Brantley Kendall 06 Aug 2024 5 months ago The best way to ship a car is one that aligns with your needs, budgetary considerations, workable timeframe, and many other factors. In truth, making the right call and picking the option that meets all your needs requires a lot of thinking. Of course, you can simply drive it yourself, but many scenarios warrant considering enlisting the help of reliable professionals. We analyze each method below. How to Transport a Car – Available Options To properly answer the question concerning the best way to ship a car (cross-country or otherwise), we need to gain a comprehensive overview of the options available and understand when they might be feasible, and when not so much. Take a look at the list below: Driving the Car Yourself The most straightforward and cheapest way to ship a car is to simply hop behind the steering wheel and set off on the road yourself. If your particular set of circumstances isn’t too complicated, i.e., you don’t need to transport multiple cars or cover a large distance, it’s certainly an idea worth considering. However, if you’re in a time crunch, want to protect your car, or need to move an inoperable vehicle, the other options on this list may be better suited to target your needs. Train Transport Transporting your car by rail isn’t the most common or cheapest option available. What it does excel at, though, is safety and convenience. All you need to do is drive the car to and from the train station, making it an effective method when relocating between cities or metropolitan hubs with lots of train traffic. Air Freight Typically, air freight is reserved only for the rarest of occasions. As you might imagine, air transport incurs the highest cost. Most people only decide to splurge for air freight when shipping luxury or exotic cars when they need to transport them internationally, including overseas. In such cases, it’s undoubtedly the safest and best option. Employing a Car Shipping Broker In essence, car shipping brokers are registered and federally accredited entities that operate across the entire country, linking you with a robust network of qualified drivers. They act as an intermediary between you and the trucking company that safeguards the entire process from start to finish. By streamlining communication and ensuring the shipping goes smoothly, car shipping brokers offer more certainty that your car will arrive safely at its destination. Something that separates brokerages from standard auto transport companies is the significantly broader range of available shipping options. With trucking companies, you either take their offer or leave it. In contrast, shipping brokers are more flexible and allow you to choose between various modes of shipping to tailor every detail to your specific needs. Hiring a Driver If you prefer contacting a transportation company directly, you can always opt to have the car shipped by their designated driver. This option will be a little more affordable since you don’t have to pay the broker’s fees, though there are also fewer safety guarantees in place. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Method With so many available options, narrowing down your choice can feel overwhelming. Here’s a few pointers to help: Car value: Exotic, luxury and antique cars are best shipped with all possible safety measures in place. Distance: Distance also plays a major role. If you have to go hundreds of miles, consider hiring a driver or trucking company. Cost: Budgetary constraints often determine the best way to ship your car for you. Consider cheaper options that still meet your needs if you can’t afford to pay too much. Timeframe: Car shipping companies typically offer expedited delivery, meaning your car can be with you as soon as you finish all the other aspects of your move. Season: Keep in mind that during winter in harsh weather conditions, and summer, which is peak season, car shipment costs go up. Convenience: Consider whether you need door-to-door delivery or if terminal-to-terminal shipping will suffice. The Takeaway What is the best way to ship a car? How about the best way to ship a car cross-country? The truth is, you have to factor in all aspects related to your move, including timeframe, budget, and convenience, and decide for yourself, as every case is different. Lucky for you, SAKAEM Logistics offers decades of experience in the industry. Contact us for a free quote, and let’s help you pick the best vehicle transport option for your specific situation. You may also read: Simplifying Multiple Car Transport: A Comprehensive Guide Brantley Kendall Share this: