Shipping your car cross country

Irene

Irene

New Member
I am considering shipping my car across country instead of driving it. I will then fly to my destination. Has anybody done this? I'm alone (and old) and don't relish driving across the country by myself. I don't think it would be any more expensive that driving, with the hotels, gas and food.
Comments are appreciated. Thank you!
 

Irene said:
I am considering shipping my car across country instead of driving it. I will then fly to my destination. Has anybody done this? I'm alone (and old) and don't relish driving across the country by myself. I don't think it would be any more expensive that driving, with the hotels, gas and food.
Comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
It's been almost 20 years, but I would strongly suggest getting a quote. Also consider the car would be unavailable during a several day transport, so you would need some other mode of transportation, etc.
 
Some snowbirds do this every year. You will probably find them under "drive away service".
I knew one person who was moving from Michigan to Florida. He had the moving company load his model A Ford into the moving van.
 
The process involves hiring a shipping agent (truck broker) whom then books enough cars going from your area or routed through your area to the destination. They will tell you almost anything to get the booking and they may not honor the original quote (intentionally underbid to get your order) if they can't find a cheap truck or rates change.

The brokers lie to the truck drivers and vice versa so you never know if someone is lying or just repeating the lie of the other party. One must also realize it's not easy (or cheap) having to pick up in say 6 or 8 locations and then making the same number of drops on the other end.

Pick up appointments are just approximations in the best case and are far from certain. It's best to be able to leave your car and keys w someone that can be available for a week or 2 around the pu appointment. Obviously the delivery date is even more uncertain than pu. In our case the driver took the car to his dispatch yard and had a few days off before completing the rest of the 2500 mile trip. An apple air tag or similar device is a must to put on your keys and/or in the vehicle so you're not dependent on updates from the truck. And you'll need a way to move around at the destination until the car shows.

You can transport fragile items and booze that you may not want to trust w a mover. And you're right it's far better to have the car shipped than driving it cross country in many cases.
 
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I will relay my one experience. This was in 2019 when we made a move from the Midwest to our new home in Florida, a 1,200 mile move. I have a classic car that I needed to transport to the new home because I did not feel comfortable driving a 55 year old car 1,200 miles. Keep in mind that the car had not been driven a total of 500 miles in the previous 12 years.

We contacted a "broker" that specializes in auto transport. We got a quote and agreed to the price. We advised the date that the car would need to be picked up, and we were told "no problem". Well, as the day approached we called the "broker" to confirm the pick up date, and again were told "don't worry, we will be there".

The day before the agreed upon pick up date, I called to insure everything was on schedule. I was told the "broker" was out of the office. I called back several times that day to confirm they were coming but, of course, the "broker" was never available to take my call. So, you probably guessed it, they never showed. Therefore, the next day I was forced to drive the car all the way to Florida. They called a few days after I arrived in Florida to inquire if I still needed the car transported. I wasn't real polite.

My thoughts and advice:

Do not use a auto transport "broker" as they do not own the trucks, they only try to coordinate shipments as capacity is available from true auto transport companies.

Keep in mind that an auto transport will likely load/unload numerous times in a cross country move. Protect yourself by taking multiple clear photos showing the exact condition of your car before it is loaded. If there is damage in transit you want to be able to document it.

Be careful to use a reputable transport company because some will quote a price, show up with your car, then tell you they need a few hundred more $ or they will not deliver your car. This is a real problem. I am a "car guy" and know many people like me. I have heard the horror stories from actual "victims" of these transport companies.

Car transport companies will often not deliver the car to your new address. They will often want to unload in a large parking lot somewhere near your new home. You might have to find a ride to that location to pick up your car.

If you are moving your possessions via a large mover like Atlas, etc, they often can load your car in those big trucks right along with your possessions. The cost might be slightly more but it will arrive at your location with your other possessions.
 
Irene said:
I am considering shipping my car across country instead of driving it. I will then fly to my destination. Has anybody done this? I'm alone (and old) and don't relish driving across the country by myself. I don't think it would be any more expensive that driving, with the hotels, gas and food.
Comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Well it can be done, but if money is an issue, you will have to do that math. When I sailed my boat to Hawaii, I lived on my boat there for the winter. I met a couple from Seattle who had sailed their boat over to be with their new grandson, as their daughter was living there. But instead of living on their boat, they rented a house for a year, and they had their car, a small Ford Focus shipped over from Seattle. When they left Hawaii for Seattle, they shipped the car back while they sailed their boat home. And even during their winter, they flew back to Seattle for a week to attend a wedding.

Now I never did the math in their situation, and I don't know if they did either, but the husband was a retired doctor, and they were mostly interested in the adventure combined with spending time with their daughter and grandson. Myself, I could never have afforded renting a house, shipping a car, or having as nice a boat as they had. I wouldn't have to do the math either, as it was well outside my financial ability.
 
Tom52 said:
I will relay my one experience. This was in 2019 when we made a move from the Midwest to our new home in Florida, a 1,200 mile move. I have a classic car that I needed to transport to the new home because I did not feel comfortable driving a 55 year old car 1,200 miles. Keep in mind that the car had not been driven a total of 500 miles in the previous 12 years.

We contacted a "broker" that specializes in auto transport. We got a quote and agreed to the price. We advised the date that the car would need to be picked up, and we were told "no problem". Well, as the day approached we called the "broker" to confirm the pick up date, and again were told "don't worry, we will be there".

The day before the agreed upon pick up date, I called to insure everything was on schedule. I was told the "broker" was out of the office. I called back several times that day to confirm they were coming but, of course, the "broker" was never available to take my call. So, you probably guessed it, they never showed. Therefore, the next day I was forced to drive the car all the way to Florida. They called a few days after I arrived in Florida to inquire if I still needed the car transported. I wasn't real polite.

My thoughts and advice:

Do not use a auto transport "broker" as they do not own the trucks, they only try to coordinate shipments as capacity is available from true auto transport companies.

Keep in mind that an auto transport will likely load/unload numerous times in a cross country move. Protect yourself by taking multiple clear photos showing the exact condition of your car before it is loaded. If there is damage in transit you want to be able to document it.

Be careful to use a reputable transport company because some will quote a price, show up with your car, then tell you they need a few hundred more $ or they will not deliver your car. This is a real problem. I am a "car guy" and know many people like me. I have heard the horror stories from actual "victims" of these transport companies.

Car transport companies will often not deliver the car to your new address. They will often want to unload in a large parking lot somewhere near your new home. You might have to find a ride to that location to pick up your car.

If you are moving your possessions via a large mover like Atlas, etc, they often can load your car in those big trucks right along with your possessions. The cost might be slightly more but it will arrive at your location with your other possessions.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! It is very valuable information!
 
There is a website that allows companies to bid on shipping your car or anything else a long distance. It’s called Shipley.com. I have NOT used this service so I can’t vouch for it. But, it might interest people looking to ship big things long distances.
 
Irene said:
I am considering shipping my car across country instead of driving it. I will then fly to my destination. Has anybody done this? I'm alone (and old) and don't relish driving across the country by myself. I don't think it would be any more expensive that driving, with the hotels, gas and food.
Comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
I have done this for a move from South Carolina to Washington State. If I had not loved the car, I would have sold it and bought a new one on arrival. The move of the car went well, but I worried quite a bit. I got the phone number of the actual driver and did get updates along the way.

I did do the math, and it would have been more expensive to drive across. Having a dog made quite a difference. I was 81, and did not relish that kind of a long drive, especially at night.
 
My BFF's parents used to put their car on the Auto Train and also took the train themselves to go from New Jersey To Florida, where they would stay during the winter months.
 
Irene said:
I am considering shipping my car across country instead of driving it. I will then fly to my destination. Has anybody done this? I'm alone (and old) and don't relish driving across the country by myself. I don't think it would be any more expensive that driving, with the hotels, gas and food.
Comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Fly and rent a car, or take the public transit. Why have your car end up in Alaska. Check your car rentals at the airport area you are planning to go to and pre set the arrangements with them for the weeks you plan to visit the area.
If you intend to move there the moving van will get your car there with them.
 
Irene said:
I am considering shipping my car across country instead of driving it. I will then fly to my destination. Has anybody done this? I'm alone (and old) and don't relish driving across the country by myself. I don't think it would be any more expensive that driving, with the hotels, gas and food.
Comments are appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Can find someone to drive it? Would your car be well enough for someone to drive it for you? Or someone to come and drive you, aka "Miss Daisy".
 
Arranging transport vs selling and then buying another car. Hmmm. Those who think it's easier to sell and buy a vehicle are forgetting what a miserable process that is.

I think it might be a good move to sell prior to the move if the car wasn't suited to the new area or the present car is near the end of it's life.

Here's how to buy and sell when moving; make your deal locally, trade present car to dealer, order the new vehicle and have delivery arranged at dealer in new area. That way you'll only get scalped once and will have a lower sales tax bill overall.
 
I used to drive drive away cars across country instead of taking various forms of transportation. I suggest you don't send your car that way unless it's highly insured. People that hire people to drive those cars couldn't care less about them.
 
I drove 2000 miles from Arizona back to Florida towing our small travel trailer. We had made the trip before with no problem. We had sold our home in AZ, and had to find a new home here in FL. We stayed in the trailer until we found a condo. All went well.
 
Axel Slingerland said:
I used to drive drive away cars across country instead of taking various forms of transportation. I suggest you don't send your car that way unless it's highly insured. People that hire people to drive those cars couldn't care less about them.
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Some companies put them on a big truck to transport them. That’s what the company my friend hired did.
 
There are sites where you can put your car’s shipping needs out for bid. Shiply.com comes to mind. Another is carsandbids.com. I have no experience with either. I just know they exist.
 
Teacher Terry said:
Some companies put them on a big truck to transport them. That’s what the company my friend hired did.
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If I couldn't drive my car across country (if I was moving, which admittedly is unlikely) that is what I would do. Due to my health that's how an entire move would have to be. But I was referring to "Drive Away". If you hire a company to drive your car, at the very minimum you need repair and replacement insurance coverage for it.
 

Have someone drive your car across country. I remember when this was popular.
 

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