Many people are a little nervous about the idea of shipping their car. However, over 150,000 vehicles are shipped each month (not including new cars shipped to dealerships), and the vast majority of cars are shipped without incident. So, the question to ask is what are the other alternatives?
While driving your own vehicle is definitely a viable option. Depending on how far you are going and your time frame, it could also be the less safe option. If you have plenty to time to get to your destination, driving your car could be a fun experience. If you try to drive across the country in 3-4 days, fatigue can easily set in and greatly increase the likelihood of an accident. In that situation, shipping your car is probably the safer option for both you and your car.
There are also a lot of hidden costs in driving your car yourself, including lost days of work, hotels, food, and fuel. For more on the benefits and costs of driving your car, see our post: Is it cheaper to ship or drive my car?
If you are not going to ship your car and you are not going to drive it to your destination, then your other option is to sell it. For a car that is worth a few thousand dollars or less, that can make sense. However, you will also have to deal with the hassle of selling your car and then finding a new one at your destination.
In addition, there are costs associated with selling and buying a car, including dealer margins, registration, and state sales tax. So, if you are planning to get a new car soon anyhow, this may be a good option. For most others, it is unlikely to be worth the hassle.
After considering the alternatives, shipping your car may be more appealing. In addition, keep in mind that your car is being transported by a professional auto transporter. These people are in the business of shipping vehicles and would not stay in business very long if they did not deliver the vast majority of vehicles without any problems. The important thing to do is find a reputable car shipping company when preparing to ship your car.