Moving across the country means long transport distances are involved. If you need to start a new job and time is limited, the trip can seem an insurmountable problem with all the other arrangements that need to be made.
You just want to wave a magic wand and get to the other side, but this is not possible. Several factors influence whether you drive yourself or get a company to ship your car to the destination.
Road trip plans
The road is long, the hours are worse and you have to fork out cash to sleep over and to eat. You may be distracted by calls from your new employer while on the road or from the transport company dealing with your home move. Depending on how long the trip is, you’ll probably want to book ahead and have to pay deposits.
Either that or you may be the type of person to wing it. Whichever choice you make, the costs are going to be high. Your car will need a good service before embarking on the journey, and you will need to pay for fuel costs.
Shipping considerations
Hiring a private company to ship your vehicle locally or overseas might sound expensive. The truth is that once you start calculating all the costs involved in an extended road trip, the costs begin to sound very reasonable. Companies that shipvehicles.com can customize the experience for the customer whether the vehicles are high-end luxury sports cars or expensive automobiles.
Various shipping methods are available such as enclosed or open-air transport options. Drop-off and pick-up services are available, together with full insurance. On-time deliveries are also part of the overall package to limit inconvenience.
Costs of shipping
First, obtain a quote from a vehicle shipping company. Once this is available, you will be able to calculate related costs. You may choose to fly or get to your destination by rail. Maybe friends will be available to pick you up and drop you off to take either of these transport options, of you’ll pay for a taxi.
Factor food costs into your trip, and then weigh overall costs against the convenience of shipping your vehicle. Once at the other end, you may need to hire a temporary vehicle. All these extras cost money, which needs to be considered when planning your move.
Consider flying to your destination
Flight costs can be quite reasonable (cheap) when booked in advance. You may want to fly together as a family or take separate trips. Take separate trips means that the one flies to the destination ahead of time to sort out the new home, while the other stays to arrange the move at the current home.
If this is a family move, it’s always more exciting to stick together for greater support and decision-making. Sticking together typically relieves some of the stress of making a big move. Flying to your destination is convenient when you decide to have your vehicle shipped ahead of time.
Opportunity costs
Calculate the lost opportunity costs of taking a road trip rather than opting for vehicle shipping. How many days of lost work will the trip cost if you decide to drive yourself across the country? If you have a family, staying over at hotels or motels is also going to be that much more expensive.
Even if you have a partner to share the driving, an entire family in closed quarters for days on end can be trying. Gas prices differ across states, which is one additional element to factor into your calculations. Consider too that you’ll want to be well-rested when you reach your destination if you have loads of unpacking to do.