Shipping a Vehicle Out of State

Preparing for a move out of state is already a great undertaking. The factors that go into creating a smooth move are long and time consuming. Thinking about adding a vehicle to that moving journey can be even more stressful.

But what if it doesn’t have to be? Even first-time movers can have a relatively stress-free move of their vehicles if only they put forth the effort to understand how shipping a car out of state works. Here’s your guide.

How much does it cost to ship a car out of state?

This is where the answer and variants in shipping costs come in. It’s quite confusing to be told that you can ship a car for as little as $500 or up to $1,000. But we’re here to break down exactly why this range is so wide.

Car size and Weight

There are many factors that are accounted for in regards to shipping a vehicle. One of them is the size of your car and its weight. Simply put, the smaller and lighter your car, the cheaper it will be to ship it out of state. So if you are debating whether to drive your sedan or truck out of state and ship the other, we would recommend driving the truck 110% of the time. It will seriously save you a lot of money!

Distance Traveled

Another thing to take into consideration when looking at the overall cost of moving a vehicle out of state is how far away are you moving? Are you moving from the north Texas area to Oklahoma? Or are you moving from, say, California to New York? Clearly, the distance you would need to travel from California to New York is larger. Therefore, the cost of shipping a vehicle is greater. However, this should not deter you. You need to move where you need to move, and if it’s going to cost more money to do that, then that’s okay.

When are you moving?

The time of year that you are moving your vehicle is also a factor in varying shipping costs. What is considered off-season? The best time of year to ship your vehicle out of state would have to be during autumn. This is the “in an ideal world” situation in terms of which season to choose from, however, winter and spring can also be cost effective times to ship a vehicle as long as conditions are taken into consideration from one state to another. What time of year should you avoid moving if possible? Summer! This is the season that many people will be moving around and shipping vehicle prices will be out of this world.

How will your vehicle be transported?

There are a couple of different options that offer different shipping costs for your vehicle. One option is an open carrier. This is by far the most popular car shipping method. It also can be one of the cheapest options. An enclosed carrier is perfect for individuals looking to protect their vehicle from the elements, but is by far the most expensive carrier option.

How to prepare your vehicle for an out of state move?

 Clean and remove all valuables

One of the first things that you will want to do to prepare your vehicle for an out of state move is the removal of all personal effects such as a GPS system, and personal documents and car products in your center console and glove compartment.

Check the maintenance of your car

This includes anything from inspecting your fuel gauge to make sure that enough gas is in your vehicle, to ensuring the proper tire pressure is in each of your tires, to checking your battery, and seeing if any damage or blemishes are on your vehicle prior to shipping it.

How should I go about choosing which method to ship my vehicle out of state?

There is no one right way to ship your vehicle out of state. Depending on your budget, who is involved in your moving process, and where you are moving, there are an array of options to shipping.

You can opt into hiring a shipping company. This does not necessarily mean that you will be paying top dollar for your move because many shipping companies allow customization and control of your move. The trick to this system is compromise. The more willing you are to meet your carrier in the middle, the more likely you are to save money on moving out of state. Something to take into consideration is whether or not for your company to ship directly to your door or for you to meet them in a major city. One will offer savings, while the other will be more expensive.

But perhaps you don’t have the time, energy, or money to trust a shipping company to move your vehicle? Something to consider is the DIY option. This includes anything from having a family member or friend drive your vehicle for you, to hitching your vehicle to a truck or trailer for your out of state move.

However, there is also the option of hiring a driver. You can get a little creative with this option if you are not willing to commit to a servicer (hiring a friend or stranger even), but if you are hiring a certified company for this task, they can also help transport and take care of your pets along the way. This option is a bit more on the pricey side, but if you are willing to expand your budget, this can be the perfect choice to fit your needs.