Shipping an auto almost always costs more than driving it yourself. In figuring your actual costs of driving, you must take into consideration how many miles per gallon your vehicle gets. If you are driving 800 miles and your car gets 20 MPG, in theory you should need 40 gallons of fuel from Point A to Point B. At a national average right now of around $3.00 per gallon, that is a total of $120 for fuel. This does not include oil or the wear and tear on your tires.
Figure in motels along the way at $100.00 per night and $50.00 per day for meals on the road. Now the cost to drive the car yourself comes to $320.00 barring any unforeseen roadside mishaps.
If you are traveling with family members or companions who are moving or vacationing with you, add in their per diem for food and overnight accommodations. So, for you and your spouse, let’s say, the total cost to drive your car would be $420. With an average transport of around $700 for the same distance (plus airfare for two to your final destination), shipping your car is more expensive.
You could tow the car behind your rented truck and the only costs to transport the car would be the rental/lease or purchase of the towing gear.
Dollars and cents, however, are not the only means of measuring cost differences between driving the car yourself or having it transported.
Are you a professional who charges by the hour: doctor, dentist, lawyer, consultant, etc.? What is your hourly rate: $200, $250, $300? Or are you a skilled person like a mechanic, electrician, plumber or mason? What is your hourly rate? If you are going to be on the road for twelve or more unproductive hours, how will this affect your wallet? If you are going to be starting a new job in a new city and can begin three days early, how will this affect your first paycheck? It is something to add to the equation.
A non-financial consideration would be the stress factor of driving yourself. If you are the type of driver that tensely grips the steering wheel and worries throughout the entire trip about various perils coming your way, you are going to end up at your destination in a frazzled condition. If people are in the car with you, they will feel the tension in the air and you will all wish you shipped the car instead.
Then there is the family car with driver, back-seat driving spouse and three screaming kids in the back seat whining “Are we there yet” throughout the trips duration. Siblings thrown together in a small space for hours will come very close to doing each other in. This does not make for a relaxing trip. There is actually no price applicable to peace of mind for two adults who work 40 plus hour per week not having to deal with this sort of “family fun.” The cost of shipping a car under these circumstances can be considered priceless.
For more on Car Shipping or Vehicle Transport please visit MetroGistics.