{"id":2765,"date":"2018-05-08T13:14:29","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T13:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moving.tips\/?p=2765"},"modified":"2019-01-16T16:16:45","modified_gmt":"2019-01-16T16:16:45","slug":"drive-or-ship-car-across-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moving.tips\/car-shipping\/drive-or-ship-car-across-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I drive my car across country or ship it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moving across country is a great adventure that will give you a lot of excitement and unforgettable memories (even if not only good ones). It will teach you important life lessons, will put you on an emotional rollercoaster, and will challenge you in every way possible. What\u2019s more, it will take you all the way from your current city to your new, far-off home. And here comes the question: how are you going to get there<\/em>? Is it better to fly or drive to your new home<\/a>? And how to get your car across the country \u2013 ship it or drive it?<\/p>\n

To find the answers to these questions, you need to consider the pros and cons of all the available options and choose the one that best suits your time, budget, and personal preferences. When it comes to shipping car cross country vs. driving<\/strong>, your decision will be influenced by the actual distance to your new home, the time you have to perform your move, the cost to transport your car (as compared to the cost to drive across country), and the level of convenience you desire.<\/p>\n

So, in order to make the right choice for you, be sure to take the following factors into account when wondering whether to drive or ship car across country:<\/p>\n

Driving distance<\/h2>\n

The first thing to do when trying to solve the \u201cdriving cross country vs. shipping car\u201d dilemma is to figure out the total driving distance \u2013 not the straight line distance between your current city and your new one, but the actual road distance between the two. When you find out the exact mileage you\u2019ll have to travel, make sure you take a closer look at the route specifics as well \u2013 topography, road conditions, typical traffic patterns, roadside amenities, etc.<\/p>\n

Once you know how far you\u2019ll need to drive and what driving conditions to expect, you\u2019ll be able to estimate how long it will take you to get to your new city and how much fuel you\u2019re going to need (considering the miles per gallon that your car gets). The numbers you get are very likely to determine your choice.<\/p>\n

Time considerations<\/h2>\n

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 (if you\u2019re moving from coast to coast<\/a> or driving cross country alone (you will have to stop more frequently in order to safely make the trip when you can\u2019t rotate shifts with another driver)).<\/p>\n

It may or may not be possible for you and your spouse\/partner to take so much time off from work (or for your children to be out of school for so long). And even if you (and all your family members) have the time for a road trip, you may prefer to spend it setting up your new home and exploring your new surroundings rather than travelling.<\/p>\n

So, if you have limited time off, have any urgent commitments shortly after the move, or just don\u2019t like the idea of spending several days on the road, shipping your car across the country and flying to your new home is your best option.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you have plenty of free time, enjoy driving, and want to see as much of the country as possible, a road trip to your new home may feel like a vacation and family bonding time \u2013 just the thing you need to overcome the moving stress and get off to a good start in your new life.<\/p>\n

Cost efficiency<\/h2>\n

If time allows a road trip, it will be the financial factor that you\u2019ll want to consider next. \u00a0So, is it cheaper to ship a car or drive across country?<\/p>\n

Driving is generally considered to be the most economical way to transport a car across country, but this may not always be the case – when calculating the cost to drive across country, you need to factor in not only the fuel costs<\/em> but also the costs of road tolls and parking fees<\/em>, meals and lodgings<\/em>, vehicle maintenance<\/em>, etc. You can bring some snacks with you, but when driving such a long distance, you\u2019ll likely have to spend the night(s) somewhere and dine at restaurants or purchase ready-made meals along the way – so unless you\u2019re planning to stay with friends or relatives, road food and hotel stays will add a few extra bucks to the total cost of your move. The wear and tear on your car also has to be taken into account (after all, your cross country trip will put an extra thousand miles – or a few thousand miles – on your vehicle), not to mention that you may get a flat tire, have an accident, or require towing along the way \u2013 all of which will result in further expenses.<\/p>\n

The cost to ship a car across country will depend on the size and weight of your vehicle, the kind of insurance you want, and the rates of the auto shipping company<\/a> you choose to transport your car. The amount you pay to have your vehicle shipped across country, however, won\u2019t be your only expense \u2013 if you aren\u2019t driving, you\u2019ll need to fly (or take a train) to your final destination. So, you\u2019ll have to pay for plane (or train) tickets (for you and every member of your family who would have otherwise all traveled in the car) and for transportation to and from the airport (train station). You may also need to rent a car for the time until your own vehicle is delivered. Besides, you won\u2019t be able to take many personal items with you, so your chosen cross-country movers<\/a> will have more stuff to relocate and your moving costs will be higher (long distance moving costs<\/a> are based on the weight of the shipment).<\/p>\n

Good to know:<\/strong> When looking for the cheapest way to ship your car across country, you may want to consider other options than using auto shipping companies:<\/p>\n