When do I Need Cross Country Car Shipping? Should I Drive My Car Cross-Country or Ship It?

Driving Your Car: Pros and Cons

When you need to get your car from point A to point B several states away, you always have the option of driving it yourself. Some people just love driving, they love the open road and the scenery and the solitude of being behind the wheel for hours. Driving your own car puts you in control of the situation and you can do it at your own pace, and there’s a lot to be said for that.

On the other hand, doing your own driving means a lot of time invested, a lot of miles and wear and tear piled up on the vehicle itself, and possibly a lot of money in fuel costs (depending on the vehicle), which is not even considering incidentals like meals, snacks and an overnight stay in a motel. If you’re driving a classic or an antique, there’s always the risk of a breakdown with a 60 or 70-year-old car that might not be roadworthy for a trip of hundreds of miles (and an iffy parts situation if a breakdown should occur). There’s also always at least some element of risk

Shipping Your Car: Pros and Cons

Now let’s compare the pros and cons of shipping a car rather than doing your own driving. There’s the cost involved, which is almost certainly going to be higher than fuel costs for driving (at least until you factor in incidental costs and also ask yourself what your time is worth when you’re spending a day or two on the road). There’s always a slight risk of damage en route, although you could also incur damage by driving it yourself (and of course, reputable shippers carry insurance and have other ways to mitigate this risk). You could end up with the delivery delayed…which can also happen if you drive.

On the upside, you avoid the stress, boredom and fatigue of a long-distance drive, there’s zero wear and tear on the vehicle (important for those vintage rides) and you can take advantage of the convenience of door-to-door shipping. Most auto shipping companies can also help you keep track of the vehicle while it’s in transit by checking in with the driver for updates and then passing them along. In many instances, though, shipping a vehicle just makes sense for someone who’s in the middle of a relocation or cross-country move, and dealing with getting the car to its new home is just one more headache if you end up driving it yourself.

Combining Moving Services: Shipping with Household Goods

Even moving to another house or apartment in your own town is a stressful experience and a lot of work, with a seemingly endless list of details that have to be buttoned up and loose ends that have to be taken care of. Getting a vehicle to its new home (possibly several hundred miles away) is just one more fairly big concern that has to be taken into account, and leaving that task up to a professional vehicle transport company is a great way to take one of those moving-associated tasks off the table completely.

Factors to Consider

Cost

Let’s think about what it costs to drive a vehicle for several hundred (or over 1000) miles. If you’re driving something like a late model F150, you can expect 20-21 mpg on the highway, which would come out to almost 50 gallons of gas for a 1000 mile drive. At $3 per gallon, you’d be spending $300 on fuel costs alone, and that’s not even considering the $100 you’d spend on a decent motel room overnight and the $30-40 for each meal for two people en route.

Now depending on the vehicle’s year/make/model and a few other factors, it could be $650 to $800 to ship your vehicle for that distance. At first glance, that doesn’t sound like it compares that well against the costs of driving – until you figure on the time involved, the wear and tear and extra 1000 miles on the vehicle (and its tires, engine, drivetrain and running gear) and things start to square up a bit. Then there’s the stress and risk involved in taking a vintage car on the road when it might not be up to the task of covering several hundred miles of highway driving reliably and safely.

Time and Convenience

Even in the comfort and familiarity of your own family sedan or SUV, driving for hundreds of miles is boring and tedious, and eight or ten hours on the road is exhausting. Once a driver gets too worn out, reflexes start to slow and attention drifts (even if you don’t feel tired), and that starts to become dangerous. Letting professionals handle that kind of long-haul vehicle transport just makes sense for a number of different reasons. The downside is that vehicle shipping for 800 or 1000 miles is likely to take more time than doing your own driving, but if you’re in the middle of relocation that might not be such a big concern.

Safety and Reliability

• You might be a great driver, but what about all the other drivers on the road? And what about having to contend with bad weather and road conditions that can make an ordinary drive into a nightmare?
• As mentioned, vintage cars are great as an investment or a hobby or just for the undeniable cool factor. They’re not always so great for reliability and roadworthiness on a lengthy interstate trip.
• It’s in the best interests of any car shipping company to avoid damage to your vehicle while it’s in transit, and any good car shipper is going to include verified carrier insurance rolled into your quote total. It’s actually going to be safer to ship your car than to do your own driving.

When to Drive Your Car

Think about every great road trip you had with your family. There’s so much of the United States that’s spectacular to see, from the desert Southwest to northern California, to the mountains of upstate New York and down to the Texas Hill Country. Taking the highway and taking in the sights can be a lot of fun and a great way to see America.

You can save money on a road trip by ensuring that your vehicle is well maintained, with a clean air filter and properly inflated tires. You can also save a bit here and there by bringing snacks and lunches with you in a cooler; things like sandwiches, chips and fruit are great for the kids or adults both. In the right car and with the right weather, road conditions and schedule, a road trip can be a delight for everyone.

When to Ship Your Car

As mentioned above, one of the most common scenarios for shipping a vehicle is when the car’s owner is in the middle of relocation and it just makes sense to not have to deal with driving. Open car transport is the most affordable way to get a car to its destination; like with the big commercial auto transport trucks that deliver cars to dealerships, your car would be loaded onto a double decker trailer and would share the ride with several others to be picked up and delivered along the driver’s route. For rare and delicate antiques or classics, or for high-dollar luxury cars, enclosed transport might be a better choice. With enclosed transport, your car is loaded into a trailer with metal or tarp sides and a roof, then it’s locked in so it’s protected on all four sides while in transit. Enclosed transport is recommended for any vehicle with very low ride height, such as lowriders, exotics, sports cars and supercars.

It’s important to make the right call for a car shipping company, so make this part of your due diligence:

• Check the company’s DOT licensing and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration numbers
• Find out what customers have to say about their experiences with their online reviews
• Compare rates and remember that too-low rates probably mean that company is cutting corners on service and performance, or there might be surprise fees and surcharges tacked on the back end
• Ask about the company’s suite of features, their transport options and their carrier insurance (including deductibles and dollar limits on coverage)

One reputable option trusted by many customers is SGT Auto Transport, which offers both open and enclosed carrier services tailored to your vehicle’s needs.

Car Shipping Methods

Different vehicles present different needs for security and protection en route. A good car shipping company should offer a few different transport services to answer customer needs.

• While open carrier transport leaves your car exposed to the elements, it does come at a more budget-friendly price point (and you can always reserve a spot on the trailer’s upper level to minimize your car’s exposure to weather and road grit). While enclosed carrier service offers better protection for your car, it does come at a premium cost. For vehicles that need even more enhanced attention and care, there’s white glove service for very valuable or rare cars.
• Most carriers offer door-to-door service for the ultimate in convenience, picking up your car curbside at your address and delivering it curbside at the destination. There are instances, though, where that’s not possible. An 80’ transport truck needs a lot of space to turn or maneuver, and many cities ban commercial trucks from congested residential streets. If your street has a lot of parked cars, sharp corners or low-hanging branches, you may have to choose to meet the transport driver at a more accessible location such as a parking lot, or the shipping company might ask you to bring your vehicle to a truck depot or freight terminal for loading.

Preparing for the Move

If You Decide to Drive

Today’s vehicles are a lot more reliable and less maintenance-intensive than cars of a generation ago. Still, for a long road trip you should check things like these:

• Make sure your motor oil is clean and check your coolant’s condition and level as well as the transmission, brake and power steering fluid (if applicable).
• Check the tires for tread depth; a tire rotation and alignment check can greatly improve road manners.
• Check your windshield wipers, headlights, taillights and windshield washer fluid level.
• Have a technician check the powertrain control module for any trouble codes that could affect emissions or fuel economy.

It’s also a good idea to plan out your route beforehand, even if your car is equipped with navigation. The Interstate system connects major population centers easily and efficiently, but you should consider what US or state routes you might need to take if you’re going  far off the interstate.

If You Decide to Ship

These are all steps to take to get your car ready for transport:

• Check for fluid leaks
• Ship the vehicle with ¼ tank of fuel or less
• Check the battery for a full charge and make sure the tires are all inflated
• Remove any toll tags or parking tags and disable the alarm
• Remove any detachable external accessories like light bars, bike racks, cargo boxes

Your shipping company will dispatch a transport driver to arrive curbside at your location at your designated time and date for pickup. Do bear in mind that due to the number of ways that a delivery schedule can be disrupted, delivery times and ETAs are best estimates and not guarantees – if your delivery will be late, the support team should let you know and inform you of the new ETA. Carrier insurance should be included and rolled into the quote total.

Potential Risks and How to Mitigate Them

There’s always the risk of an accident or mechanical problems if you drive, but a well-maintained vehicle will lower your exposure to risk of a breakdown. Driving when you’re alert and rested helps keep you safe, so don’t keep driving past the point of exhaustion. Be aware of your surroundings, use common sense and lock your vehicle when you go into a restaurant or stop for the night at a motel.

Cost Comparisons: Driving vs. Selling

If your car’s about at the end of its service life anyway, there’s always the option of selling it when you move and just getting into another vehicle when you settle in again. Of course if you buy used below a certain price point, you run the risk of just buying someone else’s headaches. Any purchase of a new or used car should be weighed carefully, including the payments, interest and loan (or lease) terms, and any prospective vehicle should get a thorough inspection from a mechanic before purchase. Then there’s the hassles of selling your car and dealing with the tire kickers who aren’t serious, so consider your options carefully before you sell. The good news is that in the post-Covid market, prices are still pretty high for used vehicles should you decide to sell.

FAQs About Snowbird Car Transport

• How far in advance should I schedule car shipping?

For best rates, car shipping companies ask for a minimum of two weeks lead time to arrange a car shipping order.

• Should I drive my car cross country or ship it?

(see above)

• How do I prepare my car for cross country shipping?

(see above)

• Do I need to ship my car enclosed?

Enclosed transport is recommended for vehicles with low ground clearance, and is a good idea for an extra degree of protection and security .

• What month is the cheapest to ship a car?

Demand for car shipping tends to spike from June through August, as well as year-end holidays. Booking during the off season and avoiding midsummer can save you money .

• Does a car need to be empty when shipping?

Yes, but it’s acceptable to ship up to 100 lbs of personal items as long as they’re secured in the trunk or cargo area.

• What is the best car shipping company?

The best car shipping company is the one that offers the best rates, performance, service, support and coverage to meet your needs and expectations.