Colorado Car Shipping
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Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368
The cost to ship a car to or from Colorado is typically $450 on a short regional run and up to $2,100 coast to coast, on an open trailer, and takes between 1 to 7 days in transit time. We pick up and deliver across the state, from Denver and the Front Range to the mountain towns and the Western Slope.
Smart Auto Move provides nationwide car shipping throughout the lower 48 states, backed by four strategically located staffed offices, six additional service areas, and a trusted carrier network of more than 16,000 transport professionals nationwide. Our extensive network allows us to serve customers across the continental U.S. with reliable vehicle transport from coast to coast.
Service is not currently available in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.
Colorado Car Shipping Prices
Every row is a running mid-size car on an open trailer, shipped to or from Colorado. Rows start in Denver, but Aurora, Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Boulder share the same ranges.
| Route | Also covers | Distance | Days on the road | Distance range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Mountain West and the Plains | ||||
| Denver to Colorado Springs SHORTEST | Pueblo, Castle Rock | About 70 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Denver to Cheyenne | Fort Collins, Greeley | About 100 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Denver to Albuquerque | Santa Fe | About 450 miles | 2 days | $450 to $900 |
| Denver to Salt Lake City | Provo, Ogden | About 525 miles | 2 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Omaha | Lincoln | About 540 miles | 2 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Kansas City | Overland Park | About 600 miles | 2 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Oklahoma City | Edmond, Norman | About 680 miles | 2 to 3 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Las Vegas | Henderson | About 750 miles | 2 to 3 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Dallas | Fort Worth, Plano | About 790 miles | 2 to 3 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Phoenix | Mesa, Scottsdale | About 820 miles | 2 to 3 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| The coasts | ||||
| Denver to Chicago | Naperville, Aurora IL | About 1,000 miles | 3 to 4 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Los Angeles | Long Beach, Pasadena | About 1,020 miles | 3 to 4 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Houston | Katy, Sugar Land | About 1,030 miles | 3 to 4 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Seattle or Tacoma | Lakewood WA, Bellevue | About 1,320 miles | 4 to 5 days | $1,400 to $1,600 |
| Denver to Atlanta | Marietta, Alpharetta | About 1,400 miles | 4 to 5 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Denver to New York | Newark, Jersey City | About 1,780 miles | 5 to 6 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
| Denver to Orlando | Kissimmee, Sanford | About 1,850 miles | 5 to 6 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
| Denver to Boston | Cambridge, Quincy | About 1,970 miles | 5 to 7 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
| Denver to Miami | Fort Lauderdale | About 2,060 miles | 5 to 7 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
Where these figures come from. The Denver to Seattle or Tacoma row matches the lane we publish on our Tacoma to Denver page. The other rows use the range we publish nationwide for that distance, on our 2026 car shipping cost guide.
Under 500 miles
$450 to $900. Colorado Springs, Cheyenne, Albuquerque.
500 to 1,500 miles
$900 to $1,600. Salt Lake City, Omaha, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas.
1,500 to 2,500 miles
$1,250 to $2,100. New York, Orlando, Boston, Miami.
What makes Colorado car shipping different?
The Front Range is easy to reach on I-25. The mountains take more planning, because big trucks have to cross high passes on I-70.
The Front Range
Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins sit right on I-25. Trucks reach most homes there without long detours.
Mountain towns
Vail, Breckenridge and Aspen are on steep roads. We often meet on a main road or in a nearby lot.
Military moves
Fort Carson, Peterson and the Air Force Academy bring many moves. We plan around base rules and report dates.
Colorado Car Shipping Questions
The questions we get asked most about Colorado, answered with this area's own numbers rather than national averages.
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Colorado?
The cost to ship a car to or from Colorado is typically $450 on a short regional run and up to $2,100 coast to coast, on an open trailer, and takes between 1 to 7 days in transit time. Denver to Colorado Springs is about 70 miles. Denver to Miami is about 2,060 miles.
Why does this page show ranges by distance instead of a price for each route?
We publish a route price once real Colorado loads stand behind it. Until then, each row shows our national range for that distance, and your quote gives the exact figure.
What sets the price of Colorado car shipping?
Distance comes first. Then the size of the vehicle, whether it runs, open or enclosed, the time of year, and how easily a truck can reach your street. A wider pickup window helps the most.
How long does it take to ship a car from Colorado?
Short runs like Colorado Springs or Cheyenne take a day. Salt Lake City, Kansas City and Dallas take 2 to 3 days. Chicago and Los Angeles take 3 to 4, and the East Coast takes 5 to 7. Pickup comes first, inside a window that starts on your date.
How soon will a truck pick up my car?
Pickup happens inside a window that starts on the date you ask for. Standard service is a 6-day window. Expedited service is a 3-day window.
Can you pick up my car in a ski town?
Yes. We pick up in Vail, Breckenridge, Aspen and other mountain towns. In winter, a meeting spot on a main road or in Denver is often faster.
Should I pick open or enclosed transport in Colorado?
Open is the right call for most cars. Plan on about 80 percent more than open for enclosed. A $1,000 open move is roughly $1,800 enclosed. A hard-sided trailer holds two to six cars where an open one holds ten, so each car carries more of the cost. Worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint, or a car too low to clear a ramp. For a daily driver, open is the right call.
Is my car insured while it ships from Colorado?
Yes. Your car is covered by the carrier's Carrier Cargo Insurance from pickup to delivery. Once your order is assigned to a truck and carrier, we can send you the certificate of insurance right away.
Who is going to ship my car?
Smart Auto Move is. We place your car with a carrier we have vetted and worked with, and we stay with the move from pickup to delivery. We will get your car moved, or your money back.
Can I leave personal items in the car?
Usually yes, within reason. Most drivers will take a few things as a courtesy. Keep it under about 100 pounds, pack it neatly, and keep it out of sight from outside the car. Think a few boxes in the trunk rather than a carload. The one thing to know is that you are paying to move the vehicle, so the carrier's insurance covers the car itself. Keep anything you would hate to lose with you.
How do I get my car ready to ship?
Wash it so the inspection is clear. Take photos from every side. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Take out toll tags, garage openers and loose valuables. Tell us about any leaks or problems with starting. Then hand over one key.
How far ahead should I book Colorado car shipping?
One to two weeks is enough for most routes. Give a little more for the busy summer moving season. Booking earlier does not cost more.
How does payment work?
We take a deposit when you book and the balance is due at delivery. Drivers usually take a cashier's check, money order or cash. You can also put the full amount on a credit card, but only at the time of booking, so the funds are ready for the carrier.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
Cancel any time before we assign a carrier and your deposit comes back to you. Once we assign one and send you the driver's details, that money is spoken for. It is not gone, though. You can push the move back and use it on a later shipment.
How do I know a car shipping company is legitimate?
Check its USDOT and MC numbers on the FMCSA site, and read its reviews on the BBB and Google. Smart Auto Move is USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368, with a BBB A+ rating. Be careful of a quote far below the others. Ask that company if the rate is confirmed, then look for complaints about the price going up later.
Why do you take a deposit?
A deposit means we only work with committed customers, and it shows we are confident we can book a carrier at the price we quoted. A company that takes nothing up front is often not sure it can. Those are often the ones that come back later with a higher rate.
What do I need to register a car in Colorado?
Colorado gives new residents 90 days to register a car. You need a VIN verification, and many cars in the Denver and Boulder areas need an emissions test. Bring your old title or registration, proof of insurance and your ID.
Do you have an office in Colorado?
Our staffed offices are in Chicago, Lakewood in Washington, Los Angeles and Kissimmee in Florida. Colorado moves are arranged on our national line at 888-709-9078 by the team that books this corridor every week. Your car goes straight from your address onto the carrier.
Can you ship a car that does not run?
Yes. A non-running car needs a winch or a carrier with a lift, so it usually costs $200 or more above the same car running. Tell us when you book. We will talk it through and give you an accurate price.
Can I track my car while it ships?
You get the driver's phone number for calls or texts, plus email updates from us. GPS tracking is there when the carrier and the truck support it. We will tell you which applies once your carrier is assigned.
What happens on delivery day?
The driver calls ahead with a time. You walk around the car together and compare it with the pickup report. You note anything new on the Bill of Lading, sign, and pay the balance. Then the car is yours.
Does winter affect Colorado car shipping?
Yes. Snow on I-70 can close the passes for hours at a time. Trucks still run, but they may wait for the road to open.
Give yourself a wider pickup window from November to March. If you live in the mountains, a Denver meeting spot can save time in winter.
Where in Colorado can you pick up, and does location change the price?
Not by much. Every part of Colorado shares these ranges. What matters most is how easily a truck can reach your street.
Denver and Aurora
Door to door across the metro, close to I-25, I-70 and I-225.
Colorado Springs
South on I-25, near Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy.
Fort Collins and Greeley
North on I-25, with room for a big truck on most streets.
Boulder
Northwest of Denver on US-36. On tight streets we meet at a nearby lot.
Mountain towns
Vail, Breckenridge and Aspen. Allow more time in winter.
Dealers and auctions
Give us the name and release hours. Many lots want a set pickup time.
Smart Auto Move Inc
Colorado moves are arranged on our national line by the team that books this corridor every week.
National line 888-709-9078
Registered business address: 4208 Six Forks Rd Ste 1000, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Your car is never stored anywhere. It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the whole trip.
What do you need to register a car in Colorado after it ships?
Colorado has a few steps for a car that comes from another state. Plan for them before your car arrives.
Register within 90 days
Colorado gives new residents 90 days to register a car. Your county motor vehicle office handles it.
A VIN check for out-of-state cars
Colorado asks for a VIN verification on a car from another state. A licensed dealer, an emissions station or law enforcement can do it.
Emissions in the Denver area
Many cars in the Denver, Boulder and North Front Range areas need an emissions test before they can be registered.
Rules change from time to time, so check the Colorado DMV site before your visit.
How Colorado Car Shipping Works, Step by Step
Get your price
Give us both ZIP codes, the year, make and model, whether it runs, your first date, and open or enclosed. The Smart Price Promise holds the quote.
Book with a deposit
We take a deposit and start placing your car with a vetted carrier. Pickup runs inside a 6-day window from your date, or 3 days with expedited.
Meet the driver
You get the driver's details once a carrier is assigned. The driver calls ahead. You walk around the car together and sign the pickup report.
Take delivery
The driver calls ahead again. Check the car against the pickup report, sign, and pay the balance.
Open, Enclosed and Expedited Colorado Auto Transport
Open transport
The way most cars ship. A daily driver, an SUV or a pickup rides on an open carrier with up to ten vehicles. It is the right call for most Colorado moves.
Enclosed transport
Plan on about 80 percent more than open. Worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint or a car too low to clear a ramp.
Expedited transport
Pickup inside a 3-day window instead of 6. Good when you have a start date, a closing date, or orders to report.
Should you ship your car or drive it out of Colorado?
Drive it when
The trip is short, like Colorado Springs, Cheyenne or Salt Lake City. The car runs well. You have the time and you are going anyway.
Ship it when
The trip is long, like New York, Boston or Miami. You would need a flight back. You have two cars and one driver. The car does not run, or nobody can make the drive.
Top 5 Reasons to ship your vehicle to or from Colorado instead of driving
- Skip the hard driving days. Long trips across several states bring weather, traffic and roads you do not know. Hand those miles to a driver who runs them every week.
- Rentals add up fast. A rental while you are away costs real money, comes with rules, and never feels like your own car.
- Get there sooner. Driving coast to coast eats days. Fly, land, and meet your car at the other end.
- Keep your travel money. Gas, motels, meals, tolls and the odd repair add up to more than most people expect.
- Enjoy the trip you planned. Storms, closures and a check-engine light can turn a drive into a three-day delay.
What our customers say
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
Written by Richard Avery
President, Smart Auto Move Inc
Richard Avery founded Smart Auto Move because too many auto transport companies were treating customers badly. There was no easy way to tell an honest company from the rest. He has worked in vehicle transport for over a decade, and writes about routes, pricing and carrier coordination. The ranges on this page come from the national bands we publish, and they are reviewed as the market moves.
October 2026
Ready to ship a car to or from Colorado?
Start with both ZIP codes, the vehicle details and your first available date. We will give you the real figure for your route and hold it with the Smart Price Promise.