Connecticut Car Shipping
Smart Price Promise — the price you agree to is the price you pay. How it works
Get a Connecticut Car Shipping Quote
Your details stay with Smart Auto Move. We do not sell your information.
Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368
The cost to ship a car to or from Connecticut is typically $450 on a short regional run and up to $2,500 coast to coast, on an open trailer, and takes between 1 to 10 days in transit time. We pick up and deliver across the state, from Fairfield County and New Haven to Hartford and the shoreline.
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.
Connecticut Car Shipping Prices
Every row is a running mid-size car on an open trailer, shipped to or from Connecticut. Rows start in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport or Stamford, but Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury and New London share the same ranges.
| Route | Also covers | Distance | Days on the road | Distance range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England and the East Coast | ||||
| Stamford to Newark, NJ SHORTEST | Greenwich, Norwalk | About 45 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Hartford to Providence | Warwick, Cranston | About 75 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| New Haven to New York | Brooklyn, Queens | About 80 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Hartford to Boston | Cambridge, Quincy | About 100 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Hartford to Albany | Schenectady | About 110 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| New Haven to Philadelphia | Cherry Hill | About 170 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Bridgeport to Baltimore | Towson, Columbia | About 240 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| New Haven to Washington, DC | Arlington, Alexandria | About 300 miles | 1 day | $450 to $900 |
| Hartford to Pittsburgh | Cranberry | About 470 miles | 2 days | $450 to $900 |
| New Haven to Raleigh | Durham, Cary | About 560 miles | 2 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Florida, Texas and the West | ||||
| Hartford to Charlotte | Concord, Gastonia | About 740 miles | 2 to 3 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Stamford to Chicago | Naperville, Aurora | About 800 miles | 2 to 3 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| New Haven to Atlanta | Marietta, Alpharetta | About 940 miles | 3 to 4 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Hartford to Orlando | Kissimmee, Sanford | About 1,160 miles | 3 to 4 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| New Haven to Miami | Fort Lauderdale | About 1,350 miles | 4 to 5 days | $900 to $1,600 |
| Hartford to Dallas | Fort Worth, Plano | About 1,650 miles | 4 to 6 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
| Stamford to Houston | Katy, Sugar Land | About 1,650 miles | 4 to 6 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
| Hartford to Denver | Aurora, Lakewood | About 1,880 miles | 5 to 7 days | $1,250 to $2,100 |
| New Haven to Phoenix | Mesa, Scottsdale | About 2,520 miles | 7 to 9 days | $1,600 to $2,500 |
| Hartford to Los Angeles | Long Beach, Pasadena | About 2,880 miles | 7 to 9 days | $1,600 to $2,500 |
| Hartford to Seattle | Tacoma, Bellevue | About 2,960 miles | 8 to 10 days | $1,600 to $2,500 |
Where these figures come from. Each row shows the range we publish nationwide for that distance, on our 2026 car shipping cost guide. We publish a Connecticut price for each route once real Connecticut loads stand behind it. Until then, your quote gives you the exact figure, and the Smart Price Promise holds it.
Under 500 miles
$450 to $900. Newark, NJ, Providence, New York, Boston, Albany.
500 to 1,500 miles
$900 to $1,600. Raleigh, Charlotte, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando.
1,500 to 2,500 miles
$1,250 to $2,100. Dallas, Houston, Denver.
Over 2,500 miles
$1,600 to $2,500. Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle.
Why is Connecticut easy to ship a car from?
I-95 runs along the shore, and I-91 and I-84 cross the middle of the state. Trucks pass through between New York and Boston every day.
Between New York and Boston
Carriers run that lane all the time. That gives us many trucks to fit your car onto.
Military moves
The Navy base in Groton and the Coast Guard Academy in New London bring moves to the area. We plan around base rules and report dates.
Snowbirds
Many Connecticut drivers spend the winter in Florida. Ship the car and fly, and it is waiting when you land.
Connecticut Car Shipping Questions
The questions we get asked most about Connecticut, answered with this area's own numbers rather than national averages.
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from Connecticut?
The cost to ship a car to or from Connecticut is typically $450 on a short regional run and up to $2,500 coast to coast, on an open trailer, and takes between 1 to 10 days in transit time. Stamford to Newark, New Jersey is about 45 miles. Hartford to Seattle is about 2,960 miles.
Why does this page show ranges by distance instead of a price for each route?
We publish a route price once real Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
Short runs like New York, Boston or Providence take a day. The Carolinas take 2 to 3 days. Florida takes 3 to 5, and the West Coast takes 7 to 10. 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 ship a car for a move to the Groton Navy base?
Yes. Gate rules for big trucks vary, so we usually meet just outside the gate. Book as soon as you have your report date.
Should I pick open or enclosed transport in Connecticut?
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 Connecticut?
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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut gives new residents 90 days to transfer a car registration. Cars older than four model years need an emissions test, and newer cars need a VIN check. Bring the report, your old title or registration, proof of insurance and your ID.
Do you have an office in Connecticut?
Our nearest service areas are Huntington Station on Long Island and Iselin, New Jersey. Our national team handles Connecticut moves at 888-709-9078. 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 Connecticut car shipping?
It can. Snow and ice can slow a truck by a day or two. Trucks still run all winter, and we plan around the storms.
Snowbirds head to Florida in the fall and back in spring, so book a week or two early in those months.
Where in Connecticut can you pick up, and does location change the price?
Not by much. Every part of Connecticut shares these ranges. What matters most is how easily a truck can reach your street.
Fairfield County
Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport and Greenwich, along I-95.
New Haven
Door to door across the city and the shoreline.
Greater Hartford
West Hartford, Manchester and New Britain, close to I-84 and I-91.
Waterbury and Danbury
Along I-84 in the western part of the state.
New London and Groton
Eastern Connecticut, near the Navy base.
Dealers and auctions
Give us the name and release hours. Many lots want a set pickup time.
Smart Auto Move Inc
Our nearest service areas are Huntington Station on Long Island and Iselin, New Jersey
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 Connecticut after it ships?
Connecticut has a few steps for a car that comes from another state. Plan for them before your car arrives.
Transfer within 90 days
Connecticut gives new residents 90 days to transfer a car registration. Book a DMV appointment when you are ready.
An emissions test or VIN check
Cars older than four model years need an emissions test. Newer cars need a VIN check instead. Either way, bring the report to the DMV.
Bring the paperwork
Bring your old title or registration, proof of Connecticut insurance and your ID. If a bank holds the title, call them first.
Rules change from time to time, so check the Connecticut DMV site before your visit.
How Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
Drive it when
The trip is short, like New York, Boston or Providence. The car runs well. You have the time and you are going anyway.
Ship it when
The trip is long, like Texas, Arizona or California. 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 Connecticut 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.
More Connecticut car shipping
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 Connecticut?
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.