In some instances, if you have the time and are willing to make a road trip, it might be fun to journey across the US to pick up your car and drive it back home. But for most people, we just don’t have the time or patience for that.

A car trip that lasts 12 hours is on the edge of workable for most people, but it takes a special breed of person to enjoy 8-12 hours of driving each day for 4-5 days to cross the US from Los Angeles to New York City. Some “enthusiasts” have made that trip in less than 30 hours by driving in shifts, but we wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a lot easier to just have your car hauled by a professional.

There are also opportunity costs associated with taking yourself away from work or your vacation to make a long trip to get a car. If you own your own business, it’s worth the effort to do the math to see if you lose more money by not being available versus shipping your car. When considering vacation time, most people are limited to just a few weeks a year, if that, so spending all your time in a car before returning to work may not be appealing.

It’s also a good idea to consider the condition of the vehicle you’re buying before driving it a long distance. New cars shouldn’t have any problems, but it’s always possible something could be defective, requiring a long wait for repairs in the middle of nowhere.

Obviously, you need to be even more cautious when buying a used car. Depending on its condition, you may not be able to drive it long distances. There are a number of systems and components that need checked, such as the brakes, all the fluid levels, the battery’s reliability, the integrity of the vehicle’s frame and tire wear. If you’re not sure the car is ready for an extended trip, auto shipping makes the most sense.