Learn Me: Moving across the country and shipping cars???

I have come to the hive seeking your expertise. In March my family and I will be moving from Long Beach, CA to Mooresville, NC.

I am looking to learn about moving all of our crap (2-bedroom apt) and 4 cars clear across the country. We are planning (as of now) to keep most of our furniture and our fridge and small coffin freezer.

I have a house moving quote around $7500 from City Moving; and multiple uShip quotes for the cars from $2500-3000.

What companies should I be looking to do business with and whom should I be avoiding?

Thanks in advance!

Uship is usually going to be the cheapest.

Shipping 4 cars will definitely involve a semi truck and the distance you're going, that price is definitely in the range.

Don't know who to warn you about. They are usually independent contractors or owner/operators, so that may be a little harder to find out.

I second the Uship for the cars, I love using them. As for the movers for your stuff, don't know much there. We moved from PA to GA, but we rented U-Hauls and drove. We hired movers to load and unload for us, but we did the actual transport.

Two bedroom apartment, four cars. You'll fit in great around here.

Klayfish wrote: I second the Uship for the cars, I love using them. As for the movers for your stuff, don't know much there. We moved from PA to GA, but we rented U-Hauls and drove. We hired movers to load and unload for us, but we did the actual transport. Two bedroom apartment, four cars. You'll fit in great around here.

Haha, yea. Mooresville should be my kind of place.

Whom have you guys used on uShip for vehicles? Montway is one of the higher quotes, but they are #1 for a reason I would suppose?

Buy a barely running Ford Van.

Adding one more vehicle to the semi will likely not cost you more.

Stuff the cars and the van with all you can. Sell everything else and buy new/used on the other side from the saved $7k.

Unload the van for exactly the price you paid for it when no longer needed.

Nessumsar wrote:

Klayfish wrote: I second the Uship for the cars, I love using them. As for the movers for your stuff, don't know much there. We moved from PA to GA, but we rented U-Hauls and drove. We hired movers to load and unload for us, but we did the actual transport. Two bedroom apartment, four cars. You'll fit in great around here.

Haha, yea. Mooresville should be my kind of place. Whom have you guys used on uShip for vehicles? Montway is one of the higher quotes, but they are #1 for a reason I would suppose?

I've used Montway and had very good results with them. Otherwise, I've put the vehicle up for a shipping auction on Uship and went with the lowest bidder that had a decent number of positive reviews. Never gone wrong yet, and I've used them several times. In fact, just booked through them a few days ago and am waiting for them to pick a car up for me in IL. The company I went with this time is called Allegiant. So far, communication has been great. Let's see how quick they get my car.

The RX-3 is being shipped from SoCal to the Poconos as we speak via Door to Door Transport. I'll let you know how it was in a few days when I see how it arrives.

Open transport, no engine, & no brakes they wanted $995. Enclosed is $1400. Opted for enclosed as missing trim or broken glass on the car would eat up the difference quick. Generally, it's more expensive going west to east than the other way around.

In reply to John: That is a thought, I could stuff the Forester and Odyssey with a bunch of crap, but the Nova's won't hold too much. Hmm, the cheap van idea is interesting; hell I could buy a cheap trailer and have it drug across the country.

In reply to Klayfish: That is great to hear about Montway and looking forward to hearing about Allegiant.

In reply to The0retical: Hopefully the RX arrives in the same condition it left in. Door to Door was another one on my radar.

I have since gotten lower quotes on shipping the household items, this time around $4000. Still waiting to hear back from 3 or 4 companies on that front.

Excellent info guys, thanks!

Careful, most car shippers won't allow stuff inside the vehicles.

In reply to glueguy:

Here us an actual response from one of my previous Uship loads...

10/10/2016 Hello! we would like to assist with your transport.The best price we can give you is $739. Our bid includes all taxes,insurance door-to-door service and up to 100 lbs of items in the cargo area. There are no hidden fees! Carlos at allstate786

This 100# statement is pretty popular.

This was an early quote and this ultimately shipped for $425.

I realize that putting a freezer and more into a van is more than 100#s but if done right, he will be contracting an entire small car carrier or most of one. Through Uship he can speak directly to an independent carrier.

What about putting a car/cars in the moving van. I know two people who have had their extra car loaded on the moving van with the furniture. One from TX to MD and the other from MD to CA. Been several years ago and I have no idea of the cost.

glueguy wrote: Careful, most car shippers won't allow stuff inside the vehicles.

I believe there are federal regulations regarding what can be transported and how much.

I know drivers that refused cars because they were packed full of stuff and the owner would not empty it out.

Ideally the driver wants to have a full trailer, but if there is 2000-3000 lbs of personal belongings in vehicles then that is potentially one less vehicle that can be put in the trailer, so it's money out the drivers pocket.

It also additional aggravation for them to get the axle weights right if vehicles have a significant, but unknown, amount of weight added.

I would expect to pay more if you are going to attempt to go that route. Also, keep mind that the items in the transported vehicles will be subjected to more vibration, bouncing and g-loads. That may make be the difference between something making a safe trip in a moving truck or arriving damaged or inoperable.

Klayfish wrote:

Klayfish wrote: I second the Uship for the cars, I love using them. As for the movers for your stuff, don't know much there. We moved from PA to GA, but we rented U-Hauls and drove. We hired movers to load and unload for us, but we did the actual transport. Two bedroom apartment, four cars. You'll fit in great around here.

Klay, any update on Alegiant?

Update: My RX-3 Showed up on Wednesday. Door-To-Door subcontracted or dispatched to an outfit named Road Commander. The driver was was super cool about everything even with a last minute change of address so I could get the car under cover from the rain. He had a 50 Mercury on the truck with my car that had been chopped, bagged, and a bunch of other hotrod stuff done to it. Prior to that, there was a modified Ford GT and some Porches on the truck with my 3000 dollar station wagon. Pretty awesome and he claimed it wasn't the most worthless thing he ever transported, although I think he was sparing my feelings.

He was registered and insured as well so it wasn't some gypsy transport service. I'd ship with him again without hesitation.

Nessumsar wrote:

Klayfish wrote:

Klayfish wrote: I second the Uship for the cars, I love using them. As for the movers for your stuff, don't know much there. We moved from PA to GA, but we rented U-Hauls and drove. We hired movers to load and unload for us, but we did the actual transport. Two bedroom apartment, four cars. You'll fit in great around here.

Klay, any update on Alegiant?

Actually, I heard from them this afternoon. Car is being picked up today and delivered tomorrow.