Breaking Down the Costs of Long-Haul Auto Shipping and Having Your Car Towed

If you are planning to have your vehicle transported from one place to another, there are a few options to consider. The two most common options are car towing and car shipping. Car towing is when people choose to have their car towed behind a moving truck or moving trailer while car shipping involves hiring a professional auto shipping service to handle the transport of your vehicle. You may be wondering which of these two options is the most cost effective, and the answer might surprise you. Let’s take a closer look at the costs of long distance auto shipping versus towing your vehicle. 

At first glance, it might seem like hiring a professional auto transport company would be a much more expensive option. However, when you consider all of the factors, you might find that this price comparison is not so cut and dry. Here are a few important things to consider.

• If you plan to tow your vehicle yourself, you will need to rent a dolly or vehicle trailer in order to transport your vehicle. The cost of this rental will vary depending on the rental company, but it can be expensive and in some cases can cost almost as much as auto shipping. 
• If you are towing your vehicle a long distance yourself, you can expect to drive for several hours and even days if you are moving across the country. When renting a dolly or vehicle trailer from a moving company, customers typically have mileage allowances and a limited number of days to use the equipment. Should you exceed either one due to unforeseen circumstances while driving, you may be expected to pay additional charges. 
• In addition to the cost of the dolly or vehicle trailer rental, you will also need to factor in other expenses such as gas, lodging, food, and car maintenance at the end of the trip. When you consider these additional expenses, you are likely to find that shipping your car is often cheaper than towing it yourself.

When it comes to considering the cost of transporting your vehicle, you should also consider things like time, convenience, safety, and vehicle protection. When you are moving across the country, your time is very valuable and auto shipping can simplify the process for you, freeing up your time to handle other moving tasks. Furthermore, you can avoid potential damage to your vehicle as well as the risk for accidents, both of which can be extremely costly. In the end, when it comes to moving a car a long distance, shipping is almost always a better choice than towing.