your automobile or own many vehicles. In addition, shipping your car is frequently more convenient than driving it personally because you can fly while it travels a great distance.
What Is the Price of Cross-Country Car Shipping?
Shipping your car can make moving much easier and more convenient. You might be curious about how much it will cost, though. Sadly, because owner costs vary so much, there is no straightforward average.
Your final cost will be determined by a number of variables, such as:
Your Vehicle’s Size
The size of your car. Is it a four-door extended SUV or a two-door coupe? These two types of automobiles can be shipped at very different costs.
The Distance
How far are you dispatching your car? Shorter distances generally cost more per mile to ship. While some shippers only charge $0.40 per mile, others may charge as much as $1. As an illustration, the average cost to send a car 1,000 miles from Phoenix to Dallas would be roughly $750. On the other side, it would probably cost roughly $1,300 to transport your car over 3,000 miles from Seattle to Miami.
Pickup Location
The final cost will vary depending on where you pick up your vehicle. Having your car delivered to a far-off place can cost more. These locations can be challenging to discover and may not provide delivery drivers with handy food or accommodation. These elements can all increase the cost. There are other options if you need to have your car delivered to a far-off area. To save money, you might want to think about having your car delivered to a neighboring town or other convenient location rather than to your door.
The Vehicle’s Overall Condition
Some auto shipping-focused transportation businesses solely transport luxury autos. Some are compatible with all automobiles. The amount you spend to have your car shipped may vary depending on how well it is overall.
Open Carrier vs. Enclosed Truck
When it comes to exporting your car, you have two fundamental choices: an “open carrier” truck or an enclosed truck. Enclosed shipment typically costs more.
You receive peace of mind in exchange for the increased costs associated with an enclosed truck. You’ll be able to see that your car is better shielded from any damage it might sustain during shipping.
However, even though enclosed shipping provides greater protection, it might not be worthwhile if you don’t drive a high-end car. Most of the time, vehicles transported using open carrier trucks arrive in excellent shape, and you may be able to save some money.
Which is the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car cross-Country?
Make sure to estimate the full cost of driving your car across the country, including all costs, before selecting whether to ship it or drive it. In addition to gas, this budget should also account for food, snacks, overnight stays, tolls, and other expenses. Most consumers find that exporting their car is not much more expensive than driving it after averaging everything out and making comparisons. In some instances, it might even be less expensive.
In light of it, the following are some less expensive choices:
Shipping Your Car Terminal-to-Terminal
The least expensive method of moving a car is called “terminal-to-terminal shipping,” which entails delivering the vehicle to a local storage terminal and picking it up at a terminal close to your new residence. However, you might not have access to terminal-to-terminal choices if you’re traveling to or from a rural or isolated area. Despite the fact that shipping from terminal to terminal is less expensive, keep in mind that it is also a little slower and may need you to leave your automobile in a port for at least a few days. However, terminal-to-terminal shipping can be an excellent choice to transport your automobile without driving if you have the time and do not want to spend the extra money.
How Do I Choose the Best Shipper?
Choosing a shipper might be difficult because there are so many of them available. Binding price is an important consideration when it comes to pricing. Avoid cooperating with any shipping businesses that provide you with a wide-ranging shipping quote, where one end of the range is a bargain and the other is a rip-off. Why? Because it’s likely that you’ll pay a “rip-off” price in the end. Instead, request a firm price estimate. A more limited pricing range for your shipment costs should be demanded if the shipping firm does not do so.
While getting a set price estimate is always a good idea, there is one situation where it might not be possible to get one: if you are transporting your car to a rural or remote area. They might not have ever visited that region of the country, and they might not be aware of the expenses involved.
While you don’t want to pay too much, it’s vital to keep in mind that cheap car shippers might not treat your automobile well and might hire untrained drivers to transport it. Do your homework and choose a business with a proven track record of accomplishment.
If I Wanted to drive My Car Across the Country, Could I Pay Someone to do it?
Your automobile can be driven for you by someone you pay. In fact, it’s often a wonderful method to cut costs. However, there are a few factors you should take into account:
Do You Trust the Person?
Giving someone you don’t trust your car’s keys is the last thing you want to do. Even if the person operating your vehicle does not necessarily need to be a close friend or member of your family, you should at the very least want to see their driver’s license and some documentation of their prior experience in this field. If they are unable to give you this kind of fundamental information, that’s probably not good.
By browsing their social media pages, you might be able to learn more about your possible driver. You should think twice before hiring someone if they have a shady-looking Facebook or LinkedIn profile (or none at all).
Are Independent Drivers Covered Under Your Insurance?
It’s critical to determine whether or not an independent driver is qualified if you’re thinking about employing them to carry your vehicle.
- if they have insurance
- if your insurance will cover them.
Independent drivers are permitted under some insurance policies but are not under others. You can be held financially accountable for any incidents your hired driver causes if your insurance does not cover them. If you are unclear about this, contact your insurance company.
Can I Put Items In My Car When I Ship It?
Most of the time, you can keep some of your possessions in your car while they are being transported. If you are dealing with an independent driver, this is entirely up to you, and it is typically acceptable if you are working with a shipping firm.
But keep in mind that you shouldn’t utilize your automobile as a cargo container and that you should allow adequate space for the driver to sit comfortably. Additionally, if you are employing a shipping firm, you should avoid storing anything fragile or perishable. But as long as they don’t significantly add to the weight of your vehicle, a few boxes, clothes, and other goods should be OK.
You should phone the shipping provider to confirm that it is okay if you are adding more than, say, fifty pounds of luggage to your automobile. Normally, they won’t encounter any issues, although a greater load can result in a rise in your delivery costs.
Conclusion
In the end, you should make your choice in your own unique situation when deciding whether to drive or ship your car to your new residence.
Although it is not the sole choice, using a shipper to transport your car might be a practical choice that makes moving easier. Do your homework, weigh your options, prepare your baggage, and no matter what you decide, travel safely!
