In the United States, the average cost of a new car is over $36,000. And prices are only going to go up from here on out!
Understandably, if you’re moving soon, you most likely want to bring your vehicle along with you. If you’re considering shipping your car, then you probably want to find cost-effective solutions so you don’t have to shell out a ton of money for your move.
If that’s the case, then read on. We’ll show you the cost to ship a car across the country and how to find affordable options.
The Cost to Ship a Car Across the Country
Of course, every company will have its own prices when it comes to auto shipping. So there’s no one answer to the question, “how much does it cost to ship a car?”
However, there are some general estimates you can work with. This will give you a better idea of the average cost to ship a car so you won’t have any big surprises.
If you’re shipping your car up to 500 miles, you can expect to pay about $2 per mile. If you’re making a bigger move of up to 1,500, expect to pay around $1 per mile. And if you’re moving over 1,500 miles, it should cost around $0.60 per mile.
Based on these figures, it can cost anywhere from $300 to over $2,000 for you to ship your car.
Keep in mind that these are just general averages. Factors that could impact the specific price you pay include the company you choose, the type of car hauler you opt for, and the time of year you need auto transport, as well as how urgently you need the services.
While you do have to pay more for shipping your car further, as you can see from above, you will enjoy better cost savings past 500 and 1,500 miles.
The best way to get a feel for how much you’ll be paying for your auto transport services is to request a quote. These should be free and with no obligations, so it can be a good idea to request quotes from multiple companies so you can compare rates.
How to Find Affordable Options
Now that you know more about the average cost to ship a car across the country, you might be wondering how you can find affordable yet reliable options.
Below are some tips you can utilize so you don’t have to pay a fortune for car shipping.
Choose an Open vs Enclosed Hauler
Typically, you’ll have 2 choices for haulers: open and enclosed. Open haulers will cost less than enclosed ones for a few reasons.
Firstly, open haulers can fit many more vehicles. When truckers can ship more cars at once, the cost savings are passed onto you.
Also, there are more open hauler drivers than enclosed ones. This means prices will be lower because there is more competition here.
While an enclosed hauler can protect your vehicle better from the elements and thieves, most cars should be fine with an open hauler. Most people who used enclosed haulers own brand-new, classic, and/or expensive vehicles that they can’t afford to have damaged.
Choose Economy or Standard Shipping
Car shipping companies will usually offer different tiers of services. They include economy, standard, and expedited.
If you’re flexible on when you receive your vehicle, opt for the economy option. There will be a wider window for both pickup and dropoff, but you’ll save a significant amount of money.
For those more pressed on time, the standard option can still be pretty affordable. The company will pick up your car within 3 days from the first available date and your vehicle will be in transit from then on out.
If you’re pressed on time, you should probably choose the expedited option. While it’s the priciest choice, you still might end up “saving” money in the end. For example, it might enable you to start your new job on time instead of taking days off because you don’t have your car yet.
Ship Your Car During the Off-Season
Just like with many other products, auto shipping has its off and high seasons.
Typically, it’ll take longer to ship your car in the winter because there are less daylight and more inclement weather. Not only that, but it can also be more expensive to ship during this time since snowbirds are on the move and services are in demand.
Summer will also be a high season because everyone’s out of school, on vacation, and typically have more free time to move. Prices can be much cheaper in the summer because of such high demand. But the same high demand can make it difficult to book a company.
What you’ll want to do is try and ship your car in the spring or fall. These seasons have less demand, which means prices are lower and it’ll be easier to get the timeslots you want.
The only exception to this is September, which is when college students will be moving into their dorms. Prices might be slightly higher this month for this reason.
Ship a Car Cross-Country Easily
Now you have some great information on the cost to ship a car across the country. Not only that, but we’ve also given you some great advice on how to find cost-effective options.
So the next time you need to get your car from one end of the country to the other, you’ll know exactly how you can get professionals who are affordable! You’ll have peace of mind knowing your car is in good hands, all without having to spend your entire savings.
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