Your car, whether it’s an old beater, a sensible mid-size or a luxury ride, is something you’ve invested your hard-earned money in. And no one wants to waste money. That’s one of the reasons why, if you’ve got a cross-country move in your future, hiring the professionals at Livingston to move your car makes sense.

You can always drive it yourself, but the long-term effects of that drive on your car’s health and resale value are significant. Let’s take a look at some of the ways using a cross-country vehicle shipper helps maintain your car’s health and value.

Long drives diminish your car’s lifespan

Cars in Canada typically last about 13 years, and somewhere between 250,000-300,000 kilometers. That’s an impressive improvement from 40 years ago, when cars typically lasted about 160,000 km. And when you think about it, 13 years is a long time!

But Canada is a big place. Driving from Toronto to Vancouver is about 4,400 kilometers; from Montreal to Edmonton about 3,500; and from St. John to Winnipeg, about 3,200.

That means your drive across Canada is costing you between one and two per cent of your car’s lifespan. On paper that doesn’t sound like much, but given the cost of buying your car and keeping it running, it’s not insignificant.

Cars hate Canadian weather

As you know, Canadian weather can be unpredictable. But one thing we know for sure is that freezing temperatures, snow, dirt, salt and potholes are terrible for your car.

Cold Canadian winters have a detrimental effect on your oil (making it thicker) and your battery (draining its life), and make your car run less efficiently (cold weather driving typically consumes more gasoline). Cold windshields become more susceptible to cracks and damage from dirt and rocks — of which there are more of on the roads in winter. Even your engine block is more susceptible to damage in the cold.

Meanwhile, the salt we typically use to keep our roads ice-free can eat away at your car’s exterior, leaving it more susceptible to rust. And potholes? Temperature changes combined with snow plows cause more than a few of those on the roads in winter, and running into one can affect your alignment and damage your tires.

In other words: driving your car in Canada is rough enough without adding extra kilometers!

Long drives run down your resale value

You’ve certainly heard the expression, “your car lost its value the minute you drove it off the lot.” If that’s the truth, how much additional value do you think it’s losing driving across Canada?

Edmunds estimates that your car loses about 10% of its value every year. If we consider 20,000 kilometers an average year, adding an extra 3,000-5,000 kilometers in one shot decreases its value that much further.

Furthermore, resale value isn’t the only monetary consideration when it comes to your car. When you factor in the total cost of your car, both in terms initial sale price and ongoing maintenance, insurance and gas, along with its ongoing decline in resale value, every little bit you can save helps. AAA estimated in 2017 that the annual cost to drive a car 15,000 km/year, factoring in gas, maintenance, payments and insurance, was about US$8,500 per year.

So while driving a few thousand extra kilometers may not seem like much, and you might think you’re saving money in the short-term by driving it yourself, in the long run, the impact on your wallet is greater than you might think.

It’s not just your car’s health at stake

In addition to the impact on your car and your wallet, consider the impact a cross-Canada move can have on your own health. Studies have suggested that drivers who spend too much time in their cars are more likely to sleep poorly, feel stress and exercise less. And while those studies are typically studying the habits of commuters, single long drives bring their own health challenges, most notable due to the long periods of sitting.

Sitting for long periods of time has an adverse effect in your body, particularly in your circulation and your muscles. When you sit too long, your blood flow slows down, which can have a chain reaction throughout your body. It can put your limbs “to sleep,” and can affect your brain function and reaction time. Extended sitting periods can even increase your risk of blood clots and of experiencing a cardiovascular event.

Meanwhile, sitting — even while doing something “active” such as driving — causes your muscles to relax, while your spine tightens up to stay rigid. This is why your back is typically the first thing to feel stiff on a long drive.

On top of the physical risks, you have your mental health to consider as well. Driving can be stressful, and you’re already undertaking one of life’s most stressful events — a cross-country move.

Keep both your car, and yourself, running in tip-top shape and hire the professionals at Livingston to help you move your car.

With Livingston, we treat your car — no matter the year, make or model — like the valuable commodity it is. We hire and partner with trained professionals, and we’re the exclusive vehicle shipping partner of CN Rail, Canada’s largest and most efficient rail network. Your car will be handled with care from the moment you hand us the keys to the moment you pick them up at your destination.

Give your car a break and extend its life. Give us a call today!

What’s next

Give us a call at 1-800-282-9892, or get an online quote now.
Learn how a move with Livingston Vehicle Transportation works, step-by-step.