While auto shipping is often the best option for cross-country or international moves, there are some cases in which driving or selling your car makes the most sense. This is especially true if you’re in a tight spot for money, as shipping is expensive, more so if you incur in penalties or extras because you need to store your car or need additional services, like special warranties or expedite shipping.

Other reasons NOT to use vehicle transport options include:

• Knowing you’re going to need the car as soon as you move. If you’re moving next week but the earliest you can have your car shipped is three weeks from now, you may want to reconsider shipping. This is true especially if public transportation is not easily accessible at your destination.
• It makes more sense to sell and then buy another car once you settle in. This could be because money is tight, because your car is old and its value is close to null or just because you’re ready for something different.
• Because your car won’t be useful where you’re going. A Hummer may make sense in the wilderness, but it will probably be cumbersome to drive in the streets of L.A.
• Because owning a car will be more problematic than useful where you’re going. NYC is a great example of a city where you don’t need a car, as public transportation is top.

Understand whether you actually need to ship your car or not will make a huge difference in the long term.