Ping Hugh Cannon.  He moves minis. 

beware of moving to CALIF.  They have strick emmisson laws and likely won't qualify.

I shipped a Ford F550 in an ocean container. boards nailed to the floor, outer wheels removed, strapped down. Also shipped a Cherokee inside a 16 ft box truck. Paid shipping on the truck, Cherokee rode along.

I've shipped cars around Bolivia. Usually look for a mound of dirt the right height to unload.

At customs they have a ramp, although pretty steep, so you want to be inside with your hand or foot on the parking brake as there will not be power brakes when you roll it off.

I hadn't even thought of uShip--let's see what that comes up with.  Estimates are between $750-1400.  I could probably buy a trailer at the top end of that range....

Another option. Look into that one site where you get Haulers bidding to tow your vehicle, (sorry I don't remember the name of the site but someone will chime in here shortly no doubt) It could be cheaper than you think, especially if other cars are being towed as well.                Mini Estate

If you are concerened with wear and tear on the axles and gearbox remove them for the trip and just run with the cv's connected to the uprights and take along a spare front and rear bearing assembly for a back up. Just feel the hubs for excessive heat everytime you stop. I have towed cars all over the Country with tow bars tow dollys and trailers and as long as you practice safety and checking along the way it is no big deal. As everything is more expensive on the West coast (or seems to be) you could pick up a used or new utility trailer and get your money back and maybe some profit when you sell it.

 Moving from the Easy East - to the West coast.  What state are you actually moving to?

  If you're moving to to the Republik of California -- you will NOT be able to register plate and and drive that car without many hurdles that are near impossible. ( Keep it registered on the East if you can)

Carb rules - Inspections - 1975 and older only  etc blah blah...  Do your research if you plan on trying or needing to register and plate in Califonia. Otherwise- youll just be SELLING because you cant pass it to drive  and sell it  to get it out of state at a bigger loss  and more cost than a Sale on the East coast and Ease the pain of moving.

Something else to think about...
Goodluck.

1988 Rover Mini E-99X (JDM)

I have all the equipment to flat-tow my Mini, so it's an option.  But I'm concerned with the wear-and-tear on the Mini from flat-towing.

Is your or your partners daily driver able to tow a Mini ? If so just buy a Harbor Freight tow bar and flat tow it this will be the cheapest option.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.  I'm debating what I want to do.

If I hire a moving company to pack up and haul my stuff, they won't take the Mini and renting a truck just to transport the Mini does not seem cost-effective.  If I pack and haul my own stuff, I don't think I'd have room for the Mini, even in a 26' truck.

I could trailer or tow the Mini.  Except that I don't have a trailer, and renting one just for this does not seem cost-effective ($700+).  If I could find one, I'd buy a trailer for that much.  Or if I had the equipment (and skills) I'd build one.  Which then leaves flat-towing, which I suspect will be hard on the Mini and slow us down (I've towed 4-horse trailers at 80+, but I'm not towing my Mini at those speeds).  Not to mention that I will have to do all the driving because my partner has never towed anything and has no desire to learn (and may just sabotage the Mini on principle).

First world problems....

a word of caution. A guy who was local in the area was unloading a car from an enclosed trailer. When he opened the trailer doors, the car rolled out and rolled over him killing him.

I've put minis into covered small trailers where I put an old tire up front, and pushed the mini in. It was so tight that the rear door touched

the mini's rear bumper.  That ride was about 4 hours one way.

I've put minis into box trucks, and also into containers.

I'd suggest you don't tell the truck rental company you're putting a car inside. (they won't rent it to you)

I've made a 3/4" plywood panel with 4 x 4's screwed to the plywood from the plywood side. , and put threaded eye bolts (welded eyes) through the 4 x 4 before fastening to the plywood.  Screw this contraption to the deck of the truck, and use ratchet straps with hooks to tie down your car, front and rear.  The plywood can be the width of the car and the 4 x 4 can chock the wheels.  Put the wheels onto the plywood, and tie it down from front to rear and rear to front.

Try to load and unload on a level area, not ramps to minimize those 'oh shxt' moments.

And if you're moving your house, put the mattress up front of the truck, and load the mini as far forward as you can put it, right up against the mattress. Pack it with soft stuff, clothes in big garbage bags.

Good luck with the move, don't eat any pacific ***ishima fish.

A friend of mine bought a '67 Austin Countryman Woody from me years ago. I lived in Washington State. He lived in Ohio. He flew out and rented an enclosed Uhaul box van. We drove the Mini down by the train tracks and backed the Uhaul up to a spot where he was able to drive the Mini right in. Perfect fit for the Wagon! Sorry I don't recall the exact size of the Van box, but I believe it was like exactly 10 feet. He had quite a story to tell after finally getting back home. Lots of bad weather on the way back. You know, blizzards and those sort of things!                      Mini Estate                               

My PUP loaded and heading to the US.

Don't tell the U-Haul folks that you'll be putting a car inside.

 rent an 8X10 flatbed, dont get the 8x10 with railings, because the rails will prvent the door from opening and youll get stuck inside. you gotta get out from the window.  if you are as malnourished and as skinny as me, you can.   take it from me, i m an expert when it comes to trailering my mni, people here call me sissy because i always trailer my mini instead of driving it..

oh and Uhaul trailers are super heavy, not recommended.  a skinny 8X10 wood floor trailer will do the task perfectly.

good luck!!

I remember folks from dayton or columbus that came to charleston for mme 2002.  They drove one, towed one and had an elf in the bed of a 2500 or 3500 (250/350) pickup.  The elf was just narrow enough to get between the wheel wells in the bed of the truck.

Did it with a uhaul 26ft box truck went to the local Safeway that had a big loading dock that we could access up the pedestrian ramp on the side and unloaded the same way. We used the over the tire type straps and screwed the webbing down to the wood floor. LA to San Fran. All arrived safe. We surrounded the car with the mattresses and then the furniture!

I've done it...the fella that bought my PUP also hauled it away in a U-haul type trailer...just inches to spare on either side.  A side door aided in getting the front tied down.  Will look for pics

I have done it for a couple of Mini owners. The biggest issue is loading/unloading it you need long ramps a warehouse dock or a roll back wrecker. Try to get one with a wooden floor and then you can stop the wheels from rolling with screwed down wheel chocks (old 2x4's) as the fronts are hard to tie down with ratchet straps, the rears are easy just secure them outside the roll up door. We also lowered the tire pressure way down to help with the posssibility of them moving around. BTW both cars arrived safely.