If you’re moving across the country and have an older car that’s not worth much more than the cost to ship it, consider selling it and buying a new one once you’re settled. However, even older cars with a low resale value often have sentimental value — and this shouldn’t be discounted. If you inherited your grandmother’s cherished 1980s Oldsmobile, shelling out the extra money to keep it in the family may be worth it.
Also consider how much you rely on your car and how feasible it is to purchase a new one after the move. If you drive every day for work and cart kids to and from school and soccer practice, it’s probably worth it to ship the family car along with your household goods.
On the other hand, if you’re moving to a city with public transit and don’t have anyone depending on you to drive, you could consider keeping your current car.