Gift Icon
Get a 20% discount from our partners! Discount code will get added automatically when you submit the form.
Auto Transport Truck on Highway
4.7 Star Rating4.7 (67,926 reviews)
96.3% positive
No Surprises, Just Savings: Verified Carriers, Instant Quotes, and Best Price Guarantee!
You save 20% compared to other companies
Get quotes from trusted carriers, thoroughly vetted and fully insured. Enjoy trackable deliveries, fair pricing, and hassle-free transport from start to finish. Transport any type of vehicle and drive away worry-free.
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs
Customer Ratings By Feature
Value for Money ★★★★★ 4.9
Vehicle Care ★★★★★ 4.9
Fast Delivery ★★★★★ 4.9
Friendly Staff ★★★★★ 4.9
Globe
190+
Countries
Served
Car
2M+
Delivered
Services
Car
97%
Customer
Recommended
Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

Should I Ship or Drive My Car?

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Auto Transport Options Should I Ship Or Drive My Car?
  2. Things To Look For In An Auto Transport Company
  3. Car Shipping Resources
Car Shipping Resources Drive My Car

Auto Transport Options: Should I Ship Or Drive My Car?

If you need a car transported, you’ve probably asked yourself the question, “Should I drive it myself or pay to have it shipped?” When a shorter distance is involved, the question is not always an easy one to answer. It does cost a few hundred dollars even to have a car shipped 500 miles, which is a distance that’s drivable in one day, but that doesn’t always make it the right decision. On this page, we’ll weigh some of the costs and benefits of each approach to help you make the best choice.

The one clear benefit of driving your car when you need it relocated is that you will likely save some money, but just how much depends on a few things. For one, you will no doubt go through at least one full tank of gas when going the do-it-yourself route. That doesn’t make it terribly expensive, but you also have to factor in up to eight hours of driving time, not to mention the miles and potential for wear and tear on the vehicle during the drive. If you have even a minor mechanical issue while driving, that’s going to increase both the cost of the trip and the time you spend getting it there.

When you hire a car shipper to do the job for you, all the concerns listed above are no longer a factor. There is a cost associated with hiring an auto transporter, but it saves you the time spent driving and also eliminates the concern of a breakdown while on the road. Their insurance coverage is rarely needed, but it’s always there as a failsafe just in case—something you can’t say about driving a car yourself. The real advantage is in the time savings and the fact that no miles are put on the car if you have it shipped. Additionally, any car shipper will have insurance coverage that provides compensation in the rare case that something does happen during the shipment.

A-1 Auto Transport Ships Worldwide.
Get a Free, No Obligation to Buy, Auto Shipping Quote.
Get my free quote now
or call us to do it for you:

Things To Look For In An Auto Transport Company

When you look for a company to ship your car, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind during the search. It’s very helpful if you have a list of questions to ask the auto transport company before you contact them. That way, you’ll be able to get the information you need to make an informed decision when it comes time to choose one.

The most important thing to ask about when you contact an auto shipper is if they offer the services you need. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised to find that there are quite a few different services available, and not all companies offer them all. For example, if you need door-to-door shipping or enclosed auto transport, you’ll want to ask about the details of that process and make sure they have appropriate experience with both. The same goes for shipping vehicles that are non-operational or if you’re shipping to a remote or less common location. The more detailed your questions are, the better. You can also use the information you get to determine if a company is as qualified as they say based on the answers they provide.

Ship Or Drive My Car

Car Shipping Resources

Benefits Of Hiring A Car Shipper - Learn more about the benefits of hiring an auto transporter. This article goes further in depth about the advantages you get from working with professionals.

Understanding Auto Transport Reviews - Understanding how to read and assess reviews for auto transport companies (or any business, really) is not as simple as you may think. This article dives into what you need to know and what to be aware of when looking up customer reviews.

Share this content on social media for a chance to get up to 20% off your next shipment.
Copy link

Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

Email Me


Testimonial
Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★

...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.

Testimonial
Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
★★★★★

A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!

Testimonial by Cristine Benoit
Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★

There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.

Testimonial
David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★

We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

Visit our social, and see what our clients are saying about us:

Ship Your Vehicle With A-1 Auto Today
Get an instant free Quote Now

Or Call Us Today and Speak Directly to Our Sales Team:

Call Us 1-888-230-9116

Our Partners:

Better Business Bureau Accredited
FMCSA Member
INC. 500 Member
VeriSign Secured
AMSA Member

A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
Copyright © 1988-2024, A-1 Auto Transport - All Rights Reserved.