Shipping a car across state lines can either be very stressful or stress-free; it all depends on the option you choose. You can either decide to drive it yourself or outsource the driving. Another option is to hire professional auto transporters to ship your vehicle to the new destination.
Before making any choice about the mode of getting your vehicle from coast to coast, you need to know what each option entails. The different methods of cross country car shipping have their advantages and disadvantages. That is why we will explore the different methods of moving your vehicle to your new location and also recommend the best way to go about it without stress.
Different Methods of Car Shipping
We hinted above that there are many ways of getting your car from one location to the other. Find below some of those methods:
DIY Method
Just as the title suggests, this means driving the vehicle yourself. This can be the most cost effective method and also the most stressful. We say this because with the DIY method, you would not have to pay anyone; all you have to do is to fuel your vehicle and drive. Conversely, it may not be as cheap as expected because the distance to be covered is significant because it is a cross country move.
This journey may take more than a couple of days depending on where you are moving to. Based on this, you have to prepare for stop overs and meals on the way. Unless you have friends and family all over the route you’ll be travelling who will be willing to host your stop overs, you have to spend some money.
Driving for 2, 3 days or more is no mean feat and unless you are professional driver, or driving enthusiast, this can take a toll on you physically and otherwise. Furthermore, unless you are very familiar with the route that you have to travel, the terrain can be dangerous or hard to navigate.
With all that being said however, if you are one who enjoys driving and road trips, you can make an adventure out of this.
Outsource the Driving
This also involves driving the car across locations but in this situation, the driving will be done by another person. The pros of this option are the same as DIY but the cons differ.
While this may also be a cost effective option, one of the major disadvantages is having an unreliable person handle the car. If this is the case, the person can use the car for any purpose en-route the destination. The only way to mitigate this risk is by either hiring a certified and licensed professional or getting a very trusted driver that you can vouch for.
Hiring an Auto Transporter
This is the option we recommend for anyone who has to move their vehicle across country. With this method, you shift 99% of the stress to a shipping company. The only ‘stress’ involved in this in our opinion is that of taking out time to search for the right company to use. For those needing specialized services for transporting motorcycles, Motorrad Spedition provides reliable and secure options tailored to meet the unique needs of motorcycle owners.
The cost involved in this method differs from one company to the other and based on the option you choose. Find below the options to consider:-
Open Carrier
This is the method in which vehicles are strapped securely to an open trailer to be moved to their destination. The pros of this method is that it is the cheapest method in the car shipping category and most readily available. Additionally, it is an appropriate means of auto transport for most types of cars.
The major con of this method is that the vehicles though safe are susceptible to damage from road debris and inclement weather. Visit https://www.upscalelivingmag.com/ for tips on how to protect your car from bad weather.
Enclosed Carrier
This is the option where vehicles are loaded onto enclosed trucks. It is more expensive than the open trailer option but it provides extra protection for the cars. So if you have a vintage vehicle or one with high sentimental value, your best bet is to use an enclosed transport to ensure that it arrives without nicks and scratches from road debris or bad weather.
Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo)
This is the method where vehicles are loaded onto a ship for transportation to the desired destination. This option is best for international shipping of vehicles that are in good working condition. The major cons are that the vehicles are exposed to the elements and only cars that are operable can be shipped with this method.
Container Shipping
This is also most appropriate for international shipping and provides more protection because the vehicles are in enclosed containers. More so, you can add some personal belongings to the cargo however, you have to pay more than for the RoRo method. Another major con is that it is not as readily available as the RoRo option because of limited space.
Conclusion
We have shared some of the methods of shipping in this article. it is now left for you to research each method and decide which one works best for you. Remember do not make price the major determining factor for your choice; consider the value you will get from the option.
