Car shipping cost — see what it actually costs to ship your car in 2026
Prices pulled from real shipments across the US, updated weekly. Get a live quote in 30 minutes — no phone number needed.
Shipping a car runs between $400 and $1,800 for most US routes. Coast-to-coast averages around $950 for a standard sedan. Short hauls under 500 miles start at $400. Distance, vehicle size, and open vs. enclosed carrier set your final number.
Live pricing for the routes we ship most
Starting price for a standard sedan. Final exact quote depends on vehicle, pickup dates, and carrier availability.
| Origin | Destination | Distance | Min price | Max price | Inclusions/Fees | Est. transit | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | Los Angeles, CA | 383 mi | $517 | $1,097 | Open, door-to-door | 1–3 days | |
| Atlanta, GA | Los Angeles, CA | 2,175 mi | $1,097 | $1,895 | Open, door-to-door | 6–8 days | |
| Nashville, TN | Los Angeles, CA | 2,095 mi | $1,131 | $1,897 | Open, door-to-door | 6–8 days | |
| Minneapolis, MN | Los Angeles, CA | 1,924 mi | $1,009 | $1,641 | Open, door-to-door | 5–7 days | |
| Los Angeles, CA | New York, NY | 2,791 mi | $1,289 | $1,763 | Open, door-to-door | 7–9 days | |
| Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | 2,015 mi | $981 | $1,609 | Open, door-to-door | 5–7 days | |
| Houston, TX | New York, NY | 1,628 mi | $1,195 | $1,612 | Open, door-to-door | 4–6 days | |
| Miami, FL | New York, NY | 1,280 mi | $795 | $1,280 | Open, door-to-door | 3–5 days | |
| Dallas, TX | Los Angeles, CA | 1,435 mi | $875 | $1,370 | Open, door-to-door | 3–5 days | |
| Seattle, WA | Phoenix, AZ | 1,424 mi | $880 | $1,177 | Open, door-to-door | 3–5 days | |
| Phoenix, AZ | Dallas, TX | 1,086 mi | $893 | $1,080 | Open, door-to-door | 2–4 days | |
| Chicago, IL | Dallas, TX | 920 mi | $785 | $1,095 | Open, door-to-door | 2–4 days | |
| Denver, CO | Seattle, WA | 1,321 mi | $837 | $1,007 | Open, door-to-door | 3–5 days | |
| San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA | 807 mi | $605 | $821 | Open, door-to-door | 2–4 days | |
| Los Angeles, CA | Houston, TX | 1,556 mi | $785 | $919 | Open, door-to-door | 3–5 days | |
| New York, NY | Boston, MA | 215 mi | $419 | $578 | Open, door-to-door | 1–2 days | |
| Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | 117 mi | $385 | $497 | Open, door-to-door | 1 day |
Estimates reflect open transport of an operable standard sedan. Prices shift with carrier demand — your live quote may differ.
Price by vehicle type
Avg. from Salesforce data quotes (sedan baseline, Jan–Dec 2025).
| Vehicle | Under $50k | $50–$100k | Over $100k |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | $400 – $800 | $575 – $1,100 | $900 – $1,800 |
| SUV / Crossover | $475 – $900 | $650 – $1,300 | $950 – $2,000 |
| Van / Minivan | $525 – $950 | $700 – $1,400 | $1,000 – $2,100 |
| Pickup Truck | $500 – $950 | $680 – $1,350 | $975 – $2,000 |
| Oversized / Dually | $650 – $1,200 | $850 – $1,700 | $1,200 – $2,500+ |
Non-running / inoperable vehicles add $150–$300 to any estimate due to winch or forklift loading requirements.
Cost per mile by distance
Longer hauls cost more in total but less per mile — fixed carrier costs spread over more distance.
| Distance | Per mile | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 mi | $1.50 – $2.00 | $400 – $750 |
| 500 – 1,500 mi | $0.75 – $1.25 | $600 – $1,300 |
| 1,500+ mi | $0.55 – $0.90 | $900 – $1,800 |
| Distance | Per mile | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 mi | $2.50 – $3.50 | $700 – $1,400 |
| 500 – 1,500 mi | $1.10 – $1.80 | $1,000 – $1,900 |
| 1,500+ mi | $0.85 – $1.30 | $1,400 – $2,500+ |
2026 market data. Exact rate depends on real-time carrier availability on your lane.
Five factors, no surprises
Every quote is a function of these variables. Know them and you know what moves your price.
Distance
The biggest driver. Price per mile falls as route length grows. Rural detours off major corridors add $50–$150.
Vehicle size
Larger vehicles displace more trailer space. Full-size SUVs and pickups typically add $100–$200 over a sedan on the same route.
Transport type
Open is standard for 90%+ of shipments. Enclosed — for luxury, classic, and high-value vehicles — adds 35–60% over open on any route.
Speed of pickup
Standard 1–5 day window = market rate. Expedited pickup (24–48 hr guarantee) adds $150–$300 depending on lane availability.
Route demand
Same route can vary 15–25% across the year. Jan–Feb is the cheapest window on most US lanes.
Vehicle condition
Operable = standard rate. Non-running vehicles require winch loading — adds $150–$300. Low clearance or modified suspension? Note at booking.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car?
The same route can cost 15–25% more depending on when you book.
Lowest rates of the year. Snowbird routes (Northeast → FL) stay elevated through February.
Spring relocation season begins. Rates climb 10–15%. Book 2–3 weeks ahead.
Peak season. College move-ins and corporate relocations push rates to their annual high.
Summer demand fades. Good window if your dates are flexible.
Snowbird season kicks in — FL, AZ, TX lanes get busy. Book ahead.
Holiday backlog. Book 3–4 weeks out or expect premium pricing.
Bottom line: Jan and Feb consistently offer the lowest rates. Shifting your pickup even two weeks can save $100–$200 on a cross-country move.
Pick the transport type that fits the car
Open for most vehicles. Enclosed for anything you wouldn't park outside.
Multi-car open carrier — same type manufacturers use for new inventory. Fully secured, GPS-tracked, and insured door-to-door. Available on every US lane.
Best for: Daily drivers, sedans, SUVs, trucks — any vehicle under $80k.
Fully covered trailer. Complete protection from road debris, weather, and UV. Carriers haul 2–7 vehicles — book 5–7 days ahead on popular routes.
Best for: Luxury, exotic, classic, and EV vehicles — anything over $80k or irreplaceable.
How to save on car shipping
Five things within your control that reliably lower your quote.
- 1Book 7–14 days before pickup
Early bookings slot into a carrier's existing route. Last-minute adds cost — or requires expedited service (+$150–$300).
- 2Offer a 3–5 day pickup window
Flexibility lets us match you to a carrier already running your lane. Typically saves 10–20% vs. locking a single date.
- 3Ship in January or February
Cheapest months industry-wide. Carrier availability is highest, demand lowest. Savings of $100–$200 vs. peak summer rates.
- 4Choose open transport unless you need enclosed
Open is safe, fully insured, and used for the vast majority of all shipments — including new inventory from manufacturers.
- 5Get a live quote, not a static estimate
Static sheets can be off by 15–30%. CarShippers.ai pulls from carrier capacity updated every 15 minutes — the price reflects what carriers will haul your vehicle for right now.
Different from a standard broker
Most brokers quote from static sheets updated monthly. Submit your info and your phone starts ringing. We work differently.
Live carrier data
Quotes from real capacity, refreshed every 15 min. Not a spreadsheet from last month.
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Real-time status from load to delivery through your CarShippers.ai dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to make a confident decision.
$400–$1,800 for most domestic routes, averaging around $1,050 for an open carrier and standard sedan. Cross-country routes run $900–$1,500. Short moves under 500 miles start from $400. Exact price depends on vehicle type, route, transport method, and pickup date. Get your route price in 30 minutes — no personal info required to start.
Open transport with a flexible 3–5 day pickup window, booked 7–14 days ahead, in January or February. Terminal-to-terminal instead of door-to-door can save an additional $50–$100 on some routes — but you'll need to drop off and pick up at designated lots.
Enclosed carriers haul 2–7 vehicles vs. 8–10 on an open trailer, so fixed cost per vehicle is higher. The added protection, specialized equipment, and lower capacity add a 35–60% premium over open on equivalent routes.
No. Value doesn't affect the rate. What matters is your vehicle's size and weight (trailer space it takes), whether it's operable, and open vs. enclosed transport.
No. Your CarShippers.ai price is locked for 7 days — door-to-door, no fuel surcharges, no dispatch fees, no last-minute changes. If anything changes before booking (different vehicle, added enclosed), we show the updated price before you confirm.
Yes. Inoperable vehicles load via winch and add $150–$300 to the base quote depending on condition and carrier setup. Mention the vehicle's condition when requesting your quote.
Yes. June–August is peak — more relocations, tighter capacity. Popular lanes run 15–25% higher vs. January or February. If your window is flexible, off-peak savings are real.
Under 500 miles: 1–3 days. 500–1,500 miles: 3–5 days. Cross-country (1,500+): 5–9 days. Estimated transit is confirmed at booking and you can track your vehicle in real time through your dashboard.
You can, but carriers aren't licensed for household goods — items aren't covered by carrier insurance. Keep personal property under 100 lbs, stored in the trunk or below the window line to prevent interior damage.
Yes — overland + ocean freight (RoRo or container). From $1,500 to Hawaii and $1,800 to Alaska depending on mainland origin. Contact us for a route-specific quote. These require 2–4 weeks lead time.
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