Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Guadalajara to Seattle, Washington

It's usually cheaper to drive your car than to ship it, especially for shorter distances, but the cost difference shrinks with longer trips, and shipping can be better if you factor in time, wear-and-tear, potential breakdowns, or if your vehicle is in poor condition. Driving covers your personal travel costs (gas, hotels, food) plus added vehicle wear, while shipping involves paying a company for transport, with open trailers being cheaper than enclosed ones for more valuable cars, and inoperable vehicles costing more to ship.

The cheapest kind of international car shipping is a RORO vessel. This shipping method is often more affordable for shipping cars than containers or air freight. However, it also leaves your vehicle more susceptible to damage during transport to your final destination.

It's generally cheaper to ship a car by train for long distances, especially cross-country, due to lower costs per mile, but truck transport offers more flexibility (door-to-door) and speed, making it better for shorter trips or when convenience is a priority. Train shipping (like Amtrak's Auto Train) is very economical for specific long routes (e.g., DC to Orlando) but has fixed locations; trucks offer open or enclosed options with door-to-door service, but at a higher cost.