Moving to a new state or across the country is an exciting venture, but figuring out how to get your car there can be a stressful part of the process. If you’re on a budget, finding the cheapest way to transport your car across the country is likely a top priority. The good news is that there are several options available, with open transport consistently ranking as the most budget-friendly choice for most people. This method, where your car is secured on an open trailer alongside other vehicles, allows car shipping companies to maximize efficiency and offer lower rates while still ensuring your vehicle arrives safely at its destination.
Red car being transported on an open trailer, illustrating affordable vehicle shipping options.
While open transport is the go-to for cost savings, it’s not the only option. Depending on your specific needs and the type of vehicle you’re shipping, alternatives like enclosed transport, terminal-to-terminal versus door-to-door services, drive-away options, and even train transport might be considered. In this guide, we will delve into various car shipping methods, highlighting their cost-effectiveness and helping you determine the absolute cheapest way to transport your car across the country without compromising on reliability.
Open Transport: The Economical Choice for Car Shipping
As mentioned earlier, open car transport stands out as the cheapest way to ship a car. This method involves loading your vehicle onto a large, open trailer, similar to those you often see transporting new cars to dealerships. These trailers can typically carry multiple vehicles at once, which allows shipping companies to distribute transportation costs across several customers, resulting in significantly lower prices for everyone.
Why is open transport the cheapest?
- Efficiency: Open trailers are designed to maximize the number of vehicles transported simultaneously, making each trip more profitable for the shipping company and more affordable for you.
- Accessibility: Open transport is widely available and supported by a vast network of carriers across the country, increasing competition and driving down prices.
- Standard Method: It’s the most common method for transporting standard vehicles, making it a highly optimized and streamlined service.
While your car will be exposed to weather conditions and road debris during open transport, reputable car shipping companies take precautions to secure your vehicle properly and ensure its safe arrival. For most standard vehicles, the minimal exposure is a worthwhile trade-off for the significant cost savings.
Exploring Other Car Shipping Options and Their Costs
While open transport is generally the cheapest, understanding other options allows you to make a fully informed decision based on your specific circumstances. Let’s look at some alternatives and how they compare in terms of cost:
Enclosed Transport: Premium Protection at a Higher Price
Enclosed car transport offers the highest level of protection for your vehicle during shipping. Your car is transported inside a fully enclosed trailer, shielding it from all weather elements, road debris, and even prying eyes. This method is particularly favored for:
- Luxury and Classic Cars: Owners of high-value vehicles often choose enclosed transport to maintain their car’s pristine condition.
- Show Cars and Collectibles: For vehicles being transported to exhibitions or auctions, enclosed transport ensures they arrive in perfect condition.
- Vehicles with Low Ground Clearance: Enclosed trailers often have ramps and lift gates that are better suited for loading and unloading delicate or low-riding vehicles.
However, the added protection of enclosed transport comes at a higher cost. Expect to pay significantly more – often 40% to 60% higher – than open transport for this premium service.
Train Transport: A Mid-Range Option for Long Distances
Shipping a car by train can be a viable and sometimes cheaper alternative, especially for long cross-country distances. Rail transport is generally more fuel-efficient for long hauls and can bypass road congestion, potentially leading to faster transit times in some cases.
Pros of Train Transport:
- Potentially Lower Cost for Long Distances: For coast-to-coast moves, train transport can sometimes be more economical than truck transport.
- Fuel Efficiency: Trains are more fuel-efficient than trucks for long distances, which can translate to cost savings.
- Reduced Wear and Tear: Your car may experience less road vibration and wear compared to truck transport.
Cons of Train Transport:
- Limited Routes and Destinations: Train routes are not as flexible as road networks, and you may need to drop off and pick up your car at specific train terminals, which might be inconvenient.
- Potentially Longer Transit Times: While efficient for long distances, train schedules and terminal logistics can sometimes result in longer overall transit times compared to direct truck transport.
- Handling at Terminals: Cars are loaded and unloaded multiple times at terminals, increasing the risk of minor handling damages.
The cost of train transport can vary, but it often falls in the mid-range, somewhere between open and enclosed transport, and can be particularly competitive for specific long-distance routes.
Boat Transport: Primarily for International Shipping
Shipping cars by boat is mainly relevant for international car transport or shipping to islands. For cross-country moves within the contiguous United States, boat transport is generally not a practical or cost-effective option.
However, understanding boat transport methods can be helpful if you are considering shipping a car overseas in the future. Common methods include:
- Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo): Vehicles are driven onto and off the ship, similar to a ferry. This is often the cheapest method for international car shipping but is limited to operable vehicles.
- Container Shipping: Cars are loaded into shipping containers, offering more protection and security. Container shipping can be further divided into:
- Shared Container Shipping: You share a container with other vehicles, reducing costs but potentially increasing transit times.
- Exclusive Container Shipping: You have a dedicated container for your vehicle, offering maximum control and security but at a higher price.
Boat transport costs vary greatly depending on the destination, shipping method, and other factors. For cross-country moves within the US, focus on the land-based options discussed earlier.
Drive-Away Auto Transport: Convenience with Caveats
Drive-away services involve hiring a driver to drive your car to its destination. This can seem convenient, especially for shorter distances, but it’s not always the cheapest or most practical option for cross-country moves.
Advantages of Drive-Away Services:
- Convenience: Door-to-door service without the need for trailers or terminals.
- Potentially Faster Transit for Shorter Distances: Direct driving can be quicker than coordinating truck or train transport for shorter routes.
Disadvantages of Drive-Away Services:
- Higher Cost for Long Distances: Driver fees, fuel costs, and potential overnight accommodations can quickly add up, making it expensive for cross-country trips.
- Increased Wear and Tear and Mileage: Your car accumulates mileage and experiences wear and tear during the drive.
- Risk of Damage and Accidents: While professional drivers are insured, there’s still a risk of accidents or damage during the long drive.
- Limited Availability for Cross-Country: Finding reliable drive-away services for very long distances can be challenging.
Generally, drive-away services are not recommended for the cheapest way to transport a car across the country, especially for longer distances.
Driving It Yourself: Cost vs. Time and Effort
Driving your car yourself might seem like the cheapest option at first glance, but it’s important to consider all the costs and trade-offs.
Pros of Driving Yourself:
- Direct Control: You are in complete control of the process and timeline.
- Potentially Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs (Initially): If you only consider fuel and minimal food, it might seem cheaper upfront.
Cons of Driving Yourself:
- Significant Time Commitment: Cross-country drives can take several days, requiring time off work or other commitments.
- Hidden Costs: Factor in fuel, food, accommodation, tolls, potential wear and tear on your vehicle, and potential emergency expenses.
- Driver Fatigue and Safety Risks: Long drives can be tiring and dangerous, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Wear and Tear and Mileage: Your car accumulates significant mileage and wear and tear, reducing its value.
When you factor in all the hidden costs, time commitment, and risks, driving yourself is often not the cheapest or most practical way to transport a car across the country, especially if you value your time and vehicle’s condition.
Transporting Your Vehicle Using a Dolly or Trailer: DIY Option with Limitations
Towing your car using a tow dolly or trailer attached to another vehicle (like a truck or SUV) is a DIY option that can seem cost-effective for shorter distances or if you already own the equipment.
Advantages of Using a Dolly or Trailer:
- Potentially Cheaper for Short Distances (DIY): If you own or can borrow the equipment, it can be cheaper than hiring a transport company for short moves.
- Control Over the Process: You manage the entire transport yourself.
Cons of Using a Dolly or Trailer:
- Equipment Costs (If You Don’t Own): Buying or renting a dolly or trailer can be expensive.
- Vehicle Compatibility and Towing Capacity: Your towing vehicle must be suitable and have sufficient towing capacity for your car and the trailer/dolly.
- Driving Experience and Safety: Towing requires experience and caution, especially for long distances or in challenging conditions.
- Wear and Tear on Towing Vehicle: Your towing vehicle will experience significant wear and tear.
- Fuel Consumption: Towing significantly increases fuel consumption.
- Regulations and Restrictions: Towing regulations and restrictions may apply in different states or areas.
While a DIY tow can be considered for very specific situations, it’s generally not the cheapest or safest way to transport a car across the country for most people, especially considering the equipment costs, safety concerns, and strain on your towing vehicle.
Asking a Friend or Family Member to Drive: Reliability and Risks
Having a friend or family member drive your vehicle can seem like a friendly and cost-saving option.
Benefits of Having a Friend or Family Member Drive Your Car:
- Potentially Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs (Initially): You might only need to cover fuel and some expenses for your friend/family.
- Trust and Familiarity: You trust the driver to handle your car with care.
Drawbacks of This Approach:
- Insurance and Liability Issues: Accidents or damages could lead to complex insurance and liability issues, potentially straining relationships.
- Reliability and Commitment: Plans can fall through, or the driver might not be as reliable as a professional service.
- Inconvenience for the Driver: It’s a significant favor to ask someone to drive cross-country, and it can be inconvenient for them.
- Hidden Costs: You might end up covering more expenses than initially anticipated (food, accommodation, return travel for the driver, etc.).
While it might seem appealing, relying on a friend or family member to drive your car across the country is often not the most reliable or truly “cheapest” option when considering potential risks and hidden costs, especially when weighed against professional car shipping services.
Cheapest Way to Ship a Car (At a Glance)
To summarize, here’s a quick comparison of the cheapest to more expensive options:
- Open Car Transport: Generally the cheapest and most recommended for standard vehicles.
- Train Transport: Can be competitive for long distances, mid-range cost.
- Driving It Yourself: Potentially cheaper upfront but with hidden costs, time commitment, and risks.
- DIY Towing (Dolly/Trailer): DIY option with equipment costs, safety concerns, and limitations.
- Drive-Away Services: Convenient but expensive for long distances.
- Enclosed Car Transport: Premium protection, most expensive option.
- Friend/Family Member Driving: Risky and potentially unreliable, not always cheaper in the long run.
- Boat Transport: Primarily for international shipping, not relevant for US cross-country moves.
What’s the Best Way To Ship a Car Across The Country?
While “cheapest” is the focus of this article, the “best” way to ship a car across the country depends on your individual needs and priorities.
- For most people seeking the cheapest and reliable option: Open car transport is the clear winner.
- For luxury or classic car owners prioritizing maximum protection: Enclosed car transport is worth the extra investment.
- For specific long-distance routes, considering alternatives: Train transport can be a competitive mid-range option.
Ultimately, the best approach is to get quotes from reputable car shipping companies for different transport methods and compare costs and services to find the optimal balance for your needs and budget.
Conclusion
When it comes to transporting your car across the country on a budget, open car transport consistently proves to be the cheapest and most practical solution for the majority of vehicle owners. While other options exist, they often come with trade-offs in terms of cost, convenience, reliability, or vehicle protection. By understanding the various car shipping methods and their associated costs, you can make an informed decision and confidently choose the cheapest way to transport your car across the country without sacrificing peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: How much cheaper is open transport compared to enclosed transport?
A: Open transport can be 40% to 60% cheaper than enclosed transport. The exact price difference depends on factors like distance, vehicle type, and specific shipping companies.
Q: Is open transport safe for my car?
A: Yes, open transport is a safe and reliable method for shipping most standard vehicles. Reputable car shipping companies use secure tie-down systems and take precautions to protect vehicles during transit. While your car will be exposed to the elements, the risk of damage is minimal for most vehicles.
Q: How can I get the cheapest car shipping quote?
A: To get the cheapest car shipping quote:
- Be flexible with your dates: Shipping during off-peak seasons or allowing for a wider pickup window can lower costs.
- Compare quotes from multiple companies: Get quotes from several reputable car shipping companies to ensure you are getting a competitive price.
- Book in advance: Last-minute bookings are often more expensive.
- Consider terminal-to-terminal shipping (if available): This can sometimes be slightly cheaper than door-to-door service, if you are willing to drop off and pick up your car at terminals.
- Be realistic about transit times: Opting for slightly longer transit times can sometimes result in lower prices.
