Last year, I moved from Boston to Phoenix. Same situation -- didn't have a car but needed to buy a car when I got here. I used U-Pack "pods" -- they are the smallest out there -- and the cheapest!! They have A+ customer service. Depending on where you live, it can take 3-7 days for delivery to your new home, so it's possible you will have found an apartment before the u-pack arrives. Also, if you haven't they will store it for free for 3 days and then its really, really cheap to store it on a monthly basis. Mail, UPS, or open a fedex GROUND account (for automatic 10% discount) the important stuff. The MOST important stuff -- buy a couple of cheap suitcases and try to fly an airplane with the least (or no) fees. The price of gas to drive is outrages -- plus the cost of car insurance at the place you purchase the car would probably be more expensive -- and then to pay taxes at both places and registration fees. You don't want to spend the time doing all of that!