Travel Nurse Car Shipping

Heading to your next travel nursing assignment? We can help you decide if shipping your car makes sense — and get it there if it does.

Travel nursing can take you just about anywhere. One assignment might put you a few hours from home, while the next could send you across the country to California, Texas, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, or somewhere completely unexpected.

And once you accept an assignment, one of the many things you have to figure out is transportation.

Do you drive your own car to your assignment? Fly and rent a car when you get there? Or have your car shipped and meet it at your new location?

There isn’t one right answer.

Some travel nurses love driving from assignment to assignment and turning the trip into a road trip. If you have the time, driving across the country can be a great opportunity to see places you might never visit otherwise.

Other nurses would rather avoid the stress of spending several days behind the wheel, booking hotels, paying for gas and meals, putting miles on their car, and arriving at a new assignment already tired from the trip.

That’s where travel nurse car shipping can make sense. For longer-distance assignments, travel nursing car shipping gives you the option to fly to your destination while your vehicle makes the trip separately.

With J&S Transportation, you can have your car shipped to your next assignment and have your own vehicle available for commuting, errands, exploring your new city, and everything else you’ll need during your stay.

Should You Drive, Rent, or Ship Your Car to Your Next Assignment?

Before you ship your car, it makes sense to compare all three options.

Your assignment length, distance from home, destination, budget, and personal preferences can all affect which option makes the most sense.

Your destination matters too.

If you’re taking an assignment somewhere with good public transportation, you may discover that you don’t need your car every day. On the other hand, if you’re heading somewhere where you’ll be driving to work, grocery stores, appointments, and everything else, having your own vehicle can make life much easier.

Even the type of vehicle you drive can factor into the decision. A cross-country trip in an electric vehicle, for example, requires additional planning for charging stops and may add significant travel time.

And if you’re bringing a dog or cat to your assignment, driving may simply be the most practical option.

Our advice? Price out your options before deciding. Compare the cost of shipping your car with the true cost of driving and current rental rates at your destination. Then decide what your time and convenience are worth to you.

Decided to Ship Your Car? Here’s How It Works

Shipping a car for the first time can sound complicated, but the process is pretty straightforward.

1. Get an instant car shipping quote.
Use our quote form to tell us where your vehicle is coming from, where it’s going, and what you’re shipping. You’ll get an instant quote along with estimated pickup and delivery dates.

2. Book your transport.
If the price and timing work for you, you can place your order and we’ll begin arranging your transport.

3. Prepare for pickup.
We’ll keep you updated as your pickup approaches. You or another adult will need to be available to meet the driver and complete the vehicle inspection before your car is loaded.

4. Your vehicle is transported.
Once your vehicle is picked up, we’ll provide an updated delivery estimate and keep you informed if anything changes along the way.

5. Meet the driver at delivery.
You don’t necessarily have to be the person who receives the vehicle. If you’re working a shift or haven’t arrived yet, another responsible adult can accept the vehicle for you.

That flexibility can be especially helpful for travel nurses because assignment start dates, flights, orientation, and work schedules don’t always line up perfectly with vehicle delivery.

For a more detailed explanation of the process, see how car shipping works with J&S Transportation.

A Recent Review From a Travel Nurse

Shipped a 2018 Honda Accord from Tacoma, WA to Santa Monica, CA

“Everything went great. Driver arrived a day earlier than expected and he accommodated my time and drop off address, which was few miles different than contracted. He was very nice and car in perfect condition. I’ll recommend your company to my fellow travel nurses.” Sonia D.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Your Next Assignment?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all price because every vehicle shipment is different.

Some of the biggest factors that affect the cost include:

• Distance: Shipping a car across the country will cost more than transporting it a few states away.
• Vehicle size and weight: SUVs, trucks, vans, and heavier vehicles generally cost more than smaller cars.
• Pickup and delivery locations: Locations near major cities and interstate highways are typically easier and less expensive for carriers to reach than remote locations.
• Time of year: Carrier availability and demand change throughout the year.
• Your timeframe: Greater flexibility with pickup and delivery usually gives you more options.
• Vehicle type and modifications: Larger, heavier, modified, or electric vehicles may cost more to transport.

Open or Enclosed Car Shipping?

Most travel nurses we work with choose open car shipping.

Open transport is the standard method used to ship everyday vehicles across the country. It’s less expensive than enclosed shipping and there are far more open carriers available.

Enclosed transport protects a vehicle inside a fully enclosed trailer, but it generally costs considerably more and is usually best suited for classic, exotic, luxury, or other high-value vehicles.

Unless you’re taking a particularly valuable or specialty vehicle to your assignment, open transport will usually make the most sense.

Tips for Travel Nurses Shipping Their Cars

A little planning can make auto transport for travel nurses much easier, especially when you’re coordinating vehicle shipping around flights, housing, orientation, and the beginning of a new assignment.

• Get multiple car shipping quotes.
  We actually encourage it. Compare two or three companies before deciding.
• Don’t automatically choose the cheapest quote.
  An unusually low quote isn’t much of a bargain if a carrier won’t accept the vehicle at that rate or the company has to increase the price later to get it moved.
• Check reviews, licensing, and insurance.
  Make sure you’re comfortable with the company that will be responsible for one of your most valuable possessions.
• Ask your travel nursing agency about transportation benefits.
  Your agency may offer a relocation or travel allowance that can be applied toward shipping your vehicle. They may also have preferred transportation companies or discounts worth asking about.
• Start planning early.
  Auto transport works within estimated pickup and delivery windows. Don’t assume your vehicle can be picked up the morning of your flight and delivered the exact day you want it to.
• Have a backup person for pickup and delivery.
  A friend, family member, coworker, landlord, or another responsible adult can help if your work or travel schedule prevents you from meeting the driver.
• Think about where you’re staying.
  Before shipping your vehicle, make sure you’ll have somewhere practical to park it. If your housing doesn’t offer parking, check whether there are nearby alternatives.
• Be flexible when possible.
  If you’re staying far from a major highway or metropolitan area, meeting the carrier closer to a main transportation route may sometimes make pickup or delivery easier.
• Ask about belongings before packing your car.
  Policies may vary but most auto transport companies only allow personal belongings weighing up to 100 pounds inside the vehicle or trunk.

One other tip: don’t wait until the last minute to think about transportation.

Travel nurses often have firm dates for flights, housing, orientation, and the first day of an assignment. Auto transport doesn’t operate like airline travel where you select an exact departure and arrival time. Plan ahead and build some flexibility into your plans.