Cost
to ship a car
How much does it cost to ship a car? Check our cost to ship a car guide below.
Request a car shipping price online.
The cost to ship a car depends on several factors. Each factor affects the final price – whether we calculate it manually or via a software. The final car shipping price estimate must take into consideration all of these parameters in order to quote a correct price. A current cost to ship a car will determine the quality of your car shipping service from booking, through picking-up of the vehicle to its delivery at your final destination. Please, review these factors below and call our team with questions.
Car make and model
Smaller cars are cheaper to ship, while bigger, heavier vehicles are more expensive. The make and model of your vehicle, as well as any modifications done to it, and whether there will be any personal items loaded inside, all matter for the final cost to ship a car.
Transport Type
Open auto transport is the standard shipping method in the industry. It is used for all vehicle types and it is the less expensive option due to higher availability. Enclosed auto transport is more expensive and often used for sports, luxury or classic automobiles. The value of your car will guide you in choosing the right transport type.
Distance
Generally, to move a vehicle shorter distances cost less while longer distances cost more. The longer the distance the less it costs per mile, but that is never the decisive price factor. Shorter distances still consume gas and require the same amount of work, but in the end it is fewer miles traveled, which increases the cost to ship a car per mile.
Location
Shipping to and from major metro areas is always faster and cheaper due to concentration of car carriers in such areas. Shipping cars to and from rural areas is more complex and economically challenging. Fewer auto haulers are willing to go to remote areas to pick-up or deliver vehicles. This usually means higher cost to ship cars and longer wait for pick-up/delivery.
Vehicle Condition
Transporting vehicle in good working condition is the norm in the auto transport industry. To ship a non-running vehicle we need a truck that can winch it onto the trailer. This requires more work, more time and additional equipment. A special truck and special skills set means a higher cost to ship such vehicle. In some cases, we may even need a forklift to load and unload.
Supply & Demand
In auto transport, when supply is higher prices drop. When demand is high the truck space is limited and this means prices increase. That is why a quote is valid for one week only. Understanding the basic principles of supply and demand is helpful when it comes to shipping cars, nationally or internationally. This is the final and most important cost to ship a car factor.
The cost to ship a car is what every shipper cares about first. When it comes to pricing we all want the lowest possible rate. The truth of the matter is that you get what you pay for. This is a simple truth in any industry. Often booking the lowest price to ship a car ends up becoming more expensive at the end.
The cost to ship a car depends on several factors and they all play an important role. Whether you are shipping a pick-up truck or a small sedan a market price is the most important for timely shipping.
The exact locations also affect the price. Rural areas are more difficult to schedule because there is less demand, which in turn makes them more expensive. Big metro areas means high demand and more trucks availability, which in turns lowers the price. Shipping a car across the country does not mean it will be more expensive than shipping to the neighboring state.
The type of transport carrier affects the price and the shipping times. The cost to ship a car on an open carrier is usually lower than when shipping via enclosed.
Distance and make and model set the base price. The final price to ship a car is calculated based on factors such as location, vehicle make and model and transport type.
Ultimately, a current fair market rate is positioned in the middle of the price spectrum – between the highest and the lowest prices. Supply and demand fluctuations are a major factor that contributes to price hikes or drops. Auto transport prices depend on supply and demand a lot. Daily fluctuations affect the costs. When a vehicle is priced correctly, according to current market conditions a carrier will take it right away.
A logistics expert can quote an accurate price based on current supply and demand situation, and that is why a manual quote is always accurate. Comparing several quotes should help you position a medium market price easily. Talking to most car shipping companies then is a the next step to take. This will help you understand the type of customer service you will receive. Call Corsia team no to discuss your shipment and budget with out friendly agents. Read our customer reviews to see why thousands of people trusts us.
A correctly quoted rate is a current market price that will ship a car now.
If the answer is yes, keep in mind that expedited auto transport service costs more. If you need your vehicle picked-up or delivered on an exact date, or by an exact date, expect to pay a premium.
Door-to-door auto transport is the standard shipping method of Corsia Logistics. Terminal to terminal is an option as well, and contrary to popular opinion, it often costs more due to storage fees and proximity of the terminal.
Top load means loading a vehicle on the top deck of the vehicle transport trailer. This ensures against possible leaks from other vehicles, from flying road debris, and it is generally safer.
Auto transport prices depend on supply and demand fluctuations. Daily fluctuations in supply and demand affect car shipping prices. An automated price often can not take that into consideration.
A logistics expert can quote a very accurate price based on current supply and demand situation, and that is why a manual quote is usually more accurate.
All quotes are not created equal, neither are all auto transport companies. When you search online you will come across three major entities involved in the auto transport business – broker/carrier companies, leads generators and auctions.
Short distances cost about $1.00/mile (summer 2023). This is for short distances between 1-500 miles.
Medium distances cost about $0.90/mile. This is 500 to 1500 miles.
Long distances cost about $0.80/mile. This is for 1500 miles or more.
Review these examples car shipping quotes now. Read further to learn more about how prices are formulated. Request a quote to ship a car online or call Corsia team now to discuss your options and budget.
Distance | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier | Average price |
| 500 miles | $789 | $1059 | $889 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 miles | $1289 | $1489 | $1259 |
| 1,500 miles | $1559 | $1789 | $1689 |
| 2,000 miles | $1989 | $2289 | $2000 |
| 2,500 miles | $2189 | $2589 | $2459 |
| 3000 miles | $2259 | $2659 | $2489 |
All car shipping quotes displayed here are subject to change weekly. These are car shipping cost estimates and they are not updated weekly at the moment. Please, call our team now to get a current price or request a quote online. Thank you!
All car shipping prices are not created equal, neither are all car transport companies. When you search online you will come across three major entities involved in the auto transport business – broker/carrier companies, lead generation websites, auction websites also called marketplaces.
The companies with authority to contract customers in order to transport their vehicles are all auto transport brokers and all car carrier companies. With an authority to move vehicles across the country, and some internationally, such companies work together on daily basis in order to make vehicle shipping fast and affordable. Read below to learn more.
The engine of the car shipping industry is all small and mid-size broker and carrier companies. They work together on daily basis to deliver efficient and affordable car shipping service.
Costs to ship a car often vary between all three entities. Some companies will quote high prices, while others will quote unrealistically low rate.
The prices given by lead generator websites and auction websites are usually low-ball prices. Broker and carrier companies can give you the most realistic market price.
The most realistic rate comes from a reputable auto transport broker or a carrier company. This is the engine of the industry – the professionals who work daily with national dispatch boards and see how prices change. This is what keeps the prices competitive and the industry in balance. Small and medium size broker companies do not allow monopolization of the market by large corporations.
Majority of the orders in the auto transport industry are booked with brokers. The chances of you finding a car carrier who is in the same area as your car, has a spot open, and it is going in your desired direction are usually pretty slim. This is why the broker company is a key element in the industry. Most of the car carriers are small owner operated companies you can not find online. But you can find brokers who work to find customers to fill the trailers.
A broker makes sure the carrier is licensed and insured, and checks their safety ratings across the board. A trustworthy broker company will work for you, the customer, to find the right carrier that travels your route and matches your requirements for a type of trailer, insurance liability and delivery time. They will provide a fair, current market price that will ship your vehicle in a timely and professional manner. Most carriers do not manage the customer shipping process.
A carrier is responsible to load, deliver and unload your vehicle. About 90 percent of the car carriers in the US are small, owner operated companies. This is why the prices you receive online are from auto transport broker companies. A broker is a registered, licensed and bonded entity that is placed to manage your vehicle shipments. It is the agent that makes sure the small carrier companies’ cargo space is filled. Small broker companies can leverage the industry, and keep it in balance.
Together small and mid-size broker and carrier companies create a very efficient logistics ecosystem that works in harmony to provide timely auto transport services.
This entity is not an auto transport company of any type. This is an online business created to collect private information for other businesses. These lead generator websites are often found online and customers frequently confuse them with auto transport companies. But de facto, they are neither a carrier nor a broker. After receiving the customer’s request they sell the information to several auto transport companies. Then you receive several calls from companies competing for your business. It is often unpleasant to receive 5 to 10 calls in a matter of hours. Moreover, these companies know they are competing against each other and thus quote unrealistically low rates.
The third entity is auction websites or marketplaces. We advise our customers to avoid such platforms because this is where underbidding wars happen. They start too high and go down to an unrealistically low rate. Most companies are not able to give a realistic rate because they need to compete live with large companies who simply can afford to quote low. On the other hand, often due to fees imposed from the auction website, auto transport companies are forced to quote higher prices so they can make at least some profit. It is not only the companies’ fault, or the platform itself. The demand for low prices has always been a factor.
Fair price to ship a car is a correctly quoted price. In some cases you will receive unrealistic quotes – some too high, others too low. This is usually the case when you get quotes from lead generator websites, or auctions.
Some companies quote low-ball prices and then call and ask for more money. They usually ask you to pay a deposit upfront and this means you cannot cancel, when they fail to pick up your car within the specified time frame.
The most competitive prices come from small and mid-size companies. An established, small company is in business to stay in business, and they understand the importance of a realistic price that will ship a car now.
Booking your service one to two weeks in advance is best in order to get affordable price to ship a car. Any time earlier than that does not guarantee a lower rate or a faster service.
The auto transport industry is heavily influenced by supply and demand fluctuations, and prices often change daily. Sometimes even a same day booking can be quoted a lower price than orders booked a week or a month in advance due to a sudden cancellation or carrier schedule updates.
Shipping a car in winter can take longer than in other seasons due to delays caused by the cold weather across the country. Also many car carriers know things can get complicated as the days get shorter and road conditions become more difficult and choose to stay home for longer. Many carriers take more weeks off due to weather conditions, which lowers the availability of trucks which many would think will increases the cost to ship a car.
However, winter is a slow season in general which means shipping a car cost is lower. December is slow season and drivers are home with families, which may slightly increase prices, but in general if you are looking for the cheapest option winter is the best season.
In January things are similar – many carriers take more days off while demands for southern states increases, as the snowbirds seasons begins. Thus the cost to ship a car increase a bit on certain routes.
February is a good month to save on auto transport and book the cheapest price to ship a car. Most drivers return on the road, but demand is low and this is the time to book car transport when you are on a budget.
A great time to ship a car with a professional car transport service, and get a good price is in the early spring. The weather improves dramatically, the days lengthen, and more car carriers are on the road, ready to ship your vehicle.
March is the month when car shipping prices remain low with most auto transport companies. This the time when most snowbirds stat returning back north, but it is still not as busy as May or June.
Summer is the busiest season for car shipping, hence the cost to ship a car is usually the highest during the summer months. Universities and schools are out for the summer, employees are changing jobs and overall everybody is relocating.
July and August are extremely busy months, with high demand, but also high supply of car carriers. This means that the auto transport market is in a balanced state for competitive vehicle shipping costs. Whether you need open car transport, enclosed car carrier or expedited vehicle delivery, the cost to ship a car will be higher, but supply of carriers is also very good.
Mild weather and good driver availability in the fall months results in a slightly lower car shipping cost. It very much depends on the specific destinations, but overall prices drop a bit. This means it is a good time to contact an auto transport company if you need to ship a car.
September might be still busy on certain routes due to college students shipping cars back to school, but that is only in some states. The rest of the season, such as the months of October and November are slower and offer good car carrier availability with some discounts available.
The cost to ship a car depends on a few things: a) vehicle type; b) vehicle condition; c) the exact distance; d) the exact locations; e) transport type; f) vehicle modifications; and g) seasonal fluctuations – current supply and demand. This is the formula that calculates the price to ship a car. So, based on that it could cost between $200 and $3000. Please, call us now for a quick quote!
A partial payment is usually required upon placing the order to reserve the spot on the car carrier. We accept all major credit and debit cards. Still for customer convenience you will have these two choices:
The price to ship a car we quote is valid for one week. After that period the price may change as logistics is a supply and demand driven industry. It is best to know your shipping date and be ready to check prices and book one to two weeks in advance.
Per our cancellation policy every cancellation must be submitted in writing. You can cancel anytime. For a full refund of any partial payment that may have already been paid to reserve a spot on a car carrier, your cancellation should be requested before we have assigned a truck.
We always advise our customers to book one to two weeks in advance. Some prefer to book even a month in advance. This allows for good organization and finding the best car carrier to accommodate your time-frame. When you need a last minute shipping then we have expedited services as well. But the cost to ship a car expedited is usually higher.
Yes, you can. We only need the state and the city in order to be able to quote a car shipping price. The cost would be current based on market situation.
This is the date your car is ready to be loaded. It is not the exact pick up date the carrier will show up at your door. If there is a carrier available on this date we may be able to send it that day. If this is not the case then we should be able to have a truck within our usual pick-up window of about one to five days starting from this date.
The delivery time generally depends on the distance. Also, please remember ETA is an ESTIMATED time of arrival. Our dispatchers will make every effort to notify you of any deviations, such as delays or early arrivals, so it is very important to have a good call back number.
Distance – Miles / Days
0-100 / 1 to 2
300-600 / 2 to 4
600-1000 / 3 to 5
1000-1500 / 4 to 6
1500-2000 / 5 to 7
2000-2400 / 6 to 8
2400 and up / 8 to 10
When you call to get your cost to ship a car quote, our logistics experts will discuss your options, budget and preferences and give you a current market price to ship a car now.
