Shipping a Car vs Towing a Car

When you think about getting your vehicle from one location to the next, what comes to mind? The two most common and popular options for transporting your vehicle are shipping and towing. Sure, there is always the option of driving your vehicle yourself, but this is not always very economical, feasible, or even very safe. Plus, cross-country drives can be exhausting, not to mention the undue wear and tear, and excess in mileage it can put on your vehicle! 

For ease, way less stress, and increased safety, opt to have your vehicle transported instead for you! As mentioned,  the most common transport options are towing and shipping. You might be wondering, what is the difference? They do sound pretty similar, but the fact of the matter is that there are a few major differences between them. 

Read on to discover the key differences between towing and shipping to help you determine which option is most suited to your specific requirements. 

Tow Trucks: Details and Pros and Cons  

Let’s begin with opting for a tow truck. We know what you’re thinking: aren’t tow trucks only used in emergencies when a vehicle breaks down? Or, aren’t they only used when someone has parked illegally and needs to be moved?! Sure, this is all true, but they can also support transporting vehicles. Multifaceted, we know. 

If we’re being honest,  a tow truck truly only makes sense if you are taking your vehicle a short distance. And we mean short, as in a cross-town move. If that sounds like your situation, you can get a pretty decent bang for your buck in choosing a towing service.

There are some pros to using a tow truck for short-distance moves. The driver that will be taking care of your vehicle is often highly skilled with the necessary knowledge in handling a wide variety of vehicles, so you can feel pretty confident that your precious vehicle will be in good hands. Secondly, towing services are pretty much available around the clock. This availability is very convenient if you are working with a last-minute schedule or need to get your vehicle shipped there and now. When you opt for towing, it is often pretty budget-friendly and affordable. 

Let’s look at the other side of the coin. Depending on the towing company you work with, some will have flatbed trailers to protect your vehicle, meaning it will be completely lifted off the road, keeping the vehicle very safe and protected. However, flatbeds are not guaranteed and many towing companies only offer towing via a tow dolly. This method is when the dolly is attached to the tow truck, lifting just the two front wheels off of the road, with the two rear wheels (assuming it is a car being towed), remaining on the ground. A dolly can tow most front-wheel drive vehicles, and a few other types of vehicles, but there are strict weight restrictions on heavier vehicles that cannot be towed via this method. Since the tow dolly works by leaving two wheels on the road, towing for long distances will leave the tires with frustrating wear and tear. 

Furthermore, if your vehicle is low to the ground or has a long front, it’s possible for there to be some clearance issues when using a dolly, which can leave body kits, bumpers, and undercarriage elements dragging on the ground, which is no good. The vehicle will also be 100% exposed to all weather elements during the journey, as nothing is covering the vehicle during transport. 

Another con is the time frame. Due to safety measures, towing trucks must travel very slowly and steadily, which can leave you waiting. Plus, this burns more gas, which takes us to our next point: cost. Towing trucks is a double-edged sword because they not only pay by the mile, but many companies operate by paying their driver by the trip, which causes the drivers to rush so that they can do more trips, which ultimately, can lead to accidents and undue damage to your vehicle. This can lead to your budget going through the roof! 

If you are on a very tight budget and are only going a short distance, you could always bypass the towing company and rent or buy a tow dolly and do it all yourself. 

While you’ll save some money, it’s not all roses, as there are still considerations. The main one is if you have a vehicle that is even compatible with towing a dolly! If you do, that is easier, but don’t forget that pulling a heavy trailer is strenuous on your engine. This doesn’t mean it will cause immediate issues for your vehicle but it may do so over time. 

If you don’t have a compatible vehicle, you would need to rent a suitable vehicle, which comes at a cost.  Some companies that rent dollys have strict regulations that state the vehicle pulling the dolly have be provided by them. If going a significant distance, you will also need to budget for fuel, food and possibly even lodging!

As mentioned, driving with a dolly comes with safety precautions you need to be mindful of to avoid fishtailing and you will need to maintain a low speed, which overall lowers your gas mileage, tacking on your gas bill. You will need to make sure that everything is properly secured, as anything that is not securely fastened is a huge hazard and safety breach! Adequately planning is integral to success. To prevent navigation issues and bad weather, it’s good practice to know your exact towing path ahead of time. 

If you feel confident and have the equipment, you may enjoy the freedom of just setting up your dolly and hitting the road.  

Shipping: Details and Pros and Cons  

People use vehicle shipment companies for many reasons, from moving to another state or relocating internationally, to purchasing or selling a vehicle. If you are shipping your vehicle anywhere that is outside a short radius, your best and safest bet is shipping! 

There are multiple reasons why shipping with a reputable company is a good idea. You won’t have to waste time sorting out the details or spend hours on the phone making sure your shipment is good to go. Instead, you just fill out a quote, and boom, you wait for your pickup slot, hand off the vehicle, and that is it. The driver and company will take care of everything else. Shipping carriers specialize in shipping vehicles from point A to point B. When you work with a reputable company, you can wave your vehicle off with a sense of ease knowing that your vehicle will be in safe hands until you reunite with it after the journey. 

Another key reason shipping is so great is for the options you are provided. There are multiple methods of shipping, so you can opt for the method that makes sense to your personal requirements. 

You can pick between: 

1. Enclosed transportation

When you select enclosed transportation, your vehicle will be carefully loaded into a fully protected covered trailer, meaning that your vehicle will be completely shielded from any possible harm including changing weather such as snow, rain, sleet, wind, or dramatic temperature changes. With enclosed transportation, your vehicle will be shipped alone or with only a few other vehicles, meaning the delivery time is easier to predict. Due to the safety and protection provided by enclosed shipments, it’s a wise choice if your vehicle has a higher price tag. 

2. Open transportation 

Open transportation is another option whereby your vehicle will be transported on a trailer that is open on all sides. Companies will offer a wide range of open trailers in various sizes and styles, to cater to your vehicle’s specific sizing. Open transport is a great option and it is easier on the wallet when comparing it to enclosed. One thing to be mindful of with open transportation is that you should be prepared for a car wash at the end of the journey, as it will likely pick up some dust and mud along the way. 

3. Roll-on Roll-off,  “RoRo shipping”

When going a little further afield, you will need to look into shipping over bodies of water. Enter RoRo! With roll-on and roll-off shipping, your vehicle will be driven onto a cargo ship at port, not lifted by a crane. Your vehicle will be taken directly onto the large vessel and secured on the ship inside the vessel, which are both wind and watertight. RoRo shipping is suitable for many vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, 4×4’s, motorhomes, and trucks.  

4. Closed container shipping

A closed container is very similar to enclosed shipping, just aboard a vessel. Your vehicle will be loaded into the container, typically via cranes or other forms of specialized equipment to keep it secure.  The containers are huge, starting at around 20 feet and 40 feet, and going up from there, so they can handle all types of vehicles, especially those considered overweight or oversized. 

5. Air-freight shipping 

Finally, there’s air-freight shipping! This method of shipping is when your vehicle gets loaded onto either a chartered or commercial plane. This option is suitable for express shipping, as it’s the fastest method of getting your vehicle to your final destination. 

What about the cons? Sure, there are a few challenges with shipping. Namely, timing! The majority of companies will never ship just one singular vehicle. This means that as there will likely be more than one vehicle on the carrier’s truck, it will need to make multiple stops along its way to you, which means it can take a longer time to get to you. 

Which Option Should I Pick? 

Ultimately,  this comes down to your needs and what you feel is best for your situation. Many significant factors determine what transportation option is the best for you! 

Car shipping wins for many reasons such as great value for money, ideal for shipments going a significant distance, removing stress , and having options between methods of shipping, so you can feel confident in what you pick. 

For both options, you will have to consider factors that are completely out of anyone’s control, including: 

• Driving breaks for drivers to eat, rest, sleep, use the restroom, and other necessities.  
• Dense, bottle-necked traffic.  
• Road construction. 
• Road closures. 
• Adverse, poor weather.  

A major consideration is what exactly you are shipping!  Towing companies, unless they have a flatbed, are pretty limited in what they can ship. 

Oppositely, shipping opens the doors to all sorts of vehicles including RVs, boats, UTVs, golf carts, and ATVs.   If you are shipping a vehicle that is brand-new, an antique, a collectible car, or just one that is dear to you,  you will likely wish to opt for shipping, specifically enclosed trailers to ensure everything is secure and safe. 

Some companies, including us at ShipLux, even offer door-to-door shipping which is a huge perk. This does vary depending on the final destination, but for the majority of shipping routes, a driver from our qualified and friendly team will come to your door, meet you (or your designated hand off person) to grab the keys, and whisk your vehicle away. You won’t need to worry about the vehicle until it gets delivered to your door! This door-to-door service is a huge time saver and is key in removing your stress from the process.

Conclusion

Determining whether to tow or ship your vehicle involves factoring in quite a few variables. Still, your ultimate desire in moving your vehicle should be smooth and stress-free as possible, so be sure to weigh out all of the pros and cons based on your exact needs. If you are still unsure, why not contact a few companies to discuss options? Our stellar customer service is standing by ready to answer any questions that you may have!