Move Cross Country

If you're moving across a country, you have several options to choose from. You can fly and have your possessions shipped, you can drive your own vehicle and tow your possessions in a trailer, or you can rent a moving truck and tow your vehicle on a hitch. By doing some preliminary research, you can figure out which option is going to be the cheapest and the most enjoyable.

Steps

 * 1) Take an inventory of your possessions, particularly vehicles and furniture (heavy things that take up a lot of room). How much are they worth? And if it costs more to ship it than to buy a new one, are you willing to let it go?
 * 2) Take photographs to document everything of value. Be sure to get replacement cost only insurance. The other kind is literally based on paying pennies by weight, not value.
 * 3) [[Image:Cross_country_move3_175.jpg|thumb]]Research the cost of airfare. If you have any flexibility around your moving date, use the "flexible dates" or similar feature with online airfare sites to figure out when the cheapest flights are. While you're at it, look into how much baggage an airline allows you to bring along. In some cases, you can bring up to 100 lbs of luggage with you, and additional luggage can be checked at a reasonable price. This can be useful if, say, you want to bring your computer with you for fear the movers may ruin it. You can wrap a computer tightly in bubble wrap and pack in a suitcase as part of your luggage allowance.
 * 4) [[Image:Cross_country_move2_418.jpg|thumb]]Get quotes for trailers and moving trucks. If you rent a moving truck, how much will it cost to rent the size you need, and how many days and miles will that rate cover? If you have a vehicle, how much would it cost to pull the vehicle with a tow dolly? It might also be cheaper to do things the other way around: Drive your vehicle and tow a trailer. How much will that cost? When you consider gas consumption, it might be more fuel efficient, but you may have to pay to have a hitch installed on your vehicle. Plus, there are more dangers involved - see Warnings below.
 * 5) [[Image:Cross_country_move5_642.jpg|thumb]]Investigate moving companies. Find out how much it'd cost to hire a full-service moving company (this might be easier on your back and your possessions in terms of loading and unloading, see Warnings below). You can also look into "self move" services, which drop off a containing unit, let you load it at your leisure, and pick it up and transport it for you. Additionally, there are sites where you can describe your needs and people will make bids as to how much they'll charge to do it for you. As with the car shipping option, you want to ask how much it'll cost, how long it'll take, and how you're guarded against damages. It never hurts to ask around and find out which companies have the best reputations.
 * 6) Investigate the possibility of shipping Books can often weigh a personal vehicle down significantly and can be shipped through the USPS at 'media rate'. Another often ignored option is using the greyhound shipping service which offers a huge discount to students. Both options allow you to pick up your items as much as 2 weeks later which is useful if you don't know where you are moving to!
 * 7) Determine the reliability of your vehicle. Do you trust that you can drive it over two thousand miles without worrying about it breaking down on you? Does it need any major repairs before it can withstand such a trip? Most automobiles, reliable or not, should receive a major maintenance visit to the mechanic (with special attention to radiator, transmission, and brakes) before embarking on a cross-country trek. The cost of the maintenance could save thousands (literally) in emergency repairs, towing, etc.
 * 8) *If you're considering pulling a trailer, does your vehicle have enough horse power to pull it across the distance and landscape you're looking at?
 * 9) *Driving across a country often means driving across different elevations, climates and terrains. Can your vehicle make it up and down a few mountains? Are the brakes in good shape? Does it have a tendency to overheat? Do the air conditioner and the heat work?
 * 10) *Check the weather. Weather.com and similar websites can actually give you the weather of your travel route. Consider things like mountain passes, if possible avoid them or be prepared to put chains on your vehicle if the situation requires it. Map your destination online and don't leave home without a current Road Atlas. Decide if investing in a satellite navigation system for your car is within your budget.
 * 11) [[Image:Cross_country_move6_387.jpg|thumb]]Calculate the cost of driving your vehicle. Determine the fuel efficiency of the vehicle in question so that you can estimate how much the fuel will cost. Find out how many miles or kilometres your trip will cover, then divide that number by your MPG (miles per gallon) or km/l (kilometres per litre). That will tell you how much fuel you will need to cover the entire journey. Multiply that number by the current or expected price per gallon/price per litre to see how much money you'll be spending on gas through the whole trip.
 * 12) *Example: If your trip is 2,000 miles and your car gets 30 miles per gallon, then 2,000 miles / 30 miles = 66.5 gallons, approximately. If the price of fuel is at about $4 per gallon, the fuel will cost 66.5 gallons x $4 = $266.
 * 13) *Example: If your trip is 1,000 kilometres and your vehicle travels 15 kilometres per litre, then 1,000 km ÷ 15 km/l = 67 litres, approximately. If the price of fuel is at about €1 per litre, the fuel will cost 67 litres x €1 = €67.
 * 14) *Remember that the MPG or the km/l of your vehicle will be reduced if you'll be towing a trailer or adding considerable weight to the vehicle in any way.
 * 15) Shop around for vehicle shipping rates. There are companies that specialize in shipping vehicles across long distances. Make phone calls and ask the following questions:
 * 16) *How long will it take?
 * 17) *How much will it cost?
 * 18) *How am I guarded against damages to my vehicle?
 * 19) *What is this company's reputation? You can usually find reviews online.
 * 20) Make a realistic list of road trip costs, primarily food and lodging. How long will driving take? If you must stay in hotels or motels, how much will it cost you? How much will you spend on meals and snacks? Do you plan on sight-seeing on your way, perhaps tasting some wine, or visiting old friends?
 * 21) Evaluate your options. By now, you've done enough research to be able to put price tags on all of the potential moving scenarios. Now you must compare your options not only by cost, but also by other considerations, like enjoyability.
 * 22) *Drive vehicle, have possessions shipped. • Consider increased likelihood of damage to your possessions if they're in someone else's hands. • Driving the vehicle rather than shipping or towing it will mean more wear and tear on the vehicle. • Most conducive to sight-seeing.
 * 23) *Drive vehicle, tow trailer with possessions. • Consider decreased likelihood of damage to your possessions if they remain in your hands. • Driving the vehicle rather than shipping or towing it will mean more wear and tear on the vehicle. • Towing a heavy trailer will place additional strain on your vehicle, and you may need to have a hitch installed.
 * 24) *Drive rental truck with possessions, tow vehicle. • Consider decreased likelihood of damage to your possessions if they remain in your hands. • Less wear and tear on the vehicle.
 * 25) *Drive rental truck with possessions, ship vehicle. • Consider decreased likelihood of damage to your possessions if they remain in your hands. • Less wear and tear on the vehicle, but greater chance of vehicle being damaged or scratched. • Have a backup car at your destination in case the vehicle transportation takes longer than expected. • Can tow a trailer behind the rental truck for bringing additional possessions.
 * 26) *Fly to destination, have possessions and vehicle shipped. • Consider increased likelihood of damage to your possessions if they're in someone else's hands. • Less wear and tear on the vehicle, but greater chance of vehicle being damaged or scratched. • Easier but more expensive when children are involved. • Have a backup car at your destination in case the vehicle transportation takes longer than expected. • You might get to your destination before your possessions do. • Can bring some possessions on the plane.
 * 27) *Sell the car and other heavy items. Ship the rest. Fly to destination.. It may be cheaper or only slightly more expensive to sell car, and other item first and then buy newer items at the destination. Take into account of the cost of shipping these heavy items and buying newer items at destination. One gets to enjoy newer technology in the case of tv, computer, and car.
 * 28) Be creative. Consider options not listed here that are unique to your situation. Maybe a friend or relative is willing to drive your vehicle and possessions across the country for you, just for the experience; you can offer to pay for their gas, lodging and then some and it might still be cheaper than using a vehicle shipping service. Or, it could actually make sense for you to let go of all of your large possessions and travel by train or bus. The possibilities are endless. Consider what's best for you and your situation, and enjoy the ride!

Tips

 * [[Image:Cross_country_move4_179.jpg|thumb]]Always allow for unexpected changes: Detours, flight delays, flat tires, bad weather, and a host of other things can affect your plans. Don't make your schedule so tight that a little surprise will ruin your entire trip.
 * Moving can be hard on pets. Bringing an animal with you on the road might be better because they stay with you, but it can also be inconvenient and stressful for both you and the pet. Sending your pet on a plane by itself to the destination is faster and gets the traveling over with quickly, but it can be more stressful for the animal.
 * Moving expenses may be tax deductible; ask a trusted tax expert about it.
 * Consider the likelihood that if you are towing a trailer or hiring a large rental van, it may be stolen or broken into.
 * Consider the possibility of making two trips. You could take much of your possessions to the final location in one trip, then take a bus or a plane back to your original location and drive your vehicle to the new location with more if necessary.
 * If you decide to go with a moving company, make sure that you check their reliability first. You may want to consider specialist movers, for example: If you have a piano to move, you may want to consider hiring a piano moving company.

Warnings

 * Shipping companies keep your items until you pay extra fee found only in fine print at bottom of the contract. Read the contract!
 * Unless you are experienced with towing heavy loads, get advice on how you should drive your truck across the country. Winds can literally tear a trailer-towing car off the highway, and traction is minimal when the load behind the car exceeds the weight of the tow vehicle.
 * If you don't balance the load on the trailer properly or the weight of the trailer exceeds recommended towing capacity, your cross-country road trip may very well become a disaster, especially with the variables you will encounter.
 * If your health is poor, loading and unloading a moving truck or trailer on your own is probably not a good idea. Find reputable movers to do it for you.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Pack for a Move
 * How to Make Your Move Cheaper and Better
 * How to Move Heavy Furniture
 * How to Survive Moving
 * How to Tow a Trailer
 * How to Drive a Rental Truck when Moving Cross Country
 * How to Read a Contract
 * How to Negotiate
 * How to Plan