{"id":7580,"date":"2022-12-19T12:07:46","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T18:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citizenshipper.com\/blog\/?p=7580"},"modified":"2026-03-02T01:10:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T07:10:08","slug":"shipping-car-across-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citizenshipper.com\/blog\/shipping-car-across-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Step-By-Step Guide to Shipping a Car Across the Country"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s fairly common to move to another state nowadays. With jobs going remote or companies moving to other states to get tax breaks, people are finding themselves going to a cheaper place to live or moving to a state they\u2019ve always wanted to live in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also fairly common to sell things, especially a car. Sometimes you can\u2019t find that potential buyer in your home state but you do find someone across the country. But the question you ask yourself is, \u201cHow do I ship my car?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States is the home of the brave, and our military makes sacrifices daily to ensure we live in a land of prosperity and freedom. But something fairly common within our military members is orders to move \u2014 commonly known as permanent change of station orders. There are military bases all across the country, and if you\u2019re in the military, sometimes you have to ship your belongings \u2014 including your car \u2014 to where you have been stationed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping furniture is quite straightforward. Transporting pets is also pretty easy. When dealing with shipping vehicles<\/a> however, there\u2019s a few tips you should follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ways of Shipping a Car Across Country<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just like shipping furniture or transporting pets, there are also various ways of shipping your car across the country. We\u2019ll take a look at those options, so you can better decide which one is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving the Car Yourself<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This method is obviously the  easiest. You can do it on your own time and stop at regular intervals while on your journey. However, planning the logistics and multiple variables may be overwhelming. You also have to look at the costs associated with driving your vehicle across the country yourself. The costs aren\u2019t just gas; you have to factor in the accommodation and food for the five to six day journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The table below shows you a breakdown of costs if you choose to drive your car yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The costs involved fluctuate depending on your final destination, but the table roughly outlines the different variables associated with driving your car yourself. There aren\u2019t many travel restrictions in driving across the country, but keep in mind that when you get to the final destination, there may be parking zone rules you need to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing to keep in mind is that you\u2019ll need to ensure proper vehicle registration and license plates from the particular state<\/a> you are going to be living in (if you are not selling your car).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditional Car Shipping Company<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you may not have the time to drive the car yourself. You may not even want to, anyway. Another reason for hiring a traditional car shipping company<\/a> is that you want to sell your car and ensure it gets to its destination in the right condition, especially if it\u2019s a valuable or rare model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let\u2019s take a look at using a traditional car shipping company as an option to ship a car across the country. The first step to complete is to go online and research reputable companies that transport vehicles. There are a few things that you should look for when considering car shipping companies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Getting several quotes from a variety of companies is always a good idea. If you shop around, you\u2019ll end up with the best deal out there.<\/li>
  2. The best car shipping service is one where they can take any car: both lightweight and heavyweight vehicles, as well as low-cost and higher-cost cars.<\/li>
  3. It\u2019s important that all car shipping services adhere to the rules and regulations required by the federal and state governments and if one does not, steer clear of them even if their price is lower.<\/li>
  4. Communication is essential for your peace of mind. If the car shipping company provides regular updates, that\u2019s a good sign.<\/li>
  5. Excellent customer service means that the car shipping company will take care of your car as if it were their own. Pay attention to the small details and how they go about their customer service duties. And always look at reviews on Google and other social media sites.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Make sure you receive a bill of lading from the car shipping company. This bill of lading is the contract between you and the shipping company and it outlines all the terms and conditions of the contract, including a part about potential damage. It would be safe to hold on to this, just in case anything goes wrong. And one huge word of advice that you should consider: get vehicle insurance<\/a>. Car damage doesn\u2019t happen often, but if it does, it\u2019s smart to be covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Cost to Ship A Car Across the Country<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    According to Automoblog.net<\/a>, the cost variables depend on two main factors that you should consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n