Moving to a new location can be a momentous occasion, especially if you’ve lived in your area for years and have built up a fair amount of assets. Not only is moving out a momentous occasion, but it can be emotionally and physically exhausting if you’re not prepared to make the trip. Most of the time, families or individuals that want to move to a different state will usually go on a long road trip that might take days. In some cases, they’ll take a flight if it’s on another side of the country.
If it’s the latter, you’ll need to ship your car and almost all of your belongings from your previous house to your new area. While driving your car for a few hours or days so that you can get to your destination is cheaper than shipping it, you’ll probably have to spend more if you’re trying to cover around 500 – 1,000 miles. Not only will this consume a fair amount of your time, but there’s an added risk of accidents when you’re; driving all the time. Not to mention, traveling by car and going for days can have some form of psychological strain.
But what are some factors that you’ll need to consider right before moving to your new location? We’ll be weighing in on the costs and the prices of moving. Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Shipping vs. Driving Your Car: Which Is Cheaper?
Well, this will ultimately depend on the situation at hand and the distance between you and your new location. But before anything else, we’ll need to crunch in the numbers to ensure that you’re within the right budget when moving.
It will usually cost a driver around $500 to $550 to drive themselves to the destination, which is around $150 to $200 cheaper than hiring a professional shipping and logistics company that can ship your car, which will usually be about $710.
If we’re going to look at the estimated cost to drive for around 150 miles, that will usually cost about $200 in terms of fuel consumption. When it comes to shipping, this will usually cost around $450 to $500 for the same distance.
To put into perspective, the total distance from the west coast to the east coast and vice versa is usually around 2,100 miles. This means that you’ll have to spend a total of approximately $1,200 on your car and about $1,300 for shipment. If you look closely at the price difference, the gap isn’t that big compared to going 150 miles.
Can you imagine driving from the west coast to the east coast and covering thousands of miles to move? While it may be “fun” for some, it can be a waste of time and resources, especially for professionals that need to get work done. That said, the extra $100 that you’ll need to pay to have your car and belongings shipped to your new place is definitely worth it.
Sure, you might have to wait for a few days or a week for you to receive your shipped car and everything else, but it’s better to put in the time, energy, and effort in driving. Let’s also not forget that you’ll also have to factor in the amount you’ll need to spend for hotels, food, and car maintenance from traveling for thousands of miles.
So what’s the best choice in this matter? Shipping is the most logical thing someone can do if they’re moving to a location that’s far. Still, it’s important to remember that the shipping costs for cars and the distance they’ll have to cover will vary on the organization you’ll contact.
If you’re looking for a moving company that can make timely and fast shipping at a reasonable rate, you can utilize professional shipping services. Whether you’re moving from one location to another or a corporation that needs to haul heavy equipment to another area, moving help services is one of the best ways to move equipment and materials around.
It’s also important to remember that your car will have its own lifespan. While most cars can last around 12 years, going on a long cross-country road trip to your destination can produce a fair amount of “stress” on your vehicle. Since the average American will usually drive their car at around a thousand miles each month, you are essentially lowering your car’s lifespan by approximately 2,000 miles when you’re moving across the country.
Based on the current rates from moving companies, shipping is one of the most optimal choices if you’re moving to another location. Although most individuals want to experience the “thrill” of moving from one state to another, it’s not necessarily the safest and most sound choice to make. If you’re a professional with no time to waste, shipping is definitely the best choice in this matter.