For anyone who is moving to another state, you’ve probably already realized that it can be a pretty stressful process. Even if you’re not traveling super far across the country, there’s just a lot to think about. For instance, you’ll probably have to get a new license, license plate, and the works!
Really, there’s just going to be a lot on your plate. Since you’ll have to update your credit cards and a lot of other things with your new address, too, it can almost feel overwhelming. Sure, there are guides like this one, but sometimes that’s just really not enough. Especially when it comes to details you may not have been considering already like how to move your car!
If you’d like to see a cost breakdown on doing that sort of thing, even if you’re not really sure how it works just yet, then this is the article for you. It’s not going to be something that you need to stress over as much once you’re done, that’s for sure!
What is it?
Car shipping is pretty much exactly what it sounds like on the tin. That being said, to get a bit more in-depth with it, it’s really just a way of transporting a vehicle in a specialized sort of trailer. There are tons of companies across the country that offer these sorts of services, and they’ve got the credentials to back up their specialty as well.
There are a few different types to be aware of though, as you explore your options. For example, you’ll be making the choice between open air and enclosed transport for your vehicle. While the former tends to be more cost-effective, the latter is more secure, so it’ll be your choice there as to what seems more worthwhile.
The other distinction to keep in mind when it comes to car shipping is that you can get what’s called “terminal to terminal” or “door to door” options. The former just means that you drive the vehicle to the terminal and once it arrives, you’ll need to pick it up from that location. With the latter, though, it will be picked up at your home and then dropped off at your new place afterwards!
Costs
Now, let’s tackle what will probably be at the front of everyone’s mind here: what are the costs associated with shipping a car? Well, the truth of the matter is that it will be pretty dependent on some of the personal factors you’ve got going on. Allow us to explain.
There isn’t one “set” cost for shipping a vehicle, as nice as that would be for a breakdown like this. Instead, it’s based on things like how big the car is, how heavy it is, and whether you’re going for the open air or enclosed trailer. Those are just a few examples of what might play a part in this, though.
Something important to keep in mind as you go is that most of the time, we’ll have set budgets for our move. You can see some additional tips and tricks on how that works here, https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/tips-for-moving-to-another-state/, if you’re curious. It’ll be up to you to figure out whether this fits into that.
The thing is, you’ll be comparing it to the other way to move a car. Most of the time, that’ll be driving it yourself. Sure, it sounds pretty simple at first, but don’t forget that you’ll need to stop to take breaks. Depending on your destination, this could take days. When you have to factor in stays at hotels and meals, suddenly that price tag will start looking a lot bigger.
Gas isn’t exactly cheap these days, either, adding another layer on here. As you’re looking at your budget and weighing the pros and cons of each option, think about how much mileage your car gets. Unfortunately, there’s a pretty good chance that taking the road trip would end up costing you a whole lot more than a transport service.
The other nice thing to consider with these services is that there are ways to reduce the weight of your car before you even take it to the depot or warehouse. Taking out any trash or your personal items can take off a few pounds, which is why cleaning out the car before you take it in is usually advisable. Beyond that, though, you can also make sure that you’ve only got about a quarter of a tank of gas in there.
Because there is a lot of flexibility here in terms of reducing the overhead costs for car shipping, a lot of the time people find it to be worth it – especially when compared to moving the car yourself. Those sorts of trips just aren’t as feasible anymore.
