The ultimate way to get a Car Shipping Quote and Prices
Car Shipping Quotes
Getting car shipping quotes should take a couple of minutes, not a week of phone tag. Enter your route, your vehicle and the week you want it collected. You get a price. This page also shows what we charge on the routes we run most, so you can see real numbers first.
Most cars ship for $450 to $2,000. Short in-state runs start around $450. Coast to coast on an open trailer usually lands between $1,800 and $2,400. Price follows the route, the size of the vehicle, whether it runs, the trailer type and how flexible your dates are. Figures on this page are for open transport and a mid-size vehicle, based on our most recent shipments and the current fuel rates.
You can check our authority and insurance yourself on the FMCSA SAFER system, or read our BBB customer reviews.
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Most cars ship for $450 to $2,000 on an open trailer. A short run inside one state can come in near $450. A cross-country move usually sits between $1,800 and $2,400. The routes below are ones we run often enough to publish a real range. All are open transport and a mid-size vehicle.
Seventeen more Tacoma routes are priced in one table on the Tacoma car shipping page. For a wider set of routes and cities, see how much car shipping costs. These are planning ranges. Fuel moves, so the live number comes from the quote form or a phone call.
Why two routes the same length can cost different money
What matters is whether a driver has a load waiting at the other end. Deliver into a busy market and there are cars ready to pick up on the drop. The rate sits at the average. Deliver somewhere quiet and the driver runs empty miles to the next job, so the price goes up. That is why distance alone never tells you the price. Flexible pickup dates help for the same reason. A wider window gives a driver more chances to fit your car into a trip already going your way.
How long does car shipping take?
Transit runs about 1 to 2 days for a short in-state move. Coast to coast takes 8 to 10 days. Federal hours-of-service rules cap driving time, so a truck covers roughly 400 to 500 miles a day. Use the table to plan.
| Distance | Days on the truck | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | 1 to 2 days | Tacoma to Portland |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | 2 to 3 days | Houston to Jacksonville |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | 3 to 4 days | Chicago to Tampa |
| 1,500 to 2,000 miles | 4 to 5 days | Los Angeles to Houston |
| 2,000 to 2,500 miles | 5 to 7 days | Chicago to Los Angeles |
| 2,500 to 3,000 miles | 6 to 9 days | Tacoma to New York |
| Over 3,000 miles | 8 to 10 days | Tacoma to Orlando |
When the truck actually shows up
Pickup runs inside a window that starts on the date you ask for. Standard shipping uses a 6 day window. Expedited narrows it to 3 days. Your driver calls you directly as the truck gets close, so you know the day and the rough time rather than waiting by a window all week. Expedited buys you a tighter pickup, not a faster drive. Federal driving-hour limits set the transit time either way.
What moves the price on a car shipping quote?
Five things account for nearly every difference between two quotes: the route, the vehicle, whether it runs, the trailer type and how flexible your dates are. Get those five right on the form and the number you see is the number that holds.
| Factor | What it does to the price | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Busy corridors price at the average. Quiet destinations cost more because the driver leaves empty. | Give the actual city and ZIP, not the metro area. |
| Vehicle size | A dually or a lifted truck takes more trailer space than a sedan, so it carries more of the load cost. | Give the exact year, make and model. |
| Runs or not | A car that will not roll, steer or brake needs a winch and a driver set up for it. | Book it as inoperable up front. It costs less than fixing it at the curb. |
| Trailer type | Open is the standard. Enclosed runs about 80 percent more because those trailers hold far fewer cars. | Match the trailer to the car, not to the worry. |
| Dates | One fixed day narrows the pool of trucks that can take your car. A range widens it. | Name the earliest date you are ready. It is the cheapest thing you can give us. |
Open, enclosed or expedited
Most cars go on an open trailer, and that is the right call for most cars. The other two options exist for a reason, and here is when each one earns its money.
Open transport
The standard choice, and the basis of every price on this page. Your car rides on the same kind of trailer that delivers new cars to dealerships. Best value by a wide margin.
Enclosed transport
Plan on about 80 percent more than open. 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.
Expedited pickup
Narrows the pickup window from 6 days to 3. Useful when a closing date, a lease handover or a report date is fixed. Transit days stay the same, because federal driving-hour rules set those.
More on the first two is on the open and enclosed comparison page. Each service has its own page: standard door to door, enclosed and expedited.
Insurance, door to door and personal items
Your car travels under Carrier Cargo Insurance. It is held by the motor carrier assigned to your shipment. We check that the authority and the coverage are active before any car goes on a truck. Once a carrier is assigned, ask us for the certificate of insurance and we will send it the same day.
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.
Is door to door really door to door?
Yes, wherever a truck can legally and safely reach you. A car hauler is about 75 feet long. Some streets are too tight, some have low branches, and some neighborhoods post their own rules. Tell us the address when you book and we will pick a wide lot a few minutes away instead. It takes ten minutes and there is no extra charge.
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 the car ready?
Wash it so the inspection photos are clear. Leave about a quarter tank of gas. Take out the toll tag and anything loose in the cabin. Fold the mirrors, note any dents you already have, and hand over one key. Full detail is on the vehicle preparation guide.
Booking, payment and changing your mind
How payment works
A deposit is due when you book. The balance is due at delivery, usually by cashier's check, money order or cash. You can also put the whole amount on a credit card, but only at the time of booking, so the funds clear and are ready for the carrier. Some customers prefer that because it lets them spread the cost rather than pay out of pocket on the day.
Two to three weeks of notice gets you the best choice of dates. We can work with less, and often do.
If your 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.
Orders change, closings slip and semesters shift. Tell us early and we will move the date.
How to tell a car shipping company is legitimate
Start with the paperwork, then look hard at the cheapest quote. Every company moving cars across state lines has a USDOT number and an MC number, and both are public. Ours are USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368, and you can pull our authority and insurance on the FMCSA SAFER system in about thirty seconds.
The number one red flag
A quote far below everyone else. If four companies say $1,000 to $1,200 and the fifth says $500, ask that company straight out whether the rate is confirmed. If they say yes, go read their reviews looking for the words bait and switch. Loading, securing, the inspection and the slot on the trailer cost about the same at any distance. There is a floor below which the route cannot be run.
The one people get backwards
Plenty of advice says a good company never asks for money up front. The opposite is closer to the truth. A company taking nothing up front is often not confident it can find a carrier at the price it quoted. Those are frequently the same companies that call back a week later saying drivers turned the load down and the rate has gone up. A deposit means we are booking committed customers and holding the price we gave you.
Every review we publish sits on a public Google profile you can open and read for yourself. We do not write testimonials. Our BBB profile is accredited with an A+ rating, and the complaint history is there to read too.
How the quote process works
Three steps, and the first one is the only one that needs you at a keyboard.
1. Give us the route and the car
Pickup and delivery cities, the year, make and model, whether it runs and drives, and the earliest date you are ready.
2. Pick your service
Open or enclosed, standard 6 day pickup window or expedited 3 day. We will tell you plainly if open is the right call for your car.
3. Book and hand over the keys
We assign the carrier and send you the driver's details, plus the certificate of insurance on request. The driver calls you before pickup and before delivery.
What our customers say
Every review below sits on a public Google profile. Open any of them and read the whole thing.
Crystal Evans was very helpful.
Helpful shipping guides
The questions customers ask most, answered at length.
Shipping for a particular reason? We have pages for military moves, college students, seasonal moves, online car buyers and auction pickups.
Car shipping quote FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Most cars ship for $450 to $2,000 on an open trailer. A short in-state run can come in near $450, and coast to coast usually sits between $1,800 and $2,400. Price follows the route, the vehicle, whether it runs, the trailer type and your dates. The published routes on this page show real ranges for open transport and a mid-size vehicle.
How long does car shipping take?
About 1 to 2 days under 500 miles, 3 to 4 days around 1,200 miles, and 8 to 10 days coast to coast. A truck covers roughly 400 to 500 miles a day once loading and delivery stops are counted. Federal hours-of-service rules cap the time a driver can be behind the wheel.
When will the truck pick up my car?
Pickup happens inside a window that starts on the date you ask for. Standard shipping uses a 6 day window and expedited narrows it to 3 days. Your driver calls you directly as the truck gets close, so you get the day and a rough time rather than waiting all week.
Why is one quote much cheaper than the others?
Ask that company whether the rate is confirmed. Loading, securing, the condition report and the slot on the trailer cost a driver much the same whatever the distance. So there is a floor below which a route cannot be run. A number well under everyone else usually means something has been left out, or that the price will move once a carrier actually has to be found.
Should I choose open or enclosed transport?
Open for a daily driver, enclosed for a car that justifies the premium. Plan on about 80 percent more than open. A $1,000 open move is roughly $1,800 enclosed, because a hard-sided trailer holds two to six cars where an open one holds ten. Worth it for a classic, an exotic, fresh paint, or a car too low to clear a ramp.
Is my car insured while it is being shipped?
Yes. Your car travels under Carrier Cargo Insurance, held by the motor carrier assigned to your shipment. We confirm the authority and the coverage are active before a car is assigned. Once a carrier is assigned you can ask us for the certificate of insurance and we will send it. You can also check any carrier yourself on the FMCSA SAFER system.
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.
Is door to door really door to door?
Yes, wherever a truck can legally and safely reach you. A car hauler is about 75 feet long. Tight streets, low branches and posted neighborhood rules can stop one at the corner. Tell us the address when you book and we will pick a wide lot a few minutes away. There is no extra charge.
How do I get my car ready for shipping?
Wash it so the inspection photos are clear, leave about a quarter tank of gas, and take out the toll tag and anything loose in the cabin. Fold the mirrors, note any dents you already have, and hand over one key. The vehicle preparation guide walks through the whole list.
How do I pay, and when?
A deposit is due at booking and the balance at delivery, usually 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. Some customers prefer that because it spreads the cost rather than paying out of pocket on the day.
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.
Can you ship a car that does not run?
Yes, with a winch-equipped carrier, as long as the car rolls, steers and brakes. There is no flat fee for it. Expect it to run about $200 or more above the same car running, and the exact number needs a short conversation. Book it as inoperable up front. There is no penalty for that, and it costs less than sorting it out at the curb.
Can I track my car during transport?
GPS tracking is available when the carrier and the truck support it, and plenty of trucks do not carry a reliable system. Companies that promise live tracking on every shipment are overselling it, because no company controls whether a driver's truck is tracked. What you always get from us is the driver's phone number for a call or text, plus email updates.
How do I know a car shipping company is legitimate?
Check the USDOT and MC numbers on the FMCSA SAFER system, which takes about thirty seconds and is free. Ours are USDOT 2887232 and MC 969368. Then read the reviews on public profiles rather than testimonials on a website. Check the BBB complaint history. And treat a quote far below everyone else as the warning it usually is.
Ready for your car shipping quote?
Fill in the route, the vehicle and the week you are ready. You get a price, not a phone call. Asking early gives you the widest choice of pickup dates and usually the better number.