Should You Ship a Car or Drive It?

When planning a long-distance move, one of the most important decisions most families need to make is whether they will ship a car or drive it to their new home. Moving companies often always provide car shipping services, leaving this decision up to you.

While it’s true that driving your car is typically the cheaper option, hiring a car shipper is the more convenient route. And even though road trips seem like the obvious cheap solution, costs can add up quickly when you consider food, fuel, and hotel stays.

The average cost to ship a car is about $1,150, but that price can be as low as $550 or upwards of $2,500 depending on where you’re moving and the type of car you own.

Let’s take a look at the factors you’ll need to weigh — including cost, time, wear and tear on your car — in order to decide whether to ship your car or drive it to your new location.

Ship a Car or Drive It: Comparing Costs

Driving your car yourself might usually seem like the cheapest way to get your vehicle to your new home, but there are times when using a car transport service can actually be more cost-effective. Food, lodging, gas, and vehicle maintenance can add up quicker than you might expect, especially on longer trips.

To give you a better idea of what it could cost to use an auto transport company, we collected the following cost estimates for transporting an operable 2022 Honda CR-V.

The Cost to Ship a Car

The average cost to ship a car ranges from $600–$1,400 for open transport and $900–$2,000 for enclosed transport. Actual car shipping costs largely depend on the total mileage of your shipment, the type of vehicle you are shipping, and whether you choose open vs. enclosed shipping options.

While long-distance shipments are more expensive overall, the per-mile cost actually goes down. This means that, quite often, a longer shipment may not be that much more expensive than a shorter one.

Larger vehicles typically cost more to ship than smaller ones, and enclosed transport can add up to 50% over the cost of open transport.

In addition to these factors, the time of year, your route, and fuel costs can also affect your pricing. You’ll also pay more for add-on services like expedited shipping or a guaranteed pickup or delivery date.

Overall, shipping a car becomes more cost-effective for longer distances. For shorter distances of 500 miles or less, driving will pretty much always be more cost-effective.

The Cost to Drive a Car

The average cost to drive a car is a bit trickier to figure out, but for the most part, driving comes out cheaper than shipping a car for short distances.

When driving your car, the biggest expenses you’ll need to worry about are gas prices, food, and lodging. On average, you could expect to pay at least $35 per day for food, $150 for each night in a hotel, and at least $150 on gas for every 1,000 miles driven.

However, all these costs can vary significantly based on the time of year and the route you drive. For example, average gas prices can be as much as $2 more expensive per gallon in California than in states like South Carolina and Tennessee.

However, these aren’t the only potential costs. Driving hundreds (or thousands) of miles puts added wear and tear on your car, which could require extra maintenance during or after your trip. A breakdown or accident could result in major repair costs, while also adding to your food and lodging expenses as you wait to get repairs.

The shorter the distance, the more cost-effective it is to drive yourself.

How Car Shipping Works

Working with a car shipping company is a straightforward process that can easily get your vehicle to your new home.  Here’s what the process looks like:

• Get quotes. It’s generally best to get free quotes from at least three reputable car shipping companies. Open transport works well for most standard vehicles, though enclosed auto transport is often recommended for high-end luxury vehicles. Remember, using an enclosed carrier will add several hundred dollars to your quote.
• Schedule pickup. Once you decide which company you want to work with, you’ll book your shipment. Most car shipping companies provide a range of a few days for when they’ll be able to pick up your vehicle, though you can sometimes select an exact date for an additional fee. You’ll select either door-to-door service, where the company will come to your house, or terminal-to-terminal service, where you will drop it off at a terminal in your metro area.
• Prep your vehicle. Before the shipper arrives to pick up your vehicle, you’ll need to remove personal items from inside. It’s also a good idea to clean your vehicle so you can document its current condition. Take photos so that if any damage occurs in transit, you’ll have the needed evidence to file a claim. Your shipper will also need a set of keys to load and unload your vehicle.
• Await vehicle drop-off and review. Your driver should contact you shortly before they arrive at your new location. At drop-off, you should carefully check your vehicle for damage before signing the bill of lading. If everything looks good, you can make your final payment and you’ll be good to go.

Car Shipping vs. Driving: What to Consider

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether it’s best to ship your car or drive it. In many cases, it comes down to your budget and what will give you peace of mind.

Be mindful of the following factors when making your decision:

• Budget: The shorter the distance, the more cost-effective it is to drive instead of ship your car. Regardless of the total distance, look at your total moving budget and how much you can afford to spend on car shipping services compared to a cross-country drive.
• Potential wear and tear: Driving yourself can expose your car to harsh weather conditions and other road hazards. Depending on the time of year and where you’re driving, you could encounter dangerous weather, heavy traffic, and other accident risks. Those added miles will also result in additional maintenance needs for your car. Because of this, owners of classic cars usually ship their vehicles in an enclosed trailer to ensure ultimate protection.
• Your moving timeline: Auto shipping companies often can’t accommodate exact pickup dates. If you’re on a tight schedule, you’ll either need to pay an extra fee for guaranteed pickup or drive yourself.
• Packing needs: Auto shippers generally only allow you to store up to 100 pounds of household goods in your trunk. If you want to pack more than that inside your vehicle, you’ll need to drive it yourself.
• Your comfort with driving: For some, a cross-country trip is a fun adventure that offers opportunities to visit friends, family, and tourist attractions. Others are stressed by the idea of driving long distances and finding food, gas, and lodging along the way. If a long-distance drive seems unbearably stressful, you should probably ship your car instead.

Ship a Car or Drive It: Which Should You Choose?

While driving your car is usually cheaper than shipping it, this doesn’t mean it’s right for every situation. Your budget should absolutely be a top factor in deciding what you should do, but it’s not the only thing to consider.

For example, shipping your car is probably best if you are transporting a high-value vehicle, if you want to avoid excess wear and tear on your car, or if you are uncomfortable with driving long distances. Shipping also works well if you have some flexibility for when your vehicle can be picked up and delivered. Shipping is not as cost-effective for shorter distances due to higher per-mile costs.

Driving is better when you’re on a budget and if you are comfortable with long-distance driving. By driving yourself, you have total control over your moving timeline and can pack more personal items inside your vehicle. It can also be fun to visit sights and people along the way. However, there is a higher risk of accidents or other maintenance issues, particularly if you encounter severe weather or heavy traffic along your route.

If you decide that car shipping is right for you, here are some of our picks for the best auto transport service providers in the industry.

Sherpa Auto Transport

Though Sherpa Auto Transport is a relative newcomer to the industry (founded in 2017), it has quickly built a strong reputation for providing excellent customer service. The company exclusively transports cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs within the contiguous United States.

Sherpa Auto Transport doesn’t provide guaranteed pickup or delivery, and you must email or phone their team for shipment updates. However, they do offer several noteworthy perks.

First is their Price Lock Promise, which ensures you won’t experience any pricing changes after receiving your initial quote. Most car shippers aren’t able to provide binding quotes, but Sherpa ensures you won’t have to worry about hidden fees or price changes. The company’s Clean Car Guarantee also reimburses you for a car wash if your car is dirty when it’s delivered.

Montway Auto Transport

With more than one million vehicles shipped to date, Montway Auto Transport is one of the most experienced and reliable auto shipping companies available. Montway services all 50 states and can also help with international shipments. They have one of the best reputations in the business, maintaining an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Montway offers a very streamlined, tech-friendly experience. You can get an instant quote online, and with more than 15,000 carrier partners, they are able to provide very competitive prices. Montway offers GPS tracking through many of its partners, enabling you to know exactly where your vehicle is while in-transit. They also give regular updates via phone and email.

Montway allows customers to store up to 100 pounds of items in the trunk, and offers expedited shipping for an additional fee. All quotes include transportation insurance.

However, while Montway offers a money-back guarantee if you cancel expedited shipping, they charge a $249 cancellation fee if your carrier has already been dispatched.

SGT Auto Transport

SGT Auto Transport works with more than 25,000 carriers to ship cars to the 48 contiguous United States and Hawaii. With door-to-door services, they make it easy to get your vehicle from your old home to your new home. SGT offers both open and enclosed transport options for cars and motorcycles.

SGT stands out by offering guaranteed pickup dates. If you are on a tight timeline, this option ensures your vehicle will get picked up at a time that works well with the rest of your move.

While SGT’s prices aren’t always the lowest, they do offer a broad range of competitive discounts — including for seniors, military, and students — as well as for cash payments and Sunday bookings.

Easy Auto Ship

Easy Auto Ship services all 50 states and is well established in the car shipping industry. The company provides both open and enclosed transport for a wide range of vehicles. In addition to cars, trucks, and SUVs, they also ship motorcycles, RVs, and even boats and heavy equipment.

Easy Auto Ship offers guaranteed pickup and delivery times, as well as expedited shipping, for an added fee. They can also assist with last-minute transport, though they recommend trying to book your shipment at least one month in advance, when possible.

While Easy Auto Ship has a strong reputation overall, some customers report that they have trouble tracking their vehicles while in transit, and that customer service can be hit or miss near the pickup date.

Ship A Car Direct

Ship A Car Direct’s competitive pricing is noteworthy, but what really makes it stand out is its Damage-Free Guarantee. With this guarantee, Ship A Car Direct will pay $500 in gap insurance coverage toward your insurance deductible if your car is damaged during shipping.

Unsurprisingly, Ship A Car Direct’s Damage-Free Guarantee and rigorous vetting of its carriers has resulted in extremely positive customer reviews and an A+ rating with the BBB. The company has competitive rates for both open and enclosed shipping, and also offers specialty transportation services for classic cars.

However, Ship A Car Direct does not offer binding estimates or the ability to track your car while it’s in transit. They also don’t service Alaska, North Dakota, or South Dakota. And Ship A Car Direct does not offer guaranteed pickup or delivery.

FAQ