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Understanding Car Shipping Costs and What Influences Them

February 25, 2026 - By Aliza

Planning to ship your car interstate?

You’re probably totally lost and overwhelmed right now.

Quote shopping for car shipping is confusing. A quick Google search will yield prices from $500 to upwards of $2,500.

Sounds ridiculous and made up right? ?

BUT…

If you don’t know what affects pricing you have no idea if a quote is fair

Wait… there’s a method to the madness. Car shipping isn’t some random pricing scheme that goes up and down like the stock market. Rather, there are certain aspects that affect price that YOU have control over (some of the time). By knowing these things, you’ll understand how and when to shop for car transportation services so you don’t get taken advantage of.

In this complete guide, we cover EVERYTHING that goes into your final cost to ship your car.

Time to dive in.

Here’s a preview of what we cover:

How Much Does it Really Cost to Ship Your Car?
How Distance Affects Price
Does Type of Vehicle Matter?
Open Transport vs Enclosed Transport
How Timing Plays a Factor
Location can Impact your Cost Too

How Much Does it Really Cost to Ship Your Car?

Wondering how much it costs to ship a car? ?

The average cost to ship a car is $1,245 for a cross-country journey. However, every shipment is unique and your price will vary based on multiple factors.

Let’s break down what companies consider when they give you a price quote.

For every mile that your vehicle travels, you will pay between $.40 and $2.00. This is dependent on distance as well as a few other things…

Mileage priced deliveries charge more per mile on shorter trips

Reason being is simple … .the shorter the distance, the more expensive it is per mile.

If you are only shipping 300 miles your price will be about $1.60 a mile but if you are crossing the country for 2,000+ miles it will be closer to $0.60 cents a mile.

Since the transport company can load more shipments along that route, they can spread their costs out over more miles.

How Distance Affects Price

Distance is by far the biggest factor that goes into pricing.

Not only the distance but where you are shipping from and to.

Let’s say you want to ship from Los Angeles to New York. That’s going to be significantly cheaper than if you live in rural Alaska and need to ship to Atlanta, GA.

High volume routes like L.A to NY or Miami to Chicago have tons of competition

Carrier’s love those moves because they know they can run plenty of shipments per trip. More businesses means more competition which benefits YOU.

Now if you live somewhere that isn’t a major city it’s a different story.

Companies have to figure out how to get to your location which is less convenient for them. They also may not be able to pick up as many other vehicles along the way. That means higher rates to ship from those areas.

Major city = better rate.

Middle of nowhere = big premium.

Does Type of Vehicle Matter?

Nope. Not all vehicles are created equal when it comes to shipping.

Last year, the U.S. vehicle shipping industry racked up $10.5 billion in revenue. The most popular vehicle transported was SUV’s making up 46% of total vehicles shipped. Sedans were close behind at 29%.

So why does this matter?

Simple. Bigger = More expensive

If you have a full-size pickup truck or SUV your vehicle will cost more to ship than your buddy’s compact sedan down the street. Think about it, bigger cars take up more space on the carrier and weigh more. That equals more fuel which means less room for other vehicles.

Expect to pay at least $1,000 to ship an SUV cross country where your friend will only pay $900 to send his sedan.

Factor in car type if you have something luxurious or high-value.

If this is the case, you’ll need enclosed transportation which costs 30-40% more than open. Not running vehicles also costs more since the transportation company needs equipment to load your vehicle.

Open Transport vs Enclosed Transport

Ugh. Here’s where it gets confusing for most people.

Open Transport is the type of transportation where you see trucks on the highway with cars stacked on top of each other. They’re not covered which means your car is exposed to the elements/weather and road debris.

Transporting your car this way is very common. About 85% of all carriers use open transport.

Why?

Two words. Cheap and reliable.

Unless you’re shipping something high-end or really expensive, open transport is perfectly fine. Sure, your car may come back with a little dust or dirt but that’s easy to clean off.

Enclosed Transport

Your vehicle gets loaded into a climate-controlled trailer. No more worrying about the outside elements destroying your car!

Think of this as flying first class versus coach. You pay a hefty premium but it’s worth it.

Luxury and/or high-value vehicles need to be shipped this way for peace of mind.

Open = Economy. Get your car where it needs to go safely and at the lowest price.

Enclosed = First Class. Transport your car with extreme care at a higher price.

How Timing Plays a Factor

Choosing when you want your vehicle shipped can cost you money.

Like any business, there are peak times of year and slower periods for the car shipping industry. By knowing when these times are, you can plan ahead and save money.

Summer = Peak season.

May through September are the busiest months of the year. Not only are families moving, but college students are getting their cars shipped and “snowbirds” are transporting vehicles northward. Since there is high demand, you’ll pay top-dollar.

Winter is the cheapest time of year to get most shipments delivered due to less demand.

Unless you need your car transported to or from southern states like Florida, Arizona or California in December and January. That’s the prime snowbird season which means booming business for carriers…and higher prices for you.

If you can, schedule your shipment to be delivered during the shoulder seasons. Late fall or early spring are ideal because there are plenty of available carriers but not as much demand.

Another thing to consider with timing is how far in advance you book.

If you give a company 2-3 weeks notice, you’ll receive a competitive rate. Need it tomorrow? That’s called expedited service which costs a lot more.

Location can Impact your Cost Too

Believe it or not, where you live plays a big role.

If you live in a major city you’ll have the best rates. New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, and Dallas are just a few of many cities with lots of carrier traffic. More companies means more competition which equals lower prices for you.

But what if you live 50 miles outside of the nearest big city?

You have two choices.

Pay more to have the driver deliver to your front door

Meet them at the city you are closest to. This is called terminal to terminal pricing. It costs less because you are making the move convenient for them.

Hint: You can usually save $200-$300 by being flexible on where you pick up or deliver your vehicle.

Wrapping Things Up

Don’t overthink shipping your car.

You now know the biggest reasons why companies charge you a certain rate.

Distance and route is number one. Popular routes like coast to coast are ALWAYS going to be cheaper than somewhere remote. The type of vehicle determines how much space it takes on the carrier. Timing your shipment and research will allow you to find the best times to ship for the lowest rates. Being flexible with location can save you a pretty penny too.

Once you understand these factors. Get multiple quotes from trusted car transportation services.

And don’t always go with the cheapest price. You want a nice balance of affordable price and reliable service.

Aliza

I’m Aliza, the founder of Urdu Novel Bank. I built this site because I love Urdu stories and want everyone to enjoy them. As an Urdu literature lover, I choose the best novels to share with you. Here you can find free Urdu novels in romance, mystery, thriller and more. Read online or download PDF chapters without signing up. I update the library often so you’ll always have new tales to explore. My goal is to bring Urdu literature to readers around the world.