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Process Factors

Car shipping cost also depends on things like:

  • Vehicle Condition

    Is your vehicle able to steer and brake? Is it in perfect condition or it is inoperable?

  • Open or enclosed

    Would you prefer that your vehicle be shipped inside an enclosed trailer, or is standart open transportation OK? Though the former may suffice for most cars, you’ll want enclosed vehicle transport for exotics, classics and other high-value vehicles. Most auto transport brokers and vehicle transport services providers offer both types of transportation.

  • Dimensions

    Height – Standart heights range from about 57 to 73 inches, depending on vehicle type like sedan, light truck or SUV.

    Length – Average length is about 190 inches, so longer vehicles may be more expensive, and shorter ones less so.

    Weight – Weight isn’t usually as big a factor as height and length, but it’s always more expensive to ship a Hummer than a Prius.

    Other items like aftermarket add-ons, ground clearence issues, and custom suspensions cause car shipping prices to increase as well.

  • Seasonality

    What time of year you’ll ship your vehicle is a big factor in overall cost. Auto transport is usually cheapest between September and May and more expensive in the winter.

  • Locations

    If you’re having your vehicle shipped from one high-traffic metropolitan area to another the car shipping cost may be less than if your origin and destination locations are in out-of-the-way rural areas.

  • Insurance Value

    Most auto transporters have a standard coverage option that applies to all the vehicles they ship, but they will offer upgraded protection for those who need more for luxury car brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Rolls Royce owners.

Process Prices

How Much Does Car Shipping Cost?

With so many factors involved, the cost to ship a car, truck or SUV can vary greatly.

< $1,000

< $500

> $2,500

When moves of all types and distances are taken into account, the national average auto shipping price is slightly less than $1,000.

However, if you’re having a family sedan transported a few hundred miles by open carrier during the off-season, the auto transport cost will likely be less than $500.

On the other hand, moving a bulky SUV or pickup truck from coast to coast during the summer could cost well over $2,500.

There’s really no way to calculate an average auto transport cost-per-mile, but gathering shipping quotes for a potential automobile move is a good way to compare carriers.

Below are ballpark shipment figures based on mileage:

< 500 miles

Between

$1.45 & $1.95 per mile

501 – 1,000 miles

$0.90 to $1.44 per mile

1,001 – 2,000 miles

$0.69 to $0.89 per mile

> 2,000 miles

Between

$0.45 & $0.68 per mile

Again, use these car shipping rates as general guidelines only. The only way to get accurate auto transport quotes based on your particular situation is by using a website like carshipguru.com’s quote calculator.

It’s generally true that the longer the distance between the pick-up and delivery locations, the higher the price will be, but even that’s not always the case on some shipments.

Process Types

What Are the Different Types of Car
Transportation Services?

  • Open Car Transport

    Open Car Transport is how new cars are moved from ports and factories to dealerships, and it’s the least expensive way to have family vehicles shipped as well. With open transport, your car will be exposed to elements like rain, sleet and snow, as well as road debris like sand, dirt and small rocks, but vehicle shipping of this type rarely results in damage. This is usually the cheapest method to ship a car.

  • Enclosed Car

    Enclosed Transport is the preferred shipping method for vintage automobiles, race cars, and high-dollar exotics. Enclosed auto transport is a premium car shipping service that’s often significantly more expensive than open transport, but it may be a small price to pay for those who want their vehicle pampered and protected.

  • Door-to-Door Service

    Door-to-Door Service is when a car transport provider picks your vehicle up directly from your home or business and delivers it to a specified location, whether it be a museum, race track or private garage.

  • Driveaway Service

    Driveaway Service is similar to student vehicle transport, in that he customer hires a company driver to drive their vehicle from origin to destination. With driveaway services, transit times may be shorter, because there’s no truck driver making additional pickups and deliveries along the way. Driveaway drivers may be professionals, or regular people trying to make a few extra bucks while traveling.

  • Nationwide Car Shipping

    Nationwide Car Shipping is when a vehicle is transported to and from points within the country. In the United States, it usually only includes the Lower 48 states, because shipping to Alaska and Hawaii involves intermodal transportation.

  • Seasonal Auto Movers

    Seasonal Auto Movers do most of their buiness during the peak transportation season between June and August. However, during the winter, many ‘snowbirds’ temporarily relocate from their homes in the Midwest and Northeast to warm sunny states like Florida, Arizona, Nevada and California. Seasonal auto movers are experienced with these moves as well, especially during months when many customers prefer not to drive through inclement weather.

Process Overview

Find an offer that works for you

Like most folks, you probably wouldn’t take medical advice from a plumber or send your kids to a school with untrained teachers. Likewise, getting a car shipping quote requires assistance from seasoned car transportation experts. You could spend hours online doing the legwork yourself, but why bother when we’ve already done it for you.

Access to a community of 1000+ transporters with instant quotes

  • Find transporters

    Tell us about your needs and we will filter hundreds of transporters based on your information

  • Compare prices

    Communicate prices with transporters directly, see entry prices instsantly

  • Hire transporters

    Hire a transporter through Carship.guru and pay only if you’re 100% satisfied

Still have questions? We’re here to answer them


Still have questions? We’re here to answer them

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      5.0

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      5.0

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