HOW TO SHIP YOUR CAR FROM STATE TO STATE

Shipping Your Car

1. What Should I Do With My Car During My Cross Country Move?
2. How Much Will It Cost?
3. Are There Any Rewards or Discounts Offered?
4. Does the Car Shipping Company Offer Insurance?
5. Does the Car Shipping Company Ship More Than One Car or a Variety of Vehicles? 
6. Are status updates and ETAs available while the car is in transport? 
7. What You Should Do to Ship Your Car Now 
8. With These Resources, You'll Figure It Out In No Time

1. What Should I Do With My Car During My Cross Country Move?

There are a lot of considerations to take into account on how to ship your car from state to state. Most people traveling a long distance or cross country generally drive their own cars to their new destination. However, shipping your car rather than driving it may save you money and time in the long run. The checklist below will help determine the best route to take on shipping your car. There are also a few tips to keeps the cost down while moving cross country as well as help you determine if you need to ship your car now.

2. How Much Will It Cost?

This is where you will need to start doing your research. The cost will vary in price due to distance and the type of vehicle being moved, but it’s best to start your search with a variety of moving companies. Start with the state to state moving companies that specialize in moving cars and not just furniture—state to state movers will be more aware of precautions for moving cars, such as proper storage and the safer routes. Check out at the very least three state to state moving companies in order to find an affordable state to state moving and storage. Remember, the cheap car shipping companies are not always the best choice. There's nothing wrong with finding an affordable moving company, however, you want to watch out for prices and make sure they are properly licensed, insured, a tariff, have an Arbitration Program, and have the DOT number which is required by the government to transport household goods. Watch out for rogue movers or those who want to scam you! That is why we encourage thoroughly researching each company along with their reviews, services, and prices. Check out some car shipping companies' reviews as well at Moving Authority. 

3. Are There Any Special Rewards or Discounts Offered For You?

Depending on why you’re moving, some car shipping companies may offer rewards or discounts. If you’re moving for professional reasons, bring that up and see if there are any perks for that.

4. Does the Car Shipping Company Offer Insurance?

This is especially important if the car you’re moving is an antique or part of a car collection. Ask when you start searching for estimates what the insurance is that the company offers—how much it will be, how many cars does the insurance cover and if the fee goes up due to moving from state to state. It seems safer to make sure you check to see if they long distance have insurance but make sure to inquire about the vehicle insurance rates, especially if you are moving cross country. You can get a free car shipping quote online at Moving Authority's website in order to give you an estimate to work with.

5. Does the Car Shipping Company Ship More Than One Car or a Variety of Vehicles?

If you have multiple cars or vehicles that aren’t cars, such as motorcycles, how much extra will that be? Make sure you have the make and model of all cars, motorcycles or any other kind of vehicle to make sure you receive an accurate car shipping estimate.

6. Are status updates and ETAs available while the car is in transport?

Is there an app you can download on your phone to follow the transport of your car from state to state? Can you call a customer service representative and find out where your vehicle is and get an estimated time of arrival? What is the delivery window like?

When getting the estimate for the car, make sure to ask how you will be able to track your vehicle between states.

Once these basic questions are answered and you should go ahead and choose a company that can ship your car from state to state. Make sure you take the necessary steps to get the car in shipping condition.

7. What You Should Do To Ship Your Car Now

Most car shipping companies require that the car is completely emptied out of all valuables before you ship it. This is an important step also because if you keep the original registration or insurance information in the car, there’s a chance it may get lost. Provide copies of all important vehicle documents to the transport company—never give your originals away. After you empty the car, wash it and take photos of it from all angles. This helps ensure that any dents or scratches the vehicle may receive are able to be fixed on the shipping company’s budget and not yours.

8. With These Resources, You'll Figure It Out In No Time

With these helpful tips in mind, you’ll find a car shipping company in no time! Utilizing Moving Authority's online resources, all your vehicle shipping needs will be met. Just do some research as suggested, and decide your long distance car shipping needs. We've also got some tips for a less stressful cross-country move among other helpful articles when moving. You can also get a free cost estimate which will give you a better idea of pricing.