Try finding a quiet weekend in America’s motoring calendar. It’s not easy. Somewhere, a line of classics will be rolling into a local show, race cars will be heading for the track, or spotless customs will be waiting for the judges.

There are hundreds of small meetings, rallies, auctions, and club gatherings, while some events are enormous. The LA Show, for example, covers more than 1 million square feet, while a recent Houston show managed to squeeze 400 vehicles inside a baseball stadium. Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day celebration of classic cars. In August, it drew over one million spectators and 40,000 vintage vehicles to Woodward Avenue, Detroit.

The event scene is super busy in California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. But for many enthusiasts, distance can be an issue. If any of the shows are several states away, car shipping can get your vehicle there without a long highway drive and unwanted mileage.

What are the most common reasons to ship your car to or from an event?

● The vehicle is valuable, rare, or carefully restored

● The car was built for the track or showground and may not be registered, comfortable, or legal for road use

● You want to enter more than one vehicle into a show

● You’re buying or selling a car at an auction

● The event is too far from home for a practical or comfortable drive

The benefits of shipping a vehicle rather than driving

● No need to spend hours behind the wheel: Instead, you can fly to the event while your vehicle is transported separately.

● No unwanted odometer miles: When your car is on the trailer, there are no added miles.

● Less wear and tear: Tires, brakes, suspension, and other components aren’t affected.

● Show-ready on arrival: With enclosed auto transport, you are show-ready on arrival.

● More time at the event: You can arrive in good time for registration, setup, practice, and fit in some sightseeing if you like.

● Arrive refreshed: If you’re not driving for days, you arrive refreshed and ready to enjoy yourself.

What types of events might suit a car shipping service?

● Classic-car shows and concours

● Custom car and truck shows

● Auctions

● Track days

● Historic racing

● Owners’ club meetings

● Motorcycle gatherings

● Off-road events

A year-round calendar of possible US automotive events

There’s not really a quiet month for car enthusiasts, as you can see from the following small selection of events taking place throughout the year.

Month	Name of event	Location	Type of event
January	Eastbound Getdown	Ormond Beach, Florida	Custom car, truck, and hot rod show
February	Lone Star Throwdown	Conroe, Texas	Custom truck and vehicle show
March	Orange Beach Invasion	Orange Beach, Alabama	Custom car and truck show
April	Goodguys Meguiar’s Del Mar Nationals	Del Mar, California	Hot rod, classic car, and custom vehicle show
May	Goodguys BASF Nashville Nationals	Lebanon, Tennessee	Classic car, muscle car, and hot rod show
June	American Graffiti Festival & Car Show	Modesto, California	Classic car show and community festival
July	C10 SLO Down	Avila Beach, California	Classic Chevrolet and GMC truck show
August	Goodguys West Coast Nationals	Pleasanton, California	Hot rod, classic car, and custom vehicle show
September	Super Run Classic Car Show	Mesquite, Nevada	All-makes classic and custom car show
October	Goodguys Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals	Fort Worth, Texas	Hot rod, classic car, and custom vehicle show
November	Dino’s Got Down	Glendale, Arizona	Chevrolet and GMC truck show
December	Check the Motortopia events calendar for newly added holiday shows and indoor events	Various locations	Holiday car shows, exhibitions, and charity meets

Keep in mind that dates, locations, and event schedules can change, so always check before booking accommodation or arranging vehicle transport.

Choosing the right way to transport your vehicle

The right way to get your vehicle to an event depends on the distance, type of vehicle, your budget, and how much driving you want to do.

Driving: If an event is nearby, driving is the easiest and cheapest choice. You can come and go when you like, carry tools and luggage, and use your vehicle throughout the stay.

Pros: No need to book any auto transport, and it may be the cheapest option over a short distance.

Cons: Long journeys add mileage and wear, while weather and road grime make your car dirty and in need of a clean before the event.

Towing: Using a tow dolly or trailer, you tow a vehicle behind another car, truck, or motorhome. A full trailer keeps all four wheels off the road, making it a good option for track cars and vehicles that aren’t road legal.

Pros: You’re in control of the schedule, and you’re not adding unwanted miles with a trailer.

Cons: You need suitable equipment, towing experience, extra fuel, and somewhere to park. A tow dolly may cause wear to the tires or drivetrain.

Car shipping:

With professional car shipping, the vehicle travels on an open or enclosed auto transport trailer while you travel separately.

Pros: You don’t have a long drive to deal with, and there’s no unwanted mileage or towing equipment to consider. Enclosed auto transport provides complete protection for more valuable vehicles, and a show-ready car upon arrival.

Cons: You need to be flexible with your dates because car delivery companies face traffic, bad weather, detours, and multiple stops along the way.

How far in advance should you book your event transport?

If you’re driving, start planning several weeks ahead. Check the vehicle, map the route, book your overnight accommodation, and give yourself some time on arrival to clean your vehicle.

Towing requires more preparation. You should reserve the trailer or tow dolly a few weeks ahead. Also, check vehicle compatibility and weight limits, and inspect the towing vehicle to make sure it’s in good working order. Part of the planning process should include working out your route, including fuel stops, parking, and overnight stops if required.

It’s advisable to book your car shipping two to four weeks before the event. If you’re shipping to a major show, along a less-traveled route, or you need enclosed auto transport, allow a little longer. When you book early, it gives the car delivery companies more time to coordinate a suitable truck and collection date. With your auto transport booking made, you’ve got plenty of time to arrange your own journey, whether you choose to fly or take the train.

How much will car shipping to an event cost?

Open car shipping generally costs between $700 and $1,500, while enclosed auto transport usually costs 40% to 60% more. These are just average figures, and you should request a personalized quote for an exact price.

Your actual quote is affected by the distance, market demand, fuel prices, vehicle size, value and condition, time of year, and the pick-up and delivery locations. Expedited shipping, guaranteed pick-up, or specialist loading costs extra.

Suitable delivery locations

Having your car delivered directly to a showground may not always be possible. Large transport trucks need ample space for safe maneuvering, loading, and unloading. More suitable delivery locations might include a hotel, an auction facility, a shopping center, or a spacious parking lot.

Before and after transport

Check the vehicle and photograph its condition. Wash it first because you’ll be able to easily spot and inspect it, take detailed photographs, and record any existing chips, scratches, dents, and similar damage on the Bill of Lading or inspection report.

Remove all your valuables and loose accessories. Check the tires, battery, and fluids, and leave around a quarter tank of fuel. Tell the transport company if there are any leaks, modifications, low ground clearance, or something else that might affect loading.

When you ship a vehicle home after an event, remember to remove display boards, tools, racing equipment, and other things you might have gathered during the weekend.

When delivered, inspect the vehicle carefully and compare its condition with the Bill of Lading.

Planning several events

True enthusiasts will be planning several events during the year. Compare the dates and distances because moving vehicles directly between venues can save time and money. Shipping home after each show can be expensive, but it may be the only option if events are months apart.

Other things to consider before finalizing your plans include storage for the vehicles and who will be available at the pick-up and delivery locations.

Make the journey part of the plan

Getting your vehicle to an event deserves as much thought and attention as preparing for the show, track, or auction. Driving may be perfect for a weekend close to home, while towing offers more control for a specialist vehicle. For longer distances, professional car shipping can remove several tiring days from the journey.

Whichever option you choose, compare the full cost, allow enough preparation time, and check the vehicle before setting off. A little organization means fewer last-minute problems and more time to enjoy the reason you’re traveling in the first place.