The process always starts by first deciding how to move the vehicle. Most people choose to hire an auto transport company.
Vehicle transport is easy when you know how it works and what you need. Shipping a car from east coast to west coast requires organization and preparation. Hiring one of the good car shipping companies is the most efficient option, when it comes to cross country moving. You will spare your car wear and tear, and save yourself time and money.
Ship a car east to west coast steps
- Request a car shipping quote online or by phone.
- Disclose details about the car – make/model, modifications, desired shipping date.
- Logistics associate contacts a carrier and schedules your shipment.
- The carrier picks up your car one to a few days from your first available date.
- The carrier completes an inspection report before loading your car.
- The estimated transit time from the east coast to the west coast is about 7 to 10 days.
- At delivery, the carrier inspects the vehicle again, and you pay any remaining balance.
How much to ship a car from east to west coast?
Supply and demand matters
Supply and demand affect car shipping prices daily
Even when you book a month in advance, higher-paying vehicles may show up on the board at any time, and they will be chosen by the carriers first. This is why current market pricing is important if you want to ship a vehicle now.
It is similar to buying a plane ticket – if you need to fly now you pay the current market price; if you are willing to postpone and wait for the prices to go down then you wait and fly later.
A good auto transport company works hard to offer an affordable rate to the customer, but also a fair pay to the truck driver. Hitting this golden middle requires knowledge and professionalism.
A current rate affects the shipping time
The time to ship a car from the east to the west coast depends on the exact location (major city vs. rural town).
In addition to that, the total time of shipping really depends on the price. Only a current market rate can guarantee timely shipping!
When you call Corsia Logistics, to discuss your options and book your order, a team member will explain transit times in details and how the price ultimately affects that.
In general, coast to coast shipping takes about 7 to 10 days. This is the exact time frame when shipping a car from New York to Los Angeles, for example.
However, we always advise our customers to keep in mind that delivery times are always estimates. This is a long-distance trip, and weather conditions, truck failures, or traffic can always slow down the truck; hence, delay the delivery.
Driving instead of shipping
Driving a car includes two options – driving yourself or hiring a drive-away company. But driving across the country is not for everybody. It means embarking on a long-distance trip that will take at least one week. It all depends on your experience and desire to drive and spend time on the road.
The next big question here is would you trust your car in the hands of someone else to drive it thousands of miles?
Someone else driving your car
It would be a great option if you know someone you can trust, as sometimes this could be a cheaper and faster option. This person could be a friend or a family member. However, if you don’t have anyone, this is by no means the perfect way to move a car. Another option that falls into this category then is to use a drive-away service.
You can certainly find companies that hire people to drive other people’s cars online. These companies specialize in contracting with drivers following certain criteria. The bare minimum these companies follow is to screen the drivers for clean driving and criminal record and impose an age requirement. You still want to read reviews and references for the driver.
For more information please visit our Questions section and How It Works web library. Thank you.
