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How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car?

The honest answer is that it depends on six things. Here's what they are, in order of impact, and how to get the best price on your lane.

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1. Distance — and Why Longer Is Cheaper Per Mile

Distance sets the base price, but the relationship isn't linear. Short lanes out of Southern California — Phoenix, Las Vegas, the Bay Area — are cheap in total and relatively expensive per mile. Cross-country lanes to New York or Florida are the most expensive in total and the cheapest per mile, because the carrier's fixed costs are spread over more distance. Busy lanes (Texas, Arizona) are priced better than remote ones because more trucks run them.

2. Open vs. Enclosed

Open transport is the standard and the most economical. Enclosed costs a meaningful premium because two to six vehicles share the trailer instead of eight to ten. It's the right choice for luxury, exotic, classic and freshly painted vehicles; for a daily driver it's usually unnecessary. The instant quote shows both.

3. Vehicle Size and Weight

Carriers price by the trailer space a vehicle takes. A compact sedan is the baseline. A three-row SUV, a crew-cab pickup or a cargo van takes more. Electric vehicles are heavier than comparable gas cars and ride on the lower deck. Anything taller than a standard vehicle — a van with a ladder rack, a lifted truck — may need a single-level truck at a different rate; measure before you quote.

4. Running Condition

A vehicle that doesn't start needs a winch-equipped carrier and a driver willing to load it, which costs more. The vehicle must roll, steer and brake. Tell us at the quote stage so the right truck is assigned.

5. Season

Summer relocation season (May–August), late-August student moves, the fall and spring snowbird shifts, and the weeks before the holidays are the busiest and priciest. The two weeks after Christmas are the quietest. Winter can add a day to deliveries over mountain passes.

6. Flexibility — the Factor You Control

A pickup window of three to five days instead of a single fixed day is the biggest saving most customers can make. It lets a carrier already running your lane add your vehicle without a detour. A fixed Saturday in late August is the most expensive thing you can ask for.

What's In the Price

Every quote on this site is all-in: door-to-door service, the carrier's cargo insurance and fuel. No fuel surcharges, no delivery fees, no surprises. Payment terms are confirmed at booking; typically a portion is due at dispatch and the balance to the carrier at delivery.

FAQ

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car? — Questions

Why is my quote different from a price I saw online?+
Teaser rates often exclude fuel, insurance or delivery, or assume a non-existent carrier. Our quotes are all-in and based on carriers actually running your lane.
Does the price change after I book?+
No. The price is locked at booking. The only exception is if the vehicle turns out to be different from what was quoted — non-running, oversized — in which case the coordinator calls you before anything changes.
Can I get a discount?+
Active-duty military and veterans receive a military rate. Dealers and fleets that ship regularly can ask about a standing rate. Flexibility on dates is the best discount of all.

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