On a long-distance move, your car presents a choice: drive it across the country yourself, or have it shipped. For a short hop, driving makes sense. For a move from the LA westside to Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, or beyond, vehicle transport is often the smarter call. Here is how to decide, and how to prepare your car if you ship it.
Ship or drive
Driving puts hundreds or thousands of miles on your car, adds wear, costs you fuel and hotel nights, and eats days you may not have during a move. Shipping the vehicle frees you to fly or to focus on getting the rest of the household relocated. The longer the distance and the more vehicles you have, the more shipping makes sense. If you are coordinating a long-distance move with a full household, taking the car off your plate can be a real relief.
How to prepare your vehicle for transport
A little prep protects your car and makes the handoff clean:
- Wash the car first so existing scratches and dents are visible and documented.
- Photograph the vehicle from every angle before pickup, with timestamps.
- Remove personal items and anything loose from the interior.
- Leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel, no more, since a full tank adds weight.
- Note any mechanical issues, leaks, or quirks for the transporter.
- Disable or remove toll tags and parking passes.
- Check tire pressure and make sure the battery is charged.
How your car is kept safe in transit
A professional transporter secures the vehicle properly and documents its condition at pickup and delivery. You and the driver complete a condition report at both ends, which is your record that the car arrived as it left. Keep your pickup photos as backup. A reputable service walks you through this process rather than rushing it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving valuables in the car, which are not covered like your household goods.
- Skipping the pre-pickup photos, which are your best protection.
- Not reading the condition report before signing at delivery.
- Booking with the cheapest broker without checking who actually carries the vehicle.
Plan it into the move
The smoothest approach is to coordinate the vehicle with the rest of your relocation so the timing lines up: the car arrives around when you do, not weeks early or late. Talk through the schedule with your mover so the household goods and the vehicle work together rather than against each other.
Moving Pro Inc is a family-run, fully licensed mover in Venice, CA with a 4.9-star rating across 149 reviews, running long-distance lanes to Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. Contact us to coordinate your move and vehicle together.