There are lots of ways to move your car across the country should you need to. Knowing what they are and which are the best will make the move much easier. The first option that tends to spring to mind is to drive the car yourself, but it’s by no means the only choice.
Whether you’re moving because you’ve just landed an awesome promotion, are upsizing because your family has outgrown your home, or just need a change of scenery, it doesn’t matter. The following options work equally well.
Let’s look at the top five most popular ways you can move your car from city to city, state to state, or from one side of the US to the other.
- Drive it yourself
It sounds like a fun thing to do as a family or with a couple of friends. Surely it’s got to be one of the cheapest scenarios too? Yes, it could be an adventure, and on the surface, it’s undoubtedly a low-cost alternative, but there’s more involved than you think.
Let’s stop and consider some of the issues.
Firstly, think about how long it will take to make the journey. Depending on the distance between point A and point B, it could take several days, possibly a week or even longer. You could reduce the timeframe if you’ve got someone to share the driving. But there’s little enjoyment in driving non-stop for several thousand miles.
Secondly, you’re going to need to factor additional costs into the equation. You need to add up the miles and work out how much gas it will take to start with. If you’re traveling over a few days, you’ll need to take some overnight stops. These can cost anything from $40 to $70 per night. In addition, you’ll need to pay for food, drinks, filling the gas tank, and depending on your route, you may have road tolls to pay.
Finally, remember that driving long distances can be very stressful and dangerous. The time it takes to travel the distance will also be affected by traffic conditions and the weather.
- Hire someone to drive it for you
You might not have realized, but it is possible to hire a professional driver to drive your car across the country for you. There are many companies to choose from, but the advice is to make sure you pick a company specializing in this type of service. Make sure you do some research. In particular, check out their feedback online, as this can be a good indicator of the company’s reliability.
You also have to option of hiring someone directly. Check out your local ads, and you might find someone offering their services.
- Tow it yourself
This is one alternative that might seem appealing as it does come with some attractive benefits. The most significant is that it adds no additional miles to your car. You’ll also be able to carry extra cargo inside the car, which could save money on your moving fees. However, if you want to take extra cargo, you need to be careful not to exceed the trailer’s weight limit.
The negatives of this solution also need to be considered when you’re trying to decide what to do. If you’ve never towed anything before, you’ll need to get in some practice. Towing in a straight line is not too complicated, but things get a little more challenging if you need to reverse or maneuver while towing your car.
Additional costs also need to be considered. These will be much the same as driving your car yourself. For example, you’d need to pay for overnight accommodation, additional gas, food, and drinks, as well as the cost of hiring or buying a trailer or dolly.
- Get a friend to drive it for you
Getting a friend or family member to drive your car for you is another popular alternative. It’s very budget-friendly, but there are additional costs to consider. You will need supplementary insurance, and the vehicle will endure extra wear and tear. Offering to cover the cost of accommodation, food, and drinks would also be the polite thing to do.
One significant downside of this choice is that you need to be confident in the driving skills of the person you’ve asked to do the driving. After all, your car is one of your biggest investments, and you need to be sure they’ll treat it with the care and attention it deserves.
- Book with an auto transport company
The final option also happens to be one of the most convenient. Moving your car across the country with an auto transport company is also becoming increasingly popular, as more people come to appreciate its value. It works out to be much cheaper than you think, is more affordable, and one of the most common ways to move a car across the country.
The benefits of auto transport include:
- The journey adds no extra miles on the odometer or added wear and tear
- It’s one of the cheapest ways to ship a car
- It’s a convenient and stress-free experience
- You’ll save a massive amount of time
- You can ship more than one vehicle if you want to
- Extra protection is possible for vehicles of high value, with an enclosed auto transport service
- Generally, an auto transport company provides a door-to-door service
- Alternatives are available if you’re in a hurry or need to make last-minute arrangements
You can book with an auto transport company whatever the occasion. You might be relocating, buying your dream car online, or need to get your classic car to the garage for some essential repairs. The process is simple to arrange, and you’ll get a stress-free experience.
