Customer Reviews

Shipping Your Car During a Relocation for Work

Posted on 04/23/2024

Having to relocate for work can put a lot of stress on you and your family. Having to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles can only make it worse. That is why you should ship your car during your move for work. This will allow you to travel in comfort with your family during the big move.

Jump to section:
Basic info about moving for work
Shipping your car during a move
Advice for your relocation
Final word
shipping-vehicle-during-work-move

Basic info about moving for work

If you move for work, you will have a lot to consider. First, you will need to figure out where you will be living. You also need to plan your move so you can transition to your new life as easily as possible. This will include hiring a moving company, possibly shipping your car, and canceling any local memberships such as the gym.

Most importantly, you will need to talk to your company and see if they will be covering any of the cost of the move. Odds are that they will cover part of the cost of your move but not all of it. You should always discuss this with a company that you are considering prior to officially accepting any job offers.

Shipping your car during a move

When you move for work, you will need to consider what you are going to do with your car. Odds are that you will not want to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles to your new home. If that is the case, then you will essentially have two options: sell your car and then buy a new one when you arrive at your new location, or ship your car.

Selling your current car and then buying a new one can be quite costly. It can also be a hassle. You will very likely need to spend several weeks during the process of selling your car. The less time that you spend advertising your car, the more you will need to end up settling on price. Then you will need to spend a bunch of time looking for a new car at your new location. It simply is not worth it.

If you choose to ship your car during your relocation, you will not need to worry about any of the above-mentioned things. You will also have much more time to focus on your move. When you ship your car, it will be picked up at the door of your location and will be delivered to the door of your new location. If you are shipping your car from coast to coast, the shipment will likely take ten to fourteen days. If you happen to ship a shorter distance, it will take less time.

Your car must be running properly in order for you to ship it. If the engine is not running or if you have a flat tire, for example, your vehicle-transport driver will not be able to drive the car onto the carrier. This could likely result in a shipping cancellation. If that happens, you will likely get charged a cancellation fee, and you’ll need to re-book your shipment as an inoperable car. This requires a special truck with a winch that can load cars that are not running. This will, unfortunately, cost you an additional several hundred dollars and more waiting time.

If you want to be sure that your car is ready and in tip-top shape, you should get any outstanding issues repaired before your driver arrives to pick it up. A repair will likely end up costing much less than the cost of a cancellation fee plus the cost of booking an inoperable-car shipment.

Advice for your relocation

If you are moving for work, you should use the following tips:

  • Make a to-do list – Planning and organization will really go a long way in terms of saving you time and stress during your move. Make a to-do list in order to get yourself organized and to be efficient during your move.
  • Make adjustments to your budget – The cost of living will likely be different in your new location. You should be prepared for this before you move.
  • Start off by renting – Just so you can have some time to see if you like your new situation, you should start off your new time in your new location by renting a place. If you buy a place right off the bat, you will be stuck with that property.
  • See if your move can help you with taxes – When you are moving for work, part of the cost of your move could be tax deductible.
  • Talk to your company first – Find out what costs of the move your company will cover prior to accepting any job offers. If you ask after accepting a job, the company has all the leverage and probably will not cover very much.

 

Final word

Moving for work can be a pain, but it can lead to a huge and important advancement in your career. When you do move, you should consider shipping your car to your new location rather than driving there. Doing so will save you a lot of stress and time. It can also help you save some money.

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Shipping Your Car During a Relocation for Work

Posted on 04/23/2024

Having to relocate for work can put a lot of stress on you and your family. Having to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles can only make it worse. That is why you should ship your car during your move for work. This will allow you to travel in comfort with your family during the big move.

Jump to section:
Basic info about moving for work
Shipping your car during a move
Advice for your relocation
Final word
shipping-vehicle-during-work-move

Basic info about moving for work

If you move for work, you will have a lot to consider. First, you will need to figure out where you will be living. You also need to plan your move so you can transition to your new life as easily as possible. This will include hiring a moving company, possibly shipping your car, and canceling any local memberships such as the gym.

Most importantly, you will need to talk to your company and see if they will be covering any of the cost of the move. Odds are that they will cover part of the cost of your move but not all of it. You should always discuss this with a company that you are considering prior to officially accepting any job offers.

Shipping your car during a move

When you move for work, you will need to consider what you are going to do with your car. Odds are that you will not want to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles to your new home. If that is the case, then you will essentially have two options: sell your car and then buy a new one when you arrive at your new location, or ship your car.

Selling your current car and then buying a new one can be quite costly. It can also be a hassle. You will very likely need to spend several weeks during the process of selling your car. The less time that you spend advertising your car, the more you will need to end up settling on price. Then you will need to spend a bunch of time looking for a new car at your new location. It simply is not worth it.

If you choose to ship your car during your relocation, you will not need to worry about any of the above-mentioned things. You will also have much more time to focus on your move. When you ship your car, it will be picked up at the door of your location and will be delivered to the door of your new location. If you are shipping your car from coast to coast, the shipment will likely take ten to fourteen days. If you happen to ship a shorter distance, it will take less time.

Your car must be running properly in order for you to ship it. If the engine is not running or if you have a flat tire, for example, your vehicle-transport driver will not be able to drive the car onto the carrier. This could likely result in a shipping cancellation. If that happens, you will likely get charged a cancellation fee, and you’ll need to re-book your shipment as an inoperable car. This requires a special truck with a winch that can load cars that are not running. This will, unfortunately, cost you an additional several hundred dollars and more waiting time.

If you want to be sure that your car is ready and in tip-top shape, you should get any outstanding issues repaired before your driver arrives to pick it up. A repair will likely end up costing much less than the cost of a cancellation fee plus the cost of booking an inoperable-car shipment.

Advice for your relocation

If you are moving for work, you should use the following tips:

  • Make a to-do list – Planning and organization will really go a long way in terms of saving you time and stress during your move. Make a to-do list in order to get yourself organized and to be efficient during your move.
  • Make adjustments to your budget – The cost of living will likely be different in your new location. You should be prepared for this before you move.
  • Start off by renting – Just so you can have some time to see if you like your new situation, you should start off your new time in your new location by renting a place. If you buy a place right off the bat, you will be stuck with that property.
  • See if your move can help you with taxes – When you are moving for work, part of the cost of your move could be tax deductible.
  • Talk to your company first – Find out what costs of the move your company will cover prior to accepting any job offers. If you ask after accepting a job, the company has all the leverage and probably will not cover very much.

 

Final word

Moving for work can be a pain, but it can lead to a huge and important advancement in your career. When you do move, you should consider shipping your car to your new location rather than driving there. Doing so will save you a lot of stress and time. It can also help you save some money.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available in order to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly at your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter more local moves. There is broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed transporters guarantee maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since there is limited carrier availability. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inpoerable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accomodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed car shipping is when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to safely reach your door. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.