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Car Shipping

How much does car shipping cost?

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Key points
  • The average car shipping cost is around $1,295 in total or around 86 cents per mile in 2024.

  • Car shipping costs depend on factors such as the time of year, vehicle type, transport type and distance.

  • Shopping early and comparing quotes are the best ways to get the cheapest car transport prices.

Car shippers provide a valuable service when you need to move your vehicle to another state. The best car shipping companies transport your car safely and keep you updated during its journey. Of course, this service comes at a cost.

In this article, we’ll look at how much car shipping costs from a few different viewpoints. The best way to know what you would pay is to compare free quotes.

How much does it cost to ship a car?

On average, car shipping costs $715 to $1,909 for open and closed auto transport services between 500 and 2,400 miles with open auto transport services. With most companies, you can expect to pay between $500 and $2,000 depending on the distance and transport type.

Average car shipping costs

Below are a few different examples to compare based on quotes we got from top car shipping services for transporting an operable 2020 Toyota Camry.

DistanceTransport TypeAvg CostAvg Cost per Mile
571 miles (Portland, OR, to Sacramento, CA)Open$665$1.25
1,530 miles (Salt Lake City to Memphis, TN)Open$1,113$0.79
1,530 miles (Salt Lake City to Memphis, TN)Enclosed$1,725$1.25
2,363 miles (Miami to Phoenix)Open$1,236$0.57

Distance is one of the biggest factors affecting what you pay for car shipping. Car shipping costs increase overall with distance, but the price per mile goes down. In other words, a 1,000-mile shipment won’t necessarily cost twice as much as a 500-mile shipment and you’ll probably get more bang for your buck with a long-distance shipment.

Open vs. enclosed car transport cost

Enclosed shipping rates for 1,520 miles range from $1,145 to $3,280, which averages out to $1,909. Compared to choosing open shipping for the same distance, customers pay an average of $695 more for enclosed shipping. Open carriers are cheaper as they transport up to 10 vehicles at once. Enclosed auto carriers are more expensive, but they protect the vehicle on all sides.

How much are car shipping rates from different companies?

The auto transport company you choose has a big impact on what you pay for shipping. While the average rate for a 1,530-mile open shipment is $1,214, quotes we received ranged from $745 to $1,990. Below are a dozen companies ranked by their average per-mile costs.

 Below are a dozen companies ranked by their average per-mile costs:

This average includes the cost per mile for 571-mile open, 1,530-mile open, 1,530-mile enclosed and 2,363-mile open shipments.

Comparing car shipping quotes is important. One company might have good rates for short shipments but high rates for longer distances. The only way to tell is to get initial car shipping prices from a few different providers for your shipment.

Car shipping costs: What you need to know

To help you understand how car shipping costs work we’ve broken down the factors that change pricing and how payments work. We’ll also give advice on whether you should pick open or enclosed shipping and how to save money on auto transport.

What affects the cost of car shipping?

Many things affect car shipping costs, from the time of year to the price of gas. Your auto transport provider will consider the following when determining your vehicle shipping cost:

  • Distance: Long shipments cost more overall but less per mile.
  • Timeline: You’ll pay more for expedited shipping or guaranteed pick-up days.
  • Time of year: Car shipping is more expensive during the summer months and January, when most people move.
  • Fuel prices: Carriers can command higher rates when gas prices rise.
  • Car transport services: Open car transport is cheaper than enclosed carrier shipping.
  • Vehicle type: Large and heavy vehicles such as trucks and SUVs cost slightly more to ship.
  • Vehicle condition: Inoperable vehicles take more time to load so they cost more to ship.
  • Rural locations: Having a delivery location in a more rural area that’s farther away from highways can cost more.

How do you save on car shipping rates?

There are a few things you can do to find cheap car shipping. The best strategy is to start comparing vehicle transport rates at least two weeks ahead of time. Many companies offer instant quotes and car shipping calculators, though some call back with a quote after you fill out a form.

By leaving a couple of weeks of flexibility, you won’t have to pay increased rates for expedited shipping. Comparing multiple quotes also gives you insight into which company offers better rates for vehicle shipping.

If you’re moving between large metro areas, you might also want to look into terminal-to-terminal shipping. Only some car shipping companies offer this service. It involves you dropping off and picking up your car from industry shipping terminals in various locations. It’s not available everywhere, but you can save some money compared with the standard option of door-to-door service.

An easy way to save some money is to opt for open transport instead of enclosed transport. This is the most economical transport option since your car shares a large open trailer with many other vehicles. You can also ask the carrier to load the vehicle on the top rack to protect it from dripping fluids.

How do car shipping payments work?

Getting an auto transport quote is just the first step of the process. After that, the car shipping company will secure a carrier for your shipment. You might see the initial quote increase if the car transport company can’t find a carrier under that price.

In the auto transport industry, you have two options for payment from most companies. The first option is to pay a deposit by card when the carrier is dispatched to get your vehicle. Then, you pay the remaining balance in cash, money order or cashier’s check to the driver when they deliver your vehicle. You’ll save some money with this payment arrangement because drivers prefer to receive cash when they finish a job instead of waiting for the car shipping company to pay them later.

The other option is to pay for the entire vehicle shipment by card when the carrier is dispatched. This might be more convenient if you want to use a credit card. Some auto shipping companies even offer financing through PayPal.

Should I get open or enclosed car shipping?

The type of shipping is one of the biggest factors that influences car shipping costs. You have two main options: open or enclosed transport. Open transport is the cheapest way to ship a car. So why would you pay more for enclosed shipping?

Enclosed transport is the best option if you want to fully protect a classic car or luxury car along its journey. The truck driver will load your car into a contained trailer with up to three other vehicles. You don’t have to worry about harsh weather or road debris with enclosed trailer shipping.

What’s next?

While we found an average car shipping cost of $1,295 in total for enclosed and open car shipping, you’ll find different costs depending on your vehicle and the service you choose. We recommend comparing quotes from at least three providers to find the best option.

We also recommend starting your search at least two weeks before you need your vehicle shipped so you don’t have to pay for expedited shipping, and carriers have plenty of time to coordinate your shipment.

Start here with quotes from shipping companies:

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Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

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