How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car?

What Does It Cost To Ship A Car?

So you need to ship your car across the country, but super long road trips aren’t always the peachiest experiences in the world, especially if you’re moving.

And you want to know, how much does it cost to ship a car?

Did you know that moving is the most stressful life event in the United States?

Coming out on top of divorce and even a family member’s death.

Disrupting your living situation can be traumatic, but moving your car doesn’t have to be.

If you are wondering if you can ship your vehicle across the country, the answer is yes, you absolutely can, but it will cost you to do so.

On average, shipping a car across the land costs $1100.

The cheapest way to do this is by calling for the best quote among all companies and choosing the least expensive option.

The smaller your car is and the shorter the distance it needs to be transported, the less you will pay.

Cost Of Shipping A Car

The average cost of shipping a car that weighs about 2 tons is $1,080 for an open-style car carrier (the one where the vehicle is in the open air) and $1,500 for a closed transportation where the car is protected from the elements.

Of course, quite a few factors influence this cost, and the price of shipping the exact vehicle on a different day can vary based on driver availability and a slew of other factors.

The best way to estimate your cost is to call a car shipping service and get a quote.

However, we have provided rough estimates based primarily on the most influential factors below.

Common Factors That Affect the Cost Of Shipping a Car

Size and weight are critical factors that influence your spending; the higher the car, the greater the cost.

However, there are other factors you may not have considered; let’s look into them further.

Timeframe To Ship

If you need a car moved fast, it will cost you more to prioritize your delivery to whichever carrier bids on your contract.

A tight time frame will lead you to a steeper price in every scenario, but if you have more flexibility in when the car can reach its destination, you can save yourself some cash.

On average, a car delivery will take between 5 and 21 days, which will be impacted by how far the trip is.

Convenience Of Shipping

Another factor impacting the price is where the caring picked up and dropped off.

If you are driving the vehicle and dropping it off at the terminal, it will cost you less, but you will have to spend the time to take the car in and arrange transportation for yourself home.

The same thing goes with drop-off.

Where The Car Is Coming From And Going To

If you live in the middle of Montana in an area that isn’t highly trafficked, your car will cost more to ship than someone who lives in a large city like Dallas, TX.

If your vehicle is being picked up or dropped off somewhere off of the beaten path, you can expect your cost to be higher than the average.

Open Vs. Closed Transport

The open-air trailers are the ones you likely identify as car carriers.

These trailers have multiple vehicles piled up, and you can see them from the road.

The cars are exposed to all the natural elements and some road debris that may bounce up.

The trailer does not have walls or a ceiling.

Closed car carriers you have likely passed and never realized the truck was hauling vehicles; the car looks like any other 18-wheeler you’d pass on the highway whose freight is unknown.

These car carriers are harder to find and are significantly more expensive at 1.5x the cost of an open-air trailer.

Most people do not need a secureage; they are designed to transport costly and rare vehicles.

• Antique cars
• Classic cars
• Custom cars
• Exotic cars
• Luxury cars

Distance Shipped

The most telling factor in determining price is the distance the car is shipped.

The further the space, the higher the price

Fewer miles = less cost for you when the bill comes for the shipping.

How Large Is The Car

Size and weight are significant factors in determining the cost of shipping a vehicle.

If you have an SUV that is large and in charge, you will pay more to ship the car.

Overall dimensions are a factor, as well as the weight of the vehicle.

If you have a compact car like a smart car, you can expect to pay far less than the average to ship your vehicle because it doesn’t burn as much fuel to carry and takes up less space.

Average car shipping cost by vehicle size

Price Of Fuel

A huge cost for a trucker is the cost of fuel.

For this reason, it also dramatically impacts how much the consumer will pay.

The cost of energy is transferred directly to the customer.

If fuel prices go up 5%, you can expect carrier costs to rise 5%.

Fuel costs are possibly high variable expenses associated with auto transport and affect what you’ll pay to ship a vehicle.

Is The Car Able To Be Driven

The car has to get on and off the carrier, and the easiest way for this to happen is for the vehicle to be driven onto the truck.

If the car doesn’t run, this can lead to a more complicated process, as the vehicle will have to be pulled or pushed onto and off the carrier.

This inconvenience will cost the owner of the vehicle more money.

If the car doesn’t drive, expect to pay more to ship it.

How to Save Money When Shipping a Vehicle

Most costs associated with shipping a car are out of your control.

You need the vehicle shipped to a particular spot and can’t shrink the car without replacing it with a new one.

You’re usually stuck with what you’ve got.

You can save money by shopping around for the best quote. Call multiple places before purchasing a service.

Other Ways To Move Your Vehicle

There are other options other than shipping your vehicle; they include:

• Shipping the vehicle
• Driving the car yourself
• Attaching it to the back of a moving truck
• Hiring someone else to drive the car

Driving The Car Yourself

You need to factor in a few things when considering whether it is worth driving your car instead of shipping it.

It would help if you thought about the mileage you’d be putting on the car. Los Angeles is 2,800 miles from New York City by car, and putting that many miles on your vehicle can devalue it.

It would help if you also put a value on your time. How much do you make per hour? If you were to work the 30+ hours you’re going to drive, how much would you make?

Another factor to factor in is the cash you have on hand and if you can utilize your time better.

Consider your current financial situation and money-making prospects. It may make more sense for some people to drive the car themselves, while others would have a significant opportunity cost.

Cost Of Driving The Car Yourself

It’s tough to put a monetary amount on this, but you can evaluate the cost of these factors to estimate how much driving your car will cost.

• Cost of car devaluation due to mileage
• Cost of fuel
• Cost of room and board if you decide to stay in a hotel or Airbnb
• Cost of your time
• Cost of the liability of driving your vehicle
• Cost of the chance you will be in a bad accident

Attaching the Car To The Back Of A Moving Truck

If you decide to move your belongings using a moving truck, your best option could be to attach your vehicle to its back and tow it.

You won’t rack up mileage by pulling a vehicle because most cars use an electric odometer system that only counts wheel rotation when the vehicle is propelling itself.

Cost Of Towing Your Car Behind A Moving Truck

Towing your car behind a moving truck will add extra expenses to your overall cost.

Uhaul and Budget will cost under $700 to add the tow dolly and the auto transport trailer to a truck.

Hiring Someone Else To Drive The Car

Hiring a driveway service, AKA having someone else drive your car to another state, can be an excellent option.

This service has pros and cons, but overall it can be perfect for the right person.

Cost Of Having Someone Else Drive Your Vehicle

A few essential factors will heavily impact the cost of hiring a driveway service.

They include:

• The type of car you own
• Mechanical condition
• The time of year and how busy the company is
• How expensive gasoline is at the time.
• The type of auto transport service you require
• Where the car needs to be picked up from and delivered to (and how remote the locations are)

It’s rigid to pin down an exact estimate without calling and getting one from a company. However, there is an average range. Here is a table that gives the average price per mile. 

Benefits

• You can have the car dropped off anywhere, even at the airport, and have the vehicle checked in for you by the driver.
• The driver and car are insured by the company reducing your liability
• The car is inspected for you
• Experienced driver

Drawbacks

• You don’t know how your vehicle is being driven
• Wear and tear on the vehicle
• Your car’s mileage will increase substantially
• Your car may not be accepted for driver safety concerns if it is older or mechanically declining.
• It may be only slightly cheaper than having the car transported on a truck
• Minor wear and tear will not be covered, including hail, paint damage, and tire wear.

FAQ About Shipping Cars

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car?

On average, it costs about $1,100 to ship a car.

Costs can range from about $500 to transport your vehicle a few hundred miles on an open carrier to more than $2,500 to ship a vehicle in a closed car carrier.

What Is The Average Cost Per Mile To Ship A Car?

It costs, on average, 85 cents per mile to ship a vehicle; however, this average is for a standard vehicle.

Larger cars will cost more money to move.

Other factors include distance, route, and time of year you hope to have your vehicle shipped.

This cost will also vary from company to company.

Does the Cost Of Shipping A Vehicle Vary Base On The Company?

Yep! The cost will vary from company to company, as stated above.

You should always call around and get multiple quotes for car transport before settling on one.

Can I Pack My Car Before I Ship It?

Yes, you can pack things in your vehicle and load up the car before you ship it.

However, you should know a few things before you decide to do this.

Is It Legal To Pack Your Car Before Shipping It?

Yes. According to the transportation department, it is technically a legal practice to pack up your car before you ship it.

Well, it hasn’t been declared against the law for you to send your household or personal items in the vehicle.

Most companies will have their own rules for this practice, though. Let’s talk about it further.

It Will Cost You More To Pack The Car

One of the direct variable costs of shipping a car is the cost of fuel that the freighter burns.

The heavier loaded the truck is, the more power the company will have to purchase.

For this reason, most companies will have a weight limit in their quote based on the vehicle’s make and model.

If you fail to stay under this weight limit, the company will likely charge you fees, or you may even be rejected from having your car put on the truck, though they will probably keep your deposit for reserving a spot on the vehicle.

You will likely see additional fees if you exceed 200 lbs past what the car should weigh.

The prices will be less severe if you make a quick trip and more significant if the trip is longer to offset the additional fuel costs.

So if you are shipping your car under 500 miles, this may not be as big of a deal.

Talk to the vehicle carrier, see the limitations in terms of additional weight, and see if it makes sense to pay the extra amount to move your belongings in your car.

Sometimes it may be cheaper to send them via an air carrier or put them in a moving truck.

The Benefits and Downsides Of Shipping Your Car With Personal Items Inside

Benefits

• You can take more with you
• More stable than packing things in a moving truck
• You can fit a fair amount of stuff in your car

Downsides

• It will cost you extra
• You may not be able to bring as much as you would like
• You risk being robbed
• An extra communication step

The Risks Of Shipping Items In Your Car

Most car carriers ask that you keep personal items outside the line of sight to reduce theft. If the car appears empty or everything is in the trunk, the vehicle is less likely to be vandalized for what is inside.

If the car is damaged, the car carrier is liable.

Most car carriers are stopped at rest areas, restaurants, and hotels.

The truck likely isn’t driving straight through, giving people plenty of time to break into your car if they think there is something valuable inside.

If your vehicle is filled up, the likelihood of a break-in is much more possible.

This is a good practice to observe at all times with your vehicle. You don’t ever want to leave valuables where they can be seen by someone looking for an easy opportunity to rob you. Keep all personal items hidden below the window lines or in the trunk or glove box of the vehicle.

If You Plan On Shipping Items In Your Car, Follow These Guidelines

You can’t eliminate all risks when shipping items in your vehicle.

Someone may still decide to break into your car even if you follow the guidelines, your items may be damaged even if appropriately packed, and something you packed may rip the seats; you never know what might happen.

A few ways to avoid misfortune falling on your vehicle when shipping it with personal items inside.

Check out these best practices to keep your car and unique things safe while in transit.

• Keep high-priced items out of your vehicle when shipping them and on your person instead.
• Keep all items below the line of vision when packing the car to avoid theft
• Carefully package items to prevent damaging them
• Make sure items will not tear or destroy your seats or carpeting
• Don’t ship a lot of extra weight to avoid increasing costs
• Check with the company and communicate how you plan to pack your vehicle.
• Don’t leave things in the driver’s seat because someone will drive your car onto and off the truck.

Is It Worth It To Ship A Vehicle?

So you need to move your car across the country, but super long road trips aren’t always the peachiest experiences in the world, especially if you’re moving. Did you know that moving is the most stressful life event in the United States?

Coming out on top over divorce and even family member death.

Disrupting your living situation can be traumatic, but moving your car doesn’t have to be.

If you are wondering if you can ship your vehicle across the country, the answer is yes, you absolutely can, but it will cost you to do so.

On average, shipping a car across the country will cost you XYZ.

The cheapest way to do this is by using X service, and you can put things in the vehicle when you ship your car.

Does AAA offer car transport?

The roadside assistance company ships cars, trucks, and vans using AAA Discount Auto and Truck transporters.

Their experienced staff services all 48 states and offers a fair price point for their service.

All AAA auto transport carriers are bonded, licensed, and insured, and professional drivers keep safety as their number one concern.

Never Get Yourself Into Debt Over Car Repairs Again By Choosing Protect My Car

Car repairs can be absurdly expensive, and you can expect those unexpected repairs before too long, no matter what vehicle you drive.

Car repairs are an unfortunate part of owning and operating a vehicle.

Eventually, something will break, so can it be expensive to replace and repair these parts?

If you have to replace the engine block, it could cost you more than $10,000, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

Most people don’t have a spare ten grand lying around in their bank accounts or even an extra $2,500 if their transmission blows.

The cost of repairs will depend on your vehicle, but it can cost you thousands of dollars to make repairs to components like the transmission and suspension, which is money most Americans don’t have.