Everything That Can Go Wrong When Someone Drives Your Car Across the Country

Driving your car across the country may seem like the cheapest and easiest way to get it there, but that doesn’t mean it's the best option. At first glance, road trips can be a lot of fun, but they can also be dangerous and expensive. While it may seem easy enough to drive several hours each day, stop for dinner, and grab a hotel for the night, driving across the country is much riskier and more strenuous than one might expect. There are many things that you should consider before embarking on a cross country drive. Here are some of the most common challenges you might encounter while driving across the country. 

Driver Fatigue

Driving requires your utmost attention and a well-rested brain. For someone who isn’t used to driving long distances, you might not realize how tiring a long-distance drive can actually be and this puts you at a greater risk of having an accident. Road conditions, weather, and the stress associated with driving can all make you drowsy. Even if you’ve had a good night’s sleep you can still fall into a trance-like state when driving for long stretches on the road. 

Getting Lost

While navigation is as easy as speaking into your phone these days, that doesn’t mean it is always accurate. Even today, there are times when your technology can fail you. If your drive through a dead zone with little to no reception or your phone battery dies, you are out of luck. Not to mention, new roads, detours, and construction may not always be detected on your navigation system. While technological advances have certainly made traveling easier, you still run the risk of getting lost, missing an exit, or making a wrong turn when you are traveling across the country. 

Car Trouble

It’s everyone’s worst nightmare when they are traveling but car trouble is inevitable from time to time. You never know when you might get a flat tire, your check engine light comes on, or your battery dies while you stop for lunch. Having car trouble when you are in another city or on a highway road can present a number of challenges and it’s a headache no one wants to deal with. 

Speeding Tickets

When you have been driving for hours on end you are bound to get antsy to get to your destination. This may cause you to speed up a bit more. In some cases, you might not even realize you are speeding because it's easy to daydream and miss speed limit signs along the highway. Whatever the reason, getting a speeding ticket in another state can be a costly mistake and a huge inconvenience.

Hotels are Booked

You may think you can just drive along and stop for the night when you get tired, but there’s no guarantee that you will find a hotel close by with vacancies. The last thing you want is to be exhausted from driving all day only to find that every hotel you stop at is booked for the night. 

Bad Weather

No matter what time of year you are traveling, there is always a risk of dealing with bad weather. Whether it’s ice and snow in the winter, heavy rain, or even strong winds, driving in bad weather can be both treacherous and exhausting. 

Traffic Jams

Just like you can’t predict the weather, you can’t predict when you might get caught in a traffic jam. Whether it’s caused by an accident, construction, or some other issue, traffic jams can be extremely frustrating. Not only can they make for a much longer day, but they can also present significant challenges if you start experiencing car trouble or you are in need of gas. 

With so many possibilities of things that can go wrong, it’s a much safer option to have your car shipped with a trusted and reliable car shipping company. In addition to the stress, dangers, and exhaustion of driving across the country, you also have to consider the expenses associated with gas, food, lodging, and car maintenance. In many cases, it can cost almost as much to drive yourself as it would to have your car shipped. If you are in a situation where you need to transport your car across the country, consider the advantages of auto shipping. Not only does it prevent you from putting miles and wear and tear on your vehicle, but it can be the safest option for you as well.