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If you need to get your car from point A to point B because either you are relocating, the car won’t start, or you have an extra car with no one to get behind the wheel during a long-distance move—you’re probably wondering which option is the best. Should you get your car towed or have it moved? That is the question.
Well, it depends on many factors, such as the distance, if the car is working or not, and of course—your budget. We are going to be upfront, towing a vehicle can get really expensive. Prices for long-distance towing cost around $2 to $4 per mile on top of other fees that come with it. So if you are moving across the country, hundreds of miles can add up to thousands of dollars—which is simply not worth it.
However, there are some instances where towing is a better option than moving your vehicle via professional shipping services, which we will get into every intricate detail in this article.
There are instances where it is ideal to call a tow truck to transport your vehicle. It makes more sense in situations where your car broke down somewhere, and you need to take it to the closest auto repair shop.
Towing services are available 24/7, so when you get stuck in a ditch somewhere, you can call a tow truck to save you at any time. Also, there are much more towing truck options to choose from compared to car shipping services. Because tow truck drivers tow dozens of vehicles on a daily basis, your car will be in good hands.
Here are some of the situations when it is better to call a tow truck to move your vehicle:
When moving your car somewhere within a 50-mile radius, you can save more time and money on calling a tow truck. However, if the distance is anywhere above that, we would definitely suggest other options, such as driving the car yourself if the car is in running condition or calling an auto shipping service you trust. Plus, towing a vehicle hundreds of miles adds can put your car under a lot of stress, which is definitely not a good thing.
Most professional shipping services need advanced booking, so it might not be a good idea to call them during these instances. For emergencies, a tow truck is the best choice.
A professional auto transport service specializes in shipping vehicles, and it is one of the best options if you are moving to a long-distance location and want to take one or more cars with you on the journey.
Professional car shipping services are equipped with specialized trucks designed to carry vehicles safely. This method of shipping does not put any wear on your car, meaning you can transport your car thousands of miles from coast to coast without adding mileage or wearing out the tires, brakes, and other components. Imagine the time and money you would save instead of driving the car to the destination yourself.
Plus, these services will often have more options for your car, such as open auto transport and enclosed auto transport.
This option involves transporting cars in an open-air truck or trailer. Opting for this method is affordable and efficient for transporting your daily-use cars.
However, because your car will be transported alongside other cars on one truck, open auto transport may take a while to get picked up and delivered—which is why we suggest that you book in advance. Because it can transport 3 to 10 other vehicles in one run, the price is cut down by a lot, making it the cheapest option if you are looking to save.
Enclosed auto transport is an excellent option for your vehicles that need more protection during the journey. Some cars are more valuable than others, so we suggest this method when shipping antique cars, luxury cars, and cars that have more value for you.
Because they are put in an enclosed truck during the journey, you wouldn’t have to worry about it getting scratched or scuffed by road debris along the way. You can expect your prized possession to be in the exact condition it was in when it reaches the destination. However, it goes without saying that this option is going to cost you more money.
Here are the situations where shipping your vehicle is the most ideal option:
Instead of driving the vehicle all the way, causing all possible wear and tear, you can get it shipped and save money in the long run. If you have an extra car that you want to take with you on your long-distance relocation, booking a professional auto shipping service is the most affordable and safest option compared to towing. Plus, they offer premium services for vehicles with higher value.
Motorcycles cannot be towed by a truck since they only have two wheels. However, some shipping services offer bike shipping services which only cost a fraction of car shipping costs.
If you have a collection of cars that you just don’t want to let go of because you are relocating to a different city across the United States, you can take all of them with you when you hire a car shipping service. Plus, if you own a car dealership and want to move your entire inventory to a different location, auto shipping services are definitely the way to go.
Not all vehicles can be towed, such as electric cars, military vehicles, and classic cars. If that is the case, getting them shipped on a car shipping truck is your only option.
