Driving vs. Shipping Car: Ship a Car or Drive It When Moving Across Country

A cross-country move is bound to bring you a lot of excitement – and a great deal of anxiety too. You’re about to begin a brand new life in a brand new world full of opportunities and adventures. Yet, you’ll be venturing into the unknown and facing challenge after challenge in the transition to your new life – the first of them being the actual relocation itself.

Before you can settle down in your new home, explore your new area, and take advantage of everything it has to offer, you need to get there first. You have to plan your relocation, find good movers, pack your items for shipment, deal with the necessary paperwork, etc.  Last but not least, you need to find a way to get to your new city yourself – drive, fly, or ride the train to the far-off place that will be your new home.

The decision whether to drive to your new home or ship your car across country and take a flight (or train, or bus) to your new area is a tough one – there are pros and cons to both options and you need to consider them very carefully in order to make the right choice and ensure your successful moving experience.

So, how to solve the driving cross country vs. shipping car dilemma? How to figure out what’s best for you? To make an informed decision, you need to take all the relevant factors into account:

Driving Distance

The first thing to consider when wondering whether to drive or ship car across country is the actual driving distance to your destination – not the straight line distance, but the exact road distance between your current home and your new one.

Take a detailed map of the area you’ll be traveling and examine the topography of the region, road infrastructure, typical traffic patterns, available roadside amenities, and other relevant features. Decide on the route you’re going to take (it may not be the shortest one possible, but the safest, easiest, or most convenient way to get to your new home) and calculate the exact mileage you’ll be driving.

Once you know the driving distance and the exact route to your new home, you’ll be able to estimate:

• How much fuel you’re going to need (considering the miles per gallon that your car gets);
• How much you’ll have to pay for gas (keep in mind that in some areas diesel fuel is more expensive than the national average) and road tolls (depending on the specific route you’re taking);
• How long it will take you to get to your new city (at an average speed of 60-70 miles per hour).

The numbers you get will help you make an informed decision about how to transport your car across the country.

Seasonal Considerations

Needless to say, driving across the country in January is utterly different from taking a road trip in May. Therefore, the time of the year when your move takes place will also influence your decision whether to ship car or drive across country – especially if you’re moving to the more northern parts of the United States.

The adverse weather conditions in the winter will make driving quite a challenge – the chilly winds, heavy snowfalls, and icy roads will cause you a lot of trouble, result in considerable delays, and pose great risks to your vehicle and your safety. What’s more, being on the road for days on end in freezing temperatures will have a bad effect on your health and on any sensitive items you’re transporting in your car.

See also: Moving in the winter

Shipping your car across the country is a much safer and more convenient option during the cold season – you will avoid any potential problems caused by bad road conditions and will travel quickly and comfortably to your new home. Your vehicle will be protected from the elements if it is shipped in an enclosed truck and even the shipping costs will be quite affordable as business is less brisk in the winter months and the demand for car transportation services is much lower as compared with the busy summer period when most house moves take place.

Driving across country in the warm season, on the other hand, is likely to be pleasant and trouble-free, so if you’re moving any time from April to October, you may have quite a nice road trip to your new home (keep in mind though that traffic will be really heavy this time of the year). Besides, the higher shipping costs in the summer will provide an even bigger stimulus to drive across country.

Related: Pros and cons of moving during different seasons

Time Concerns

The time you have to spare is another decisive factor when it comes to the shipping car cross country vs. driving dilemma. Driving across the country takes a long time and you may not be able to afford to spend several days on the road. Flying to your new city (and shipping your car with an auto transport carrier) will allow you to be back at work on the very next day after your move.

So, how long does it take to drive across the country? A road trip across the states may take from a couple of days to about a week – depending on the distance to your new city, the road and weather conditions, the traffic along your chosen route, your driving style, whether you’re driving alone or rotating with a companion, etc.:

• When moving from coast to coast (a distance of approximately 3,000 miles), you’ll be on the road for four days, at the very least;
• When driving cross country alone, you’ll have to stop more frequently to rest in order to make the trip safely;
• Heavy traffic and bad weather conditions are certain to result in considerable delays.

If time allows it, a driving trip may be your perfect option – you’ll be able to travel at your own pace, stop whenever you want to, see the countryside, visit places of interest along the way, have fun with your family, etc.

If you need to get to your new home quickly, however, driving across the country won’t be an option – if you (or your spouse/partner) have limited time off, or you’re moving during the school year and your kids can’t be away from school for long, or if you have important commitments shortly after the move, it won’t be possible to spend so much time on the road.

Besides, even if you (and all your family members) have plenty of free time, you may prefer to spend it unpacking your items and arranging your new home or exploring your new area rather than traveling.

See also: Things to consider when moving

Cost Efficiency

Is it cheaper to ship a car or drive? More often than not, it’s the cost factor that determines the decision whether to drive or ship car across country.

Cost to Ship Car Across Country

The cost of shipping a car across country depends on the size and weight of the vehicle, the kind of insurance you want, the actual shipping distance, the current fuel costs, and the specific route taken during the transportation. The experts say that it mainly comes down to demand – when the quantity of vehicles shipped on a certain route goes up, so does the price. It is even possible that the price is different when going in opposite directions on the same route.

In general, shipping a sedan across the country costs between $600 and $1,100, while transporting a small van may be anywhere between $800 and $1,500. You can expect to pay $200-$400 more in the summer than in the winter and enclosed shipping can cost about 60% more than shipping on open-air trailers.

The price will also increase if you want a guaranteed delivery date (instead of a delivery window) and/or door-to-door services (instead of terminal-to-terminal transport). Having your car shipped on a large multicarrier will be less expensive but will take longer.

You need to carefully compare your shipping options and choose the one that best suits your needs and your budget.

When shipping a car across country, the price stated in the quote you receive from the car transportation company is the final price you’re going to pay.

Yet, the shipping cost is not the only expense to consider when wondering how to transport a car across country. You need to also factor in:

• The cost of the airplane tickets (or train tickets) for you and every member of your family (who could have all traveled in the car) – you may need to pay up to $500 per ticket when flying across the country;
• The cost of transportation to and from the airport (train station);
• The cost of renting a car in your new city to cover your transportation needs until your vehicle arrives (it may take up to two weeks for your car to be delivered);
• The cost of shipping all your household goods and personal belongings with a moving company – you’ll be able to take only a few personal items with you when traveling by plane or train and will need to entrust all your other possessions to the movers (if you choose to drive to your new home, you’ll be able to transport some of your items in the car). This will result in higher moving costs as long distance moving costs are based on the weight of the shipment.

Although shipping by truck is the most common option for transporting a car across the country, you can also ship your vehicle by train. For distances exceeding 1,000 miles, train transport is likely to be cheaper. Yet, the available routes are quite limited and you may not be able to find an open slot on a specific date as train transport is primarily intended for auto dealers moving several vehicles at once. Besides, pickup and drop-off still involve a truck – for an extra fee, of course.

See also: How to ship a car to another state

Cost to Drive Across Country

As already mentioned above, the cost of driving across country depends on the distance to your new home and the current fuel costs. Filling up the gas tank, however, is not going to be your only expense. You will also need to pay for:

• Road tolls and parking fees;
• Meals and lodgings along the way – you will spend several days on the road and will need something to eat and somewhere to sleep during that time – unless you’re planning to stay with friends or relatives, you’ll have to pay for hotel stays and dine at restaurants or take-out places;
• Vehicle servicing – you need to have your car serviced before the trip, not to mention that you may get a flat tire, have an accident, or require towing along the way.

The cost of wear and tear on your vehicle should also be taken into account as a few thousand extra miles will place a lot of strain on your car.

Needless to say, if driving across country requires an unpaid week off work, the opportunity cost may tip the scales in favor of shipping your vehicle.

If you don’t want to ship your car, but don’t have the time to drive across country, you can hire someone to take your vehicle to your new home for you – there are people who drive cars across country for money:

• You can use professional driving services – they’re fully insured and you can rest assured that your car will be handled by an experienced professional. You can pack up the car with belongings, if you want to;
• You can hire an independent driver – someone you know personally, a trustworthy student looking for a free way to get cross country, etc. Just make sure your vehicle insurance covers any accidents or thefts when someone else is driving.

Hiring someone to drive your car across country will cost you more than driving it yourself, but will save you time and effort. Also, if you have more vehicles than licensed drivers in your family, it’s your only viable option other than shipping.

Safety

There is no doubt that yours and your family members’ personal safety and the safety of your vehicle will be your primary concern when planning a cross-country move.

When driving across country, you risk a lot – your car may break down in the middle of nowhere, you may fall asleep at the wheel, there may be an accident, etc. The extra mileage will put a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle and the effects of the weather may be really harsh. Besides, your car will be susceptible to a number of threats and security issues – from road accidents to auto thefts.

Shipping is a much safer way to transport a car across country – using trustworthy auto transportation services will limit the wear and tear on your vehicle, minimize the risk of accidents, and protect your vehicle from unfavorable weather conditions.

For maximum safety, consider having your car shipped in an enclosed truck – cars on open-air trailers are exposed to the elements and vulnerable to damage and break-ins, so the extra cost will be worth it if you’re moving in the winter or transporting a high-end vehicle.

Shipping your car will reduce not only the risk of damage to your vehicle, but the potential safety hazards to you and your family as well. When you ship your car across country, you’ll either fly or take a train to your new city. Both air travel and train travel are considered much safer than road travel – the likelihood of a plane crash or train accident is considerably smaller than the possibility of a traffic accident, so you’ll be safer on your trip to your new home.

Convenience

There is no doubt that you’ll want to transport your car across country in the safest and cheapest way possible. Yet, you’ll certainly be looking for the most convenient way to take your vehicle to your new home as well – organizing and performing house move is difficult enough as it is, so you don’t need to deal with complicated car transportation issues on top of everything else.

A road trip to your new home will take some planning – choosing the best route to drive across country, booking hotel stays, etc. – but will ensure maximum comfort and help reduce the moving stress. It may feel like an adventure, vacation, and family bonding time – you will be able to stop whenever you want to (very convenient if you have children and/or pets), visit nearby historical sites, attractions, and places of interests, visit friends and relatives who live along the way, play games in the car, etc.

What’s more, you’ll be able to take all your essentials and valuables with you, bring along non-allowable items, transport some of your belongings in the car and reduce the overall weight of your shipment, saving thousands of dollars on your final moving costs.

Car shipping companies will take care of transporting your vehicle from the beginning to the end – all you need to do when shipping a car across country is prepare your vehicle and be present for pre-shipment inspection.

Your car will arrive at your door (or at a terminal in your new city) in the same condition as it was before the move and without a ton of mileage on it. You won’t need to worry about road conditions, traffic issues, car failures, hotel stays, etc. You won’t have to take extra time off from work and spend days behind the wheel – you’ll get to your new home quickly and easily and will have the time and energy to unpack, set up your new home, explore your new area, etc.

Professional car shippers have tens of thousands of miles of driving experience and the right equipment for the job. They’ve undergone specialized training and obtained their CDL certification, and they know what to do in any situation that can occur on the open road. What’s more, all professional auto shipping companies provide adequate insurance, so you can have your peace of mind when leaving your vehicle in their hands.

Shipping your car across country will save you time, the hassle of traffic, and any troubles on the road. Just make sure you choose the best auto shipper for you – ask your family, friends, and coworkers for recommendations, get multiple car shipping quotes, read online reviews, check the companies’ credentials through the Better Business Bureau, make sure the carriers are registered with the Department of Transportation and properly licensed (use the company’s motor carrier number to check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), verify the auto shipping companies’ insurance, compare prices and services, and find the right shipper for your needs.

Book their services as early as you can to ensure convenient pickup and delivery days, favorable conditions, and price discounts.

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So, is it better to ship a car or drive? The answer depends on your specific circumstances, relocation needs, and personal preferences.

When asking yourself “Should I drive my car across country or ship it?”, you need to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both options and choose the one that’s right for you.

After all, it’s the path to your new life – only you can decide how to travel it.