The short answer
It depends on six things, and the form on this page weighs all of them for your trip in about half a minute. No general figure will be as accurate as that. What follows explains why the number comes out the way it does, and how to move it.
The six things that set the price
- Distance. A longer trip costs more in total and less per mile. Loading and unloading take the same effort for 200 miles as for 2,000.
- Route. Trips between large cities along major interstates cost the least per mile, because trucks already run them full. A pickup or delivery far from an interstate adds empty miles, and you pay for them.
- Vehicle size and weight. A compact car takes one small space. A three-row SUV or a heavy-duty pickup takes more room and more of the truck’s weight allowance.
- Open or enclosed. Enclosed trailers carry fewer vehicles and cost more to run.
- Condition. A vehicle that does not start has to be winched on and off. That takes time and equipment.
- Timing. A flexible pickup window lets us wait for a truck that is already headed your way. A fixed date or a rush costs more.
How the time of year changes things
Demand for car carriers follows the calendar. Summer is the busiest season, because that is when families move. Fall and spring are tight on routes to Florida, Texas, and Arizona, when seasonal residents travel. The weeks around Christmas and New Year’s are slow to schedule because drivers are home. January and February are usually the quietest months, and often the cheapest.
Seven ways to pay less
- Give a pickup window of five days or more.
- Choose open transport unless the car truly needs enclosed.
- Book two or three weeks ahead in busy seasons.
- Offer to meet the truck near an interstate if you live far from one.
- Make sure the vehicle starts. A new battery costs less than an inoperable surcharge.
- Ship the car empty.
- Describe the vehicle exactly, including lift kits, racks, and oversized tires, so the price does not change at pickup.
What the price includes
Our quotes are all-in. The figure covers pickup at your address, transport, the carrier’s cargo insurance while the vehicle is on the truck, and delivery at the destination. Nothing is added at the door.
The price changes only if the details do: a different vehicle, a different ZIP code, a car that turns out not to run, or cargo packed inside.
A word about very low quotes
Carriers choose which loads they take, and they take the ones that pay a fair rate for the route. A quote far below everyone else’s often means the job is posted at a price no carrier will accept. The car sits, the pickup date passes, and the price goes up after you have already committed. A realistic quote that results in a truck showing up is the cheaper one.
Shipping compared with driving
Before you decide to drive, add it up: fuel, hotels, meals, the days off work, the wear on the car, and a flight home if it is a one-way trip. For a few hundred miles, driving usually wins. Across half the country, shipping often costs about the same or less, and it gives you the days back.
Common questions
Is the quote the final price?
Yes, for the details you entered. It changes only if those details change.
Do you take a deposit?
Payment terms are confirmed when you book. You will know what is due and when before you commit.
Why did a friend pay less for a similar distance?
Probably a different route, season, or vehicle. Two trips of the same length can differ a lot if one runs between big cities and the other ends in a small town.
Is it cheaper to ship two cars together?
Sometimes. Call the office so both vehicles are booked as one job and placed on the same truck where possible.