Pricing
What Car Shipping Actually Costs
Honest ranges by distance, vehicle size and equipment type — plus the six things that decide where inside that range your vehicle lands.
Ranges
Typical auto transport price ranges
These are real market ranges, not teaser numbers. Your lane, timing and vehicle decide the final figure.
| Distance | Sedan (open) | SUV / truck (open) | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $400 – $700 | $500 – $850 | $700 – $1,100 |
| 500 – 1,000 miles | $600 – $950 | $750 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,600 |
| 1,000 – 1,500 miles | $700 – $1,100 | $900 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,900 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 miles | $850 – $1,300 | $1,050 – $1,550 | $1,500 – $2,300 |
| 2,000+ miles | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,300 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $3,000 |
Cost drivers
Six things that move your price
Distance and route density
Interstate corridors between large metros are cheap because trucks already run them. A rural pickup two hours off the highway costs more because it burns driver hours for a single car.
Vehicle size and weight
Carriers sell deck space and payload. Lifted trucks, dual-rear-wheel pickups and large SUVs displace other vehicles and price accordingly.
Running condition
A non-running vehicle needs a winch and a loading position the driver can work around. Expect $150 to $300 above the running rate.
Open vs enclosed
Enclosed trailers carry fewer cars, cost more to operate and insure, and require soft-tie loading. That is the 40 to 60 percent premium.
Timing and flexibility
A first-available window prices best. A guaranteed calendar date means paying a carrier to reroute, which is a real premium, not a fee we invented.
Season and fuel
Snowbird migration, auction cycles, holiday weeks and diesel prices all move carrier rates week to week on the same lane.
FAQ
Car shipping cost questions
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Short regional moves under 500 miles usually run $400 to $700. Mid-range moves of 1,000 to 1,500 miles run $700 to $1,100. Coast-to-coast open transport is typically $1,100 to $1,700. Enclosed adds roughly 40 to 60 percent.
What is the cost per mile?
Rates are not linear. Short hauls can run $1.00 or more per mile because the truck loses a day of routing, while a 2,500-mile run may price near $0.50 per mile. Longer distance almost always means a lower per-mile cost.
Why is an SUV more expensive than a sedan?
A car hauler is limited by weight and by deck space. A three-row SUV or a crew-cab pickup can occupy the space of one and a half sedans, so the carrier prices it that way.
Does the season change the price?
Significantly. Southbound Florida lanes spike from October through December, northbound lanes spike from March through May, and winter storms tighten northern capacity. The same route can swing several hundred dollars across the year.
Is a lower quote always better?
No. A rate below market simply sits unassigned while carriers take better-paying loads. The vehicle does not move, and eventually you get a call asking for more money. Price it correctly and it dispatches.
Are there hidden fees?
Not with us. Door-to-door service, cargo insurance, fuel and taxes are all inside the quoted number.
Exact number
Price your specific vehicle and lane
Ready for white-glove auto transport?
Open and enclosed semi-truck carriers, door-to-door delivery and a coordinator who answers the phone.