--- title: Car shipping prices - **real costs** for popular US routes meta_title: "Car Shipping Prices 2026 - Real Route Costs | CarShippers.ai" description: Real starting prices for popular US car shipping routes. Open and enclosed transport. Updated weekly from live carrier data. Zero hidden fees. robots: "index, follow" publisher: Carshippers AI language: en-US og_title: Car Shipping Prices 2026 - CarShippers.ai og_description: Transparent route-level pricing for car shipping across the US. Updated weekly from live carrier data. og_type: website og_url: "https://www.carshippers.ai/pricing" twitter_card: summary_large_image twitter_title: Car Shipping Prices 2026 - CarShippers.ai twitter_description: Transparent route-level pricing for car shipping across the US. Updated weekly from live carrier data. canonical: https://www.carshippers.ai/pricing format: agent-markdown source: strapi generated: 2026-08-21T18:57:18.757Z breadcrumbs: Home > Pricing --- breadcrumbs: Home > Pricing # Car shipping prices - **real costs** for popular US routes > Real prices from real shipments - updated weekly from live carrier data. Get your expert-verified quote in 30 minutes. *TRANSPARENT PRICING* (image url: https://cdn.carshippers.ai/car-shippers-ai-website/images/20260504-125112-8opn19-page-pricing-hero.webp) - Updated weekly *(icon: check) (lucide-check)* - $0 hidden fees *(icon: check) (lucide-check)* - Expert-verified in 30 min *(icon: check) (lucide-check)* *THE SHORT ANSWER* Car shipping costs between **$400 and $1,800** for most domestic routes in the US. The average for a standard sedan on open transport is around **$950**. Coast-to-coast routes such as Los Angeles to New York typically range from **$900 to $1,500**. Shorter routes under 500 miles start from **$400**. ### Quick stats - **Average sedan, open:** $950 - **Coast-to-coast range:** $900-$1,500 - **Cheapest months:** Jan-Feb *POPULAR ROUTES* ## Live pricing for the routes we ship most Starting prices for a standard sedan. Your exact quote depends on vehicle size, pickup dates, and carrier availability. * Starting prices from live carrier benchmarks. Updated regularly. | origin | destination | distance | openFrom | enclosedFrom | transit | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY | 2,937 mi | $1,842 | $2,937 | 7-9 days | | Miami, FL | Los Angeles, CA | 2,741 mi | $2,057 | $2,741 | 7-9 days | | Nashville, TN | Los Angeles, CA | 2,007 mi | $1,533 | $2,007 | 7-9 days | | Minneapolis, MN | Phoenix, AZ | 1,664 mi | $1,095 | $1,664 | 7-9 days | | Los Angeles, CA | New York, NY | 2,781 mi | $1,940 | $2,781 | 7-9 days | | Atlanta, GA | Los Angeles, CA | 2,188 mi | $1,364 | $2,188 | 7-9 days | | Chicago, IL | Los Angeles, CA | 2,020 mi | $1,094 | $2,020 | 7-9 days | | Houston, TX | New York, NY | 1,632 mi | $1,288 | $1,632 | 7-9 days | | Boston, MA | Miami, FL | 1,503 mi | $735 | $1,503 | 7-9 days | | Dallas, TX | Los Angeles, CA | 1,437 mi | $1,013 | $1,437 | 7-9 days | | Seattle, WA | Phoenix, AZ | 1,419 mi | $955 | $1,419 | 7-9 days | | Miami, FL | New York, NY | 1,287 mi | $1,374 | $1,287 | 7-9 days | | Portland, OR | Las Vegas, NV | 1,074 mi | $722 | $1,074 | 7-9 days | | Phoenix, AZ | Dallas, TX | 1,080 mi | $1,090 | $1,080 | 7-9 days | | Denver, CO | Chicago, IL | 1,007 mi | $680 | $1,007 | 7-9 days | | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA | 847 mi | $973 | $847 | 7-9 days | | Los Angeles, CA | Las Vegas, NV | 251 mi | $359 | $251 | 7-9 days | | Dallas, TX | Houston, TX | 239 mi | $304 | $239 | 7-9 days | | New York, NY | Boston, MA | 215 mi | $318 | $215 | 7-9 days | | Los Angeles, CA | San Diego, CA | 127 mi | $179 | $127 | 7-9 days | *BY VEHICLE* ## Price by vehicle type Averages from historical data on open transport. Enclosed costs 30-50% more. | vehicle | under500 | band500to1500 | over1500 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Sedan | $200 - $386 | $718 - $1,496 | $926 - $1,971 | | SUV / Crossover | $164 - $385 | $680 - $1,374 | $735 - $2,110 | | Van / Minivan | $202 - $443 | $718 - $1,709 | $900 - $2,153 | | Coupe | $167 - $377 | $809 - $1,342 | $838 - $1,898 | | Pickup truck | $210 - $467 | $783 - $1,683 | $1,177 - $2,037 | *WHAT AFFECTS YOUR PRICE* ## Five factors, no surprises ### Distance *(icon: trendingup) (lucide-trendingup)* Per-mile cost falls with distance. Under 500 mi: $0.80-$1.60/mi. Over 1,500 mi: $0.40-$0.70/mi. ### Vehicle size *(icon: truck) (lucide-truck)* Full-size truck or SUV costs 15-30% more than a sedan on the same route. ### Transport type *(icon: shield) (lucide-shield-check)* Enclosed costs 30-50% more than open. Fewer carriers, higher overhead. ### Timing & season *(icon: calendar) (lucide-calendar)* Summer & Oct snowbird season add 15-25%. Jan-Feb is the cheapest window. ### Route demand *(icon: route) (lucide-route)* High-demand corridors have more carriers competing - better pricing. *SEASONAL CALENDAR* ## When is the cheapest time to ship a car? (image url: https://cdn.carshippers.ai/car-shippers-ai-website/images/20260504-125001-qlxwd6-loading-bay.webp) The auto-transport calendar is highly seasonal. Use this to plan around peak windows. The auto-transport calendar is highly seasonal. Use this to plan around peak windows. | period | description | | --- | --- | | Jan - Feb | Quietest months. Best window for price-sensitive shippers. | | Mar - May | Spring uptick begins. Book ~2 weeks ahead. | | Jun - Aug | +15-25% above average. College moves & relocations. Book 3-4 wks early. | | September | Summer cools. Snowbird season approaching. | | Early October | Snowbird rush begins. Florida & Arizona routes spike. | | Late October | Brief dip before Thanksgiving. Good window. | | Nov - Dec | Mixed: holiday slowdown vs year-end dealer volume. | *OPEN VS ENCLOSED* ## Pick the transport type that fits the car $400-$1,800 Best for: standard vehicles, first-time shippers, price-conscious buyers. Get open transport quote /contact $700-$2,500+ Best for: luxury, classic, exotic, EV, and high-value vehicles. 30-50% more than open. Get enclosed quote /contact *SAVE MORE* ## How to save on car shipping 1. Book 3-4 weeks early - last-minute pays a 20-40% premium. 2. Be flexible on pickup dates - a 3-5 day window cuts cost 10-15%. 3. Choose open transport for standard vehicles - enclosed adds 30-50%. 4. Ship in January or February - the two quietest months. 5. Get an expert-verified quote - AI matching removes broker markup. *FAQ* ## Pricing questions, answered ### How much does it cost to ship a car? Car shipping costs between $400 and $1,800 for most domestic US routes. The average for a standard sedan on open transport is around $950. ### What is the cheapest way to ship a car? Open transport on a flexible pickup window booked 3-4 weeks in advance. January and February are the lowest-demand months. ### How much does enclosed transport cost? Enclosed transport costs 30-50% more than open. For most routes: $700-$1,200 short haul, $1,500-$2,500 coast-to-coast. ### Does car shipping cost more in summer? Yes. June through August is peak season - demand drives prices 15-25% above average. Book 3-4 weeks early. ### Are there hidden fees? No. CarShippers.ai shows all fees in the quote before you book. The quoted price is the price paid. ### Does vehicle size affect price? Yes. A full-size truck or SUV costs 15-30% more than a standard sedan on the same route because it takes more carrier space. ## Ready to get your exact price? Our AI matches you with the best available carrier - expert-verified in 30 minutes. No credit card required. No spam. 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