Shipping a car in the U.S. typically costs $500 to $2,000, depending on distance, vehicle type, transport method, route, season, and carrier availability. All State to State Auto Transport provides route-specific estimates so you can understand your expected cost before booking.
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Get Instant Quote Now +1 (800) 550-1515The average cost to ship a car in the U.S. is typically around $500 to $2,000, although shorter shipments can cost less and long-distance, enclosed, oversized, or expedited shipments can cost more. As a general planning range, open auto transport may cost approximately $0.60 to $1.50 per mile, with the per-mile rate usually decreasing as the shipping distance increases.
Your actual price depends on the specific pickup and delivery locations, vehicle type, transport method, route, season, and carrier availability. These figures are estimated planning ranges, not guaranteed prices. For an exact price based on your route, vehicle, and shipping requirements, request a free quote from All State to State Auto Transport.
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Shipping a car with All State to State Auto Transport involves a few straightforward steps.
Provide your pickup ZIP code, delivery ZIP code, vehicle information, and preferred transport method to receive a shipping estimate.
Once you are ready to move forward, confirm the vehicle details and pickup information so the shipment can be scheduled.
Remove personal belongings and make sure the vehicle is ready for inspection and pickup. Let the transport team know in advance if the vehicle does not run or has any special requirements.
A carrier arrives at the agreed pickup location or a nearby safe location if the address cannot accommodate the carrier. The vehicle is inspected and loaded for transportation.
Your vehicle travels to the destination and is delivered according to the agreed arrangements. The driver will coordinate the delivery details with you.
| Shipping Distance | Estimated Open Transport | Estimated Enclosed Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | 450–800 | 650–1,100 |
| 500–1,000 miles | 650–1,050 | 900–1,450 |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | 800–1,300 | 1,100–1,750 |
| 1,500–2,000 miles | 950–1,500 | 1,300–2,000 |
| 2,000–2,500 miles | 1,100–1,700 | 1,500–2,250 |
| 2,500+ miles | 1,200–2,000+ | 1,700–2,700+ |
These ranges are intended to give you a starting point for budgeting. A particular route can fall outside these ranges because auto transport pricing changes with carrier availability, vehicle size, pickup location, timing, and other shipment details.
Car shipping does not use one fixed rate for every mile. In general, shorter shipments have a higher cost per mile, while longer shipments have a lower per-mile rate because fixed pickup, loading, dispatch, and delivery costs are spread over a greater distance. This is a common pattern across auto transport pricing.
For planning purposes, estimated open-carrier rates may look like this:
| Distance | Estimated Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|
| 500 miles or less | 0.90–1.50 |
| 501–1,000 miles | 0.70–1.20 |
| 1,001–1,500 miles | 0.60–1.00 |
| 1,501–2,000 miles | 0.50–0.85 |
| 2,001–2,500 miles | 0.45–0.75 |
| 2,500+ miles | 0.40–0.70 |
For example, a 400-mile shipment may have a higher per-mile rate than a 2,000-mile shipment, even though the total cost of the 2,000-mile shipment is higher.
Important: Cost per mile is useful for estimating a shipment, but it should not be used as a stand-alone quote. The actual route, vehicle, carrier type, timing, and current market conditions all matter.
Several factors go into determining the final price of an auto transport shipment. Distance is important, but it is only one part of the calculation.
The distance between your pickup and delivery locations is one of the biggest factors affecting the total cost.
A longer route generally costs more overall, but the per-mile price usually decreases as the distance increases. Short-distance shipments have many of the same fixed costs as longer shipments, which makes their per-mile rate higher.
The type of carrier you choose also affects the price.
Open auto transport is generally the more economical option and is the most common way to ship everyday cars, SUVs, and trucks. Your vehicle is transported on an open carrier along with other vehicles.
Enclosed auto transport provides additional protection from weather and road exposure and is commonly selected for luxury, classic, exotic, antique, or other high-value vehicles.
The size of your vehicle can affect the shipping price.
A standard sedan generally takes less carrier space than a large SUV, pickup truck, van, or oversized vehicle. Larger vehicles can therefore cost more to transport on the same route.
Your vehicle's dimensions may also affect the available carrier equipment and the number of vehicles that can be loaded on a carrier.
A running vehicle is generally easier to load, move, and unload.
If your vehicle is inoperable, the carrier may need additional equipment or labor to load it. This can increase the shipping cost.
When requesting a quote, let the transport company know whether the vehicle starts, rolls, steers, and brakes normally.
The accessibility of your pickup and delivery addresses can affect the price.
Major cities and heavily traveled transportation corridors usually have more carrier traffic. Rural areas, remote locations, narrow streets, restricted-access communities, and locations far from major routes may require additional routing or coordination.
Door-to-door service does not always mean a carrier can park directly in front of every address. If a large carrier cannot safely access your street, the driver may arrange a nearby safe meeting point.
Auto transport prices can change throughout the year based on demand and carrier availability.
Seasonal relocation periods, including snowbird migration, can create increased demand on certain routes. Weather can also affect carrier schedules and available capacity.
If your dates are flexible, your shipment may have more scheduling options than a shipment that requires pickup on one specific day.
Flexible pickup dates can make it easier for a carrier to match your vehicle with an available route.
Expedited transport, fixed-date requirements, and short scheduling windows may cost more because they can require additional coordination or priority carrier availability.
If keeping the cost lower is your priority, providing a reasonable pickup window can give the transport company more options.
Standard auto transport is usually less expensive than expedited shipping.
With expedited auto transport, the goal is to arrange pickup faster or accommodate a tighter delivery schedule. Because this can require prioritizing your shipment and finding suitable carrier capacity quickly, the price is generally higher.
Open auto transport is generally the most affordable way to ship a standard vehicle. Estimated open-carrier pricing
| Distance | Estimated Open Transport Cost |
|---|---|
| 0–500 miles | 450–800 |
| 500–1,000 miles | 650–1,050 |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | 800–1,300 |
| 1,500–2,000 miles | 950–1,500 |
| 2,000–2,500 miles | 1,100–1,700 |
| 2,500+ miles | 1,200–2,000+ |
Open transport is suitable for most everyday vehicles and is the standard choice for many interstate shipments.
Enclosed transport generally costs more because your vehicle is transported inside an enclosed trailer with additional protection from weather and road exposure.
Estimated enclosed shipping costs
| Distance | Estimated Enclosed Transport Cost |
|---|---|
| 0–500 miles | 650–1,100 |
| 500–1,000 miles | 900–1,450 |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | 1,100–1,750 |
| 1,500–2,000 miles | 1,300–2,000 |
| 2,000–2,500 miles | 1,500–2,250 |
| 2,500+ miles | 1,700–2,700+ |
Enclosed transport is often chosen for classic cars, luxury vehicles, exotic cars, collector vehicles, and other vehicles where additional protection is a priority.
Expedited auto transport typically costs more than standard shipping because you're requesting faster scheduling and less flexibility in pickup timing.
As an initial planning estimate
| Distance | Estimated Expedited Open Transport |
|---|---|
| 500 miles or less | 650–1,050 |
| 501–1,000 miles | 850–1,300 |
| 1,001–1,500 miles | 1,000–1,600 |
| 1,501–2,000 miles | 1,200–1,850 |
| 2,000+ miles | 1,400–2,200+ |
The actual expedited premium depends on the route, required pickup window, vehicle, season, and available carrier capacity.
Cross-country car shipping commonly costs around $1,100 to $2,000+ for standard open transport, depending on the exact route and vehicle.
For example, a coast-to-coast shipment can cost more than a typical regional move because of the greater distance, but the per-mile rate may be lower.
An estimated cross-country range
These are planning estimates rather than guaranteed prices. A specific New York-to-California shipment, for example, can price differently from a Florida-to-Washington shipment even when the total mileage is similar.
SUVs and pickup trucks can cost more to transport than standard sedans because they generally occupy more carrier space.
These percentages are only starting estimates. Vehicle dimensions and carrier availability can affect the actual price.
If your main goal is to keep the shipping cost down, several choices can help:
Open auto transport is generally less expensive than enclosed transport and is suitable for most everyday vehicles.
A flexible pickup window gives the carrier more opportunities to match your vehicle with an existing route.
Terminal-to-terminal shipping can sometimes reduce transportation costs where suitable terminals are available. Door-to-door service is more convenient but may cost more depending on the locations.
If your schedule allows it, booking standard transport with a reasonable pickup window can be less expensive than requesting priority service.
The cheapest advertised per-mile rate does not necessarily produce the lowest final price. Your actual pickup and delivery locations, vehicle, carrier type, and timing should all be considered together.
A car shipping estimate should be based on the details of your shipment, but not every quote is structured the same way.
Before booking, ask what is included in the quoted price and whether additional charges could apply for circumstances such as:
An inoperable vehicle
Oversized or modified vehicles
Difficult pickup or delivery locations
Expedited service
Enclosed transport
Special loading requirements
Changes to the original shipment details
Providing accurate information when requesting your quote helps the transport company provide a more reliable estimate.
Get Instant Quote NowHere are a few sample planning scenarios using the estimated rates above:
An ordinary running sedan traveling approximately 400 miles on an open carrier might cost around 450–800.
A midsize SUV traveling approximately 900 miles might cost around 750–1,200, depending on the route, vehicle dimensions, and timing.
A standard sedan traveling approximately 1,500 miles could fall around 900–1,400 using open transport.
A luxury or classic vehicle traveling approximately 2,500 miles in an enclosed carrier could cost around 1,600–2,500+.
These examples are for budgeting only. The actual price is determined by the shipment details and current carrier availability.
When comparing car shipping prices, the lowest advertised rate is not the only thing to consider. You also want a clear estimate, flexible options, and a straightforward payment process.
You don't pay until a driver has been assigned to your vehicle. This means you are not required to make an upfront payment before your shipment has been arranged.
Car shipping costs depend heavily on the pickup and delivery locations. We provide estimates based on your actual route rather than relying solely on a general national average.
You can choose the transport method that fits your vehicle and budget. Open transport is generally the more economical option, while enclosed transport provides additional protection for an added cost.
Your pickup timeframe, delivery requirements, and shipping speed can affect the price. Standard transport may cost less than expedited service, while flexible dates can provide more scheduling options.
Since 2008, All State to State Auto Transport has helped customers arrange vehicle transportation across the United States. Our experience helps us coordinate different routes, vehicle types, and shipping requirements.
Get a free estimate based on your vehicle, pickup and delivery locations, and preferred transport service. A shipment-specific quote gives you a more useful starting point than relying on a generic cost-per-mile figure.
