How Can I Ship My Belongings to Another State – Professional Hacks for a Stress-Free Move

January 3, 2023Car Shipping Essentials
Milly Andrews

Born and raised in Portland, Milly has had a lot of experience moving and writing about the relocation process.

Organizing a move can be a grueling experience, but with the right expertise and tips, it doesn’t have to be. So, how can I ship my belongings to another state without a fuss, you ask? With our ingenious hacks, there is no need to worry about transporting your goods cross-country. Keep reading to find out successful methods on how to best ship your possessions so you can start off your new journey without a worry on your mind!

First of all, you need to decide what kind of move you’re having. For exceptionally small moves, you can ship your items via train, bus, or delivery services or choose air travel. However, if you plan to relocate your entire household, you would need to rent a truck or, even better, hire professional movers. Before you start packing, calculate a budget so you know which services you can afford and where you need to reduce relocation costs.

Consider the Type of Your Upcoming Move

Depending on the type of relocation you intend to organize, there will be different possibilities for shipping your belongings. For instance, note that relocating into a college dorm will almost always imply fewer items to transport compared to a move to a new home with your whole family. Identifying the type of relocation you’re planning can and will help you select the best mode of transportation.

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Transportation Options for Small Moves

The smaller the transfer, the simpler it is to ship the stuff to another state. You can organize your move more quickly and easily if you plan to bring only your relocation essentials. If that’s the case, here are some shipping options to choose from:

  • Train – it’s a good option if you have only a few packages to transport to your new home. However, keep in mind that you can’t send more than 500 lbs daily and that boxes cannot be bigger than 3x3x3 feet.
  • Bus – some bus companies allow people to send packages this way. However, before you opt for this kind of shipping, make sure you learn all about any limitations concerning the weight or dimensions of your package.
  • Pickup and delivery services – transporting your goods with UPS, USPS, or FedEx is a costlier solution even when you have very little stuff to move. However, this way, you can rest assured that your items will arrive damage-free at your new location – or you can file a claim.

Although some of the methods we just mentioned may be the cheapest way to ship boxes to another state, keep in mind that neither of these represents the safest shipping option. In fact, these are only a few of the possibilities available to you if you only intend to move a few packages and nothing exceptionally valuable. Important documents, fragile items, or sentimental and costly objects should not be part of these packages.

Renting a Relocation Truck – A Good Solution for More Complex Moves

How to ship furniture to another state? Those who need to transport a lot more goods than boxes often choose to do so with the help of relocation trucks. The size and type of truck you choose will depend on how much stuff you have and how far you are going.

So, which size relocation truck do you need? Generally speaking, if you are shipping just one or two bedrooms’ worth of items, you should opt for a 10 ft or 16 ft truck. These smaller vehicle sizes offer better fuel efficiency and maneuverability than larger trucks, making long-distance trips easier.

If you have more than three bedrooms’ worth of items, then you’ll want to go for either the 24 ft or 26 ft trucks. These larger trucks provide enough space for all your possessions and don’t require multiple trips. That being said, keep in mind that this transportation method requires a lot of your time and energy since you’ll still have to pack everything yourself.

A white truck of a car shipping company
Make sure you get a truck big enough to fit everything

Air Travel Is Another Transportation Option You Have

If you choose to move your belongings via air freight, know that you’ll be able to transfer almost anything, from vehicles to large equipment. It’s also one of the fastest ways to ship your things across the country – but also the costliest one. You’ll be able to track your shipment easily, and rest assured it is safe since cases of theft and harm are not likely to occur.

Hiring Reliable Movers Is Your Safest Bet

Hiring professional movers offers several advantages compared to doing the move yourself. For starters, professional movers have the necessary experience and expertise in packing, loading, and transporting items. This makes them better equipped to pack fragile items or handle bulky goods that require special care during transport.

When getting cross-country moving services, it’s important to do some research beforehand. Start by checking online reviews from other customers who have hired the company before – this will give you an idea of what kind of service you can expect from them. Additionally, ask them questions about their policies and procedures, so you know exactly what is included in their services before signing any contracts or making commitments with them. Finally, make sure they are licensed and insured. In case anything goes wrong during the move, this will protect both parties involved.

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How Can I Ship My Belongings to Another State? Don’t Forget About Your Car

Another thing to consider when relocating to a new state is how you’ll relocate your vehicle. You have two options – drive it yourself or have it shipped. Most people opt for the latter because driving a car across the country is not only expensive but also time-consuming and unsafe. Shipping a car cross-country is usually done through a USA auto transport company, which will pick up your vehicle and deliver it to your new destination.

When looking for an auto transport company that specializes in shipping vehicles, make sure that you research each one thoroughly before deciding – similar to relocation companies. This will help ensure that your vehicle is shipped safely and securely without any issues along the way. Additionally, read customer auto transport reviews so that you know what kind of experience other customers had with a particular car shipping company before making a decision.

moving truck with open trailer
Getting help from a shipping company is the best option when it comes to relocating your vehicle

What Costs Should You Expect When Shipping a Vehicle?

If you’re interested in shipping cars in the USA, know that the cost of this service depends on several factors, but the most important ones are:

  • The chosen type of transport – you can choose a more affordable open trailer car shipping option or select a safer but costlier enclosed auto transport,
  • Distance traveled – the further you need to go, the higher the price will be,
  • Time of the year – companies tend to charge more during the peak of relocation season.

Additionally, you’ll be able to pick between door-to-door auto transport and terminal-to-terminal car shipping. The first service is more expensive but also more convenient, which is why it’s usually an option many people go with.

An enclosed auto transport trailer driving cars across the country
The cost of auto transport services depends on the level of safety and convenience you wish to achieve

Calculate the Budget You’ll Have for the Move

The cost of transporting your belongings across the country can add up quickly. Therefore, your first step should be calculating the amount of money you have at your disposal and planning the move according to it. In most cases, it will help you decide which shipping option is a better choice for your current financial situation. There are a lot of different expenses you need to keep in mind when calculating a relocation budget. Consider the following:

Transportation costs

If you plan to move to a new state on your own, you must factor in the price of gas, lodging for long trips, and food for yourself (and your family if you’re not relocating to a new city alone). If you plan on hiring movers, on the other hand, you’ll need to set aside money for the long-distance moving services they will provide.

Living expenses

When it comes time to settle into your new home, there will be a variety of living expenses that need to be taken care of, such as rent or mortgage payments, electricity bills, and other utilities like water and internet. It’s essential that you budget accordingly so that these bills don’t become overwhelming right away. You don’t wish to move to a new city across the country only to realize you can’t really afford it.

Miscellaneous expenses

In addition to transportation and living expenses, there are also miscellaneous costs associated with moving, such as buying boxes and other packing materials or purchasing furniture for your new place if needed. At the same time, remember that you should also have some money set aside for emergencies.

Find a Way to Reduce Your Relocation Costs

There are many exceptional relocation tips that can help you save on relocation costs and allow you to move efficiently without breaking the bank. For example, remember that it pays to shop around when it comes to finding the best deal on relocating services. Therefore, make sure you get several quotes and compare prices between different companies before making a decision. Also, always ask about discounts or promotions that may be available – you never know what kind of deals you could find!

It may sound obvious, but don’t pack items that you don’t need or won’t use in your new home. Downsizing for a move won’t only save you money on the cost of packing supplies, but it will also reduce the amount of space needed for shipping your items and thus lower the overall cost of relocating them. At the same time, when packing up your items for relocation, make sure to gather pre-used materials like boxes, bubble wrap, or packing paper. You can also find places where you can find cheap or free supplies, such as Freecycle and other similar websites, but also local stores, friends’ houses, and so on.

Of course, if you wish to save up before the big move, it would be wise to make some changes in your lifestyle as well. If you don’t know where to start, check some budgeting hacks from the video below that can be useful for your relocation day preparation:

YouTube video

Hire Relocation Experts, and Relocate to a New Home Worry-Free

Moving to a new home is an exciting time, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. Hiring a reliable and experienced relocation expert can take a lot of the stress out of the process, no matter what kind of move you have in mind. With their help, you can focus on getting settled into your new home and enjoying all that your new community has to offer. If you’re thinking about relocating soon, reach out to a team of experts as soon as possible – and that will ensure you start your new chapter on the right foot.

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