Posted on 10/17/2025 | 3 min to read
Transporting your vehicle from one location to another is a demanding task. You can transport your vehicle whether you are moving house, relocating over a long distance, or moving for any other purpose.
You have two options to transport your vehicle: either you can drive yourself or hire an auto transport company. Both ways have their advantages and disadvantages, and you must notice every aspect before deciding.
If you want to drive your car, you must consider the following aspects
Independent transportation provides you with essential benefits. The key benefits are as follows:
If you transport your vehicle yourself, you will manage it according to its speed and engine performance. You can choose a safer route, take breaks during travel, and take necessary safety measures to ensure safe driving. You can get it repaired where needed and balance the overall performance of your vehicle.
When driving your car, you can pack your luggage to prevent it from injury and damage to your vehicle's items. However, auto transport companies do not offer the option of packing. These companies have an average weight to carry, and over-packing can disturb the transportation rules. It would be safer to pack your things while traveling to reduce the risk of any mishap. The packing option is available only if you will drive your car.
Driving for long distances is a hectic process. You will struggle to maintain your health, leading to increased stress. Sometimes you have to drive overnight to reach your destination. This can disturb your routine.
When you drive your car yourself, it will take more time. The speed of your car can fluctuate depending on road conditions. You can hire an auto transport company to save time.
Weather conditions are sometimes a hurdle in driving. In extreme cold like snow or rain, the roads become slippery, and severe accidents can occur. In hot weather, you may face high congestion. Heavy traffic can disturb your time management. Extreme heat can damage the battery of your car.
If you are driving on a new route, you will not be familiar with its roads. You may not be familiar with the road signs and traffic signs.
Considering the above-mentioned points, you can decide whether to drive your car for long distances or not.
The auto transport companies provide benefits to the users. These benefits increase the trust of people in the auto transport companies. Some of them are
The timing of transport can be better controlled if you drive your car; however, auto transport companies typically provide a set time for vehicle pickup. These companies set a date for pickup and delivery. Car shipping companies deliver your vehicle according to your given timeline. If any time lapses occur, the companies will notify you in advance.
If you hire an auto transport company, it will be responsible for any damage to your vehicle, and you will get your vehicle in the same condition as it was at pickup. Shipping a car with an auto hauler offers safety benefits and helps prevent wear and tear.
Hiring an auto transport company can make the process less stressful for you. You just have to book an order with a shipping company and let the professionals handle the rest of the process. The car will pick up from your chosen location and deliver to the location of your choice. You don’t have to drive for hours to reach your destination.
Professional companies utilize the necessary equipment and trailers to transport your vehicle, including enclosed trailers, loading systems, and other essential shipping tools, which are needed as per the type of transport to ensure safe and seamless transportation of your car.
These companies have well-trained drivers with exceptional experience, and they have all the equipment to handle any issues that may arise during transport.
If you want to get any additional information about hiring an auto transport company, you can simply get it from the customer service of the auto transport company. It will provide you with the essential guides and considerations, which you can use to find budget-friendly deals for transporting your vehicle from the respective source company.
The auto shipping industry has the opportunity to use multiple shipping carriers. If you have more than one car, you can use the bulk shipping option (shipping more than one vehicle at a time). A professional car mover company can transport six to nine vehicles in its multi-shipping carriers. This will save your energy and time. There is no requirement for a second trip. This opportunity can be availed by car buyers and sellers, and whoever needs it. Some companies provide discounts for using these multi-carriers.
When you hire a company for your car transportation, they ensure the safety of your vehicle. You will be familiar with all the terms and conditions, thus providing you with peace of mind and security assurance. The company will provide financial protection in case of any damage or accident.
The company will be responsible for deciding the routes of travel, stop locations during transport, and the location of pickup. You have to follow them according to the instructions provided by the company and get fully relaxed. The auto transport companies are also fully responsible for the safety of your vehicle.
Besides advantages, some disadvantages make auto shipping difficult. Some of them are
If you are transporting your vehicle by an auto transport company, it may become a challenge, as you may not find an auto transportation means near your location. Short delays and a low budget can be a hurdle. Driving your vehicle by yourself will be more effective and manageable.
Auto shipping can be costly for a middle-class person. You may face a decline in your budget if you decide to hire an auto transport company. Additional charges like toll taxes can be applied by some companies, which can become difficult to manage.
Sometimes the auto transporter cannot deliver your vehicle on time, resulting from sudden damage to the carrier or some sudden weather conditions. If you want your car at the exact time, you must manage your time by yourself and drive it on your own.
If the auto transporter is away from your home you would have to spend a lot of money to deliver your vehicle to the provided location by the company. You sometimes have to hire a truck to get it to the place of loading. If you face these additional expenses, consider driving your car to your destination to save money.
Transporting your car by auto transport companies offers different costs depending on the important factors. These include:
· Car shipping distance
· Type of transport
· Average total cost
· Average cost per mile
Enclosed shipping costs approximately $1,255 to $3,925. It is estimated to be 52% more than a closed container. If you have motorbikes and high-value cars, enclosed shipping is an ideal shipping option.
According to the survey of market shipping, 41% of respondents paid $1,000 to $2,000 to ship their vehicle, where the average shipping distance was 500 to 1500 miles. 67% of the people had positive responses about using the auto shipping companies and their services.
The decision of driving a car on your own or hiring an auto transport company:
If you have to transport your vehicle for a long distance, you can decide according to your needs and budget.
There is no preference to hire an auto transport company or drive on your own. If you are a job-doing person and want to save your driving time, you can easily hire an auto transport company. You just have to follow some of their guides, pay their required amount, and get your car easily to your destination.
On the other hand, if driving is your hobby and you think that you will reach your destination without any hurdles, you must prefer to drive. For that, you must check the fuel level, battery, and engine performance, and follow some important driving rules like proper documentation and maintenance. Following these guides, you can easily drive your car for a long-distance move.