Is Shipping a Car Worth It? When It Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)

If you need to move a car hundreds or thousands of miles, you have two basic choices: drive it yourself or hire an auto transport company to ship it.

Driving might seem like the obvious choice because you’re already paying for a vehicle that can get you from one place to another. Why spend extra money to have someone else transport it?

The answer depends on how far you’re going, how much time you have, and what you’re trying to accomplish.

For shorter trips, driving is usually the better option. For longer moves, professional car shipping can be well worth the cost, especially when you consider the time involved, the extra mileage on your vehicle, and the inconvenience of a long road trip.

Let’s look at the costs and tradeoffs so you can decide which option makes the most sense for your situation.

Here’s a quick look at how driving and shipping compare. Neither option is automatically better. It really comes down to how far you’re going, how much you’re willing to spend, and how much time you want to spend on the road.

Is It Cheaper to Ship a Car or Drive It Yourself?

In most cases, driving your car yourself is cheaper than hiring an auto transport company. But the difference isn’t always as big as you might expect, particularly for a cross-country trip.

When people calculate the cost of driving, they often think primarily about gas. That’s certainly one of the biggest expenses, but it’s not the only one.

Depending on the distance, you’ll also need to consider:

• Fuel: Calculate the total driving distance, your vehicle’s average gas mileage, and the approximate cost of fuel.
• Hotels: If the trip takes several days, you’ll need somewhere to stay overnight.
• Meals: Food and drinks can add up during a multi-day road trip, especially if you’re traveling with family.
• Tolls: Some interstate routes have substantial toll expenses.
• Vehicle wear and tear: A long drive adds mileage and contributes to tire wear, maintenance needs, and depreciation.
• Your time: Taking several days off work or using vacation time to drive has a cost, even if it doesn’t appear on a receipt.

When comparing these expenses to the cost of shipping, remember that you still need to account for your own travel expenses if you ship the car. If you fly to your destination, for example, airfare and airport transportation belong in the comparison.

For many people, driving will still come out ahead financially.

However, shipping can become more competitive when you’re looking at a long-distance trip requiring several hotel stays, expensive fuel, or time away from work.

And sometimes the money isn’t the deciding factor. You may be willing to pay more to avoid spending three or four days driving across the country.

At What Distance Does Car Shipping Become Worth It?

There’s no specific mileage where shipping suddenly becomes a better deal than driving. The distance matters, but so do your circumstances.

As a general guideline, here’s how we would approach the decision.

Short trips: Under 500 miles

For trips under 500 miles, driving is almost always going to be the more practical and affordable choice.

To put that distance into perspective, a 500-mile road trip typically takes roughly 9 to 12 hours, including stops. That’s a long day behind the wheel, but plenty of people are comfortable making that drive in one day.

If you’d rather not drive that far in a single day, you could split the trip into two days and spend one night in a hotel.

Even when you factor in gas, meals, and a hotel stay, driving 500 miles will usually cost considerably less than shipping your car.

Unless there’s a particular reason you can’t drive the vehicle, professional auto transport generally isn’t worth the added expense for trips this short.

Medium-distance trips: 500 to 1,500 miles

This is where the decision becomes more dependent on your situation.

A 700-mile trip might be manageable in one long day, while a 1,200-mile trip could require two or three days of driving, depending on how much time you’re comfortable spending on the road.

If you enjoy driving and have the time, handling the trip yourself may still make the most sense financially.

But if you’re moving, working around a tight schedule, or transporting an additional family vehicle, shipping becomes worth considering.

The closer you get to 1,500 miles, the more appealing it may be to have someone else handle the drive.

Long-distance trips: Over 1,500 miles

Once you’re looking at trips over 1,500 miles, professional car shipping becomes a much more attractive option.

These are the kinds of trips where you might be moving across the country or traveling from a northern state to a southern state for an extended stay.

A trip of 2,000 miles or more can easily take three to five days of driving, depending on how far you travel each day. You’ll also have several days of fuel expenses, meals, and possibly multiple hotel stays.

Shipping allows you to skip that drive entirely. You can fly to your destination while your vehicle travels separately on an auto transport trailer.

Of course, your car won’t necessarily arrive the same day you do. Auto transport involves pickup and delivery windows, so you’ll need some flexibility.

Still, for people relocating across the country, heading south for the winter, going away to college, or purchasing a vehicle out of state, the convenience can easily justify the added expense.

What Are the Biggest Benefits of Shipping a Car?

The biggest advantage of professional car shipping isn’t necessarily saving money. It’s making a complicated trip easier.

Consider someone moving from Montana to Florida. Driving means spending several days on the road, paying for gas and hotels, and arriving at the new home after a tiring trip.

With professional transport, that person can fly to Florida and spend those days getting settled instead.

Saving time is one of the strongest reasons to ship a vehicle. You aren’t eliminating the time required to transport the car, but you’re freeing yourself from having to spend that time driving.

There are several other advantages worth considering.

These benefits matter differently to different people. Someone shipping a second vehicle during a family move may value convenience above everything else. Someone transporting a low-mileage collectible may care most about avoiding road mileage and exposure during a long drive.

Why Are Some Car Shipping Quotes So Much Cheaper Than Others?

If you’ve gotten quotes from several car shipping companies, you’ve probably noticed that prices can vary quite a bit.

Some of that is normal. Shipping prices depend on the distance, the type of vehicle you’re shipping, the route, and how many carriers are available.

But if one quote is dramatically cheaper than all the others, there’s probably a reason.

Most auto transport brokers work with independent carriers who decide which vehicles they’re willing to transport and at what price.

If a broker gives you a quote that’s too low, carriers may simply pass on the shipment because they can make more money transporting other vehicles.

That’s when you can run into problems. Your vehicle might sit for days waiting for a carrier, or the broker may come back asking for more money to get it moved.

This is one reason we’re careful about how we price shipments at J&S Transportation. We’re not trying to be the cheapest company out there, but we’re not the most expensive either. We want our prices to be competitive enough to attract reliable, higher-quality carriers who are interested in picking up our customers’ vehicles promptly.

That doesn’t mean the lowest quote is always a bad one. Just be careful about choosing a company based on price alone.

A slightly higher quote from a reputable company can be a much better value if it means your car gets picked up and delivered without unnecessary delays or surprises.

Is Your Car Insured When You Use an Auto Transport Company?

Yes, your vehicle is covered by the motor carrier’s cargo insurance while it’s being transported.

The carrier’s cargo insurance is the coverage that generally applies when a vehicle is damaged during transportation.

Before shipping your car, make sure the carrier has active cargo insurance and that you understand the coverage being provided.

At J&S Transportation, we carefully vet the carriers we work with, including checking their insurance coverage to make sure it’s adequate for the vehicles they’re transporting. Whether your car travels on one of our own trucks or with one of our carrier partners, we want to make sure it’s properly covered.

Why the Bill of Lading matters

When your car is picked up, the driver will do an inspection to document its condition before loading it onto the truck.

That information is recorded on a digital document called the Bill of Lading (BOL), which typically includes photos of the vehicle and notes about any existing scratches, dents, or other damage.

Whoever meets the driver at pickup will review the inspection and sign off on the Bill of Lading.

When the vehicle is delivered, the driver will do another inspection. This is your opportunity to look over the car and make sure it’s in the same condition as when it was picked up.

If you notice any new damage, make sure it’s documented on the Bill of Lading before signing.

You should also take a few photos of your vehicle at pickup and delivery. It’s a simple precaution that can be helpful if there’s ever a damage claim.

Damage during auto transport is relatively uncommon, but it can happen. Having a record of the vehicle’s condition at pickup and delivery makes it much easier to address any problems.

Can You Pack Personal Belongings in Your Car When Shipping It?

Usually, you can leave a limited amount of personal belongings in your vehicle, but you shouldn’t treat it like an extra moving truck.

Auto transport trailers have weight restrictions, and carriers need to be able to load, unload, and inspect vehicles safely.

Different companies may have different policies.

At J&S Transportation, our personal belongings policy allows one suitcase, duffle bag, tote, or box weighing up to 100 pounds inside the vehicle. It must be secured in the trunk or rear cargo area, below the window line.

There’s another important consideration: Personal belongings inside your vehicle aren’t covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance.

For that reason, we recommend keeping valuables, important documents, medications, electronics, and other irreplaceable items with you.

If you plan to travel with a substantial amount of luggage or household belongings, driving your own car may actually be more practical. You’ll have more flexibility in what you bring, provided everything is packed safely.

How Does Paying for Car Shipping Work?

Payment terms can vary from company to company, so it’s important to understand when payments are due before you book.

Some companies require a deposit when you make your reservation, while others collect payment at a different point in the shipping process.

At J&S Transportation, customers pay a 10% deposit when booking their shipment, with the remaining balance charged automatically to the credit or debit card we have on file for the customer when the vehicle is picked up.

Regardless of which auto transport company you choose, make sure you understand the total price, accepted payment methods, cancellation terms, and when the balance will be collected.

What Are the Disadvantages of Shipping a Car?

For all its benefits, auto transport isn’t necessarily the right choice for everyone.

The biggest drawback is usually cost. As we’ve discussed, driving yourself is often the less expensive option, particularly for shorter trips.

But there are a few other tradeoffs to consider.

None of these drawbacks necessarily makes shipping a bad choice. They’re simply things you should consider before deciding.

So, Is Professional Car Shipping Worth the Money?

For many people, yes. But not everyone.

If you’re traveling a relatively short distance, have plenty of time, and don’t mind driving, handling the trip yourself will probably be the better option. You’ll generally spend less money and have more control over your schedule.

If you’re moving across the country, transporting a second vehicle, or trying to avoid several days on the road, professional car shipping becomes much more appealing.

The value isn’t just in getting your car from one location to another. It’s in avoiding the long drive, keeping unnecessary miles off your vehicle, saving your personal time, and making the logistics of a move or extended trip easier.

Ultimately, whether car shipping is worth it comes down to what matters most to you: spending the least amount of money, having complete control over your travel schedule, or paying a little more for the convenience of having someone else handle the transportation.