Many people assume the only reasonably priced way to move a car a long distance is to drive it. But for big moves — like going to a lower-cost state for retirement, moving a student across the country, snowbirding, or dealing with any situation where a vehicle’s mileage and wear matter — hiring an auto carrier can be both more convenient and, surprisingly, cheaper.
Shipping avoids the costs of fuel, hotels, food, time and the depreciation and maintenance that come with long-haul road trips. For many routes, it can be worthwhile.
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A tricky trade-off
You’d generally assume driving is cheaper than paying someone to haul your car, but the numbers often tell a different story. It’s not just about avoiding extra mileage, fuel costs and wear and tear. Shipping can prevent a pile of hidden costs that stack up on long trips.
Multi-day drives require hotels, meals and possibly lost income from taking time off work. Add in tolls, parking and maintenance, and a seemingly cheaper drive can add up to thousands of dollars.
Let’s look at an example. Going by Google Maps, a cross-country road trip from New York to Los Angeles is 2,775 miles, or 41 hours of driving. Assuming a not-too-onerous eight hours of driving per day, that’s four nights of accommodation, five days on the road, and about $70 in tolls (1). The current average U.S. gas price is $3.13 per gallon (2), and the average passenger car on the road in 2023 had a mileage of 22.6 miles per gallon (3).
Estimating the other costs is tricky, given how much they change day-to-day and vary across states. However, when they travel, U.S. federal workers typically receive a reasonable-but-not-generous allowance of $110 for accommodations and $68 for meals and incidental expenses each day (4). Based on those numbers — and assuming no sightseeing, detours or wrong turns that whole way (good luck!) — you’re looking at $1,234 at a minimum for one person or $1,574 for two.
Shipping a car along that route, on the other hand, could cost you a very similar $1,300 to $1,725, according to Sherpa Auto Transport (5).
The case for that option strengthens when you consider the various overlooked costs of a cross-country road trip. One of them is depreciation: Putting miles on your car lowers its resale value, but shipping preserves it. And if you lease your vehicle, it may have a mileage cap you’ll need to be mindful of (6).
Insurance is another overlooked piece. Long trips expose drivers to more accident risk, and even a minor collision can wipe out any savings over shipping.
Plus, what’s a road trip without fun? If you drive, you will most likely be passing by countless regions and attractions you’ve never visited before and may never see again. You’ll want to budget in some time and money for small adventures, special meals, and souvenirs.
Finally, there’s the opportunity cost. Days spent on the road — and then recovering from a likely exhausting trip — are days you’re not working, resting or spending time with family. Shipping collapses that entire experience into a single payment, and for many households, the math tips in favor of letting the professionals handle it.
Read more: How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement
Factors determining the cost of shipping
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Distance. The farther you need to ship, the more shipping generally costs.
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Vehicle size and weight. These have a big bearing on cost. Compact sedans cost less to ship than large SUVs or pickups because they take up less space and require less fuel for the carrier. Other important factors include whether the vehicle is operable or requires a winch and other tools to be loaded onto a trailer, as well as the vehicle’s height — low clearance requires special attention.
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Drop-off and pickup locations. Well-trafficked corridors, such as between New York City and Los Angeles, attract more carriers and lower bids, while rural pickup or delivery points cost more.
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Transport type. Open transport is the common choice, but some people may opt for more expensive enclosed trailers (7).
Move in the off-season and look for discounts
Major holidays and peak moving months raise demand and prices. So, booking in fall (after the college rush but before snowbirds take flight), mid-winter (after the holiday backlog clears) or other off-peak windows can yield significant savings or better bid competition.
Many brokers and carriers offer off-season deals and multiple-vehicle discounts when demand drops. If you can be flexible on pickup or delivery dates, you’ll usually get a lower rate (8).
Several auto-transport brokers advertise specific discounts for seniors, military members, students and multiple-vehicle shipments. Before you book, determine if you might qualify for a discount and whether that discount is applied to the base rate or to add-ons.
Examples of advertised programs include AmeriFreight’s senior discounts (9) and similar offers reported by consumer review websites like TransportReviews.com, the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot.
How to comparison shop and vet rental companies
Start by getting three to five firm quotes from brokers and direct carriers. Brokers aggregate bids but will charge a fee, while carriers sometimes offer lower direct pricing on simple routes. Be sure to check delivery windows, as tight deadlines cost more.
Next, verify the auto carrier has a USDOT or MC number on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) website to confirm licensing, registration and safety history. Don’t book if the company has no USDOT/MC number or a poor safety record (10).
Read recent reviews on independent sites and watch for reported bait-and-switch patterns. Dramatically low quotes that later balloon with fees are a common red flag. Also, beware of upfront non-refundable deposits, and insist on clear cancellation and refund terms (11).
Moreover, don’t forget to ask about insurance (carriers and brokers have different kinds of insurance) and claims timelines, and photograph your vehicle before pickup and on delivery so you have proof of its condition and can document any damage caused during transportation (12).
If you want to drive cross-country to see beautiful sights or have fun with loved ones, it can be a great alternative to shipping your car — just don’t do it expecting to save significant money.
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Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
TollSmart (1); AAA (2); U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (3); U.S. General Services Administration (4); Sherpa Auto Transport (5); U.S. News and World Report (6); Montway Auto Transport (7); Easy AutoShip (8); AmeriFreight (9); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (10); Kiplinger (11); Move.org (12)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.