Compare real costs of DIY driving vs professional auto transport. Factor in time, wear/tear, fuel, and hidden expenses to decide what's truly cheaper for your move.

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Is Driving Your Car Cross-Country Cheaper Than Hiring a Transport Company?

People ask this all the time. \"Can't I just drive it myself and save money?\" Sure, on paper. But dig deeper. Hidden costs pile up fast. As a logistics manager at AMG Transport Co., an auto transport broker in Texas, I've crunched these numbers for years. We're the buffer between you and carriers. We handle sales, coordination, backend systems. Carriers drive trucks. They don't want customer headaches. Roads are rough enough.

Let's break it down. A typical cross-country haul: 3,000 miles. Houston to LA, say. How much does it cost to ship a car cross country? Open carrier runs $1,000-$1,500 door-to-door. Now, stack that against driving.

What Are the True Costs of Driving Your Own Car Cross-Country?

Driving sounds simple. Gas up, hit the road. Wrong. Factor everything.

How Much Will Fuel Actually Cost for a 3,000-Mile Trip?

Assume 25 mpg average. Gas at $3.50/gallon. That's 120 gallons. $420 right there. But prices fluctuate. Add detours, traffic. Call it $500 easy. And that's one way. No stops for cheap fuel.

What Vehicle Wear and Maintenance Expenses Should You Expect?

Tires wear. Brakes heat up. Oil burns. AAA pegs wear-and-tear at $0.10-$0.20 per mile. For 3,000 miles? $300-$600. Post-trip service: alignment, fluids, tires. Another $500. Your car ages fast on I-10.

How Does Your Time Off Work Factor Into the Total Cost?

45 hours driving. At minimum wage, $7.25/hour, that's $325. But you're salaried? Or value family time? $25/hour realistic. $1,125. Plus hotels, meals: $800. Fatigue risks accidents. Insurance hikes if you wreck.

DIY Total: $3,000+. Fuel $500, wear $600, time $1,125, extras $800.

What Hidden Expenses Come with Professional Auto Transport?

Brokers get a bad rap. \"Middlemen fees.\" Truth: carriers avoid direct deals. Too many deadbeats don't pay. Or they jack prices on individuals. Brokers negotiate volume rates. Pass savings.

At AMG, no surprises. Honest quotes upfront. Vetted, insured carriers. VIN scans verify vehicles. Stripe deposits secure spots. No cash games.

Does Enclosed Transport Add Unexpected Premiums for Luxury Cars?

Open carrier: standard. Enclosed for classics, exotics: 30-50% more. Worth it? Paint chips, rock dings kill resale. We quote enclosed auto transport for luxury cars transparently. No bait-and-switch.

Are Deposits and Cancellation Fees a Real Risk?

Some outfits gouge. We don't. Stripe holds your deposit. Refundable if we can't deliver. 72-hour pickup windows standard. Nationwide vehicle shipping door to door. Texas-based broker, coast-to-coast service.

Pro Total: $1,200 average open. Enclosed $1,800. Still beats DIY.

Here's a quick comparison table:

| Cost Factor | DIY Drive (3,000 mi) | Pro Transport (Open) |

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

| Fuel | $500 | $0 |

| Wear & Maintenance | $600+ | $0 |

| Time Value | $1,125 | $0 |

| Lodging/Meals | $800 | $0 |

| Transport Fee | $0 | $1,200 |

| Total | $3,025+ | $1,200 |

When Is Professional Shipping Actually the Better Value?

Always, almost. But some cases seal it.

How Do Multi-Car Family Moves Tip the Scales?

Relocating to Florida from Texas? Two cars? DIY doubles pain. Pro: multi-car discounts. Load both on one trailer. Save 20-30%. Families swear by it. Door-to-door car shipping how it works: we coordinate.

What About Non-Running Vehicles or Tight Timelines?

Can't drive it? Inoperable fee: minimal with us. Flatbed or winch. Tight deadline? 72-hour pickup. DIY? Rent a tow rig. $2,000+. Or fly one-way, ship the rest.

Cross-country car transport from coast to coast? We got you. SUVs cost more than sedans, but quotes compare apples-to-apples.

Bottom line: Driving ain't cheaper. It's a grind. Risks your car, your time, your sanity. Professional auto transport brokers like AMG Transport Co. deliver peace. Vetted carriers. Real insurance. No fraud. We've shipped thousands. Ship a car from Houston to Los Angeles? Done.

Ready to skip the hassle? Get a free quote today. Nationwide service from your Texas auto transport broker.

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