1. Distance. The longer your vehicle has to travel to its destination, the more expensive the shipping will be. Traveling cross-country usually costs more than traveling up or down the coast because the chances of running into highway delays or weather problems is higher.

2. Type of car. This includes not only the size and weight (a major consideration) but also the model, as new cars or collectibles will require more care than older cars. The larger the car, the more expensive to ship, since it will be taking additional space that could be occupied by other vehicles in the truck.

3. Condition. Running cars will be cheaper to ship than those with no engine that need to be pushed into the carrier truck.

When it comes to shipping your car, you may want to consider price and delivery times before you make a final decision. Sometimes, and depending on a wide variety of factors, it may be better to sell the car and then get a new one once the move is complete.

Should you sell? YES if:

• you can sell quickly and without losing money

• you don’t need a car to get around and can do well with just using public transportation

• the cost of shipping is higher than the cost of the vehicle

• you will need a different vehicle where you’re moving (like a 4×4 if you’re moving from the city to the countryside)

Should you ship? YES if:

• you have a collectible or one-of-a-kind vehicle

• you have a leased vehicle

• your can’t do without a vehicle because there’s no public transportation in the area where you live or you’re moving to

When you’re booking delivery and transportation of your vehicle, you most likely will be given a quote that includes an estimated time of delivery. In most cases, the times can be quite diverse, such as “Estimated time of delivery: 3 days to 3 weeks.” No company can promise a specific delivery time, although some may give you a smaller time window, especially if you’re shipping locally.

So what exactly causes delays in delivery? Here are a few examples:

• Bad weather. Especially if your car is being delivered across the country, the chances of the truck getting caught in a snowstorm, heavy rainfall or icy road conditions are rather high.

• Trouble delivering other cars. Since you’re sharing the truck with many other vehicles, chances are at least one of the homeowners won’t be home at the time of delivery. If that’s the case, trucks will either stick around for a while to attempt a second delivery, or get off course to deliver the car to an alternate holding location.

• Highway problems. From road construction to accidents, detours and heavy traffic, anything that delays the truck will impact delivery times.

• Distance. The longer the distance between point of departure and destination, the more chances a delay may occur.

Winter can be especially damaging to cars that are kept outdoors 24/7. While paying for an indoor space may not be an option, there are still things you can do to keep your car in the best possible shape.

1. As a first step, keep your car as clean as possible. This means getting rid of mud and ice that accumulates everywhere, but especially in the undercarriage. Salt is particularly damaging to parked cars and will cause rust if not cleaned.
2. Keep anti-freeze at hand (but away from kids and pets) to prevent the cooling system from freezing off, which can lead to serious and permanent damage to the structure of the car.
3. Ask your car dealer or local garage about protective waxing. It will not only keep the paint in great condition but also protect the car’s body from rusting.

If you’re trying to decide whether you should lease or buy, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Leasing is simpler financially. You will have an easier time getting a credit approved for it, even if your credit score is not that great. You probably won’t need any money down (or a very small payment) and the monthly payments will be much smaller than you would pay if you were buying.
• Leasing takes away a lot of the headaches. You use the car for 2-3 years and then turn it in for a newer model. Most repairs will be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty during that period, so you don’t have to worry about expenses either.
• Buying, on the other hand, means that you have something to show for your money. When leasing, you’re actually renting the car for use, but it’s never yours. Once you buy a car, however, you can do whatever you want with it: sell it, customize it, or hold on to it. If you plan on driving the same car for over five years, buying it is probably a better option, as it will pay for itself over time.