When moving to a new location, you will most likely want to take your car with you.
If your new city is located less than 500 miles away, it will be easy enough to get your car there – you will be able to simply drive your vehicle to your destination (and transport your family, your pets, and some of your belongings in the car, so you won’t need to pay for plane tickets or pet shipping – and will even lower your moving costs a bit).
If your new home is more than 500 miles away, however, things become trickier. It will still be possible to drive your car to your new place, of course, but you will spend a lot of money on fuel and won’t be able to reach your new city in one day, so you’ll have to pay for lodgings and parking for the night(s) as well. Besides, you may not want to – or may not be able to afford to – spend so much time on the road.
Therefore, when moving long distance, it may be better to ship your car to your new location. Shipping a car to another state, however, is not cheap – it can cost you anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on the type of your vehicle and the distance to your new city.
It is only natural then that you’ll be looking for the cheapest possible way to ship your vehicle to your new home. Here are some facts and tips to help you out:
What is the cheapest way to ship a car to another state?
The cheapest way to ship a car cross country is by train – on average, it costs only about $250 per vehicle. Auto shipping by rail is extremely cost-effective because multiple cars can be shipped at once and a train uses much less fuel per car than other means of transportation.
Not only is this car-shipping method super cheap, but it is also very safe and environmentally friendly:
- Vehicles shipped by train usually travel in enclosed cars so they have protection against the elements, dust, and dirt;
- There is no risk of traffic accidents;
- Rail transport has the lowest carbon emissions per mile and unit.
What’s more, you can store items and boxes inside the car for the trip, which will allow you to reduce your moving costs.
There is, however, one major problem – availability is very limited. Amtrak offers car transport services only along specific routes – and some places don’t have train service at all.
This means that in many cases auto shipping by rail is not a viable option. In such situations, the cheapest way to ship a car is by open auto transport with terminal-to-terminal delivery.
Shipping by truck is the most common method of shipping a car cross country – a lot of auto transportation companies offer the service, scheduling is very flexible, and there are many different options to choose from. It’s really easy to find a solution that perfectly suits one’s requirements, preferences, and available budget.
The cost to ship a car with an auto transport service depends on:
- The type and size of the vehicle – Larger cars, luxury vehicles, sports cars, antique cars, and exotic cars are more expensive to ship than standard cars;
- The distance to the final destination – For shipping distances between 500 and 1,500 miles, the cost is about $1 per mile. For distances greater than 1,500 miles rates typically go down to 60 cents per mile;
- The type of transport (open or enclosed) – Enclosed shipping can cost up to 50% more than open auto transport;
- The pickup and drop-off method – Door-to-door shipping costs more than terminal-to-terminal shipping;
- The delivery time – Requesting a guaranteed delivery date is more expensive than choosing a delivery window;
- The time of the year – Car shipping rates are higher during peak moving season (April to September) and lower during less busy periods;
- The required extra services – Any extra services (expedited shipping, additional insurance, etc.) add to the final price;
- The car shipping company.
By hiring an affordable auto transport company and choosing the cheaper car shipping options you can ship your vehicle to your new home without breaking the bank.
Must-read: How to ship a car to another state
How to save money on car shipping
Car shipping costs vary from day to day, option to option, and company to company – so, with careful planning and a good strategy, you can significantly reduce the price of shipping your vehicle across the country.
Here are some tips to help you get the best deal on your auto transport:
Get multiple car shipping quotes
There are a lot of car shipping companies and each of them has different quality standards and different rates. It is, therefore, highly recommended to get quotes from several carriers before choosing a company to work with.
Fill in a free car shipping quote form to get in touch with several reputable auto transport companies and see what they have to offer. Having multiple quotes will help understand what prices are fair in the industry and will give you bargaining power.
Do not just go for the lowest offer though – research the company that you’re considering hiring for your move, make sure it is properly licensed and insured, read reviews from previous customers to find out if people are happy with the services they received, check the company’s ratings and complaints history, etc.
Once you’re certain that you’re dealing with experienced and trustworthy car carriers, discuss the details with them – timeframes, insurance options, extra services, extra charges, special conditions, etc. Ask for discounts and special offers, so you can score a good deal.
Start shopping around for a car shipping company well ahead of time
Hiring an auto transport company at the last minute is a costly mistake – you will need to pay more to have your vehicle shipped on short notice.
It is a good idea to start looking for a car shipping company well in advance (about two months before your move date) and make an early booking. The more time there is, the longer car carriers will be bidding against each other – and the price will go down. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars this way.
Just make sure you choose a company to work with and book their services at least 3-4 weeks before the date when you want your vehicle to be picked up.
Use open auto transport
The cheapest way to transport a car across country is with open transport.
Open car transport is the industry’s standard – most car carriers have open trailers. An open-air trailer can fit any type of vehicle and is lighter than an enclosed trailer, so it uses less fuel which makes it more eco-friendly and more cost-effective.
In addition to being more economical, open-air car shipping is faster than enclosed auto transport as scheduling is very flexible due to the greater number of open car carriers.
While your car will be exposed to the elements and will have no protection against dust and road debris, there is no bigger risk id damage than when driving your car across the country.
See also: Open vs enclosed auto transport – everything you need to know
Consider terminal-to-terminal delivery
Terminal-to-terminal shipping is the best option for people who can do without their car for some time and have easy access to terminals.
Rates for terminal-to-terminal shipping are lower than for a door-to-door service as carriers don’t need to take cars directly from and to the homes of the customers – just ship them from and to their conveniently located terminal yards.
Drivers bring their vehicles to a nearby terminal and once there are enough cars to fill a trailer, they’re shipped at once to a terminal near the destination city. This helps the auto transport company reduce the number of trips they make and is much more efficient than door-to-door pick-ups and drop-offs – so costs are lower.
Keep in mind though that while terminal-to-terminal delivery is your most economical option, you may need to wait for some time before your car is shipped to the terminal closest to your new home. Besides, terminals are usually located outside big cities, so the company’s drop-off and pick-up locations may not be very convenient for you.
Bonus tip: Even if you want door-to-door shipping, you may still be able to reduce the costs by being flexible with pickup and drop-off locations. If your old home or your new one is located far from a big city or a major highway, it will be more expensive to have your car picked up or delivered to your hard-to-reach home. In such a case, you will be able to save money if you’re willing to drive your car to or from a more convenient pickup or drop-off location.
Be flexible with pickup and delivery times
Requesting a specific pickup date may result in higher prices – and a specific delivery date always comes at a premium. Besides, many carriers may not be able to meet specific delivery dates, no matter how much you’re willing to pay.
If you can be flexible with the dates when your vehicle is available for pick-up and when it can be delivered to your new home, your car shipping costs will be much lower. Many companies offer discounts for flexible delivery times, as this allows for greater efficiency and makes it easier for them to fit the job into their schedules.
See also: How long does it take to ship a car cross country
Ship your car during the off-season
Demand drives prices – so, car shipping costs are higher when auto transport services are in higher demand.
Quite logically, the demand for car shipping services is highest during peak moving season – the summer, when most people move house and need their vehicles shipped to their new homes.
In fact, the busiest months for the auto transport industry are June, July, and August – so, car shipping costs are highest during that period.
The cheapest time to ship a car is the winter – especially January and February. Fewer people are moving and shipping vehicles during these months than at any other time of the year – and with lower demand, auto transport companies are willing to lower their prices in order to secure more jobs.
So, if possible, ship your car during the winter – or during early spring or late fall – so you can take advantage of seasonal discounts and score a really good deal.
Now that you know how to ship a car cheaply, you have one less thing to worry about when preparing for your cross-country relocation. Good luck with your move!
