Shipping Your Family Car When You Move

Three days in a car with kids, a dog and a trailer of boxes is a rite of passage nobody needs. Plenty of families fly instead and ship the car. Here’s how to make that work: when to book, how to time it with the movers and the school year, and how to have the minivan ready on day one.

Why Families Ship Instead of Drive

• Time. A cross-country drive with kids can take a week once you add the stops. A flight takes a day.
• The second car. Two adults, two cars, and someone has to drive the other one, or ship it.
• The start date. A new job or the first day of school doesn’t move for a road trip.

Timing It With the Move

Book the car once your moving dates are set, ideally two to four weeks ahead, and earlier in summer, when most families move. A common plan: the car is picked up a few days before you fly, travels while the movers do, and arrives soon after you land. Rent a car for the gap, and make sure someone can receive the car at the new address, even if your furniture isn’t there yet.

What Stays in the Car

Carriers aren’t licensed to move household goods, and belongings in the car generally aren’t covered by insurance. Take out the toys, strollers, chargers, sunglasses, garage door openers and everything in the seat pockets. If you want to leave installed car seats in place, tell us when you book.

Two Cars, One Trip

If both cars are going to the same place, one carrier can often take them together. That means one pickup, one delivery and one set of paperwork. Tell us about both cars when you ask for a quote.

The Teenager’s Car

Moving and sending a student to college in the same year? A car can ship straight to campus, or home for the summer. See student car shipping, and ask about our student discount; proof of enrollment is required.

Military Families

On orders? Have your report date and both addresses handy when you call. See military car shipping and our military discount; proof of service is required.

Your First Week

When the car arrives, inspect it before you sign. Then start on the new state’s list: registration, insurance and a driver’s license each have their own deadline. Our state-to-state paperwork guide walks through it.

Questions