Why Choose Cross Country Car Shipping Over Driving: Cost and Benefits

When moving to a new city or relocating across the country, one decision you have to make is whether to drive your car all the way to the destination or choose a cross country car shipping service from an auto transport company. Driving seems to be an obvious option to choose, but it involves many reasons, which makes it less profitable than car shipping.

What is Cross Country Car Shipping?

Cross-country car shipping is a process of vehicle transportation from one side of the country to another by means of a specialized auto-transport service. This type of service is designed to move vehicles over long distances efficiently and safely from one state or region to another or even through the whole country.

Cost to Ship a Car Across the Country

Shipping a car across the country involves several factors which can affect the actual cost of transportation. Many transport companies provide free car shipping quotes or cost calculators to provide the actual cost of car shipping. 

Here is the breakdown of the cost according to the distance which might help you with a general idea of car shipping cost.

• Shorter Distances (e.g., up to 500 miles): Normally, costs range from $300 to $700.
• Mid-Range Distances (e.g., 500 to 1,000 miles): Costs generally range from $700 to $1,200.
• Longer Distances (e.g., 1,500 to 3,000 miles): Expect costs between $1,200 and $2,000 or more, depending on the specifics of the shipment.

Factors Influencing Car Shipping Costs

As we discussed earlier, the actual cost of shipping a car depends on many factors which are also affecting it. So here are some of the key factors which influence the cost.

1. Shipping Method

• Open transport: Shipping a car on an open-air trailer usually costs less, but vehicles are exposed to the weather elements.  Open transport, also known as open car shipping, is the most common shipping method available to ship standard non, expensive daily computer vehicles.
• Enclosed transport: This shipping method involves transporting vehicles on a fully enclosed trailer, protecting them from whether elements. Enclosed car shipping offers the highest level of protection, which also costs more than open transport. This method is best suited for transporting premium, custom-made, or antique cars.

2. Shipping Distance 

• Shipping a vehicle over long distances requires more fuel and labor, which increases the overall cost of transportation. Longer the shipping distance more cost of shipping you will expect to pay.

3. Vehicle Type & Condition

• Type: Shipping a smaller vehicle is cheaper due to its requiring less space and easy to handle. The bigger the vehicle size more space required on the trailer, more costlier the transportation cost.
• Condition: shipping a non-movable vehicle requires special tools and equipment, making it costlier to ship compared to movable or operational vehicles.

4. Seasonal affect

• Shipping a vehicle in summer can cost you extra to arrange a trailer because many people are transporting their vehicles at this time of year, and it’s harder to arrange a trailer on a busy schedule.

Benefits of Shipping a Car Cross Country 

Shipping a car over long routes is more convenient and cost-effective than conventional driving. We have gathered some reasons why shipping a car cross country is more beneficial than driving a car.

• Time-saving: Shipping your car will save you a lot of time, especially if you are moving for work or need to observe a very tight schedule. While driving across the country could take some days, shipment usually takes from a few days up to about a couple of weeks, depending on the distance and service.
• Avoiding wear and tear: A long drive could give your car some serious wear and tear. Shipping a car saves very high mileage and the potential strain of a cross-country drive on it.
• Cost efficiency: While it may seem very expensive to ship cars, in reality, it can be more cost-effective compared to driving, considering the cost of gas, hotels, and food involved with driving, not to mention breakdowns or repairs during a road trip.
• Safety and convenience: Long-distance driving can be tiresome and even hazardous, especially when the route is unknown or if the weather conditions are bad. Shipping your car removes all these risks and is hence convenient.
• More Flexibility: Shipping allows you to devote your time and energy to other aspects of the move or relocation rather than spend days driving through roads.
• Preservation of values: It helps protect your car’s resale value by keeping it in good condition avoiding the wear associated with long drives.
• Professional handling: The shipping companies are experienced in ways of handling your car safely and securely to avoid any kind of damage while transportation. They make use of specialized equipment and methods to ensure that your car will arrive in the best condition.
• Reduce stress: Long-distance driving can be stressful when you encounter much traffic, go through detours, or have problems with the vehicle. Shipping your car reduces this stress as you focus on other priorities.