Planning a long-distance relocation?
Driving for thousands of miles is romantic. But… It is also tiring, expensive and takes up precious days from your life. The smarter strategy becomes more popular each year.
Fly one way and ship your car.
The modern hybrid travel method gets you the best of both worlds: you avoid the multi-day road trip and have your vehicle waiting for you at the other end.
Let’s see how this strategy is making more and more people say goodbye to the old-fashioned long-distance drive.
What You’ll Discover:
- Why Flying One Way Makes Financial Sense
- How Car Shipping Actually Works
- What Affects Your Car Shipping Cost Estimate
- The Step-by-Step Process to Ship Your Vehicle
Why Flying One Way Makes Financial Sense
Numbers first.
Driving cross-country takes a lot out of your wallet. According to this NerdWallet analysis, a Los Angeles to New York drive is going to cost you about $670 in gas and other expenses. Flying that same distance only costs you $257 for a one-way ticket.
This is a HUGE difference.
And that does not even factor in hotel nights, restaurant meals, wear and tear on the vehicle or risk to personal safety. Driving that entire distance alone rarely makes financial sense.
Vehicle shipping has become a $10.1 billion business for a reason. More and more people are waking up to the fact that if they ship the vehicle while flying, they save time and money.
Getting a car shipping cost estimate before making any commitments is the best first step. This way, you can compare the actual cost of the total expense of shipping and flying versus driving the whole way yourself.
Blows your mind when you look at the real figures, right?
How Car Shipping Actually Works
Shipping a car? Seems like an overly complicated process. In truth, it is not.
Companies that specialize in auto transport do it professionally every single day. They have the carriers that are made specifically for that purpose.
You have two main options:
- Open transport: Your car is shipped on an open trailer with other vehicles. This is the cheapest and works perfectly fine for non-special or regular cars.
- Enclosed transport: Your car is transported on a covered trailer. This is a safer option (from a protection point of view) that is better suited for classic or luxury cars.
Carriers pick up your car at your location and bring it to you at the destination. Then you meet them and collect the car.
Cross-country shipment usually takes 7-14 days depending on the route and distance. That is plenty of time to fly to the destination and get settled before the car arrives.
What Affects Your Car Shipping Cost Estimate
A few key factors determine how much it is going to cost you to ship your vehicle. It is important to understand them, so you are able to budget and plan the move.
Distance is the primary one. The further your car is going to travel, the more you will have to pay. The farther the shipment, however, the cheaper the price per mile. That means a 2500-mile shipment is not five times more expensive than a 500-mile journey.
Vehicle type matters as well. The bigger the vehicle the more space it takes up on a carrier. SUVs and trucks are more expensive to ship than smaller and compact cars.
Seasonality is always at play. Summer is the peak season for auto transporters, which means demand and pricing are higher. Winter months allow you to get better rates.
Route popularity is another cost driver. Routes between larger cities are cheaper as there are more carriers running regularly on them. Remote areas may also incur a premium.
Open or closed transport also makes a difference to your overall price. Closed transport is more expensive by 30-50% compared to an open one. The latter is sufficient for most regular vehicles.
Don’t be surprised when you realize…
Shopping around for quotes and estimates is a must. Prices vary considerably among different companies. Do a little research to save yourself some money.
The Step-by-Step Process to Ship Your Vehicle
If you want to ship your car to a new destination, this is what you should do:
Step 1: Get Your Quotes Start by getting an estimate from at least three different auto transport companies. Provide all the relevant details about your car, pickup location and destination.
Step 2: Compare and Choose After getting your quotes, compare them, but do not just go for the lowest. Read customer reviews, check the insurance coverage, and delivery timeframes. A marginally more expensive option may provide better service and peace of mind.
Step 3: Prepare Your Vehicle Give your vehicle a good wash and take detailed photos of the current condition of the bodywork to document it. Clear the car of personal belongings and make sure to have only about a quarter tank of fuel before the shipment.
Step 4: Schedule Pickup Coordinate pickup dates with the transport company and remain flexible if you can. That can reduce your cost.
Step 5: Book Your Flight Once you have a schedule for your vehicle shipping, you can book your one-way flight. Time it so that you get to the destination before the car is delivered.
Step 6: Receive Your Vehicle When the carrier arrives, check the vehicle for damage before signing off. Compare its current condition to the photos you took before you handed it over to them. Report any possible issues.
Who Benefits Most From This Strategy?
Long-distance relocation is the obvious category of people who gain from using this move/fly combo method. This being said, other situations also can benefit from this approach.
Another category is retired persons moving long distances. They don’t want to risk spending days behind a wheel when there is a smarter way to do it. Combine flying and car shipping and you got yourself a solid solution.
Snowbirds is the third category. They are people that move to warmer places during cold months. Once a year, they ship their vehicles there and then fly to and from every time they go south.
Job transfers with tight deadlines also can be a good fit for this strategy. The flying part of the move/fly combo gets you there in time, while the vehicle shipping is underway.
Online car buyers who purchase vehicles from distant sellers have been using this method for a long time. They buy the vehicle, get it shipped to them and fly home.
Common Concerns Addressed
Are you worried about your car being damaged during shipment?
Insurance that covers your vehicle during transport is offered by every reputable auto transporter. Damage claims are rare, but there is some protection in the case of an event.
Time – what about time?
All professional companies offer tracking, which means that you know where your car is at every step of the way. Delivery time windows are there to help you plan around that.
Expensive – does it sound too expensive?
Gas, hotel rooms, restaurant bills, potential repairs and all that take their toll if you are driving the whole way. Add to it the cost of lost time if you are unable to work during the trip. Shipping turns out to be cheaper. And, by the way, you also get those days back in your life.
Pulling It All Together
Fly one way and ship your car is the way of modern people to solve the problem of long-distance travel.
It saves you money compared to the actual costs of driving. It also saves time as you don’t have to spend days in a car seat. Driving yourself also means tiring yourself out which this method eliminates.
The process is very simple:
- Get an estimate on car shipping cost
- Compare quotes from different providers
- Book a one-way flight
- Leave the rest to the professionals
25.87 million Americans are moving every year. Intelligent ones are now starting to figure out that flying plus shipping your car is superior to driving every single time.
The car is delivered to your new home. You arrive rested and refreshed. You keep the money in your pocket.
There is a smart way to travel, and this one is it.
