North Carolina Car Shipping | Published Rates From $700

North Carolina Car Shipping

North Carolina Car Shipping Quote

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North Carolina Vehicle Shipping Rates updated September 2026

Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368

North Carolina car shipping covers more ground than most people expect. Manteo to Murphy is about 550 miles, which is roughly the same distance as Boone to Daytona Beach, so where in the state your car starts matters as much as where it is going. Smart Auto Move ships to and from the Triangle, Charlotte, the Triad, the mountains and the coast, with open, enclosed and expedited transport. Below are our published rates with the real distances and transit times behind them.

Published city-pair rates Open, enclosed and expedited Door to door where a truck fits PCS and military moves

How much does it cost to ship a car to or from North Carolina?

North Carolina to Florida runs $700 to $825 for a mid-size car on an open trailer, over one to three days. It is one of the cheapest corridors we publish. Raleigh to Dallas is $1,400 over 1,190 miles in three to four days. As of September 2026, the full table of published North Carolina routes is further down this page, and the calculator gives the live number for any route not on it.

From $700 Raleigh to Kissimmee, open trailer

1 to 4 days On the road, on our published routes

6-day pickup window 3 days on expedited, starting the date you pick

BBB Accredited A+ rating, verifiable on bbb.org

Get my quote See the rates Read the FAQs

Rather talk it through? Call 888-709-9078. Smart Auto Move has no counter in North Carolina, so every North Carolina booking is handled on that line.

Quick answers

North Carolina car shipping, answered in one line each

How much does North Carolina car shipping cost?

North Carolina to Florida is $700 to $825 for a mid-size car on an open trailer. Raleigh to Dallas is $1,400. Longer runs to the West Coast cost more. Vehicle size, open or enclosed, the season and your date flexibility all move the number.

How long does it take?

One to two days to north Florida, two to three days to south Florida, three to four days to Texas. Add the pickup window on the front: six days on standard service, three on expedited, both starting the date you ask for.

Should I choose open or enclosed transport?

Plan on about 80 percent more than open. A $750 open move is roughly $1,350 enclosed. Open is standard for daily drivers. Enclosed is worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint, or a car too low to clear a ramp.

Is my vehicle insured during transport?

Yes. Your car travels under Carrier Cargo Insurance from the moment it is loaded until it is delivered, with no terminal stop in between. Once we assign a carrier we can send you that carrier's certificate of insurance on request, right away.

Can I put personal items inside the vehicle?

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. The carrier's insurance covers the vehicle, so keep anything you would hate to lose with you.

Are pickup and delivery dates guaranteed?

Pickup is. Give us the first day the car is free and the driver collects inside the six days that follow, or three on expedited. Delivery is an estimate, because weather, traffic and federal hours-of-service rules set the pace on the road.

Every one of these is covered in more detail further down the page.

Rates

Published North Carolina car shipping rates

Open trailer, mid-size car, based on our most recent shipments and the current fuel rates. The "From" column shows which part of the state the car is collected in, because that changes the price more than most people expect. Routes are sorted by distance.

From	Route	Miles	Days	Open
Coastal	Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL	476	1–2	$725
Mountains	Boone to Daytona Beach, FL	565	2	$825
Triangle	Raleigh to Kissimmee, FL	617	2	$700
Piedmont	Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale, FL	710	2	$720
Triangle	Durham to Miami, FL	831	2–3	$800
Triangle	Raleigh to Dallas, TX	1,190	3–4	$1,400

These are estimates, not fixed prices. Diesel is the biggest cost in moving a car and fuel prices move, so we update these figures as the market changes. Once you book, the Smart Price Promise holds your price.

Enclosed North Carolina auto transport runs about 80 percent above the open figure. Non-running, oversized and modified vehicles are priced individually. For a route not listed here, the quote form returns the live number in about two minutes. Route detail: North Carolina to Florida · North Carolina to Texas.

Why Boone costs more than Charlotte on a shorter trip

Look at the table again. Boone to Daytona Beach is 565 miles at $825. Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale is 710 miles at $720. The shorter trip costs more, and that is not a mistake. What sets a carrier's price is whether there is another car waiting when they drop yours off, and whether they can fill the rest of the trailer on the way. Charlotte sits on I-85 with vehicles moving in both directions every day. Boone sits up in the Blue Ridge, an hour off the interstate, where a driver has to climb up empty to collect one car. The same pattern applies anywhere in western North Carolina, and it is why a mountain pickup often prices like a much longer run. If you can meet the truck down in Hickory or Statesville, you will usually save the difference.

What sets the price on North Carolina car shipping?

Where in the state you are. The I-85 and I-40 corridors price best. The mountains and the far coast cost more, because fewer trucks run them.
Where it is going. Florida is our cheapest corridor out of North Carolina, because the two-way traffic is constant. Quieter destinations cost more at the same distance.
Vehicle size and weight. A three-row SUV or a lifted truck takes more deck space than a sedan.
Running or not. A non-running car needs a truck with a winch.
Service level. Enclosed and expedited both cost more than open.
Season. Snowbird traffic makes the Florida runs busiest in October and again in April.
Date flexibility. The biggest lever you control.

Why flexible dates save you money

Trucks fill a spot at a time. When a driver has one space left, they take the car that is easiest to collect on the way rather than one they have to detour for. Give us a three or four day window instead of a single date and your car is far more likely to be that one. On a short Southeast run, that single choice moves the price more than anything else you can tell us.

Your car never sits anywhere. It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip. No terminal, no transfer between trucks, no gap in coverage.

Seasons that matter in North Carolina

Two patterns are worth planning around, and both are manageable rather than alarming.

Snowbird season. October southbound and April northbound are the busiest weeks on the Carolina to Florida corridor. Book two to three weeks out in those windows instead of one.
Hurricane season. August through October on the coast. A named storm can pause pickups in Wilmington, Jacksonville and the Outer Banks for a day or two while the roads clear. Drivers reroute inland rather than sit, so it costs hours more often than days.
Winter in the mountains. Boone, Banner Elk and the high country ice over. A meeting point down the mountain is quicker and safer than a driveway at 3,300 feet.
Best value. January through March, once the southbound rush has passed.

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Coverage

Where we collect and deliver in North Carolina

Every region of the state, with the same service in each. Pickup is door to door wherever a full size truck can legally and safely reach you.

Triangle and central

Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Clayton and Smithfield. Well served by I-40 and I-95, so most pickups load at the curb.

Charlotte and the Piedmont

Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, Kannapolis, Mooresville, Statesville and Salisbury. The I-85 corridor is the busiest freight lane in the state and prices accordingly.

The Triad

Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point and Burlington. Sits on the same I-85 corridor as Charlotte and prices close to it.

Western North Carolina

Asheville, Hickory, Boone, Banner Elk and the mountain communities. Worth reading the Boone note above before you book, and worth asking about a meeting point lower down.

Coastal and eastern

Wilmington, Jacksonville, New Bern, Greenville, Morehead City and the Outer Banks. Bridge and ferry access on the Banks needs planning, so tell us the address at booking.

Military and PCS

Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson, Cherry Point and Pope Field. Pickup happens outside the gate at a commercial lot, because a 75 foot hauler and a civilian driver without base credentials make gate access a project.

Shipping for a PCS out of Fort Bragg or Camp Lejeune

Read your orders first. Depending on the move, they may cover shipping a vehicle or pay you to drive it, and your installation transportation office is the authority on that, not us. If shipping is on you, give us the earliest and latest date your orders allow rather than a single day. That flexibility is worth real money on this corridor. If your report date moves, one call rebooks it against the same price.

Service options

Open, enclosed and expedited North Carolina auto transport

Open transport

The right call for everyday cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups, and what every price on this page is based on. It is the same kind of trailer that delivers new cars to dealerships. More on open transport.

Enclosed transport

Plan on about 80 percent more than open. A $750 open move is roughly $1,350 enclosed. A hard-sided trailer holds two to six cars where an open one holds ten, so each car carries more of the cost. More on enclosed transport.

Expedited transport

A three day pickup window instead of six, for a report date, a closing or a flight already booked. More on expedited transport.

Weighing the first two? The open and enclosed comparison puts them side by side. For most cars in North Carolina, open is the right answer.

How it works

North Carolina car shipping in three steps

Step 1

Get your price

Enter your North Carolina pickup town, where the car is going, the vehicle and the first date it can go. Two minutes, no obligation.

Step 2

Book and set the window

A deposit holds the booking. We check whether a full size carrier can reach both addresses or whether a nearby lot is quicker, then assign the carrier and send you the driver's details.

Step 3

Load, travel, deliver

You and the driver walk the car and sign the Bill of Lading. It stays on that same truck to the other end, where you walk it again before signing.

Vehicles

What we move to and from North Carolina

Sedans, hatchbacks and coupes
SUVs, crossovers and minivans
Pickups and lifted trucks
EVs and hybrids
Luxury, exotic, classic and collector cars
Non-running vehicles that need a winch

Which service fits

Daily driver: open transport.

Luxury or collector car: enclosed transport.

Report date or closing: expedited, with the three day window.

Non-running vehicle: a carrier with a winch. Tell us the true condition up front and the right truck turns up first time, with your price unchanged.

Preparation

Getting your car ready

Before pickup

Wash it so existing marks show clearly
Leave about a quarter tank of fuel
Fold the mirrors, remove roof racks and loose trim
Turn off your NC Quick Pass and disable the alarm

At pickup

Have the keys ready, including any wheel lock key
Walk the car with the driver and check the Bill of Lading
Confirm the best number for updates on the road

At delivery

Walk the car against that same report before you sign
Have the balance ready in the agreed form
Name whoever will meet the truck if it is not you

The full vehicle preparation guide covers every step in detail.

Reviews

What our customers say

Every review we publish sits on a public Google profile you can open and read for yourself. We do not write testimonials. Smart Auto Move is also BBB Accredited with an A+ rating.

Reviews

5 Over 23 Reviews

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Jerry Fellows 2 months ago

I've used these guys to ship my kids car from Los Angles to Dallas and back several times and they've always been great.

Jamie Salhus 10 months ago

Our car was picked up and delivered earlier than expected, which was a very pleasant surprise. There was 1 small hiccup with the final payment due but was cleared up with 1 phone call. This was a great experience!!!

Korir Kipkirui 10 months ago

I needed my truck transported from Bakersfield to Seattle and chose Smart Auto Move of Los Angeles after a friend recommended them. Honestly, best decision. Super friendly team, no surprises on the price, and they delivered a day early. I would use them again if necessary.

Luz Cachago 10 months ago

I shipped two cars from Chicago to California and Smart Auto Move made the whole process easy. Coordinating two vehicles can be a nightmare, but these folks handled it like nothing. Great communication, solid pricing, and both cars were delivered on time. Five stars without hesitation.

DAWSON P. MKUYU 10 months ago

I was having a hard time deciding whether to drive my car or have it shipped; ultimately, it made more sense to have it transported. Smart Auto Move handled my LA-to-Miami car shipment like total pros. They gave me upfront pricing, answered every question, and updated me throughout. My car arrived right on schedule and in perfect shape. A service all around.

arif rahman 10 months ago

I shipped my SUV from San Diego to Dallas with Smart Auto Move of Los Angeles and the whole thing was shockingly smooth. The price was fair, the communication was great, and they delivered exactly when they said they would. Easily the most stress-free transport experience I’ve ever had. Highly recommend.

Mahipal Rawat 10 months ago

I relocated from New Jersey to North Hollywood, and Smart Auto Move took care of my car transport. They kept me updated, answered every call, and delivered my car on schedule with zero issues, transparent, reliable, and great customer service.

John Guerrero 2 year ago

Great service would love to work with again.
Crystal Evans was very helpful.

Dr. Ashley M. Davis 3 year ago

Smart Auto Move was professional and efficient in delivering my vehicle. From scheduling the pick up to the on-time delivery, I was satisfied with the overall service. Thank you Smart Auto Move for making my auto transport seamless.

FAQs

North Carolina car shipping questions

What affects the price of North Carolina vehicle shipping?

Mostly which part of the state the car leaves from, and what is waiting for the driver at the other end. The I-85 and I-40 corridors price best because trucks run them daily in both directions. The mountains and the far coast cost more at the same distance, because a driver has to go out of their way to reach you. After that it is vehicle size, running condition, service level, season and how flexible your dates are.

Why is North Carolina to Florida so much cheaper than other routes?

Because it is one of the busiest two-way corridors in the country and I-95 runs the length of it. Trucks head south loaded with snowbird cars and come back north loaded with the same cars months later, so almost nobody runs empty. That constant traffic keeps the rate down. It is the cheapest corridor we publish out of North Carolina, at $700 to $825 depending on the city pair.

Why does Boone cost more than Charlotte on a shorter trip?

Boone to Daytona Beach is 565 miles at $825 while Charlotte to Fort Lauderdale is 710 miles at $720. The difference is access, not distance. Charlotte sits on I-85 where trucks pass constantly. Boone is an hour up into the Blue Ridge, so a driver climbs up with an empty spot to collect one car and comes back down. Meeting the truck in Hickory or Statesville usually saves the difference.

Is my car insured during North Carolina car shipping?

Yes. Your vehicle travels under Carrier Cargo Insurance from the moment it is loaded until it is delivered, and it never sits in a terminal or a storage lot along the way. Once your order is assigned to a carrier we can send you that carrier's certificate of insurance on request, right away. The Bill of Lading you sign at pickup is the condition record that backs any claim, so walk the car with the driver at both ends.

Is North Carolina car shipping really door to door?

Yes, wherever a full size truck can legally and safely get to you. A car hauler runs about 75 feet. Suburban Wake, Mecklenburg, Guilford and Forsyth counties load at the curb without trouble, as do most towns along I-40 and I-85. Mountain driveways, downtown Asheville, historic Wilmington streets and anything on the Outer Banks are where we pick a nearby lot instead. That takes ten minutes and costs nothing.

Can you ship a car within North Carolina?

Yes, though it is worth doing the math first. Under about 500 miles, driving usually wins on cost, and nowhere in the state is more than about 550 miles from anywhere else. In-state shipping makes sense when you have two cars and one driver, when the car cannot make the trip, when it is a dealer or auction purchase that should arrive without extra miles, or when you are flying and the car is not. Use the quote form for a live in-state number.

Do you handle PCS moves from Fort Bragg or Camp Lejeune?

Yes, and they are a large part of what moves through this state. Read your orders first, though: depending on the move, they may cover shipping a vehicle or pay you to drive it, and your installation transportation office is the authority on that. If shipping is on you, give us the earliest and latest date your orders allow rather than a single day. Pickup happens outside the gate at a commercial lot, because a 75 foot hauler and a civilian driver without base credentials make gate access a project. If your report date moves, one call rebooks it against the same price.

Does hurricane season delay shipping on the coast?

Occasionally, and rarely by more than a day or two. August through October is the window, and it affects Wilmington, Jacksonville, Morehead City and the Outer Banks more than the rest of the state. When a named storm is tracking, drivers reroute inland and reschedule coastal pickups rather than sit in it. Booking a week or two earlier in those months gives the schedule room to absorb a pause.

How do I prepare my car for North Carolina auto transport?

Wash it so existing marks show clearly, leave about a quarter tank of fuel, fold the mirrors, take off roof racks and loose trim, turn off your NC Quick Pass and disable the alarm. Have the keys ready at pickup, including any wheel lock key. Then walk the car with the driver and go through the Bill of Lading condition report together before it loads. That report is the document that settles anything later.

How far ahead should I book, and how does payment work?

One to two weeks ahead is comfortable on the Southeast routes, and two to three in October and April when the Florida corridor is busiest. A deposit is taken at booking and the balance is due at delivery, commonly by 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 clear and are available for the carrier.

Can I cancel or change my pickup date?

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 compare North Carolina car shipping companies?

Check the USDOT and MC numbers against the FMCSA's own records before you book anything. Ours are USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368, and you can open our FMCSA record and read it yourself. We are also BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and carry public Google reviews on every office profile. The clearest warning sign is a quote well below everyone else's. If four companies say $700 to $850 and the fifth says $400, ask that company straight out whether it is a confirmed rate, then search their name alongside the phrase bait and switch. One more thing worth knowing: a company that asks for nothing up front is often the one least sure it can book your car at the price it quoted.

Does my car sit in a lot along the way?

No. Your car never sits anywhere. It goes from your address straight onto the carrier and stays covered under Carrier Cargo Insurance for the entire trip. Fewer people handle your vehicle and there is no gap in coverage between pickup and delivery.

Can you ship a non-running car to or from North Carolina?

Yes, on a truck with a winch. There is no flat fee for it. It typically runs $200 or more above the cost of shipping the same car running, and the exact figure needs a quick conversation about how the car rolls, steers and brakes. Tell us the true condition up front and the right equipment turns up first time.

Do I need to be there for pickup and delivery?

Someone does, but it does not have to be you. A friend, a family member, a neighbor or a shop can hand over the keys and walk the car with the driver, as long as they are over 18 and can be reached during the window. Name them at booking so the driver has the right contact. The one thing that person must do is go through the Bill of Lading condition report properly at both ends, since that is the record everything rests on.

Can you ship to or from the Outer Banks?

Yes, with a bit of planning. The bridges and the ferry schedules mean a full size hauler cannot always get onto the islands the way it can reach a mainland address, so many Outer Banks moves hand over on the mainland side at a lot in Manteo, Kitty Hawk or further inland. Tell us the exact address at booking and we sort the meeting point in advance rather than on the day.

Will you call or text me after I ask for a quote?

No. Asking for a North Carolina car shipping quote does not put you on a call list. We use what you give us to answer you directly and we never sell it to anyone. You are welcome to call us, though, on 888-709-9078.

More questions are answered on the full auto transport FAQ.

North Carolina routes and guides

North Carolina to Florida North Carolina to Texas Raleigh to Dallas Raleigh to Los Angeles Washington to North Carolina What car shipping costs How car shipping works Military car shipping

Written by Richard Avery

President, Smart Auto Move Inc

Richard Avery has worked in auto transport for over ten years. He writes about shipping routes, what drives prices, how carriers are coordinated, and how to plan a move.

Smart Auto Move Inc is a car shipping company moving vehicles nationwide. USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368. Registered business address: 4208 Six Forks Rd Ste 1000, Raleigh, NC 27609.

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Updated
September 11, 2026

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