How to tow a car when moving across the country

If you’re moving long distance and want to keep your car, you need to find a way to get it to your new home. In case you’ve hired professional movers to relocate your belongings, you can drive your vehicle across the country yourself – or you can have it shipped by an auto transport company (and fly to your new city).

If you’re performing a self-move though, you’ll have to be behind the wheel of your rented moving truck and, thus, won’t be able to drive your car to your new home. And if you’ve decided not to pay for professional moving services, you’re unlikely to pay for professional car shipping either.

In this case, you have only two viable options – have someone (a family member, a friend, a professional driver, etc.) drive your car for you or tow your vehicle behind your rental truck.

Towing a car with a moving truck is actually a great option – both convenient and cost-effective. You’ll be able to transport your items and your vehicle to your new home at the same time and won’t need a second driver. Plus, long distance car towing is the cheapest way to get a vehicle to another state.

Before embarking on your cross-country relocation journey with your car in tow, however, you need to be well informed and well prepared. Here is everything you need to know when towing a car behind a moving truck.

Should you rent a car dolly or a car trailer?

If you intend to tow your vehicle to your new home, you’re going to need car towing equipment, of course. Most truck rental companies rent out specialized devices that allow you to hitch your car to the truck and safely tow it along.

Generally, there are two types of trailers you can choose from: a tow dolly and a car carrier.

What is a car dolly?

A car dolly is a two-wheel trailer that supports the front wheels of a car. The rear wheels remain on the ground and roll on the road like they would if you were driving the car.

Car dollies are suitable for towing front-wheel-drive vehicles, as well as some rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and four-wheel-drive vehicles (depending on the make and model of the car, its weight and weight distribution, and its ground clearance). Heavier vehicles cannot be towed with a car dolly due to its limited weight capacity (a tow dolly can support up to 3,500-3,900 lbs.).

Car dollies have tire straps and safety chains to help secure the vehicle on the dolly – the drive wheels have to be well secured because you can’t apply the emergency brake to keep the car in place when towing your vehicle with a tow dolly.

All in all, hooking up your car to a tow dolly can be a bit complicated:

• If your car is a rear-wheel drive, you may need to take the drive shaft out to prevent damage to the transmission;
• If your car has a low front end or a front air dam, it will be very difficult – and sometimes, impossible – to get it up onto the ramp.

Also, keep in mind that you can’t back up with a tow dolly (car dollies should not be driven in reverse) and be careful when maneuvering, choosing parking places (look for pull-through spots), etc.

Good to know: When towing your car with a tow dolly, the rear wheels will stay on the ground and will be under more pressure than usual (as the front wheels will be lifted), so there will be a greater risk of wear and tear on the tires. Besides, there may be clearance issues if your vehicle is too low to the ground or too long in the front – some of the car components may get dragged, causing damage to the car body, bumpers, and undercarriage parts.

What is a car carrier?

A car carrier, also referred to as an auto transport trailer, is a four-wheel trailer that lifts the entire vehicle off the ground – all four tires rest on the trailer. It can carry any vehicle that weighs less than 5,000 pounds.

Car trailers have an extra security feature – an auxiliary braking system – that makes them safer than car dollies. Since the vehicle is securely strapped to the trailer and the tires don’t have any contact with the road, there is minimal wear and tear on the car and the risk of damage is greatly reduced. What’s more, you can safely transport some of your items in your car.

Car dolly or car trailer?

So, should you rent a tow dolly or a car carrier for your move? Which car towing option will work better for you depends on the type of your vehicle, the distance of your move, and your specific needs and preferences:

• Car dollies are suitable for smaller, front-wheel vehicles. They are a good option when moving at a shorter distance – within the same state or to a nearby state;
• Auto transport trailers carry more weight, present no problem for low-to-the-ground vehicles, and offer higher safety, so they’re great for heavier cars, rear-wheel-drives, all-wheel-drives, four-wheel-drives, and luxury automobiles. Car trailers are perfect for towing a car across the country.

In conclusion – if you have a bigger car or want to keep your vehicle as safe as possible, you’ll be better off with a car carrier. Renting an auto transport trailer, however, is more expensive than renting a car dolly.

How much does it cost to tow a car?

You will most likely need to rent car towing equipment from the same company you rent a truck from, so the cost will be tacked on to the rental truck total.

The main factors that will determine your car towing cost are the type of towing equipment you choose to rent, the driving distance, the date of your move, and the level of liability coverage you want.

Renting a tow dolly is the more affordable option – it can cost anywhere between $90 and $250 (up to $500 for moves over 2,000 miles). The cost of renting an auto transport trailer ranges from $200 to $500 (up to $1,000 for distances over 2,000 miles). Rates are typically lower in off-peak season (from October to April).

Auto tow protection can be purchased for an additional $60-$150 depending on the extent of coverage.

When budgeting for your DIY-move and calculating your towing costs, you will also need to set aside a little extra money for fuel – hauling a vehicle behind your rented moving truck will significantly decrease your gas mileage. This means that you’ll need to refuel more often when you’re towing your car, so your fuel expenses will be higher.

All things considered, using a car dolly is the cheapest way to tow a car long distance – but it has its risks.

Related: What questions to ask moving truck rental companies

What to know when towing a car behind a moving truck

So, can you tow a car behind a moving truck? Yes, you can. But is it easy to tow a car with a moving truck? Not, at all.

Here is what you need to know before taking on the challenge:

• Towing a car behind a moving truck results in limited maneuverability (because of the length of the combined vehicle and the vulnerable connection between the truck and the trailer) – turning and parking are extremely difficult and backing up is virtually impossible. Besides, the moving truck takes longer to come to a complete stop because of the extra weight adding momentum behind it;
• When towing, you need to be aware of trailer sway – the fishtailing movement that occurs when you drive at a higher speed. When two vehicles are connected, they pull on each other and sway much more than they would on their own, so if you need to swerve to avoid an obstacle on the road, your trailer will start to sway and careen uncontrollably. This creates a hazardous situation and is one of the main causes of towing accidents. To minimize swaying, you need to load your car as close to the front of the trailer as possible – the closer to the hitch you distribute the weight of your car, the less sway there will be;
• When hauling your car behind your rental truck, you’re recommended to maintain slower-than-average speeds (up to 55 miles per hour) to prevent trailer sway and ensure safety (at a lower speed, you’ll have better control over the vehicle and more time to react in a dangerous situation). Driving at a slower speed, however, will increase the time of your trip;
• During towing, your car is exposed to flying rocks, road debris, and bugs (as well as to adverse weather conditions). You need to accept that your vehicle will get dirty and may even get some chips, scratches, or worse damage during the trip. (It is not, however, a good idea to use a car cover to protect your automobile on the road – it will act like a parachute and may cause swaying and swerving).
• You need to frequently inspect the hitch, coupler, tire straps, safety chains, etc. during the trip to make sure everything is secure.

Related: How to drive a moving truck

Now that you know how to tow a car behind a moving truck safely and efficiently, your car-hauling relocation journey should go smoothly and without a hitch (even though you have a hitch attached to your truck). Good luck with your DIY-move!