So, you’ve managed to save up some dough to buy your dream car. Finally, after years of squirreling away a few dollars here and there, you’re finally going to drive your dream machine!
But there’s just one problem: the car you bought is only available from a different state across the country!
Now you’re left with two options: you can fly over and drive your car home on a long road trip, or you can hire an auto transport service to ship your vehicle to your doorstep. Both have their pros and cons, of course, but one of them is the more practical choice.
Auto Transport Service: Why It’s Practical
When deciding on these two options, it’s best to weigh them by asking two critical questions:
- Does it save me time?
- Does it save me money?
Auto transport checks both these boxes. Sure, it’s fun to go on a multi-day road trip across America, but do you have the time to spare? If you’re going cross-country, do you have enough money to pay for gas, food, accommodation, and maintenance of the car while you move from state to state?
Having your car shipped makes much more practical sense. Yes, auto transport might cost differently depending on the vehicle and state (an enclosed race car transport service in California, for example, may have a different price than an open car transport in Kentucky). Still, in the long run, it’s going to minimize the chances of accidents and additional maintenance.
How Auto Transport Saves Time and Money
Most auto transport companies will quote door-to-door delivery service fees based on the kind of car being shipped, the origin of the vehicle, and the delivery destination. It may take a few days or even a few weeks, but ultimately, it’s going to save you time. If you have a 9-to-5 day job that keeps you glued to your city five days a week, you can’t take a leave long enough to get your vehicle and drive back.
Consider that it takes around 40 hours of driving time to get from New York to L.A. at an average speed of 68 miles an hour. That doesn’t take into account bathroom breaks, refueling, sleep, and stopping for food and sights (c’mon, you’re not going to go cross-country and not check out the views!). If you take a three-day leave, that won’t be enough.
And all those breaks will also cost you money. Just to give you an idea, a Travellifestyle.net article in 2016 said it cost them around $60 a day per person to drive around the country for 25 days. The amount included all the breaks they had to do.
Save the cross-country road trip for a time when you have more money saved up and ample time to travel. Auto transport services are doing you a massive favor by allowing you to go about your daily business while waiting for your dream car.