How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car in 2026?

June 14, 2026 · 9 min read

The Short Answer

Most car shipments in the United States fall between $550 and $1,900. That wide range is not random — five specific variables move the price, and once you understand each one you can estimate your own rate within a few percent before ever calling a broker. This guide walks through every factor in plain terms, shows real-world examples and explains exactly what a legitimate quote includes — and what it never should.

If you are ready to skip straight to a number, our free instant quote tool returns pricing built on live carrier bids in your lane, not a teaser rate designed to get you on the phone.

Distance Is the Biggest Lever

Distance determines the base rate and is the single most powerful driver of your final price. The relationship is not linear — price per mile falls as distance rises, because long-haul carriers spread their fixed costs (fuel, driver wages, equipment depreciation) across more miles.

• Under 500 miles: $1.05–$1.35 per mile. Short hauls are expensive per mile because the carrier cannot amortize costs over a long run.
• 500–1,500 miles: $0.75–$0.95 per mile. The sweet spot for carrier efficiency.
• 1,500–2,500 miles: $0.60–$0.78 per mile. Common for state-to-state and cross-country moves.
• Over 2,500 miles: $0.55–$0.70 per mile. Coast-to-coast runs benefit from the best per-mile economics.

A Los Angeles to New York move covering 2,790 miles at $0.58/mile works out to roughly $1,620 before vehicle-size adjustments. That is a real number, not a teaser. See our cross-country car shipping page for more specific lane pricing.

Vehicle Size Adds a Surcharge

Open carriers hold eight to ten vehicles. Every vehicle on the deck competes for length, width, height and weight capacity. Larger vehicles consume more of each resource, so carriers price accordingly.

• Standard sedan (Toyota Camry, Honda Accord): baseline rate, no surcharge.
• Compact SUV and crossover (RAV4, CR-V): +$50 to $100 over sedan baseline.
• Full-size SUV (Suburban, Expedition, Tahoe): +$100 to $200.
• Pickup truck (standard cab): +$75 to $150.
• Pickup truck (crew cab, long bed): +$150 to $250. These often take up two effective spots.
• Motorcycles and ATVs: +$50 to $150, depending on whether crating is required.

If you are shipping a full-size truck or a lifted vehicle, tell your broker upfront. Carriers need to know clearance requirements before dispatch — a vehicle that does not fit on the assigned carrier creates delays and rescheduling costs.

Open vs Enclosed: The 35–50% Rule

Open car transport is the default for roughly 90% of all vehicles shipped. Your vehicle rides on a multi-deck carrier exposed to weather and road debris — the same equipment manufacturers use to move new inventory from factories to dealerships. It is not "risky"; it is the industry standard.

Enclosed car transport places your vehicle inside a hard-sided trailer with a roof, sealed doors, and typically soft-strap tie-downs that contact the tires rather than the frame. Enclosed costs 35–50% more than open on the same lane.

• Open quote of $1,000 → Enclosed runs $1,350–$1,500
• Open quote of $1,400 → Enclosed runs $1,890–$2,100
• Open quote of $1,800 → Enclosed runs $2,430–$2,700

The enclosed premium is generally worth it for exotic cars, classic vehicles, collector cars and anything above roughly $70,000 in value. For daily drivers, leased vehicles and standard SUVs, open transport is the economically correct choice. Read our full comparison: open vs enclosed car transport.

Seasonal Pricing: When You Ship Matters

Auto transport pricing is not flat across the year. Two seasonal events push rates significantly above baseline.

Snowbird season (November–January southbound, March–April northbound): The annual migration of seasonal residents from the Northeast and Midwest to Florida, Arizona and the Carolinas creates a demand surge on those corridors. Florida and Arizona lanes can run 12–20% above their summer baseline in peak January weeks. If you are a snowbird, read our detailed guide on when to book Florida and Arizona lanes.

Summer relocation season (May–August): College moves, military PCS orders, job relocations and school-year transitions drive broad nationwide demand. Prices on dense corridors (LA–Dallas, Chicago–Atlanta) firm up during summer. Routes that are infrequently served — rural origin and rural destination — feel the squeeze most.

The cheapest times to ship are late September through October (after summer, before snowbird season) and mid-February through mid-March (between snowbird return and summer). Off-peak shipping can save 8–15% versus peak.

Extra Charges to Watch For

Legitimate brokers build their fee into the quoted rate. The following items, when quoted as surprises at pickup or delivery, are red flags:

• Fuel surcharges added at delivery. These should be baked into any honest quote.
• Remote-area fees charged after booking. If your address is inaccessible to an 80-foot carrier, a legitimate broker will tell you at quote time, not at pickup.
• Inoperable vehicle fee not disclosed upfront. Non-running vehicles require winch or liftgate equipment and cost $150–$250 more. Disclose this at quote time.
• Deposit charged before dispatch. Reputable brokers do not charge a deposit before a real carrier is assigned. See our transparent pricing page for what our quotes include.

What Is Always Included in a Legitimate Quote

Every quote from a licensed broker that uses verified carriers should include, at no extra charge:

• Door-to-door pickup and delivery (as close to your address as an 80-foot carrier can legally and safely operate)
• Carrier cargo insurance (federally required minimum of $750,000 combined for open transport)
• Digital bill of lading with time-stamped condition photos at pickup and delivery
• Milestone tracking updates and direct driver contact throughout transit
• A named transport coordinator you can reach directly

Real-World Pricing Examples (2026)

The following are representative quotes based on current lane data. Actual pricing varies by date, vehicle size and carrier availability.

• Los Angeles, CA → New York, NY (2,790 miles, sedan, open): $1,395
• Miami, FL → Chicago, IL (1,380 miles, SUV, open): $950
• Houston, TX → Seattle, WA (2,350 miles, pickup truck, open): $1,295
• Phoenix, AZ → Denver, CO (820 miles, sedan, enclosed): $1,050
• Atlanta, GA → Boston, MA (1,080 miles, sedan, open): $795
• Detroit, MI → Orlando, FL (1,180 miles, sedan, open, January peak): $985

All of the above are covered by our locked-in rate policy: the number you approve is the number you pay at delivery. Use our car shipping cost calculator for your specific route.

How to Get an Accurate Quote — Without Being Lowballed

The auto transport industry has a well-documented lowball problem: brokers quote below market to collect a deposit, then raise the price when no carrier will take the load at the original rate. Here is how to protect yourself.

• Compare at least three brokers on the same day. Any quote more than 15% below the cluster is almost certainly a lowball teaser.
• Ask what the total includes. A quote that excludes fuel, delivery fees or broker commissions is not a real quote.
• Ask when payment is due. Reputable brokers collect a booking deposit only after a carrier is assigned — not before.
• Check the broker's FMCSA registration. Every licensed broker has a searchable MC number. Ours is MC-1093488.

Ready for a real, locked-in rate? Our instant quote tool returns carrier-backed pricing with no obligation. Nothing is charged until a driver is assigned to your vehicle.