Nobody wants to forget their vehicle at home after moving across the country.
Packing up belongings and orchestrating an entire household into a moving truck is hectic enough. But leaving the car behind… That’s just carelessness.
What happens if you forget about vehicle logistics until the last minute?
Moves become delayed. Families get stuck. And vehicles aren’t transported like they should.
Let’s hit the gas on your next move instead of hitting the brakes.
Vehicle Logistics Should Be Scheduled First
A household move involves multiple vehicles. When millions of Americans move each year (an expected 25.87 million in 2024! ), that means tons of cars need transportation too.
Some people drive their vehicle with them. After all… it is an option.
But who wants to spend days on end driving back and forth across the country? Especially when there are better solutions.
Enter: open carrier auto transport.
This method of vehicle shipping is quick, affordable, and can be booked well in advance of moving day.
Here’s why it makes sense.
Table of Contents
- Why Vehicle Logistics Get Overlooked
- How Open Carrier Auto Transport Works
- Choosing The Right Shipping Method
- Timing Your Vehicle Transport
- Preparing Your Car For Shipping
- Pulling It All Together
Why Vehicle Logistics Get Overlooked
When making a plan for moving away, most families focus on getting the house ready. Packing. Cleaning. Sorting through years of junk.
That means tips and tricks for vehicle transport take a backseat.
It’s understandable. Cars aren’t living in the house. They don’t need to be packed. So they kind of “feel” like the easiest part of a move.
Except they’re not.
Driving yourself across the country wastes time and money. Hotels, food, mileage — it all adds up. For families with more than one vehicle.. Man, just imagine everyone having to drive different cars!
But if only one person drives the car… where are they when you need to pack boxes?
Open carrier auto transport was made for this exact situation. Using a state to state car towing service is the easiest way to handle vehicle logistics.
It’s cheaper than most people think.
How Open Carrier Auto Transport Works
There are three ways to get your car where it needs to go. But one method is overwhelmingly more popular than the others.
Open carrier auto transport is the choice for 99% of all vehicle shipments made each year.
Need a refresher on what open transport is?
Think of the trailers you’ve seen driving down the freeway. The ones with stacks of cars on top of each other?
Those are called “open carriers” because there’s nothing enclosing the vehicles from the outside elements. Weather, road debris, etc.
Shipping your vehicle this way is simple.
- Book your transport with a licensed and insured auto transport company. Be sure to verify their USDOT number through FMCSA.
- The carrier will schedule a pickup date within your provided window (usually 2-7 days after booking)
- The driver will inspect your vehicle for pre-existing damage
- Your car will travel via open trailer to the desired destination
- Do a final vehicle inspection upon delivery before signing the paperwork.
Boom. Done.
Your car will be shipped while you’re packing boxes. No wasted time or miles on your personal vehicle.
Choosing The Right Shipping Method
If you’re wondering how to ship a car across the country, you’ve already stumbled upon the best option. But do you need “open” transport or something with a little more.. flair?
Open vs. Enclosed.
Here’s the difference.
Open transport is exactly what’s been discussed above. Affordable. Common. Suitable for all cars.
Enclosed transport is literally the same as open but with your vehicle inside an enclosed trailer. These shipments are much more expensive and typically used for luxury vehicles, classics, and high-end sports cars.
Here’s a good rule of thumb…
If your car isn’t old, expensive, or flashy. You don’t need enclosed transport.
Why spend double on shipping when open carrier transportation is perfect for everyday vehicles?
Timing Your Vehicle Transport
Another piece of the puzzle is timing everything correctly.
Many people forget that there’s actually a shipping season for auto transport.
Vehicle transport waits for no one.
Ok, that’s a lie. But you get the point.
The summer is the busiest season for both movers and auto transport companies. Rates are higher. Wait times are longer. The whole nine.
By shipping your vehicle ahead of time, you can expect to:
- Lock in a lower rate before summer demand increases
- Schedule a pickup slot without insane wait times
- Coordinate with moving in and out of your homes.
How much time should you leave?
Booking vehicle transport 2-4 weeks in advance of moving day is the sweet spot.
As for how long it takes to ship a car… It depends on distance.
- Coast to coast: 5-7 days
- Cross-country: 3-5 days
- Within the same state: 1-3 days
The point is, leave yourself plenty of room in the schedule. Nobody wants to see vehicles show up after families have already settled in their new homes.
Preparing Your Car For Shipping
Getting a car ready to be shipped is easy. But here’s what the process actually looks like.
Here are the basic steps to prepare your vehicle for transport.
Cleaning the interior and exterior allows the driver to identify damages that may already be on the car.
Clearing out your personal belongings is important because most carriers won’t cover stolen or lost items.
Checking fluid levels and tire pressure seems like a no-brainer but it’s worth mentioning anyway. A driveable vehicle is easier to load and unload.
Lastly, take a few minutes to document current damages with photographs. You’ll be happy you did if something were to happen during transport.
Pulling It All Together
Planning vehicle logistics for your next move is simple.
Professional auto transport companies have handled every situation you can think of. Each move is unique, but here are some helpful tips to remember when shipping your car across the country:
- Book auto transport as early as possible. 2-4 weeks out is ideal.
- Compare open vs. enclosed transport to see what your vehicle qualifies for.
- Schedule pickup after the vehicle prep work is complete.
- Leave enough time for the shipment to arrive before moving day.
- Take plenty of photos before and after transport
Following these steps will solve your vehicle dilemmas in no time. Let the professionals worry about the drive while you focus on everything else moving across the country requires.
