Reasons to Ship Your Car During a Move

Shipping your car during a move saves you a long drive in the middle of everything else, keeps miles and wear off the car, and lets you fly to your new home while the car follows on a truck. Once you add up fuel, hotels, meals and days off work, the gap between driving and shipping is often smaller than people expect, and shipping takes one big job off moving week.

1. It takes a job off moving week

A move already means packing, movers, closing on a home and setting up utilities. A long drive on top of that means planning a route, booking hotels and spending days on the road. Ship the car instead, and you can fly, ride with family in one car, or stay behind to finish up while the car is on its way.

2. It keeps miles and wear off the car

A long drive adds miles, tire wear and an oil change sooner than you planned. It also puts the car through whatever the road throws at it. On a truck, the odometer doesn't move. This matters most for a newer car, a leased car with a mileage limit, or a classic. For classic, exotic and high-value cars, enclosed transport keeps the car out of weather and road debris.

3. The cost of driving adds up

Driving looks free until you count it: fuel, hotel nights, meals on the road, time off work, and a flight back if you're moving more than one car. Put those next to a shipping quote before you decide. Our breakdown of what influences the cost of shipping a car shows what goes into the quote.

4. Two cars, one driver

Many households have more cars than drivers on moving day. Ship one or both, and nobody has to make the trip twice. See shipping multiple cars for how that works.

5. Fewer road trip surprises

Breakdowns, flat tires, bad weather and traffic don't care about your closing date. Shipping takes those off your list. If anything changes while your car is on the road, you hear it from FCT first.

How to fit shipping into your move

• Book early. Busy moving seasons fill trucks. More notice gives you more options.
• Give a pickup window. A range of dates is easier to match with a truck than a single day.
• Pick up before the movers leave. Have the car picked up while you still have the keys, the address and someone at home.
• Plan the delivery end. Make sure someone can receive the car at the new address, or a friend nearby can.
• Prepare the car. Follow our vehicle prep checklist, and don't pack the car with household items.

How it works with FCT

A real person quotes your move. FCT vets the carrier and confirms the driver, the truck, the pickup window and the expected delivery window before the truck rolls. You can follow the order in the client portal at fctorders.com, including the driver's location while they're active, and you keep one point of contact from quote to drop-off. FCT moves cars for relocations, snowbirds and students anywhere in the continental U.S.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to ship my car or drive it when I move?

For a long move, shipping usually makes more sense. It saves the drive, the hotel nights and the miles on the car. For a short move you could drive in a day, driving may be simpler.

Can I pack boxes in my car when it's shipped?

No. Items in the car usually aren't covered by the carrier's insurance and can shift on the trailer. Move them with your household goods.

Can my car be delivered to my new home?

Yes. The car is delivered as close to your new address as the truck can safely get. On a narrow street, the driver may meet you at a nearby open lot.

When should I book car shipping for a move?

As early as you can, especially in busy moving seasons. A flexible pickup window also makes it easier to match your car with a truck.

Moving soon?

Tell us the car and both addresses, and a real person quotes it. Request a quote or call (980) 552-1101.