Washington to Pennsylvania Car Shipping and Auto Transport
Washington to Pennsylvania Car Shipping
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Written by Richard Avery, President of Smart Auto Move · USDOT 2887232 · MC 969368
Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping is one of the longest runs on the map, and one of the most direct. Your car leaves the Puget Sound area on I-90, the longest interstate in the country, and stays on it for most of the way east. I-90 clips the top of Pennsylvania at Erie before the last stretch drops onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which opened in 1940 as the first long-distance highway of its kind in America. Smart Auto Move ships to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Erie, Scranton and every town between them, with open, enclosed and expedited service.
How much does Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping cost?
Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping runs $1,700 to $2,050 for a mid-size car on an open trailer, and takes 6 to 8 days on the road. Seattle to Philadelphia is $1,800 to $2,000 over about 2,825 miles. Tacoma to Pittsburgh is $1,750 to $1,950. As of September 2026, the full city-pair table is further down this page.
Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping prices by city pair
Every figure below is an open trailer carrying a mid-size car, based on our most recent shipments and the current fuel rates. Pickup anywhere in the Seattle to Tacoma corridor prices the same, so the origin column shows the city we most often collect from rather than the only one we serve.
| Washington to Pennsylvania route | Miles | Days | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane to Philadelphia | 2,550 | 6–7 | $1,700–$1,900 |
| Vancouver, WA to Erie | 2,450 | 6–7 | $1,725–$1,925 |
| Tacoma to Pittsburgh | 2,490 | 6–7 | $1,750–$1,950 |
| Seattle to Philadelphia | 2,825 | 7–8 | $1,800–$2,000 |
| Everett to Harrisburg | 2,780 | 7–8 | $1,800–$2,000 |
| Lakewood to Allentown | 2,860 | 7–8 | $1,825–$2,050 |
| Olympia to Scranton | 2,825 | 7–8 | $1,825–$2,050 |
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 Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport runs about 80 percent above the open figure. Non-running, oversized and modified vehicles are priced individually, so use the quote form for those.
Why Pittsburgh costs almost as much as Philadelphia
Pittsburgh sits about 340 miles closer to Washington than Philadelphia does, yet it prices only about $50 below it. The reason is what happens after the drop. Philadelphia sits on the I-95 corridor, so a driver delivering there picks up a load going back out the same day and prices the run at the corridor average. Pittsburgh has less freight heading west, so the driver covers some empty miles before the next load and the rate absorbs them. On Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping, where the car is going matters more than how far it travels.
What sets the price on Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport?
- Which Pennsylvania city. Philadelphia, Allentown and Scranton sit on the eastern freight corridor. Pittsburgh, Erie and Altoona sit off it.
- 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. May through August is the peak. February through April is the bargain.
- Access at both ends. A steep or narrow street means meeting at a nearby lot, which takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
- 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 run this long, nothing else you tell us saves as much.
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. Our Lakewood office is where dispatchers book your transport and call you with updates, not somewhere your vehicle waits.
Open, enclosed and expedited Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping
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. Nine out of ten cars on this route go this way. More on open transport.
Enclosed transport
Plan on about 80 percent more than open. A $1,800 open move is roughly $3,240 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 auctions, closings, report dates and relocations with a fixed start. More on expedited transport.
Not sure which fits? The open and enclosed comparison lays them out side by side. For most cars on this route, open is the right answer.
Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping in three steps
Get your price
Enter your Washington pickup city, your Pennsylvania delivery city, the vehicle and the first date it can go. Two minutes, no obligation.
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.
Load, travel, deliver
You and the driver walk the car and sign the Bill of Lading. It stays on that same truck across the country and you walk it again in Pennsylvania before signing.
Why ship instead of driving from Washington to Pennsylvania?
Under about 500 miles, driving usually wins. Past roughly 1,500 miles, shipping wins once hotels, meals, fuel, wear and a return plane ticket are counted. This route is about 2,500 to 2,900 miles, so it sits well past that line. Driving it means four to five days behind the wheel, two or three nights in motels, and a set of tires closer to replacement than when you left.
Top 5 reasons to ship your vehicle from Washington to Pennsylvania 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.
Where we collect in Washington
Most of the state runs on one road, I-5, from the Canadian border down to Vancouver. Anything close to I-5, SR-512 or SR-16 loads at the curb without trouble.
Tacoma's older hillside streets are the exception. The Stadium District grew up around a high school built like a French chateau, which is also why those streets are so steep, so we normally meet at a nearby lot. Over the mountains, an eastbound run out of Spokane is already 280 miles up the road before it leaves the state, which is why Spokane origins price below Seattle ones on this lane.
Where we deliver in Pennsylvania
The state splits into two delivery worlds. The eastern half runs off I-76 and I-476 into Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley. The western half runs off I-79 and I-80 into Pittsburgh and Erie.
Philadelphia's older row-house blocks in South Philly and Fishtown were laid out long before a 75 foot truck existed, so those deliveries usually meet at a shopping center lot a few minutes away. Pittsburgh has the same story on the slopes above the rivers. Suburban Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley and anything near the Turnpike interchanges hand over at the curb.
What we move on Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping
- 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.
Hard deadline: 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.
Getting your car ready for the trip east
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 toll tags and disable the alarm
At pickup in Washington
- 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 in Pennsylvania
- 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.
Support at both ends of the route
The Washington end is handled from our office at 5607 Boston Ave SW in Lakewood, about fifteen minutes down I-5 from downtown Tacoma. That is where the dispatchers who book your carrier and call you with updates sit, on Pacific time. Visits are by appointment. Our nearest office to eastern Pennsylvania is the Iselin, New Jersey service area, which covers the Philadelphia side of the state.
Pacific hours, Lakewood
Mon to Thu 6am to 6pm
Fri 6am to 4pm
Sat 10am to 3pm
253-200-5645
Eastern hours, national line
Mon to Thu 9am to 7pm
Fri 9am to 4:30pm
Sat 10am to 2pm
888-709-9078
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Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping questions
How much does Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping cost?
How long does Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport take?
What affects the price of Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping?
Should I choose open or enclosed Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping?
Is my car insured during Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping?
Can I leave personal items in the car for Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport?
Is Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping really door to door?
How do I prepare my car for Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping?
How far ahead should I book Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport, and how does payment work?
Can I cancel or change my Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping date?
How do I know a Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping company is legitimate?
Why does Pittsburgh cost nearly as much as Philadelphia on Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport?
Does my car sit in a lot during Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping?
Do you handle JBLM PCS moves on Washington to Pennsylvania auto transport?
Can you ship a non-running car on the Washington to Pennsylvania vehicle shipping route?
Does winter weather delay Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping?
Will you call or text me after I ask for a Washington to Pennsylvania car shipping quote?
Other Washington car shipping routes
Shipping somewhere else from Washington, or moving within the state? These pages carry their own prices and transit times.
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