In America, 8% of the population moved houses in 2021. That’s more than 27,000,000 Americans.
Depending on where you’re moving, your requirements may vary. For example, moving across town should be as simple as hiring a moving company to move everything over. However, if you’re moving between states, you must consider your vehicle. Will you drive it or use a cross country vehicle transport company?
If you’re moving states soon and have questions about the timing of vehicle transport, keep reading. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Cross Country Vehicle Transport?
If this is your first time moving across the country, you may not be familiar with cross country vehicle transport. Cross country vehicle transport is a service you can hire from a vehicle transport company.
They take on the responsibility of getting your vehicle from point A to point B. For example, moving from New York to Florida would be considered cross country.
Many people choose to have their car shipped to its destination rather than drive it there themselves because, depending on the destination, it can be the less expensive option. Driving from New York to Florida would take more than 17 hours and longer if you make pitstops for food and refreshment.
If you can’t do the drive all in one day, you also have to factor in the cost of accommodation for the night while traveling cross country. Add in the additional cost of gas, and everything becomes more costly. A cross country vehicle transport service can save time and money when moving between states.
How to Transport a Vehicle Cross Country
Shipping your vehicle to another state doesn’t have to be complicated. There are several steps you should take and a few decisions you need to make. For example, you’ll need to know if you want to use an enclosed or open transport carrier.
Once you’ve narrowed your vehicle transport service options to a few companies, you’ll want to discuss your requirements and compare rates. Each shipping company may have a different way of calculating its fees, so review each company individually before committing.
Shipping Options
You can use an enclosed or open transport carrier for vehicle transport services. Let’s review each if you need to familiarize yourself with these options.
Enclosed Transport Carrier
This is the most expensive option when shipping your vehicle cross country because your car is enclosed behind walls and a roof, meaning it’s protected against the elements.
This option is beneficial if you have an expensive or classic car. Furthermore, an enclosed transport carrier will transport fewer vehicles, which is one of the reasons it costs so much more than an open transport carrier.
Open Transport Carrier
An open transport carrier will cost you less, but it may not be as desirable as the enclosed option. Open transport carriers transport vehicles in an exposed carriage.
This means your car will be exposed to the elements, like bad weather. Open transport carriers also typically transport many more vehicles than their enclosed counterparts.
How Much Does Shipping Your Car Cost?
The cost of shipping your car cross country will heavily depend on your circumstances. For example, your costs could be lower if you’re using an open carrier, not moving far away, or only traveling a short distance. Traveling from one side of the country to the other will cost a lot more due to the extended travel time.
However, you can be looking at a bill between $1,500 and $2,000. When contacting shipping companies, ask them for a free quote so you can compare costs before committing to one company.
How Long Does It Take to Ship Cross Country?
While a vehicle transport company can give you an estimated timeline, it’s important to remember that several factors can affect this. For example, bad traffic or weather could slow down the travel time.
On average, however, you can expect your car transport to take up to 2 weeks. Some rough timeline estimates are:
- <500 miles: 7 days
- 500-1,000 miles: 8 days
- 1,000-1,500 miles: 9 days
- 1,500 – 2,000 miles: 11 days
- 2,000 – 2,500 miles: 12 days
- 2,500 – 3,000 miles: 13 days
- 3,000+ miles: 15 days
It’s essential to note that your pick-up time is separate from your transport time. Many vehicle transport companies will give you a time window to collect your vehicle once it’s reached its destination.
Remember, if you need a rush service, you may have to pay extra for this convenience. Factors that can interfere with the estimated timeline are:
- Route Distance: The longer your route distance, the longer the travel time will take
- Drop-off Location: Hard-to-reach locations or detours off main highways to collect your car can add to travel time
- Pick-up Location: Pick-up location matters and pick-ups in the city will be quicker than in rural areas
- Season: In-season will typically have a shorter transit time, and off-season will generally take longer due to lower demand
- Weather: Bad weather can quickly affect your auto transport timeline, so shipping during the summer months is recommended
- Road Conditions: General road conditions can cause delays, especially if there are roadworks along the way
- Extra Stops: Depending on how many cars are being transported, the number of stops taken can lengthen your expected timeline
- Driver Hours: Drivers can’t drive 24/7 and will need to rest, which may affect the estimated timeline
- Transportation Method: Transporting your car via carrier will be quicker than having it towed to its destination
Find the Best Auto Shippers Today
The first step when moving house is deciding whether to drive your vehicle to its destination or ship it via a cross country vehicle transport company.
Compare quotes when making your decision. Expect your auto transport to take between 7 to 14 days. Remember that factors such as bad weather, road conditions, route distance, and transport methods can all affect the expected timeline.
If you’re looking for luxury cross country vehicle transport in NC to take care of the shipping of your vehicle, request a quote today. We have experts waiting to assist you with your auto shipping needs.