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Is it better to ship a car across the country or drive it?

Is it better to ship a car across the country or drive it?

How can you move your car across the country? When deciding between driving and shipping, how do you make the right choice? As you explore the options, there’re a few things you will need to consider. Distance, the time you have available to complete the task, all costs involved, and the level of convenience you desire are just some of the factors.

In this post, we’ll tackle a few important points and answer some of the most common questions to help you plan a successful cross-country vehicle relocation.

Shipping or driving: Which is better?

The answer to this question depends on the situation at hand. For those who are relocating across the country and have more vehicles than drivers, shipping is probably the only option.

In all the other cases, one needs to weigh all the pros and cons of shipping a car versus driving it all the way from coast to coast.

A road trip across the US may sound exhilarating. But would you really want to embark on this journey when you have already been stressed enough orchestrating your household move? Or negotiate with your boss at work asking for time off, so you can pick up a car you bought online?

The truth is, shipping a car with an auto transport company is the easiest thing to do and arrange. It will give you peace of mind and allow you to concentrate on other things that are more important to you.

When you book the service with Corsia Logistics, our vehicle relocation experts will help you select the options that work best for your particular situation. Our years of industry experience allow us access to the best resources necessary to deliver your vehicle safely and efficiently.

Is it cheaper to drive my car across the country or to have it shipped?

You may think that shipping a car is expensive. But should you decide to drive instead, filling up the gas tank of your four-wheeler is not going to be your only expense.

At the least, you will need to factor in the cost of meals, hotels, and tolls. You may get a flat tire, the windshield wiper may go out, a rock could fly up and break your windshield, you may require towing. And then there’s always a possibility of a costly speeding ticket, among other expenses.

To sum it up, when you choose driving, you pay multiple costs (sometimes unaccounted for), which spread over the course of your trip and often can add up to a large sum of money.

When you ship your car with an auto transport company, you pay an all-inclusive price. All fees, insurance, and door-to-door service are included. You know the number upfront. However, it’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all estimate.

The final cost to ship a car across the country depends on a few factors: your vehicle’s make and model, modifications, operability; distance and pick up/drop off locations, type of transport – open or enclosed, and current supply/demand fluctuations on a given route.

Is car shipping safe?

Most vehicles are shipped in an open-air trailer. This means that your car will be exposed to road and weather elements. Although damage is a rare occurrence, there is a possibility that the car gets affected by bad weather conditions, as well as rocks and other road debris. If your car is extremely valuable, we recommend you look into enclosed vehicle shipping to ensure it gets the highest protection possible during the shipping process.

Also, by shipping a car you can spare it from unnecessary wear and tear, breakdowns, accidents, and unfavorable weather conditions. All legally authorized auto shippers are required to have cargo insurance, which gives you extra peace of mind. And by law, they have to provide you with a copy of their insurance certificate upon request.

What is the best shipping company or service for shipping a car cross-country?

In today’s competitive world, no company can claim to be absolutely the best. There are many reputable auto transporters who will go out of their way to keep their customers happy.

However, as in any other business, there are still a few bad apples. The possibility of becoming a victim of a car shipping scam is, unfortunately, still present. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant and aware of what to look for when planning to hire an auto transporter.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, do your homework. Request multiple car shipping quotes, read online reviews, pick up the phone, and call your potential shipper. Still have doubts? Don’t hesitate to contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for the shipper’s information and accident history.


If you have any questions or would like to request a quote, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. You can call us at (818) 850-5258, chat with one of our logistics experts, or fill out our simple quote request form.

Shipping your car with Corsia Logistics is easy. We work with specialized auto dealerships from across the country and will give you peace of mind. We arrange car transport anywhere within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Our logistics experts will walk you through the entire car shipping process. We believe transparency is key. Therefore, we encourage you to ask questions because we want you to make educated decisions.

Just reach out to us by dropping us a line via our online chat or call us at (818) 850-5258. We will be happy to assist you!

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Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

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and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
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Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
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Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
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Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
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I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
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Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
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Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
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Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
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Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
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Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
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Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
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