Ship a Car to Another State

Total distance is the main factor in determining the cost of car shipping. A distance of less than 500 miles is around $1.85/mile, between 500 and 1,500 miles is about $.91/mile and distances more than 1,500 miles are roughly $.59/mile. While longer distances lead to a higher overall price, the per-mile cost is discounted.

The route refers to what highways or roads the car carrier will need to travel to transport your vehicle. Do you live in a congested city? Or in a rural town up a steep mountain road? Both of these routes have unique challenges that may determine the type of carrier needed and impact transport time and costs.

Cars, vans and trucks come in all different sizes—an economy car will be lighter and take up less space on a trailer than a full-sized, luxury SUV. Longer and taller vehicles and those with modifications like larger tires and roof racks may require vehicle transport adjustments that could increase the shipping cost.

It’s best to book your auto transport service at least two weeks
in advance as the availability of carriers fluctuates during certain
seasons and geographic locations. Having a flexible date for shipment will be more economical, but if you do have timeline limintations, a guaranteed pickup date can be arranged for a higher cost.

Open and enclosed are the main auto transport options. Open transport is most commonly used, but means vehicles will be exposed to environmental elements and debris. Enclosed transport costs more, but provides some basic protection. It is typically used for classic or exotic vehicles or cars with low clearance

It’s crucial to know the condition of the vehicle being transported. Fully operational vehicles are less expensive to ship as they can be driven and easily loaded and unloaded on and off trailers. Inoperable vehicles that require special equipment such as a winch, forklift or flatbed tow truck/wrecker to load, will increase shipping costs.

Open auto transport is the shipping of vehicles on an open-air trailer that has no walls or roof. Your car is loaded onto the trailer, secured with straps and then transported from the pickup to the delivery location. Open auto transport is a commonly utilized method, that is readily available and generally less expensive than enclosed auto transport. It’s an efficient method of transportation for most vehicles. However, vehicles are not protected from outdoor elements or debris and will likely accumulate dust and dirt.

Enclosed auto transport is a premium shipping option that involves shipping your car in a fully enclosed trailer, which provides extra protection from the elements and debris. This type of service is ideal for exotic or collector vehicles and luxury sports cars. The enclosed trailer is equipped with soft straps and hydraulic lift gates to load vehicles with low clearance. This method comes with higher costs as compared to open car transport and limited availability due to the number of enclosed carriers in the market.