car shipping
Guide
everything you need to know
Here you can find our complete car shipping guide with all the necessary questions and answers to learn how car shipping works.
Everything you need to know from start to finish – simple, honest, and actionable.
Car shipping may seem overwhelming at first glance. But when broken down into steps – from quote to delivery – the process becomes predictable, manageable, and stress-free.
At Corsia Logistics, our goal isn’t just to haul vehicles – we educate and guide you through every decision point, with clarity, transparency, and no hidden surprises.
Car shipping is an industry defined by frequent changes and affected by constant government regulations. State and federal regulations apply to every car carrier across the country. Based on the type of car carrier, various elements affect pricing, shipment time and insurance coverage.
At Corsia Logistics, we combine technology with personalized service to every customer and partner. From pick-up to delivery, we offer reliable vehicle shipping that works for your business, not the other way around. Whether you need to move a single vehicle or a truck load of vehicles, we make it happen with care, transparency, and experience.
Car shipping costs depends on several factors. Each factor is very important when the final price is calculated – whether we calculate it manually or a software does it. The final car shipping price estimate must include each and every parameter.
Good quotes reflect current market conditions and carrier capacity – not just static numbers on a website.
Corsia’s promise: Explain every part of your quote and never surprise you with hidden fees.
Vehicle make & 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.
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.
Distance
The longer the distance the less it costs per mile, but that is never the decisive 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 price per mile as well.
Location
Auto transport to and from rural areas is a more complex and economically challenging. Fewer auto haulers are willing to go to remote areas to pick-up or deliver vehicles. This often means higher prices and longer wait for pick-up, or delivery.
Vehicle Condition
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 skill set means a higher rate. In some cases, we may even need a forklift.
Supply & Demand
When supply is higher than demand, prices drop, but when demand is higher prices go up. When demand is high the truck space is limited and this means prices increase. That is why a quote is good for one week only.
If you’ve never shipped a car before, the process can feel a bit intimidating at first. You will find a lot of information online and it could overwhelm you. But fear not, we are here to lay out this complete guide that will help you understand what car shipping is and how it works. Quotes vary wildly, timelines feel vague, and terms like broker, carrier, open, enclosed, door-to-door, and deposit (booking fee) are often thrown around with little explanation.
This is our ultimate Car Shipping Basics. It is designed to answer every beginner question in plain language, and also give an experienced shipper a clear, accurate reference point.
By the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly how car shipping works, who does what, what affects prices and timing, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Car shipping (also called auto transport) is the process of transporting a vehicle from one location to another using a big rig – a commercial car carrier. This is a service used by businesses and private individuals.
This service is often booked when:
Most vehicles are shipped on multi-car carriers, sharing space with other vehicles going in the same direction. This is the most efficient way to transport automobiles. On special occasions one or two car carriers can be booked.
Understanding this is critical. And it will give you peace of mind when you understand the roles of those two entities in auto logistics.
Note:
A broker is the transport management layer that makes national and international car shipping possible. It is an integral part of the auto logistics industry.
You provide:
The quote is based on real market data that is influenced by current supply and demand. It is not a flat rate based only on type of vehicle and distance.
Once you confirm your reservation:
This is where real logistics work starts. Logistics professionals, such as Corsia Team, know the routes and the carriers, and know how to inspect new carriers.
A carrier accepts the load based on:
Once assigned, pickup is scheduled and confirmation sent to the customer.
At pickup:
This document protects both you and the carrier by noting any pre-existing conditions.
During transit:
Our most commonly used dispatch platform offers live GPS, which we can check anytime and often send to customers when requested to verify location of the truck. Corsia communication is constant.
At delivery:
Once signed, the shipment is complete.Any remaining balance is paid usually before or at delivery. It all depends on the payment option selected.
Note: Flexible windows often lead to faster dispatch and lower price.
Carriers choose loads based on:
If pricing is unrealistic, carriers simply won’t accept the load, this is why underpriced quotes lead to delays.
Both transport types are safe, the difference is the level of protection required for the automobile. It makes sense to book enclosed if your car costs anything above $50,000.
Most private customers prefer door-to-door delivery.
Car shipping prices are influenced by several factors:
In auto logistics pricing is market-driven. It is similar to general logistics, as well as airlines. Several factors affect the pricing and it changes sometimes daily.
Professional auto logistics management companies / brokers charge a reservation fee . It is absolutely normal for a broker to ask for a reservation fee. There is no service or product you can order for free. This is how a customer confirms they require the service and the broker can actively start searching for a carrier.
It all depends on the dates of shipping. Carrier search should start at least 5 days before the actual shipping date. The earlier the better usually. When customers book early this allows them to split the payment and make it easier for all parties involved. You can pay a reservation fee when you book, later when the car is dispatched to a carrier you can pay 20% or more, and the rest at delivery of the vehicle.
The Bill of Lading is the main document and inspection report.
Always review this document carefully, this is your main invoice and receipt. Some carrier still provide paper BOL, but most of the time it is all digitized now.
Car shipping is not Amazon Prime.
Good brokers communicate early and clearly.. Dispatch platforms do offer live GPS tracking, and we can see drivers location, so updates are possible at any time. However there are still some carriers who do not use this feature due to privacy reasons or financial considerations.
On delivery day customers should:
Most deliveries are smooth and uneventful. However, in logistics as in daily driving things happen so inspection is a must do.
❌ “The lowest quote is the best deal”
✔ Unrealistic pricing causes delays and damages, or even worse
❌ “Brokers just post listings”
✔ Brokers actively manage auto logistics processes
❌ “Carriers drive straight through”
✔ Routes include multiple stops
Before pickup:
Preparation helps avoid delays and miscommunication.
Most issues come from:
The fix is simple: clarity, flexibility, and transparency. This is the only way to make sure you will receive the best service possible. This is how Corsia Team operates and it is visible in our customer reviews.
Good car shipping is not about:
It’s about:
At Corsia, car shipping is treated as logistics, not guesswork. Auto logistics requires managing timelines of both customers and carriers, utilizing professional software and most of all knowledge of the industry. This includes routes, pricing expectations, equipment requirements and more. Call our team now to discuss your options and ask your questions.
Open Transport — Most Common & Cost-Effective
Enclosed Transport — Extra Protection
Both options are safe — the main trade-off is protection vs. cost and availability.
Delivery time depends on:
Typical transit times:
Transit time is always an estimate in logistics. Our team understand very wel that time is of the essense for most people and we strive for timely, predictable delivery.
A correctly quoted rate is a current market price that will ship a car now.
The engine of the car shipping industry is all the small and mid-size broker and carrier car shipping companies. They work together on daily basis to deliver efficient and affordable car shipping service.
However, lead generator websites and auctions enter the industry as well. Prices often vary between all these 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.
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.
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.
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.
A fair auto transport price is a current market price that takes into account all factors. In some cases you will receive unrealistic price 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 for these money, you are either stuck waiting or lose the deposit if you cancel.
The most competitive prices come from small and mid-size car transport companies. An established company has 5-star reputation and is in business to stay in business. Corsia is one of the best car shipping companies and we understand the importance of a realistic price that will ship a car now.
A: Ideally yes – for inspection and signature. If not, we can coordinate alternative arrangements.
A: Yes. Corsia provides international transport with expert coordination.
A: We’ll send a carrier with proper equipment, but costs may be higher due to special handling.
A: Yes – residential or business fleets. We handle all sizes.
A: Yes – motorcycles, trucks, specialty vehicles, and more.
When you call or request a quote online, our logistics experts will discuss your options, budget and preferences and quote current market price with no hidden fees.
