Ship the car in the fall, fly to the second home, and have it waiting. Bring it back in the spring. Same car, same coordinator, every year.
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Southern Californians with second homes in Scottsdale, Palm Desert, Lake Havasu, Park City, Aspen, Sun Valley, Lake Tahoe or Florida often ship a vehicle there for the season rather than drive it both ways. The outbound shipment is booked for a pickup window a few days before you plan to arrive; the return is booked for a few days after you leave. The vehicle's details stay on file, so the next season's booking is a single call.
The fall move — October and November — and the spring return — March and April — are predictable, so carriers plan for them. But capacity on the specific lanes tightens in those months, and enclosed capacity tightens most. Booking two to three weeks ahead gets you the dates you want; booking the week of usually still works but may cost more or require flexibility.
Desert lanes — Arizona, the Coachella Valley, Las Vegas — are easy year-round. Mountain destinations can see winter road restrictions that delay a carrier by a day, and the roads into Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Aspen and Tahoe are not suited to a full-size hauler; the driver arranges a meeting point at the base of the mountain or in the nearest town. Your coordinator will tell you what's realistic for January.
Register the vehicle's seasonal location with your insurer if required. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Remove toll transponders — they'll register gantries across three states. For a car coming back from a dusty desert season, wash it before pickup so the condition report is accurate.
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