Is Shipping Your Car Across the Country a Better Choice?

Is Shipping Your Car Across the Country a Better Choice?
Published on August 26, 2021

Moving across the country can be an emotional and adventurous experience. There are a dozen things to consider, and transporting personal property is at the top of almost everyone’s list. Naturally, vehicles can be one of the most valuable items to bring with you when relocating to a new area. 

Given that we are not wizards and do not have access to a magical flying car, we must consider more mundane alternatives like shipping or driving the vehicle. And the difficult part is determining which option is more convenient and preferred, taking into account a variety of criteria such as travel time, the distance between locations, and other aspects.

Distance between the destinations  

We recommend checking the driving distance between the locations to resolve the dilemma of shipping or driving your car. Please keep in mind to calculate the actual road distance between states/cities rather than the approximate mileage between the destinations.

In addition, it can be beneficial to examine the specifics of the planned journey. Road conditions and road infrastructure, weather complications, roadside amenities are just a few of the things to think about before hitting the road. 

Safety and convenience  

For some people, driving across the country can be seen as an opportunity to have an exciting experience with friends or family. Though, ideal road trips are seldomly realistic. Firstly, driving long hours can cause fatigue and back strains. While hiring a vehicle shipping company allows you to avoid the risks involved with road transport accidents. The shipping company will deliver the vehicle to your location. And you would be more ensure that you and your family arrive safely.

Furthermore, logistical issues may arise if you have more than one car, which is quite common in most families. When selecting an auto transport shipping company, you can request that they coordinate the transportation of all the vehicles. 

Timeframe Consideration  

A road trip across the United States can take anywhere from a few days to a week. It depends whether you are planning to travel from coast to coast or if you’re driving simply between states. Meanwhile, as mentioned previously, you will also need to stop more frequently to make the trip safely if you can’t rotate shifts with another driver.

Therefore, if you have any limited timeline and commitments shortly after the travel, shipping your car across the country and flying to your final destination is the advised option.

Costs and expenses

Driving is usually assumed to be the most cost-effective way to transport a car across the country, but this isn’t always the case when considering the expenses associated with the trip.

The final cost can vary depending on the amount of time spent traveling, the number of people in the car, and other aspects. We suggest that you include not only the cost of fuel. But also the cost of road tolls, parking tickets and fees, meals and accommodation prices, vehicle maintenance, and so on.

The presumption of the damage of the wear and tear on your car must also be kept in mind. After all, a cross-country trip will add an extra thousand miles to your vehicle’s driven mileage number. Not to mention minor accidents can always happen. A reasonable chance of incurring unexpected costs remains as well. Some of the most common incidents are a flat tire or the need to tow the car along the way.

Please keep in mind that the cost of cross-country shipping is directly related to the size and weight of your vehicle, the type of insurance you select, and the rates of the auto shipping company you choose.

Thus, try to get quotes from a few different shipping companies and compare their shipping costs. Tempus Logix, with its extensive experience in car shipping, is one of the most cost-effective and secure organizations in the industry.

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