Congratulations, you’ve received a big promotion and you’re about to move your family across the country to Texas. You’re probably shopping around for a relocation service that will ship your belongings safely to your new home. Do you own a second or third car? Do you have a motorcycle or boat? Do you really want to drive your classic sports car all that way? Maybe a car shipping company is something you ought to consider. You’ll save time and money by choosing a service capable of handling your Texas auto transport requirement. You won’t need to hire a driver or ask a friend or family member to lend a hand. Do a little research and look for the preferred alternative: car shipping. You’ll have a couple of different choices. Some companies ship overland by train other ship by common carrier using a truck and trailer combination. Shipping by train may save you money but you’ll be forced to pick up the vehicle at a train terminal closest to your destination. Trucking affords you the luxury of direct delivery to your new home. This can be even more important if you’re shipping multiple vehicles.

You’re probably wondering how much this will all cost. Well, it depends on the method, but plan on spending between $1000 and $1500 for a coast to coast move. A colleague recently spent just over $1,200 transporting his antique hot rod. He used a well known trucking company to handle his Florida car shipping request. When picking a service make certain that they’re insured, are highly experienced and come with a list of good references. Your local car club or AAA organization will be able to provide you with a list of candidates.

Verify that you’re completely insured for the move. It’s a good idea to obtain proof of insurance from the company and a better idea to follow up with your insurance agent just to ensure that they’ll be no surprises if something unforeseen happens. Ensure that the service you’ve chosen is going to handle your car carefully. Ask them how they’ll transport it. Whether it will be moved in a covered container or will it be exposed to the elements. You can request that your car is to be covered; but keep in mind that many states prohibit this.

Lastly read and understand your shipping contract. It should clearly spell out the car shipping company’s responsibilities and your responsibilities. Make sure that you understand any penalties you might incur if you’re unable to pick up your vehicle within the prescribed time frames. Paying attention to a few critical details will guarantee a successful, affordable move.