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Your car needs to get from your home in Missouri to a specialist mechanic in Detroit. But what is the best way of shipping a car across country? Keep on reading to learn how to transport a car.

Whether you are relocating, going on vacation, or attending a classic car show and need to move your car to another state, this post is for you! Let’s examine how to transport a car to another state. We’ll also look at the different auto transport methods, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of the different ways how to move a car cross country.

How to Move a Car to Another State: Your Nationwide Guide

What do you do when you have to get your car from one side of the US to the other? There are a number of reasons why people need to move their car over long distances, for instance you have:

  • bought a new car from another state
  • found a used car online from another state
  • decided to relocate for work
  • to send your child a car for college, and they want you to ship a car full of stuff.
  • embraced the snowbird snowbird lifestyle and you’re on your way to your winter/summer home.
  • a car that needs a specialist mechanic in another state.

DID YOU KNOW?

Nationwide Answers

Did You Know? Professional car transport companies like Nationwide Auto Transportation can ship your car even if it is a non-runner? We’ll we can!

This post on college car shipping offers loads of helpful information.

Need more assistance? Nationwide Auto Transportation has more than 16 years of student auto moving experience. Get in touch and we’ll assist any way we can!


“Looking for in-depth insights on reliable vehicle shipping services? Our comprehensive guide on the Nationwide Auto Transportation blog offers everything you need to know about ensuring your vehicle’s safe and efficient transport across the country. Dive into our detailed article and discover the difference that working with a reputable car shipping company can make: Reliable Vehicle Shipping Services Explained.”


How much does it cost to have a car shipped?

As you learn more about how to transport your car to another country, you will see that there are many factors that influence the cost. There’s no set answer for “how much to move a car cross country”.

What’s the first option that springs to most people’s mind when you need to get your car somewhere far away? It’s usually to drive it to the destination where it needs to be, right? But is that always the best, cheapest or safest way? Wouldn’t it be easier just to fly where you need to be, and meet your car there? Read on as we untangle the best way to transport your car to another state.

The Self-Driving Option

Professional auto carriers like Nationwide Auto Transportation know how to transport a car from one state to another. We are, after all the experts who deal with this on a daily basis, unlike the average American like you and I who has no clue what we need to do when we need to transport a car to another state.

The first thought most people have when they think of how to transport a car to another state is to drive it there themselves. This sounds a lot simpler than it is in reality. Our informative blog posts about the pitfalls of driving your car for long distances will make it easier to drive your car to your destination.

The Cons of Driving Your Car Cross Country

Why should anyone hire someone to drive your car cross country, or employ the services of a car transport company to move your car? Here’s why self-driving is not always the best option to move your car across the country:

  • Unless you are on vacation with enough time and resources to take a well-planned road trip across America, a long drive is exhausting, stressful, and time consuming. 
  • There are so many risks associated with a prolonged drive across the country.Road accidents, bad weather, and severe stress on the body are just some of the dangers that spring to mind. 
  • How much does it cost to transport a car across the country if you drive it yourself? It may sound like a cheap and easy exercise, right? Put in some gas, enter the destination location… and off you go! But slow down, it simply is not that simple. Keep in mind:
    • Gas prices are sky high. Why spend so much money, time and effort when a registered car shipping company will keep your car safe, and you informed, during the whole relocation?
    • Accommodation can cost you anything from $67 to $154
    • Food and drinks add up quickly. A simple meal at a restaurant, excluding snacks, can set you back more than $30 a day
    • Will your employer understand and give you enough time to drive your car from one state to another?
  • What do you do if you happen to own more than one car? How can you drive both?
  • Wear and tear on your vehicle must be taken into account when driving a car to another state. And there are other unforeseen costs:
    • Car breakdown
    • Bad drivers
    • Potholes
    • Speeding tickets
    • Wrong turns
    • Animals in the road
    • An accident
how to transport a car

Nationwide Auto Transportation Tip of the Day: Are you planning to drive in another country? The U.S. The Department of State — Bureau Of Consular Affairs has some invaluable, helpful information. Also remember, Nationwide Auto Transportation can assist you with International Car Shipping when you need it

How to Self-Drive Your Car: Things to Consider

  • How do I pay road tolls in the US? There are 15 states that employ the E-ZPass system, but local transponders are available in different states. Toll booths accept most forms of payment methods, excluding checks.
  • Do I have to tell a cop why I am driving in another state? It is your right to not answer, but you have to be able to identify yourself.
  • Do they check papers when driving to another state? You are required to show your vehicle registration, license and proof of insurance.
  • How to get my car to another state without driving it? Some of the options we explore on how to transport a car to another state, include:
    • Self drive
    • Hire someone to drive your car cross country
    • Trailer or tow your car
    • Ship your car on a train
    • Ship a car by boat
    • Hire a car carrier company
  • When to apply for a new driving license in another state? In Florida you have 30 days from taking up residency in the state to apply for a driver’s license. Bur remember, the states all have different laws and requirements, so it is advised to check with your local DMV what is required.
long distance car towing

Still feel that driving your car to another state by yourself is an appropriate way to transport your car across the country? If you are starting to have second thoughts, why not hire someone to drive your car to another state?

Hire Someone to Drive Your Car to Another State

Ok, so you have decided against being behind the steering wheel of your car for hours on end. But how else do you transport your car from one state to another if you’re not driving? You could always look for people who will drive your car from one state to another. Alternatively look into using a drive away service.

What is a Driveaway Service?

If you think Nicolas Cage knew how to transport a car in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds, you would only be half right. His driveaway service may not have been legal, but you can pay someone to drive your car to another state.

As mentioned before, there are services that know how to transport a car cross country. Auto transporters usually have a network of drivers to drive your car to another state. You could also simply negotiate with a really trustworthy friend. Just bear in mind that there will be the same costs—and a few additionals—to this as if you drove your car yourself.

What do you need to know when you allow a person to drive your car to another state? Well, the first obvious plus is that you can pack a lot of stuff—maybe even a pet—in the car when you use the driveaway service. There are also negatives like wear and tear, road damage and added mileage, to name only a couple.

It is important that your car is in good enough shape to take on a long journey and that it won’t break down after a few hundred miles. Have a mechanic do a thorough check up, and then send your car for a good valet. 

Make sure that all your paperwork is in order before you hire someone to drive your car:

  • Identity docs
  • Registration
  • Insurance
  • Toll disks
  • License

Can you guess how much it costs to hire a driveaway service? Let’s say this, it is not cheap and can cost around $500 per day… and that is excluding any flights, food, accommodation, and other expenses.

Pros and Cons of Hiring Someone to Drive Your Car

When it comes to transporting a car to another state, hiring someone to drive your car to another state is not cheap. It may save you some time and stress, though. But what are some of the other pros and cons?

Hiring someone to drive your car to another state that does not know how to drive a car bought from a private seller in another state to your home state, is certainly not a smart move.

Rather get a free quote from a reputable car shipping company like Nationwide Auto Transportation. In the section below we unravel the facts concerning fly and drive as an option for how to transport your car across country.

Fly One Way and Drive Home

You have done all your homework, spent hours researching different car types, prices, and models… and you have finally found something that you want to buy… However, it’s in a state that is a two-day drive away.

Wondering how to transport a car from one state to another, without you driving all the way? There is always the fly and drive option. Unsure of the costs, or what your best option for how to transport a car from one state to another is? There are a number of fly or drive calculators to help you make up your mind.

Nationwide Auto Transportation uses historic route data, combined with a plethora of data on different vehicle types, to accurately calculate your car shipping costs. When you compare prices of shipping your car, driving it, or hiring someone to transport a car across the country, you will be pleasantly surprised at how affordable a reputable car shipping company is. 

You can see from the previous section that hiring someone to drive your car to another state can be quite costly. There is however one scenario that might be a workable and affordable solution. You could fly one way, and then drive your new car back home. Small families can use this opportunity to take a road trip across America, and it is also one way how to transport a car where it needs to be.

FAQ About Fly and Drive

Before deciding how to transport a car from one state to another, there are quite a number of deciding factors to keep in mind. Ask yourself: Do I—

  • like driving long distances and staying focused for hours on end?
  • mind airport crowds and do I like flying?
  • have the time and budget for a long road trip and airplane tickets?

Keep in mind that if you do not enjoy, or cannot afford the time or money to transport a car cross country, it could end up being a really terrible, stressful experience.  

How long does it take to drive 1000 miles?

In other words, “How far can you safely drive in a day?” It is not advised to drive more than 9 hours a day, without breaks. Experts also recommend that drivers take a 45 minute break after every 4.5 hours of driving. To get an accurate distance, multiply your average speed by the number of hours you will drive for.

How long does it take to fly 1000 miles?

As you have learnt there are many outside influences when you decide how to transport a car to another state, the same goes for when you want to fly across the country. Boarding delays, air-traffic, city traffic, strong winds and bad weather are just some factors that can make you spend more time flying to another city.

Example: 

  • The drive from Phoenix, Arizona to Dallas, Texas will cover 1,067 miles.
    • It will take you about 15 hours and 12 minutes to drive non-stop
    • at an average of 70 mph
    • in ordinary traffic conditions.
  • The flight distance between Dallas, Tx and Phoenix, AR is 868 miles.
    • The in-flight air time (flying at 500 mph) will be 130 minutes
    • add another hour and 10 minutes for boarding and other delays
    • total time to fly would be close to 5 hours.

Nationwide Auto Transportation makes how to transport a car from Dallas to Phoenix, as easy as clicking the Contact Us button. A friendly consultant will give you a call back at a convenient time to discuss your best car shipping option. Now, do you know how to transport a car to another state with a tow dolly?

How to Transport a Car Using a Tow Dolly

Unloading your U-Haul Tow Dolly rental is certainly not for everyone, and more so if you do not know how to transport a car using a U-Haul tow dolly. In short, do not try this at home… unless you are a super confident, proficient driver.

You have everything ready for your move to your new state, except you have no idea how to transport a car to another state. Don’t worry, this post will give you enough relevant information to make the right choice, and in this section we look at using a tow dolly for long distance car transport, and inspect any car dolly towing issues that could occur.

How to Use A Tow Dolly Rear Wheel Drive – a Quick Guide

If you would like to know how to tow a rear wheel drive car on a dolly, here are a couple of important tips:

  • Never tow on the drive wheels of a rear wheel drive car
  • Check the specs for your vehicle type and model
    • Some have a maximum recommended towing distance of 50 miles at not more than 50 mph
    • There are cars that cannot be towed at speeds exceeding 15 mph, and not further than 5 miles
  • Lock the steering wheel
  • Disconnect the drivetrain
  • The towing vehicle needs to be a minimum of 750 lbs heavier than the towed car
  • Slow down

Using a Tow Dolly FAQ Answers

If you are the type of person who feels that they do things better than most, you will probably look at renting a moving truck, and/or Penske tow dolly, from Penske Truck Rental, and then look for a car tow dolly rental company, or a car tow dolly for sale near me.

Whether you are a DIY mover, or you are simply interested in how to transport a car with a tow dolly, here are a few answers to questions you may have:

  1. Should car be in park or neutral on tow dolly?

Once on the two dolly, engage first gear. Your car should be in neutral when towed with four wheels on the tarmac, and manual cars are safe to tow without the engine running.

  1. How fast can you travel with a car dolly?

When you learn the proper way to use a tow dolly, slower is always safer and better for your car, as well as the vehicle doing the towing. It is not recommended to exceed 55 mph, and to always use tow dolly straps.

  1.  If you use a tow dolly will your car accumulate miles?

Drivers who know how to use a tow dolly front wheel drive agree that no mileage is added, but when you tow a rear wheel drive car, your odometer reading will change.

  1. What kind of tow dolly can I use to haul a truck?

As long as your truck meets the weight limits prescribed by the tow dolly manufacturer, you should be able to find it on the list of cars that use a tow dolly.

  • Maximum load of 3,450 lbs – front-wheel drive vehicle
  • 3,900 lbs – rear-wheel drive vehicle.

How to Transport a Car Using Container Transport

If you think about the different ways to transport a car to another state, container auto transport is not the first option that springs to mind, and there are a few valid reasons for this. For starters, auto transport in containers is usually reserved for worldwide car shipping, but there are exceptions.

Who Might Use Auto Container Transport?

When you need to decide how to transport your car to another country, auto container transport is one of the safest transport methods, but when would you use container transport for inland shipping?

  • Classic Cars or Antiques
  • Motorcycles
  • Luxury Sports Cars
  • Vehicles that are valued at more than $100,000

You can read this Car Shipping Container Transport Tutorial, for an in depth look at how to transport a car using auto container transport. If you own a high value vehicle, why don’t you look at enclosed transport from Nationwide Auto Transport? Call our office when you are ready for container auto transport, or simply fill in our online quote.

What Are the Benefits of Container Auto Transport?

  • Better insurance
  • Total protection for your vehicle
  • Extra security
  • Climate control
  • Easier overseas transport

How to Transport Your Car in a Container FAQ

How are cars transported on ships?

Besides standard RORO shipping, how are cars shipped overseas? Cars can be shipped in either:

  1. 20’ containers – suitable for one car or SUV
  2. 40’ containers – Can fit two vehicles (save if you need to ship multiple cars)

How much does it cost to ship my car in a container?

The size of your car plays a large role in price, and a car shipping container can set you back between $1,500 to $5,000 (excluding extra fees) and destination dependent. This does not compare well with the industry average of around $1,400 when you transport a car cross country using a legitimate car carrier.

Can I transport auto in a container with 1/4 tank of fuel?

It is recommended not to have more fuel than ¼ tank when shipping your car in an auto shipping container. This is not only for weight reasons, but it is also safer and inline with government regulations.

If you have any other questions regarding how to transport a car in a container, or other car shipping related questions, please send us an e-mail on [email protected]

How to Transport a Car by Plane

There is a certain echelon of people who can afford to pay a premium for certain things, like how to transport your car to another state in a few hours, but did you know it is not really necessary to pay an arm and a leg for expedited car shipping? Ship a car by plane – How much does it cost, takes a look at the ups and downs when you ship a car over the ocean by plane.

What becomes very clear right from the outset is that flying, or any other form of car shipping, is in 99% of cases the best way to transport your car across the country. When you transport your car on a plane, and drive to your destination, your vehicle will more than likely get there before you. However, and that is a large dollar sign ‘however’, it is going to cost you.

So, can you ship a car by plane, and how much does it cost to ship a car by plane? It could cost you more than the average cost of a small car, but when you own an exotic, classic or other high value vehicle, the safety of your auto investment is your priority.

How Much to Transport a Car by Plane?

The average price to transport a car by plane will set you back anything from $2,500 to $5,500, and it is prudent to remember that when you transport a car by plane, door-to-door transport is not on the cards. You will still need to hire the services of a trusted car shipping company like Nationwide Auto Transportation. Enclosed car shipping with a reputable auto carrier is comparably just as safe, but a whole heap cheaper!

FAQ About Ship a Car by Plane Answered

How much does it cost to carry a car on a plane?

Flying is the most expensive way to transport a car and is usually up to three times the cost of other car shipping options. It could cost you anything from $2,500 to $5,500 to ship a car by plane within the US. When you look at how to transport a car overseas, it could be even more.

What kind of plane can carry a car?

The Antonov is a huge plane that can even carry tanks. For overseas and domestic flights, there are several cargo planes that are designed to transport a car by air.

Can You Transport a Car by Auto Transport Train?

In this section we look at how to transport a car to another state by train, and we unbox if it is a car shipping option that will tick the right boxes for your car transport needs.

When it comes to auto transport by train Americans have a very limited choice. East Coast residents can transport a car with Amtrak Auto transport by train that runs from Virginia to Florida. You have various ride along options and tickets can be quite pricey because you have to accompany your car during auto transport via train. 

How Much Does A Train Ticket With Auto Transport Cost?

The auto train transport to Florida, leaves out of Lorton, Virginia, and arrives in Sanford, Florida about 17 and ½ hours later. This is super fast in terms of auto transport delivery times, but auto transport on Florida trains comes with a number of drawbacks, the first being that there is only one available route on the East Coast.

Out of all the train auto transport companies including Amtrak, CSX, Union Pacific, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe, only Amtrak offers a cross country auto transport train to the American public. The average cost, including a ticket for you to accompany your car (yip, you have to escort your vehicle and pay for a room), is about $520, depending on how comfortable you want to be.

Let’s start with a Coach class ticket at $99, First class will set you back around $295, and a superliner bedroom will cost you a sizzling $600! 

Wrapping Up Auto Transport Auto Train

Auto transport via rail is slightly cheaper than other shipping methods in certain cases, however the lack of auto train transport companies, and viable routes for shipping a car with a train, limits who can make use of this service.

Once your car has arrived at the train station, you will more than likely still need to drive it a long way to your final destination, or use a car shipping company, which would have probably been a better first choice.

If you are not sure if shipping your car by train is a good idea, visit the Nationwide Auto Transportation Homepage and talk to an industry specialist about your alternatives.

Auto Transport by Truck Across the Country

Auto transport companies know how to transport a car and with their industry knowledge driven shipping calculator, it is easy to work out how much to transport a car across country will cost you.

Compare the different ways how to transport a car across America, and you will find that what we discuss in this section is arguably the most efficient and cost-effective way to transport your car to another state. I am obviously talking about those trucks that we see on our highways daily, loaded with cars, auto transport carriers and their auto transport trailers full of vehicles, but do you know the ins and outs of how to transport a car from one state to another by truck?

What is Auto Shipping by Road?

One of the first questions people ask from an auto transport company is how much does it cost to transport a car from point A to point B, without really knowing how their car will get where they need it to be. The main purpose of this post is to educate readers on the different options they have on how to transport a car cross country, and shed light on auto transport services, and how much would it cost to transport a car to where you need it to be.

What is Open Car Transport?

Open Car Transport is the go to way of how to transport a car across the country. It is a convenient and affordable option when you need to get a standard vehicle to another state.

What is Enclosed Auto Transport?

Shipping your car with enclosed auto transport ensures peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is handled with kid gloves, and looked after with care, from collection to delivery. Your vehicle is protected from any road hazards and bad weather conditions. 

how to transport a car

FAQ About Reliable Auto Transport

When you type auto transport near me in your browser, you are inundated with a flood of companies trying to get your attention, and your dollars. Nationwide Auto Transportation believes that your car is just as important as you are, and that is why we take care of our customers in the same professional manner that we look after your precious auto investment.

With this in mind, here are a few answers to popular questions and answers about how to transport a car to another state by using an auto car carrier or intermodal shipment.

How much to transport a car to another state?

There are a few variables that influence the final cost of how much to transport a car to another state:

  1. Weight
  2. Size
  3. Distance
  4. Location

To get accurate auto transport quotes, it is advised to request a call back, or use our free quote button.

How to transport a bike in a car?

If you ask me how to transport a motorcycle with a car, the short and easy answer is that unless you own a truck or large van, you don’t transport a bike in a car. Rather look at Motorcycle Shipping by a professional auto carrier.

How Are You Going to Transport Your Car to Another State?

Nationwide Auto Transportation has more than 16 years of experience and we know the best ways of how to transport a car from one state to another. Remember, our years of dedicated experience, means an affordable and stress-free car shipping experience for you!