Moving a car long distance from New Jersey: towing vs car carrier
For a move of a few hundred miles or less, a dedicated flatbed that leaves the same day is often simpler than waiting for a slot on a multi-car carrier. For a cross-country move, a carrier usually makes more sense. Get one quoted number that covers the whole trip.
The short answer
For a move of a few hundred miles or less, a dedicated flatbed that leaves the same day is often simpler than waiting for a slot on a multi-car carrier. For a cross-country move, a carrier usually makes more sense. Get one quoted number that covers the whole trip.
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Call nowTwo ways to move a car
**A multi-car carrier** is the big truck that hauls several cars at once. It is efficient for long routes, because the cost is shared across the load. The tradeoff is timing: you usually wait for a slot, the pickup window can be broad, and the car may be loaded and unloaded more than once along the way.
**A dedicated flatbed** carries one vehicle from your door to the destination. It can usually leave when you need it to, and the car is handled once at each end. For shorter distances, and for cars that do not run, it is often the better tool. Our long distance towing works this way.
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Call nowCommon reasons to move a car from New Jersey
Taking a car to a shore house for the season. Delivering a car to a buyer or picking one up from a seller in a neighboring state. Moving a student's car to or from a college. Getting a non-running project car to a specialty shop. Moving a car after a relocation when you are flying, not driving. Moving a car that cannot legally be driven because of an expired registration or inspection.
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Call nowHow a long-distance tow is priced
You give two addresses and describe the vehicle. The dispatcher works out the route and quotes one number that covers the hook, the mileage, the tolls and the driver's return, so there is no surprise when the car arrives. The structure is the same flat hook fee plus a per-mile rate we use for every tow, with no night, weekend, holiday or fuel surcharge.
Ask any company you compare whether tolls and the return trip are included. Leaving them out makes a quote look smaller than the bill will be.
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Call nowPreparing the car
Remove valuables and loose items. Note the mileage and photograph the car on all sides before pickup. If the car runs, leave enough fuel to load and unload it. Tell the dispatcher if it is all-wheel-drive, electric, lowered or does not run, so the right equipment comes; long-distance moves should always be on a flatbed. Have the keys, and if someone else will receive the car at the destination, give the dispatcher their name and number.
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Call nowPaperwork, timing and non-running cars
Keep the registration and insurance card with you or give copies to the person receiving the car. If you are delivering a car to a buyer, decide in advance who signs the title and when, and whether the buyer pays you before or after delivery. If you are buying a car from a seller in another state, confirm the car is ready to release at the pickup time, that the title and keys will be there, and that someone will be present to hand them over.
Plan around traffic. A run out of central New Jersey in the early morning or late evening avoids the worst of the commuter hours on the main routes, and summer Fridays toward the shore are slow. If the destination has limited hours, such as a dealer or a storage facility, confirm them before booking.
A non-running car cannot be driven onto a multi-car carrier, and some carriers charge extra or decline it. A flatbed winches it on and off without fuss. If the car has been sitting, mention whether the tires hold air and whether the brakes are seized, so the driver can bring skates if needed.
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Call nowRiding along
After delivery, walk around the car with the driver and compare it with the photos you took at pickup. Check that the keys, the registration and any items you left inside arrived with it. Keep the receipt, which shows the pickup and delivery addresses and the price, especially if the car was moved for a sale or an insurance claim.
On many runs, one person can ride in the cab to the destination. Ask when you book so the driver can plan for it.
If nobody can ride along or meet the truck, arrange the handoff in advance. Some owners leave the keys with a neighbor at the pickup end and have a family member or the buyer sign for the car at the other. Tell the dispatcher who will be at each address and how to reach them, so the driver is not left waiting at a locked gate or an empty driveway with your car on the deck.
Call (908) 444-0129 with both addresses for a quote, or read our long distance towing guide for more detail.
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Call nowMore on towing rules & pricing
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- What happens to your car after a police-ordered tow in New Jersey
- Towed from private property in New Jersey: your rights
- Towing pricing red flags in New Jersey
- Local tow company vs national roadside network: who actually shows up?
- Tip #34: Choose the destination before the truck arrives: home, shop or dealer
- Tip #35: Ask the destination about storage charges before you pick it
- Tip #38: Always get an itemized receipt for a tow or roadside job
- All posts
Questions drivers ask about this
Short answers.
Is a flatbed or a car carrier better for a long move?
For a few hundred miles or less, a dedicated flatbed is often faster and simpler. For cross-country moves, a multi-car carrier usually makes more sense.
Are tolls included in a long-distance tow quote?
Ours are. The quote covers the hook, the mileage, the tolls and the driver's return. Ask other companies the same question.
Can you move a car that does not run?
Yes. It is winched onto the flatbed and delivered to the address you give.
Can I ride with my car?
On many runs, one person can ride in the cab. Ask when you book.
Ask the dispatcher anything.
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