Why does nobody talk about the $80 trailer hitch and gas math when shipping a car
So I used to just pay whatever the first auto transport broker quoted me, and that was a mistake I made three times before I figured it out. Back in March I moved my sister's Civic from Phoenix to Denver and the first quote was $950, which felt high but I didn't know any better. A buddy who flips cars told me to check if the car could ride on a trailer I already owned, and it turned out I have a hitch on my truck and a U-Haul car hauler was only about $80 plus gas. The whole trip cost me around $240 in fuel and fees, which is way under what the brokers wanted, but the catch is you need a vehicle that can tow and a weekend to burn. Now I only use a broker if the car isn't running or the distance is over 1,200 miles, and even then I ask for a flat quote with no fuel surcharge. Has anyone else done the math on towing your own car versus paying a shipper, and did the wear on your truck make it not worth it?