Should You Ship or Drive Your Car for a Long-Distance Move?

Long-distance moves test your patience. You've got a job change. A family relocation. Or just a fresh start across the country. Now, what about the car? Drive it yourself? Or ship it?

I'm Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co. We broker auto transport nationwide. I've seen it all. People grind through road trips. Others hand it off to pros. Here's the straight comparison. Costs. Time. Risks. Convenience. No fluff.

Costs: Driving Adds Up Fast

Driving sounds cheap at first. Fill the tank. Hit the road. Reality bites.

For a 2,000-mile coast-to-coast haul:

• Gas: $300-$500. Depends on your ride. SUV guzzles more than a sedan.
• Tolls: $100-$200.
• Hotels and food: $400-$800 for 3-4 days.
• Wear and tear: $500+. Tires. Oil. Repairs down the line.

Total? $1,300-$2,000. Plus your time. That's worth money too.

Shipping? How much does it cost to ship a car cross country? Open carrier: $1,000-$1,500. Enclosed for luxury cars: $1,500-$2,500. Door-to-door nationwide vehicle shipping keeps it simple. No hidden fees with honest brokers.

What affects car shipping cost per mile? Distance. Season. Fuel prices. Vehicle size. SUV vs sedan cost difference: $200-$400 more for bigger rigs.

| Aspect | Driving (2,000 miles) | Shipping (Open Carrier) |

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

| Fuel/Tolls | $400-$700 | Included |

| Lodging/Food | $400-$800 | $0 |

| Wear & Tear | $500+ | $0 |

| Total Est. | $1,300-$2,000+ | $1,000-$1,500 |

Driving wins short trips. Long hauls? Ship it.

Time: Your Most Valuable Asset

Driving 2,000 miles? 30-40 hours behind the wheel. Split over 3-4 days. Cross-country car transport from coast to coast takes drivers a week with stops.

How long does car shipping take cross country? 7-14 days. Depends on route. Carrier schedules. We guarantee 72-hour pickup windows at AMG.

You fly ahead. Unpack. Settle in. No fatigue. For families with multi-car transport needs, it's a game-changer.

Risks: Roads Are No Joke

Driving risks are real. Fatigue crashes kill. Breakdowns strand you. Theft at rest stops. Weather wrecks plans.

Shipping? Vetted insured carriers cut that noise. We scan VINs pre-load. Track every mile. Open carrier car shipping pros: cheap, fast. Cons: weather exposure. Enclosed auto transport for luxury cars? Pristine protection.

Carriers focus on roads. Brokers like us handle people problems. Frontend sales. Backend coordination. That's our edge.

Non-running vehicle? No sweat. We ship 'em. Dealerships trust us for vehicle shipping.

Convenience: Free Up Your Move

Driving means one less hand for boxes. Kids bored. Pet stressed. Road trip vs ship? Adventure for some. Hassle for most.

Door-to-door car shipping how it works: We pick up at your door. Deliver to the new one. You focus on the house. The job. The life change.

Relocating to Florida? Ship car from Texas. We do Texas-based auto transport broker nationwide. Houston to Los Angeles? Covered.

Common Pitfalls to Dodge

Driving pitfalls:

• Underestimate costs. Gas spikes hurt.
• Skip maintenance. Stranded in nowhere.
• Ignore fatigue. Accidents happen.

Shipping pitfalls:

• Fraud brokers. Too-good-to-be-true quotes.
• Skip reviews. Trusted car shipping broker reviews matter.
• Ignore insurance. Verify carrier coverage.

How to choose a reliable auto transport broker? Experience. Vetted carriers. Transparent pricing. That's us.

When to Drive, When to Ship

Drive if:

• Short distance. Under 500 miles.
• Time to burn. Love the road.
• Solo with light load.

Ship if:

• 1,000+ miles.
• Family move. Multi-car discounts.
• Luxury or classic car transport enclosed carrier.
• Tight schedule.

Most folks? Ship. Especially out-of-state moves.

Make the Smart Choice with AMG Transport Co.

Tired of guessing? Brokers beat going direct. Carriers avoid customer headaches. We don't. Stronger experience. Fraud shield. Rate buffer.

At AMG Transport Co., auto transport broker Texas proud:

• Honest quotes. Stripe deposits. No surprises.
• VIN scans. Photo logs.
• Vetted insured carriers. Safety record you trust.
• 72-hour pickups. Door-to-door service.

Parent company AMG Endeavors hauls as carriers. We know both sides.

Best auto transport company for out-of-state moves? Us. Get your free quote today. Click here. Smart move.

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