Has anyone ever shipped a car?

[ChrisCJ99]

So I'm exploring my options as far as transporting my car from Florida to California.... I've heard that shipping is expensive, but I'm not sure if it's worth for me to DRIVE all the way out there or just to have it shipped....

Can anyone share their experience with shipping a car?

 

[Patient Zero]

I sold a car on ebay and the buyer had it shipped. The truck stopped by and they driver took a detailed assessment. He marked down every tiny mark that was on the car, then drove it up on the ramp and off he went. That is my only experience, not much help I know.

You also want to consider emissions in Cali. They are really strict, so make sure your car is up to their emission laws, or it might not be worth taking it out there if it is a permanent thing.

 

[Mesa]

You might be able to look into the "autotrain" by Amtrak. My crappy car in college wouldn't survive the journey from Maryland to Florida, so we put it on the train to transport it.

 

[ChrisCJ99]

I sold a car on ebay and the buyer had it shipped. The truck stopped by and they driver took a detailed assessment. He marked down every tiny mark that was on the car, then drove it up on the ramp and off he went. That is my only experience, not much help I know.

You also want to consider emissions in Cali. They are really strict, so make sure your car is up to their emission laws, or it might not be worth taking it out there if it is a permanent thing.

That's pretty comforting that they check over the car before they ship it..... Did the buyer tell you how much it cost them to ship? Just curious.

I'm not worried about emissions though. It's a bone stock Mini Cooper clubman

You might be able to look into the "autotrain" by Amtrak. My crappy car in college wouldn't survive the journey from Maryland to Florida, so we put it on the train to transport it.

Hmmmm. That's a company I wasn't aware of. Thanks for the tip
Can you tell me how much you paid for that?

 

[hairlesswookiee]

I don't think its that expensive. I bought a car that was in Chicago and it cost $500 including full insurance to ship the car to Florida. IMO its worth it to ship it instead of putting the miles, wear/tear on the car.
~~However it might be fun to take a road trip if you haven't done much traveling through the country.

 

[agen_kolar]

I took a roadtrip from Orlando to Seattle, and it was totally 100% worth it. If the car can make it, I say drive.

 

[azurepred]

I shipped my Stang from Florida to Cali for $850........no probs here

 

[barryo]

coast to coast drive FTW.............dont get in a hurry and see this great country real time. ask a buddy or budette to go with and take turns driving. i've driven all over the states & it's freakin awesome to see. the good, the bad, & the ugly.............

 

[ChaserFan]

It's a bone stock Mini Cooper clubman

Great car!

That is all.

 

[automaton]

Florida to California? the makings of an amazing road trip... perhaps the question should be "how can you afford not to do it?"

 

[agen_kolar]

Oh and Chris - I thought you already lived in Cali and were moving to Florida!

 

[BuddyGus]

Dude, I shipped one from Florida to Hawaii and it was only $2000. Can't imagine it is to bad to get it to California.

 

[ChrisCJ99]

Oh and Chris - I thought you already lived in Cali and were moving to Florida!

I do live in Cali, I just or a car in Florida over the christmas break

 

[ChrisCJ99]

Oh and Chris - I thought you already lived in Cali and were moving to Florida!

I do live in Cali, I just got a car in Florida over the christmas break

 

[agen_kolar]

I do live in Cali, I just got a car in Florida over the christmas break

Well if you end up moving to Florida, making the trip twice would suck, so I'd just ship it. There isn't a whole lot to see between Cali and here, mostly desert from Cali to Texas, anyway.

 

[KAOSINLA]

I used exotic car transport a couple of times and they were great. I believe it was around $1200 cross-country.

 

[ChrisCJ99]

I've been getting quotes from people in the $650-$850 range. I'm obviously trying to save as much money as possible. But it seems that the more you save the LONGER it take to get your car shipped..... Kinda a weird business the way it works

 

[automaton]

Well if you end up moving to Florida, making the trip twice would suck, so I'd just ship it. There isn't a whole lot to see between Cali and here, mostly desert from Cali to Texas, anyway.

New Orleans? Kisatchie National Forest? Austin, Texas? Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas? Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument? Tonto National Monument, Arizona? Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona? Palm Springs, California?

 

[agen_kolar]

New Orleans? Kisatchie National Forest? Austin, Texas? Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas? Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument? Tonto National Monument, Arizona? Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona? Palm Springs, California?

Yeah, and like I said, most of that's in the desert - and I loathe the desert. To each his own, though. I've driven from Orlando to Seattle - straight across to San Diego, and then up to Seattle. The drive west to California was underwhelming, to say the least. Particularly Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. But that's just me!

New Orleans is definitely worth visiting, been there a few times. The food is great, if nothing else.

 

[mr.thrifty]

I have some vacation comming up... if you will pay for me to fly to FL, my motel , food, gas and give me a ride up to Seattle .. I'll pick it up for you...

Oh, and don't forget the beer money....