Car Shipping Options

Michael Colucci
August 13, 2006

If you are taking a vaction, or you want to go on a road trip, it is likely that you will need to have your car or truck shipped. Many people choose to test the quality of their vehicles by taking them on extended road trips. It should be noted that attempting to drive a vehicle across country that is older than 10 years can be risky. It is also important to make sure the car is checked. There are a number of ways your car can be shipped to you, and the prices may vary depending on the distance. When your car is shipped, it can be transported by a larger vehicle, or someone can drive it for you.

There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to both methods. If you look under the road section of your local newspaper, you will often find individuals or companies that can drive your vehicle across country. The driver will basically drive the car for you, and you will authorize them to use the vehicle, and in some cases, you may have to pay them for the cost of gasoline. Many people don't like using this option, because they don't like the idea of giving control of their vehicle to someone they don't know. However, this option is the cheapest, but it should only be used by reputable companies that have a proven track record. If you decide to let someone drive your car, do a criminal background check and make sure they don't have any driving violations.

The next most commonly used option is shipping your vehicle across country on a larger vehicle. In most cases, your car will be carried by a large carrier truck. The typical carrier truck can transport about ten vehicles at once. This option will often be used by people who have expensive automobiles. Your car may be insured, and it will be protected against a number of road hazards. This method of car shipping is much more expensive than having somone drive your car across country. You can expect to pay $750 at the bare minimum, and you can expect to pay about $1,200 at the maximum. Shipping your vehicle overseas can be even more expensive, and you will need to do more research on shipping companies.

There are a number of reasons why people will have their cars shipped. Even though the upfront costs may seeem high, in the long term, they can actually save money. Driving your brand new car across country can put a tremendous amount of wear and tear on it, and it also increases your chances of getting into an accident. In addition to this, many people are uncomfortable with the idea of driving their cars in unfamiliar places. If you choose to have your vehicle shipped by a carrier truck, your vehicle will be picked up at the time you designate, and it may be temporarily held in a local shipping center. In most cases, it may take up to two weeks for you car to reach a nearby terminal. If you pick up the vehicle at the terminal, you can save money. Michael Colucci is a writer on Car Shipping which is part of the Knowledge Search network