How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car Across The Country? (2023)

Cars are effective at getting from Point A to Point B, but what if you are unable to drive the car yourself? If you need to ship a car across the country, there are several methods available, as well as car-specific factors that will affect the cost.

The most common method for shipping a car is booking a spot on a car transporter, you can start the process by researching the best car shipping companies for your move. These semi-truck rigs can haul up to nine vehicles at a time, which translates to savings in comparison to private drive-away services.

Car hauling rates per mile vary based on total mileage. The industry average cost to ship a car with an auto transport company is upwards of $2.00 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles. The price dips down to an average of $0.58 per mile for true long-distance moves exceeding 1,500 miles.

An enclosed carrier offers more protection and security than an open carrier. This comes at a premium cost of approximately 40% more than an open carrier.

Curious for more specifics on how much it costs to ship a car across the country? The cost is further affected by the size of the car, the terminals (terminal shipping refers to the customer being responsible for dropping a vehicle at the closest terminal to the pickup location and then also being responsible for picking it up at a terminal close to the delivery location) and even the season. It’s always advisable to get multiple quotes—and if one includes a price range, go ahead and assume the final cost will be on the high side of that range.

NOTE:The beginning half of 2021 has seen an unprecedented labor shortage as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunctionwith this, demand for materials and construction jobs has skyrocketed. As a result, material prices may be higher than those reported in this article, and lead times may be longer than usual for both labor and materials.

The Average Cost to Ship a Car

Forbes Advisor gathered quotes for shipping a sedan from Los Angeles to New York City, a distance of 2,790 miles, to determine the average cost of shipping a car.

Car Hauling Rates Per Mile

The primary factor that affects costs for shipping a car across the country is the total mileage. However, the cost to ship an oversized SUV in an enclosed carrier will be very different from the cost to ship a standard sedan on an open carrier. Additional factors to consider include:

• Size:A heavy minivan may cost close to twice as much to ship as a light compact car.
• Location:If you want a door-delivery service in a rural location, it will come at a price. Alternately, if you’re able to deliver the car to a central transport location and pick it up from another hub, you can expect savings.
• Season:Budget-conscious shippers can find more savings during the winter when there is less demand for shipping services. Just beware of longer than average delivery times due to weather.
• Timeline:Shipping a car across the country with a transport service can take weeks. If time is of the essence, rush services are often available at a cost.

Cost to Ship a Car by Size

The size of the vehicle you’re shipping is one of the biggest price-affecting factors for two reasons. First, larger vehicles take up more space on a transporter, which means less space for other cars. Second, larger vehicles weigh more and limit the carrier’s total capacity.

With a maximum freight weight limit of 80,000 pounds per the U.S. Department of Transportation, commercial car carriers haul an average of five to nine vehicles at a time.

Forbes Advisor gathered quotes for shipping a 2020 Honda Civic, a midsize sedan, from Los Angeles to New York City, as well as quotes for shipping a 2020 GMC Yukon, a large SUV, the same distance to demonstrate how size impacts overall costs.

Cost to Transport a Car by Freight

Although shipping a car with a car transporter is the most popular option, it is far from the only way to move a vehicle across the country. Other methods for shipping a vehicle include using a freight train, shipping container, ship or airplane.

Each alternate shipping method comes with a few caveats.

Freight Train

Although this method can be a budget-friendly option, commercial carriers do not work with individuals on shipping solo vehicles. You’ll have to go through a transportation company and, even then, space can be limited. You are also restricted by the terminals and will have to figure out how to get the car to and from the terminals.

Passenger Train

Amtrak offers the only direct-to-consumer freight train shipping option, which allows you to ship your standard size vehicle from Virginia to Florida for less than $300 one way. The catch? The Amtrak Auto Train only runs along the East Coast. You also need to ride on the train with the vehicle, which means an additional passenger ticket, which runs upwards of $89 for a one-way ticket.

Port-to-Port Shipping

If you need to get the car across or around a large body of water, port-to-port shipping can be a good option. According to auto transport company Montway, the average cost to ship a vehicle to Hawaii is in the $1,500 to $2,000 range. The westbound journey to Hawaii is more expensive than the eastbound journey to the mainland.

Air Freight

For international moves, it may occur to you to use the same method to move your vehicle that you use for yourself: flying. However, the cost to fly a car is much different. In fact, the cost of using air freight can easily exceed the actual value of the car.

Factors That Affect Car Shipping Cost

When choosing a car shipping company, it’s essential to consider the multiple factors determining the price of getting your car to your destination.

Providers

Car carriers determine the prices, not car brokers. Car brokers must keep the market prices set by thousands of car carriers in mind.

Size and Weight

The size and weight of your car will be a huge factor in pricing. Ensure that you have your car’s size and weight handy when looking at quotes to get the most accurate estimate.

Transport Type

Most people opt for open car transport for the cheapest rate. However, this does not protect their vehicles from dirt and debris. Enclosed shipping is more expensive but protects your car from the elements.

Fuel Type

Gas and diesel fuel prices certainly play a significant role in the cost of shipping your car. When fuel prices soar, the price of car shipping rises as well.

Fuel Price

Gas and diesel fuel prices certainly play a significant role in the cost of shipping your car. When fuel prices soar, the price of car shipping rises as well.

Time of Year

Depending on when you’ve scheduled your move, your car shipping rates could vary. Popular months for moving, such as May to August, are also popular car shipping times, which means that the demand for these services is higher during this timeframe. Plan accordingly.