Cross country

The distance that needs to be traveled tends to determine the time frame. In general, shipping cars across the country takes 10-14 days coast-to-coast. Car transport trucks, on average, travel about 500 miles a day. There are a lot of variables here, of course, so these are just estimates. But a shipment traveling a distance of between 1,000 and 1,500 miles will take about 2-3 days.

The total delivery time will also depend on factors such as weather, traffic, and rules and regulations that govern truck drivers. Carriers have limits on how far and fast they drive, after all, and that factors into travel time. In any case, the transport service will probably take longer than it would take you to drive your vehicle to the intended destination.

On the other hand, you get to enjoy a stress-free transport experience that leaves you undistracted to attend to the other important aspects of your daily routine. Kindly note that you may also request our expedited delivery and pickup services for faster shipping.

Most of the time, open auto transport services, combined with terminal-to-terminal services, will be the most cost-effective way to ship your car across the country. This is because open trailers can carry up to 10 vehicles at a single time. That way, they can save significant money on transport, fuel, and oil expenditure. Plus, terminal-to-terminal service doesn’t require carriers to stop as often, which can result in faster shipments. For even cheaper shipping services, you can consider options between late fall and late spring (the offseason).

Terminal-to-terminal shipping services are not optimal, however. They may be cheaper, but are harder to find, as many terminals are closing down due to lack of demand. This can also cause terminal shipping to be more expensive than the usually costlier door-to-door service. Add on terminal storage fees that get added on the longer your car sits there, and you can easily pay more than for door-to-door services.

Of course, booking your shipping in advance will also enable you to lock premium prices. Plus, you might be eligible for a special discount. Feel free to contact us via Live Chat, email, or call us at (224) 955-7788. Our friendly auto shipping experts will be delighted to inform you about your options!

This is a decision that you should not make lightly. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision to ship or drive. So, before you decide whether you want to drive your car or you’d rather move it across the country, think about:

Driving distance – If you want to drive your car yourself, map out the route ahead of time. There will be factors you may not think about, such as available roadside amenities, the road infrastructure, typical traffic patterns, topography, and more. You’ll need to determine which route is most convenient, safest, and easiest. You’ll also want to factor in mileage, which will determine how much fuel you consume (and how much you spend on fuel). Don’t forget that you’ll need to eat during your journey. Adding those costs can get expensive, which can actually make auto transport services cheaper. Check your estimates against prices from our online auto transport calculator and see which way to move your car across the country is best for you.

Seasonal Considerations – Will you be driving across the country during the winter months or the summer/springtime? The exact time of the year you want to ship your car should be considered, especially if you are moving to the northern regions of the country. Adverse weather conditions can make driving quite challenging, forcing you to drive on icy roads, battling chilly winds, dealing with heavy snowfalls, etc. These not only pose a risk to the safety of both you and your vehicle but also cause major delays. In this case, cross-country shipping is a much safer and convenient option, especially if you choose enclosed transport to protect your car from the elements.

Time Lost – You will probably need a lot of time (at least 4 days) to drive your car across the country. This is certainly not cost-efficient, especially considering that you can ship your vehicle with an automobile transport carrier and fly to the new location yourself (meaning, you can resume work the very next morning).

Costs – Having your car shipped rather than driving it yourself is your best course of action if you seek the most inexpensive (and comfortable) option. See above for factors that shape car shipping costs.

Shipping multiple cars across country works just the same as shipping a single car, however, it is generally with an open truck and trailer. Arrangements are made to pick-up the cars, load them onto the trailer, and deliver them to your chosen location. For more information, speak with our shipping advisors.