Driving My Car Cross-Country vs Professional Shipping: Which Costs Less?
You're moving cross-country. Maybe from Houston to Los Angeles. Or Texas to Florida. The question hits hard: drive it yourself or ship it? People think driving saves cash. Wrong. Most times, it costs more. Fuel. Tolls. Wear. Time off work. Risks on the road. I've crunched numbers for years as a logistics manager at AMG Transport Co., a Texas-based auto transport broker. We handle nationwide vehicle shipping door to door. Let's break it down. No fluff.
What Are the Real Fuel and Toll Costs of Driving Cross-Country?
Gas ain't cheap. Neither are tolls. A 3,000-mile haul—like Houston to LA on I-10—burns both.
How Do Gas Prices and Mileage Add Up for 3,000 Miles?
Take an average SUV. 20 MPG highway. Current gas at $3.50 a gallon. That's 150 gallons. $525 in fuel. Sedan? 30 MPG. Drops to $350. But fill-ups add time. Snacks. Coffee. Another $100 easy.
Prices fluctuate. West Coast spikes higher. East Coast varies. How much does it cost to ship a car cross country? Open car carrier transport cost runs $1,000-$1,500 for that route. Fuel alone pushes DIY close. Add variables, and shipping wins.
What Tolls Should I Expect on Major Routes?
I-10 from Texas to California? Minimal tolls. Under $50. But I-80 coast to coast? $200-$400. Turnpike states like Indiana, Ohio jack it up. Florida routes? $100+. Apps like TollGuru say $300 average for 3,000 miles. Cash or E-ZPass. No escape.
Total driving: $800-$1,200 just fuel and tolls. Per car.
How Much Vehicle Wear and Tear Will Driving Cause?
Roads wreck rigs. 3,000 miles in days strains everything. Brokers like us see it daily. Cars arrive beat from DIY drives.
What About Tires, Brakes, and Engine Strain?
Tires lose 5,000-10,000 miles of life. $200-$400 to replace prematurely. Brakes heat up. Pads wear 20%. $300 fix. Engine? Oil burns. Synthetic changes run $100. Overheat risks in summer? Tow truck. $500+.
Non-runners? Forget driving. Inoperable cars need shipping anyway. Open carrier pros: cheap, fast. Cons: weather exposure.
Add up: $600-$1,000 wear. Professional shippers? Enclosed auto transport for luxury cars or classics protects. No mileage added.
What Is the True Cost of Your Time and Stress?
Time is money. Driving eats 5-7 days. 45-60 hours behind wheel. Flying? 4 hours. Ship the car.
How Do Lost Wages and Family Logistics Factor In?
Average wage $30/hour. 50 hours lost: $1,500. Family? Kids out of school. Spouse misses work. Hotel nights: $150 x 5 = $750. Meals: $50/day x 7 = $350.
Stress? Fatigue crashes kill. Road rage. Breakdowns. AAA tow: $150 first 5 miles, then $5/mile.
Cross-country car transport from coast to coast via pros? 7-14 days. You fly cheap. Work from hotel. How long does car shipping take cross country? Predictable with vetted carriers.
When Does Professional Auto Transport Save Money and Hassle?
Short trips? Drive. 3,000+ miles? Ship. Especially multi-car families.
Here's a quick comparison table for Houston to LA (3,000 miles, SUV):
| Cost Factor | DIY Drive | Pro Shipping (Open) |
|----------------------|-----------------|--------------------|
| Fuel/Tolls | $800-$1,200 | $0 |
| Wear & Tear | $600-$1,000 | $0 |
| Time/Lost Wages | $1,500+ | $200 (flight) |
| Hotels/Meals | $1,000 | $0 |
| Risks/Stress | High | Low |
| Total | $3,900+ | $1,200-$1,500 |
Shipping wins by $2,000+. Enclosed? Add $500 for classics or luxury vehicle transport.
For Multi-Car Families or Non-Runners?
Two cars? Double DIY hell. $8,000 total. Multi-car transport for families? Load both on one hauler. Save 30%. Non-running vehicle? Shipping only option. SUV vs sedan cost difference? Minimal.
Brokers buffer you. Carriers hate frontend sales. Payments. Problems. We do it. Vetted insured carriers. VIN scans. Stripe deposits. 72-hour pickup windows. Honest quotes. No hidden fees.
Roads are dangerous. Carriers focus on trucks. We handle people. Keep rates reasonable. Auto transport safety record matters. Ours is solid.
Bottom Line: Ship It with AMG
DIY sounds tough. Costs more. Ship with a trusted car shipping broker. AMG Transport Co. Texas based auto transport broker nationwide. Door-to-door car shipping how it works: quote, book, pickup, deliver. Best auto transport company for out-of-state moves? Us.
Ready? Get a free quote today. No regrets.
Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.