Pricing, Explained · USDOT 7557228
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car?
Typical market ranges by distance and trailer type, what moves a quote up or down, and how to tell a real dispatched rate from a teaser.
Quick answer
Most single-vehicle moves on open transport cost between roughly $500 and $1,700, depending on distance, vehicle size, lane density and season. Per mile that works out to about $1.05–$1.75 under 500 miles, $0.70–$1.10 from 500 to 1,500 miles, and $0.50–$0.80 beyond 1,500 miles. Enclosed transport typically runs 40% to 60% higher because far fewer enclosed trailers are on the road. These are typical market ranges, not guarantees — your exact price depends on your two ZIP codes and vehicle.
Per-mile rate bands
| Distance band | Range | Open transport | Enclosed transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short haul | Under 500 miles | $1.05 – $1.75 per mile | $1.55 – $2.60 per mile |
| Mid range | 500 – 1,500 miles | $0.70 – $1.10 per mile | $1.00 – $1.60 per mile |
| Long haul | Over 1,500 miles | $0.50 – $0.80 per mile | $0.75 – $1.20 per mile |
Long routes cost more in total and less per mile, because loading, paperwork and the deadhead miles a driver runs to reach you are spread across more distance.
Estimated cost by distance
| Distance | Open | Enclosed | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 300 miles | $400 – $600 | $600 – $900 | 1 – 2 days |
| 300 – 700 miles | $450 – $900 | $700 – $1,350 | 2 – 3 days |
| 700 – 1,200 miles | $550 – $1,300 | $850 – $1,900 | 3 – 4 days |
| 1,200 – 2,000 miles | $850 – $1,600 | $1,250 – $2,400 | 4 – 6 days |
| 2,000+ miles (coast to coast) | $1,000 – $2,400 | $1,500 – $3,600 | 7 – 10 days |
Want a number for your actual route? Use the car shipping cost calculator or send us both ZIP codes for a real lane quote.
What pushes a car shipping quote up
Vehicle size and weight. A lifted pickup or three-row SUV occupies more than one slot on a hauler, so it prices closer to one and a half cars than one.
Trailer type. Enclosed transport protects against road debris and weather, but there are far fewer enclosed trailers in service than open ones, and that scarcity is what you pay for.
Lane density. Los Angeles to Dallas is a highway with trucks running it constantly. A pickup in a rural county two hours off the interstate pulls a driver off route, and that time is priced in.
Condition. An inoperable vehicle needs a winch-equipped carrier, which is a smaller pool of equipment.
Timing and season. Tight date windows cost more. Snowbird lanes into Florida and Arizona tighten every autumn and reverse in spring, and prices follow.
Fuel and market rates. Carrier rates move with diesel and with how many trucks are chasing loads that week. That is why an accurate quote is priced on the day, not from a static table.
How to read a car shipping quote
The single most useful question you can ask is whether the number you were given is the rate the load will actually be posted and dispatched at. A load posted below market does not get picked up — it sits, and then the price rises, usually right when you need the car moved.
Compare any quote against the per-mile bands above. If it is well under them, ask what will happen if no carrier accepts it. A company confident in its number will explain how it got there.
We quote from current lane rates and will tell you plainly when a figure you were given elsewhere is unlikely to dispatch. Quotes are free and there is no obligation.
Get an Instant Quote
Enter your ZIP codes and we'll recognize the cities automatically. Our dispatch team responds within one business hour.
Car shipping cost FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Most single-vehicle moves land between about $500 and $1,700 on open transport, depending on distance, vehicle size, lane density and season. As a per-mile guide: roughly $1.05–$1.75 per mile under 500 miles, $0.70–$1.10 per mile from 500 to 1,500 miles, and $0.50–$0.80 per mile beyond 1,500 miles. Enclosed transport typically runs 40% to 60% above open.
Why is shipping a car cheaper per mile on long routes?
A carrier's fixed costs — loading, paperwork, deadhead miles to reach you — are spread across more miles. A 2,500-mile coast-to-coast move costs more in total than a 400-mile regional move but far less per mile.
What makes a car shipping quote go up?
Oversized or lifted vehicles that eat more than one slot, inoperable vehicles needing a winch, enclosed trailers (there are far fewer on the road), rural or mountain pickups off the main interstates, tight date windows, and seasonal surges such as snowbird traffic into Florida and Arizona in autumn.
Should I trust the cheapest car shipping quote?
Be careful with it. A quote well below market often means the load is posted at a rate no carrier will accept, so it sits unassigned until the price is raised. Ask whether the quote is the dispatched rate or a teaser, and confirm the carrier's authority and cargo coverage before you commit.
Do I pay before my car is shipped?
Only a small part of it. Quoting a lane is free and costs nothing, and no money is due while we are still sourcing a truck. Once a carrier is assigned and dispatched, a small deposit is due before pickup, and the remaining balance is paid in cash to the driver on delivery. Terms are confirmed in writing before you pay anything, and the bill of lading documents the vehicle's condition at pickup and delivery.