Shipping cars?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

My DH wonders if it's worth shipping a car for $1k cross country versus just selling it and buying another used car when we get there? The car is a 2006 Sonata and it's a good car. Probably worth $6k. But is it worth transporting versus selling and buying another car when we arrive?

[Bob B.]

I probably wouldn't pay 17% the value of the car to have it moved.

[disneysteve]

I think there's more to the question than dollars and cents.

If you are happy with the car, I think $1,000 is not a huge amount if you'd like to keep it. That saves you from having to buy another car when you get there. Sure, you might be able to find something comparable for the same money that you sell this car for, but you might not. You're taking a bit of a risk that way. Plus you have the hassle factor of both selling one car and having to go out and shop for another right away.

Personally, I'd pay the $1,000 and keep my car.

[greenskeeper]

taxes and registration on a replacement car would eat into the $1000 cost to transport. I personally would just drive the car myself to wherever I was moving (even if it was cross country).

[bjl584]

why not just drive it there? Then keep it or sell it when you get there?

[disneysteve]

I personally would just drive the car myself to wherever I was moving

That would be my preference too, but I was assuming that wasn't an option.

[disneysteve]

In your other thread, you said you would be towing a UHaul trailer. Is it feasible to instead tow this car? You could load it with the same stuff you were going to put in the UHaul.

[ua_guy]

You're really talking about a difference of $400, because the other $600 you're going to spend either way. Either you're going to spend it in sales tax at almost 10% purchasing the same car ($6,000) in California, or, you're paying the $1,000 shipping cost to get your car moved across the country.

Is $400 worth keeping a car that you've personally owned and driven over the years, versus buying someone else's used wreck? To me, it would be worth it, but to others I realize it might not be.

Edit: Steve makes a good point. If you're not already towing a car behind your uhaul, you can flatbed tow your car on a trailer. The drop in fuel economy while towing in one of those big GM/Kodiak or Ford chassis U-Hauls over about 20' long will be about 2mpg.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

We are already driving cross country for a vacation road tripping. But it doesn't make sense to drive a penske truck for some reason the rental rate is really high where i live to rent one way to where we are going. If it were the other way it's about 60% LESS.

So we are shipping some stuff and driving out there in our subaru outback 2010. Now the question is to ship or drive or hire someone to drive our other car?

[disneysteve]

Now the question is to ship or drive or hire someone to drive our other car?

Shipping it saves the mileage and wear and tear on the car.
Driving it has some costs involved in gas, tolls, and wear and tear.
Having someone else drive it has those costs plus the cost of that person including hotels along the way, meals, and a plane ticket home.

I'd go with shipping.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

What about selling the hyundai sonata where we are and buying a used Minivan to drive cross country and then selling it after we move cross country.

[disneysteve]

What about selling the hyundai sonata where we are and buying a used Minivan to drive cross country and then selling it after we move cross country.

Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable driving a used car I just bought cross country. Plus, I hate buying and selling cars. The less I have to do that, the better.

[creditcardfree]

A minivan would have more space than your other vehicles. I would have the used minivan checked out by a mechanic and then have AAA insurance for the trip should you have a breakdown. Ask around to people you know in your area that may be thinking of selling a used van, you never know someone might have just the right vehicle at the right price.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

What is AAA insurance? Our mechanic sells and buys cars at auction. Two of my friends who referred me bought their used cars from him. And a third friend referred him. They found him independently before they knew each other. One since 2005, other since 2008, and third in 2010. I met them all after 2010 and so we've switched to him. He's been really great.

[ua_guy]

What is AAA insurance? Our mechanic sells and buys cars at auction. Two of my friends who referred me bought their used cars from him. And a third friend referred him. They found him independently before they knew each other. One since 2005, other since 2008, and third in 2010. I met them all after 2010 and so we've switched to him. He's been really great.

I think AAA insurance is referring to trip/travel insurance. Basically provides a daily stipend and accomodations, plus towing if you become stranded (at least that's how it's been described to me).