Car Shipping & Auto Transport Across the US

Distance is the biggest factor, but not the only one. Long hauls cost more in total and less per mile. Popular interstate lanes such as Los Angeles to Dallas price better than rural pickups that pull a driver off route.

Vehicle size and weight matter — a lifted pickup or a three-row SUV takes the space of a compact car and a half. Enclosed transport typically runs meaningfully above open transport because there are far fewer enclosed trailers on the road. Non-running vehicles need winch-equipped equipment. Season plays a part too: snowbird routes into Florida and Arizona tighten in autumn, and northbound in spring.

As a rough planning guide, carriers cover roughly 400 to 500 miles per day once loaded. A coast-to-coast move is generally a week to ten days in transit, a regional move one to three days. Pickup itself is usually scheduled within a few days of booking, sooner on heavy lanes.

We give you a realistic window rather than a promise no carrier can keep, and you get updates from dispatch while the car is moving.

Wash the car so existing damage is visible at inspection, take dated photos from every angle, and remove personal items, toll transponders and loose accessories. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel — enough to load and unload, not enough to add weight.

Check for leaks, note anything the driver should know (alarm quirks, low clearance, aftermarket suspension), and be ready to hand over a key at pickup. You or someone you trust must be present at both ends to sign the bill of lading.