Moving across the country is a great new adventure that creates a lot of excitement and memories. It will teach you valuable life lessons, put you on an emotional roller coaster, and challenge you in every way possible. 

Moreover, it will transport you from your current city to your new, faraway home. And the question is, how will you get there? Is it better to fly or drive to your new home? And how do you get across the country by car? Should you send it or drive it yourself?

To find the answers to these questions, you need to consider all the pros and cons of all available options and choose the one that best suits you in terms of time, budget, and personal preferences. 

When it comes to delivering a car across the country compared to driving it, your decision will be influenced by a few things: 

• The actual distance to your new home 
• The time you have to make your move 
• The cost of transporting your car (compared to the cost of driving across the country)
• The level of convenience that you desire.                                                                           

   Photo by Markus Spiske

Therefore, to make the right choice that suits you, be sure to consider the following factors when wondering whether to drive or ship your car across the country.

Driving distance

When trying to solve the dilemma of driving your car across the country against shipping it, you should calculate the total driving distance. Not the distance in a straight line between the current city and the new one, but the actual distance on the road between them. 

When you know the exact mileage you will have to drive, make sure you also carefully study the specifics of the route. For example, the terrain, road conditions, typical traffic patterns, and road amenities.

Once you know how far you need to go and what driving conditions are expected, you can work out how long it will take you to get to your new city and how much fuel you will need (considering the miles per gallon your car receives). 

The numbers that you get are very likely to determine your choice.

Time Considerations

How long does it take to get across the country? A road trip through the states can take from a couple of days to about a week.

If you move from coast to coast and drive across the country alone you’ll have to stop more often to travel safely when you can’t take turns with another driver.

It may not be possible for you and your partner to take so much time off work, or for your children not to go to school for so long. 

Even if you and all the members of your family have time to travel, you may prefer to spend it on settling into a new home and exploring new surroundings rather than traveling.

However, if you have a lot of free time, enjoy driving. If you want to see as many countries as possible, a road trip to your new home can feel like a vacation and a time of family connections. 

Cost Efficiency

Most people want to choose the most cost-effective route when moving, especially considering any move can be quite expensive. So, is it cheaper to ship a car or drive it across the country?

Cost of Driving Your Car to New Location

Driving is generally considered the most economical way of transporting the car across the country. However, this is not always the case. 

When calculating the cost of travel around the country, you should consider not only the cost of fuel but also the cost of road charges and parking, food and accommodation, car maintenance, etc. 

You can take a few snacks with you. Still, if you drive this far, you’ll probably have to spend the night and dine in restaurants or buy ready-made meals on the way. Therefore, unless you plan to stay with friends or relatives, road meals and hotel accommodation will add a few extra bucks to the total cost of your move. 

You should also consider the wear and tear on your car. After all, your journey through rough roads will put extra miles on your vehicle, and not to mention the fact that you may get a flat tire, have an accident, or require a tow on the way. All of these will result in further costs.

Cost of Shipping Your Car

The cost of shipping your car around the country will depend on the size and weight of your car, the type of insurance you want, and the rates of the road transportation company you choose to transport your car. 

However, the amount you will pay to have your car delivered across the country will not be the only expense. If you are not driving, you will have to fly (or take the train) to your final destination. 

Therefore, you will have to pay for the plane tickets for you and each member of your family who would otherwise travel by car. 

You may also need to rent a car for a while until your car is delivered. You will also not be able to bring your personal belongings with you. Therefore, your chosen shipping company will have more items to move around. 

Other Options

When searching for the cheapest way to deliver your car across the country, you can consider other options than using a car shipping company. Here are some other options:

Delivery By Rail 

For longer distances, rail transport is a little cheaper than traditional freight transport (you can save about $ 100 when transporting your car from coast to coast). 

However, if you want to send the car by train across the country you should know that it can be somewhat difficult to find an open slot on a certain day since rail transport is primarily designed for car dealers moving dozens of vehicles at a time.

Hire a Driver 

Some people drive cars around the country for money, so you can hire someone to take your car to your new home for you. You can use professional driving services or hire a student who needs extra cash. 

However, consider hiring someone you know personally and make sure that your car insurance covers any accident or theft while someone else is driving.

Safety

The safety of your car is another important consideration when you think about whether you should drive or send your car across the country.

Driving a Car

Driving long distances will put a lot of strain on your car. It’s not just wear and tear from excessive mileage, but also the consequences of the weather (extremely high or extremely low temperatures, heavy snowfalls, thunderstorms, icy roads, etc.) that you need to worry about. 

However, more importantly, your car will be exposed to a range of threats and safety issues. These include factors from car malfunctions to traffic accidents, from traffic jams to car theft, etc. Such troubles and setbacks can happen quickly and become very costly.

Shipping a Car

Transporting a car across the country can save it from accidents, wear and tear, and from adverse weather conditions. 

Professional road carriers have the necessary equipment and are used to dealing with all possible contingencies. They have received specialized training, CDL certification, as well as gained extensive experience in managing all kinds of situations that may arise on the open road. 

Professionals have many miles of driving experience and know the safest routes to take the car. Moreover, all professional road carriers provide adequate insurance.

Note: Most road transport companies put cars on trailers in the open air, where bad weather and other road hazards can easily affect them. If you want your vehicle to be better protected from elements, you can ship it in a closed truck for an extra fee. 

Even though the cost of the transport is about 50 percent higher, it may be worth it if you are transporting a high-end car or moving in the middle of winter.

Convenience

You will probably want to choose the best way to transport the car that is most beneficial for you and your family.

Driving a Car

A trip to your new home will provide maximum comfort to your children and pets. (you will be able to stop often, play games in the car, etc.). It will also give you the opportunity to visit nearby historical sites and attractions, which will help relieve stress from moving and turn your move to an exciting adventure. 

You will also be able to bring with you all your essentials and valuables, which can reduce the final cost of the move. Just make sure that your car is serviced before you travel.

Shipping a Car

When transporting your vehicle across the country, you will need to prepare your vehicle for transport and attend a pre-shipment inspection. 

And that’s all. The road carriers will take care of everything else. You won’t have to stress about traffic conditions, traffic problems, parking problems, hotel stops, etc. 

You won’t have to take extra leave from work and spend your days behind the wheel. You will arrive at your destination quickly and effortlessly, and you will have time and energy to unpack, set up a new home, explore new surroundings, etc. Your car will be delivered to your door (or to a terminal in your new city).

The Verdict

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you need to weigh up the options carefully and choose the one that is suited to your specific situation. 

However, if you have more cars in your family than licensed drivers, the only acceptable solution is delivery.