Moving to a new state is one of the most stressful life events you can undertake. Between packing boxes, forwarding mail, and setting up utilities, figuring out how to get your car across state can often become a last-minute headache.
Should you drive it yourself? Tow it behind a U-Haul? Or hire a professional transport company?
If you are leaning toward professional auto transport to save time and keep miles off your vehicle, you are making a smart choice. But before you hand over your keys, here is exactly what you need to know about car shipping across states.
Open vs. Enclosed Transport
The first decision you need to make is how your car will travel. When shipping a car, you generally have two options:
- Open Transport: This is the most common and cost-effective method. Your vehicle is loaded onto a multi-car trailer (usually 7 to 9 cars) with no sides or roof. It is highly secure, but your car will be exposed to weather and road dust along the way.
- Enclosed Transport: This method uses a fully enclosed trailer with hard sides and a roof, offering “white-glove” protection from the elements. It costs roughly 30% to 50% more than open transport, making it best suited for classic cars, luxury vehicles, or highly sentimental rides.
Understand What Impacts Your Shipping Cost
When budgeting for a state-to-state move, it helps to understand how quotes are calculated. The price isn’t just a flat rate; it fluctuates based on a few key factors:
- Distance and Location: A 1,000-mile trip from a major city like Los Angeles to Dallas will often be cheaper per mile than a 500-mile trip between two rural, hard-to-reach towns.
- Vehicle Size and Weight: A compact sedan takes up less space and weight on a trailer than a lifted F-250 pickup truck or oversized vehicle. Larger vehicles cost more to ship.
Prepare Your Car for the Journey
You cannot simply toss your keys to the driver and walk away. To ensure a smooth interstate transport, you need to prep your vehicle:
- Clean the Exterior: Wash your car before the driver arrives. A clean car makes it much easier to spot and document pre-existing scratches or dents during the initial inspection.
- Remove Personal Items: Auto transporters are licensed to move cars, not household goods. Do not pack your trunk with boxes or heavy items. Not only is it against federal regulations for carriers to haul household goods, but it also increases the weight of the car and risks damage to the interior.
- Check Your Gas Tank: Keep your fuel level at about 1/4 of a tank. This is enough gas for the driver to safely load and unload the vehicle, but it keeps the overall weight of the car down during transit.
The Importance of the Digital Inspection
When the truck arrives, the driver will perform a pickup inspection. This is the most critical part of shipping a car across states.
At RunBuggyOne, our carriers use our mobile app to take timestamped photos of your vehicle from every angle before it is loaded. When the car arrives in your new state, you will perform the exact same inspection. This protects you and ensures that if any damage occurs during transit, it is properly documented for insurance purposes.
Beware the “Bait and Switch” Brokers
The auto transport industry is filled with traditional brokers who will quote you an artificially low price just to get you to sign a contract. Once they have your deposit, they will struggle to find a driver willing to take the job for that low rate, and they will suddenly call you demanding more money to move the car.
RunBuggyOne solves this. We are a direct marketplace that connects you to a network of over 17,000 vetted, insured drivers. When you get a quote on RunBuggyOne, the price you see is the price you pay. No hidden fees, no bait-and-switch, and no surprises.
The Smartest Way to Cross State Lines
Shipping your car across states shouldn’t add to your moving stress. By choosing the right transport method, prepping your vehicle properly, and using a transparent marketplace, you can focus on settling into your new home while we handle the heavy lifting.
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