Compare true costs of driving vs shipping your car long-distance: fuel, wear/tear, hotels, time off work, & risks. Make the smart decision for your move.

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Is It Cheaper to Ship My Car or Drive It Cross-Country Myself?

People ask this all the time. Driving seems cheap. Gas prices are high. But add everything up. Shipping often wins. Let's break it down. No fluff. Just facts.

I'm Mike Matthews. Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co. We broker nationwide vehicle shipping door to door. From Texas to anywhere. Our parent, AMG Endeavors, runs carriers. I know both sides.

True Costs of Driving Cross-Country

Take a 3,000-mile trip. Houston to Los Angeles. Average sedan. 25 MPG. Gas at $3.50 a gallon.

Fuel: 3,000 miles / 25 MPG = 120 gallons. 120 x $3.50 = $420.

Wear and tear: Tires wear fast. Oil changes. Brakes. Say $500 minimum. Roads beat your car hard.

Lodging and food: Four days driving. 10 hours a day. Two hotels at $150 each. Meals at $50 a day. That's $400 hotels. $200 food. Total $600.

Lost time: Four days off work. You value your time at $25 an hour? 10 hours a day x 4 = 40 hours. $1,000 gone.

Risks: Fatigue kills. Accidents cost thousands. Repairs. Medical bills. Breakdowns in nowhere. Priceless headache.

Total driving? Around $2,520. And you're wrecked at the end.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car Cross-Country?

Open car carrier transport cost? $0.50 to $1.00 per mile. 3,000 miles? $1,500 to $3,000. Average $2,000.

Enclosed auto transport for luxury cars? Add 30-50%. Worth it for classics or exotics.

Factors hit price. Season. Fuel surcharges. Non-running vehicle? Extra. SUV vs sedan? SUVs cost more.

Door-to-door car shipping how it works: We pick up at your door. Deliver to destination. 72-hour pickup window at AMG.

No hotels. No driving. Your car arrives safe.

Head-to-Head Comparison Table

| Cost Factor | Driving Yourself | Shipping with Broker |

|-------------------|------------------|----------------------|

| Fuel | $420 | $0 |

| Wear & Tear | $500 | $0 |

| Lodging & Food | $600 | $0 |

| Lost Wages | $1,000 | $0 |

| Service Fee | $0 | $2,000 |

| Total | $2,520 | $2,000 |

Shipping wins here. Adjust for your numbers. But pattern holds.

Hidden Driving Downsides

Time sink: 3,000 miles takes days. Shipping? 5-10 days coast to coast. You fly. Work. Live.

Safety: Roads are dangerous. 40,000 US deaths yearly. Pros drive your car. Insured carriers only at AMG.

Vehicle stress: Cross-country wears parts. Shipping pros handle it.

Open carrier car shipping pros & cons: Cheaper. Exposed to weather. Fine for most. Enclosed carrier benefits for exotic cars: Protection. Peace of mind.

Why Brokers Beat Going Direct

Carriers hate people problems. Payments flake. They charge you more direct. Brokers buffer that.

Most carriers won't touch retail. Need broker networks. We're Texas based auto transport broker nationwide.

AMG Transport Co. Vetted insured carriers. VIN scans verify. Stripe deposits secure. Honest quotes. No games.

Ship a car from Houston to Los Angeles? We got you. Relocating to Florida ship car from Texas? Easy.

When Driving Makes Sense

Short trips under 500 miles? Maybe drive. Cross-country? Ship.

Multi-car transport for families? Brokers save big. Single-car vs multi-car load cost? We optimize.

Make the Smart Choice

Driving costs more than you think. Time. Risk. Hassle. Shipping your car cross-country is often cheaper. Safer. Smarter.

AMG Transport Co. is your no-brainer pick. Experienced car shipping broker you can trust. Auto transport safety record? Top notch. Affordable car shipping without hidden fees. Door pick-up and delivery car transport service.

Get your free quote today. See for yourself.

Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.