The ultimate way to get a Car Shipping Quote and Prices
Car Shipping Quotes Made Simple
Get a car shipping quote in minutes, with nationwide door-to-door service options. Compare open and enclosed transport, understand what actually moves the price, and choose the plan that fits your route, timeline and budget.
- Published rates on our busiest lanes, drawn from shipments we have actually completed
- Nationwide coverage across the major interstate corridors, including I-95, I-40, I-75 and I-10
- Open or enclosed transport for everyday, luxury, classic and specialty vehicles
- Flexible pickup windows with clear communication from scheduling through delivery
Want verified feedback? Read our BBB customer reviews, or check any carrier's authority and insurance yourself through the FMCSA SAFER system.
Quick overview
What this page helps you do
Compare car shipping quotes, understand what affects pricing, and decide between open transport, enclosed transport and faster pickup windows before booking vehicle shipping anywhere in the United States. Where we have enough completed shipments on a route to publish real numbers, we do — see the lane rates below.
How the Quote Process Works
Requesting a vehicle shipping quote should be straightforward. Here is the process most customers follow.
Share your route and vehicle
Enter pickup and delivery cities, vehicle year, make and model, and whether the vehicle runs and drives.
Compare transport options
Review open against enclosed transport, discuss timing, and choose the protection level that matches your vehicle.
Schedule pickup and delivery
Once the quote and timing are agreed, we coordinate pickup, transit and delivery, and your driver contacts you directly as the truck approaches.
What Affects Car Shipping Quotes?
Every route is different, so pricing is built around real logistics variables rather than a one-size-fits-all number. If you are comparing car transport quotes, these are the biggest cost drivers.
Route distance and lane demand
Busy metro-to-metro corridors price differently from rural pickups or thin lanes with little carrier traffic.
Vehicle size and operable status
Larger vehicles take more trailer space, and a vehicle that will not roll, steer or brake needs a winch-equipped carrier.
Trailer type
Open transport is usually the most cost-effective. Enclosed transport adds protection and costs more.
Pickup timing and flexibility
A three or four day window almost always prices better than a single fixed date, because it lets us use a truck already running your corridor.
| Factor | How it affects your quote | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup and delivery route | Popular interstate lanes often price differently from remote or infrequent routes. | Give the actual city, not just the metro area. |
| Vehicle type | Cars, SUVs, trucks and specialty vehicles use trailer space differently. | Provide exact year, make, model and operable status. |
| Transport type | Open transport is usually more affordable; enclosed adds protection. | Choose based on vehicle value and exposure concerns. |
| Timing | A tight pickup window narrows the pool of trucks that can take the load. | Name a range of dates rather than one. |
Choose the Right Shipping Option
Whether you want the most economical route or added protection for a higher-value vehicle, the right option depends on your goals, timing and what you are shipping.
Open transport
The standard choice for daily drivers, sedans, SUVs and trucks, and the basis of every published rate on this site. Best overall value.
Enclosed transport
Full protection from road debris and weather. Usually chosen for luxury, exotic, classic, collector and low-clearance vehicles, and priced individually.
Expedited pickup
Narrows the pickup window when priority scheduling is available. It does not shorten federal driving-hour limits, so transit days stay the same.
Published Rates on Routes We Run Often
Most auto transport companies will not put a number on a page. Where we have enough completed shipments on a route to publish an honest range, we do — open transport, mid-size vehicle, updated August 2026. Each page explains what moves the price on that specific lane.
Seventeen more Tacoma routes are priced in one table on the Tacoma car shipping page. For everything else, use the quote form — the figures above are planning ranges, not a substitute for a quote on your vehicle.
Tips to Get the Best Quote
A few simple details improve both quote quality and scheduling accuracy.
Declare operable status honestly
A vehicle listed as running that will not roll, steer or brake at pickup has to be re-rated at the curb. There is no penalty for booking it as inoperable up front.
Think about access
Tight turns, HOA restrictions, low branches or narrow streets can stop a 75-foot carrier. Tell us in advance and we will arrange a nearby meeting point at no extra charge.
Be realistic about timing
Flexible dates improve availability and usually price better. It is the cheapest concession you can make.
Choose the right protection level
Open transport suits most shipments. Enclosed is worth considering for higher-value, restored or low-clearance vehicles.
Why Customers Compare Quotes Before Booking
Shipping costs vary with route, equipment, timing and vehicle details, so comparing vehicle shipping quotes helps you understand the trade-offs before deciding between open transport, enclosed transport and different pickup windows.
It is also worth knowing what a low quote can mean. Loading, securing, the condition report and the scheduled slot cost a carrier much the same regardless of distance, so a figure well below everyone else usually means something has been left out — or that the price will move once a carrier actually has to be found.
What Helps Build Trust Before Booking
Customers comparing car shipping quotes usually want more than a price. They want to know who they are dealing with, how the process works, and where they can verify any of it independently.
Verifiable credentials
USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368, checkable on the FMCSA SAFER system, alongside published BBB reviews.
Real numbers, not just estimates
On our busiest routes we publish the actual range from shipments we have completed, and say when a figure was last updated.
No call list
Requesting a quote does not put you on a phone or text list, and your details are never sold to third parties for marketing.
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
Helpful Shipping Guides
These resources answer the questions customers most often ask before booking vehicle transport.
Also useful: how much auto transport costs and how the Smart Price Promise works.
FAQs About Car Transport Quotes
Quick answers to the questions we are asked most often.
How fast can I receive my vehicle shipping quote?
In most cases an initial quote is generated quickly once you submit pickup, delivery and vehicle details. If the route or the vehicle needs special handling, we may come back for more detail rather than give you a figure that will not hold.
Are door-to-door car shipping quotes available?
Yes, for most areas where a carrier can legally and safely reach the address. Where access is limited by street width, grade, low branches or parking restrictions, we arrange a nearby meeting point instead. There is no extra charge for that.
What is the difference between open and enclosed transport?
Open transport is the standard and most cost-effective option, and it is what every published rate on this site describes. Enclosed transport adds full protection from road debris and weather, and is commonly chosen for luxury, classic, exotic and specialty vehicles.
Will my vehicle be insured during transport?
The assigned motor carrier holds the cargo insurance that applies while your vehicle is in transit, and we confirm that authority and coverage are active before a vehicle is assigned. You can verify any carrier's insurance yourself through the FMCSA SAFER system, and the insurance guide in the resources section above explains how it works in more detail.
Why is one quote much cheaper than the others?
It is worth asking what the low number includes. Loading, securing, the condition report, the paperwork and the scheduled slot cost a carrier much the same regardless of distance, so there is a floor below which a route cannot genuinely be run. A quote well under everyone else usually means something has been left out, or that the figure will move once a carrier actually has to be found for the load.
Will Smart Auto Move call or text me after I request a quote?
No. Requesting a car shipping quote from Smart Auto Move does not put you on a call or text list. Information you provide for a quote is used only by Smart Auto Move to respond to you directly, and it is never sold to third parties for marketing.
What information should I provide for the most accurate quote?
The exact pickup and delivery locations rather than just the metro area, the vehicle year, make and model, whether it runs and drives, and the range of dates it could be collected. The last one matters more than people expect.
Where can I read verified customer feedback?
On our BBB profile, where Smart Auto Move holds an A+ rating.
Ready to Compare Car Shipping Quotes?
Use the quote form above to get a figure for your route, vehicle and timing. Asking early improves availability and gives you more choice of pickup date.
Prefer to talk first? Call 888-709-9078.