If you have an older car and you are relocating, you may wonder if it is worth the money to ship your car. To get a general idea of what shipping your vehicle should cost, you can see a recent post showing the cost of shipping a car in March to see prices between different areas of the US.
If you are thinking that it is not worth it to ship your car, you should consider the alternatives to shipping your car. Here are your two primary alternatives:
While driving your own car is one option, it may also be the more expensive option. There are many hidden costs in driving a car yourself, such as lost days of work, hotels, food, and fuel. For a detailed look at the costs and benefits of driving your car, see our post: Is it cheaper to ship or drive my car?
If you have plenty to time to get to your destination and would like to see more of the US, driving your car could be a fun experience. If you try to drive across the country in 3-4 days, it is not going to be much fun.
If you don’t ship your car and you don’t drive it to your destination, can sell your current car and buy another one at your destination. If your car is worth a few thousand dollars or less, this option can make sense. However, you also have to deal with the hassle of selling your car right before you depart and buying a new one at your destination shortly after you arrive.
There are also costs associated with selling and buying a car. These include dealer margins, registration, and sales tax. If you are planning to get a new car soon anyhow, this may be a good option. For most others, it is probably not worth the hassle.
Once you look that the other options, shipping your car may be more appealing. If you do ship your car, be sure to contact several car shipping companies to find the one that meets your needs. You don’t just want the cheapest price, you want to find a reputable car shipping company that can meet your timing needs.
MoveCars.com is a directory of car shipping companies. Since 1997, MoveCars.com has been providing a comprehensive directory of car shipping companies, including international car shipping companies and enclosed car transporters , as well as car shipping tips for first-time car shippers.