Driving vs. Shipping a Car: Reasons to Choose Auto Transporter Instead of Driving

The decision whether to drive to your new place or ship your car is a tough one. There are pros and cons to both options. How to solve the driving vs. shipping a car dilemma? How to figure out what is the best option for you? Here are some important factors you need to consider.

Distance

Consider the actual driving distance to your final destination. What is the exact road distance between your current location and your new one?

Make a map of the area you will be traveling through – include road infrastructure, traffic information, roadside amenities and rest areas. Compare routes and decide on the one you might take. Are you going for the shortest, safest or the one with the best amenities? Once you choose a route, calculate the exact mileage you will have to drive.

After that you need to estimate fuel costs for the whole trip, road tolls, travel time and costs for hotels and food. Also keep in mind that you may incur maintenance expenses en route. The numbers you get will help you make an informed decision regarding the cost of driving your car to your new home. The longer the route is, the more the costs are.

Budget

Nevertheless, when you choose between shipping your vehicle and driving it, money is a crucial factor.

What is the cost to ship a car?

The cost of shipping a car cross-country depends on the make, model and the weight of the vehicle, the insurance you want, the actual distance and the route itself. Experts say that demand is a fundamental factor as well. When the volume of shipping jobs on a certain route increases, so does the price. It is even not unlikely for the price to be different when going opposite directions on the exact same route.

In general, shipping a sedan long distance costs between $500 and $1300, while shipping a SUV may be cost between $800 and $1,700. Price can be around $300 more in the summer than in the winter. And, if you opt for an enclosed shipping method, that can cost about 60% more than shipping on an open-air trailer.

If you require an urgent delivery date (instead of a delivery window), you may have to pay extra. Having your car shipped on a large multi-carrier will be less expensive. Compare your car shipping options and choose the one that best suits your needs and your budget. Basically, having your vehicle shipped on an open-air carrier is the cheapest way to ship a car.

What is the cost to drive my car by myself?

Fuel costs are not the only expense you will incur if you choose to drive to your new home. You will also have to pay for road tolls and parking, meals and hotels. It will pay off to plan ahead your stops. Research dining options en route and accommodation, too. If you can stay over at a friend’s or relative’s home, you will save some money and enjoy a good company at the same time.

Keep in mind that you will have to check vehicle before the trip. Plus, do not ignore eventualities such as getting a flat tire, having an accident, or requiring a towing service. Furthermore, consider the cost of wear and tear on your vehicle as a few thousand miles will place a lot of strain on your car.

Another factor to weigh in is the fact that you will have to take an unpaid week off work.

You can hire a professional driver and that will cost you more than driving it yourself, but you will save time and effort. Keep in mind that it is not easy to find an experienced and reliable long distance driver. You will also have to cover additional travel expenses. Again, you will still be putting wear and tear on your car.

Personal safety

By all means, personal safety is a primary concern when making your final decision whether to ship or drive your car.

When driving long distance, your car may break down in the middle of nowhere, or, there may be an accident. Additionally, the extra miles will put a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle. And, sometimes the weather may be really brutal. Your may have to cope with security issues such as road accidents and auto thefts.

Shipping a car is a much safer option to take advantage of. Using the services of a professional auto transporter will reduce the risk of accidents, and will also protect your vehicle from adverse weather conditions. You can have your car shipped via an enclosed truck trailer for maximum safety. Vehicles transported via an open-air trailers are exposed to the elements of weather.

Shipping your car will limit the risk of damages to your vehicle and it will also eliminate the risks of you experiencing a road accident. Furthermore, if you have even a minor health condition, it could worsen during the road trip.

Weather conditions

Driving across country in winter can be quite a challenge. You should also consider the time of the year when you decide whether to ship your car or drive it. Blizzards are not unusual in northern states.

Adverse weather conditions make driving quite a challenge - severe winds and rainfalls, heavy snowfalls, and icy roads can impede your trip and compromise safety. Furthermore, being on the road for days when it is freezing outside can affect badly your wellbeing and health.

Shipping a car across country is a much safer and much more convenient option during winter. That way, you will avoid potential troubles caused by bad road conditions. Your car will be protected from the weather if it is shipped via an enclosed car carrier.

Driving cross-country in the summer can be a very pleasant experience. However, most of the household moves happen during the peak season, plus people travel on vacation. All that leads to more congested roads. Ultimately, more traffic means more hours on the road.

Time

Sometimes you are pressed for time or you cannot spend a few days on the road, then it makes sense to ship your car, rather than to be driving it by yourself. If it is a last minute move and you have to be at work the day after moving day, then you cannot not afford to spend several days to complete the moving job.

A road trip across the states may take from a couple of days to about a week. It depends on the route distance, weather conditions, the traffic and your personal driving style. If you bring a friend to share the travel hours, then you could reach your final destination much faster.

If you need to drive your car from New York to Los Angeles, that would be around 3,000 miles. You should allow yourself between 4 and 7 days for the trip. You can even plan a road trip - see the countryside and visit places of interest along the way.

If you need to move to your new home quickly, it would be better to ship your car. In case you have a baby or toddler, or you are moving during the school year, then driving your car will not be a viable option.

Convenience

We understand that you want to transport your car in the safest and most affordable way possible. Convenience is another reason as to why you should ship your car vs. drive it by yourself.

Professional auto transporters will ship your vehicle to any location. Your car will arrive as it was before the move. You won’t need to worry about road conditions, traffic, or accommodation. Moreover, you will not have to take time off work to organize and execute the trip.

Professional car shipping companies have experience and the right equipment for any job. They hire only trained drivers to ensure a safe trip for the vehicles on board. Plus, you can have a peace of mind, because licensed auto transporters maintain adequate cargo insurance. Even, in the unlikely event of a damage to occur, your car will be protected end-to-end.

Choose the best auto shipping company and let the professionals to take care of your worries. Ask for recommendations and read online reviews. Then, ask professional auto transporters for an instant quote to better budget your shipping costs.

Companies like TCI Logistics, work with a network of thousands of professional truck drivers. We can get your car from point A to point B fast and trouble-free. Moreover, we optimize your car shipping cost without compromising safety.