Car Shipping Cost Calculator
Anonymous auto transport price estimator — no name, email, or phone required. Get an instant low–high range for shipping your car, then compare it against broker quotes.
Price breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|
Range = most-likely ±20%. Real quotes on one lane routinely spread wider — get 2–3 written quotes before booking. No email or phone needed for this estimate, ever.
How this estimate is calculated
Auto transport pricing is simple at its core: a $200 flat dispatch fee (load, unload, paperwork, insurance admin) plus a per-mile linehaul rate that falls as distance grows — the fixed costs of dispatching a truck spread thinner over a long haul. Short trips therefore cost more per mile than cross-country runs:
| Distance band | Linehaul rate | Sedan, open carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $1.00/mi | $500 at 300 mi |
| 500–1,500 miles | $0.78/mi | $980 at 1,000 mi |
| 1,500–2,500 miles | $0.58/mi | $1,370 at 1,500 mi |
| Over 2,500 miles | $0.50/mi | $1,600 at 2,800 mi |
Multipliers then stack on top: vehicle size (SUV ×1.12, pickup ×1.18, oversized ×1.35), enclosed trailer (×1.40), peak season (×1.15), expedited pickup (×1.25), minus a 5% military PCS discount. Flat add-ons: inoperable winch loading (+$150) and EV handling (+$100). The range shown is the most-likely figure ±20%.
Worked examples
| Scenario | Most likely | Range | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 mi, sedan, open carrier | $980 | $784 – $1,176 | 2–3 days |
| 2,500 mi, SUV, enclosed trailer | $2,587 | $2,070 – $3,105 | 5–7 days |
| 1,000 mi, sedan EV, open carrier | $1,080 | $864 – $1,296 | 2–3 days |
| 1,500 mi, sedan, open, military PCS | $1,302 | $1,041 – $1,562 | 3–4 days |
Open vs enclosed carrier
| Open carrier | Enclosed trailer | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Baseline | ~40% more (×1.40) |
| Example | 2,500 mi SUV: $1,848 | Same trip: $2,587 (premium $739) |
| Protection | Exposed to weather, dust, road debris | Fully covered; soft tie-downs, often liftgate |
| Capacity | 7–10 cars — easier to book, faster pickup | 2–6 cars — book 2–3 weeks ahead |
| Choose it when | Daily drivers, leases, most relocations | Classics, exotics, fresh paint, low ground clearance |
Industry data (2025–2026) puts enclosed at 30–60% above open depending on route; 1.40× is the typical middle. For a daily driver it is rarely worth it — open carriers move roughly 90% of consumer vehicles without incident.
Broker vs carrier: who are you actually paying?
Most websites that “ship your car” are brokers, not trucking companies. The broker takes your order and posts it on a national dispatch board; an independent carrier (the truck owner) claims the load. Your price = carrier’s cut + broker’s fee ($150–$300 is normal).
- Booking direct with a carrier can be cheaper on popular lanes, but one truck covers limited routes — you may wait days for it to fill.
- A broker finds a truck faster and handles problems, but adds a layer. Reputable brokers disclose their fee separately from the carrier pay.
- Red flags: quotes far below everyone else (the classic lowball — the truck never shows and the “price” rises), large non-refundable deposits, no MC/DOT number, no written carrier insurance certificate.
Seasonal pricing
Rates breathe with the calendar. Summer (May–August) is peak moving season; winter brings the snowbird migration — retirees shipping cars south (Florida, Arizona, Texas) in October–December and back north in March–April. Expect roughly 15% higher prices then: a 1,000-mile sedan open shipment at $980 in the shoulder season runs about $1,127 at peak ($147 more). Fall and spring are the cheapest windows — book then if your dates flex.
How to save money on car shipping
- Choose open transport. Enclosed adds ~40%; skip it unless the car warrants it.
- Stay flexible on dates. A 3–5 day pickup window lets the broker match your car to a truck already running your lane — expedited pickup adds 25% ($980 → $1,225 on 1,000 mi).
- Ship off-peak. September–November and February–April are the soft spots.
- Keep it operable. A dead battery or flat tires trigger the $150 winch fee ($980 → $1,130).
- Meet near a highway. Door-to-door is standard, but meeting the driver at an accessible lot avoids narrow-street surcharges.
- Ask about military PCS rates if eligible — 5% off turns $1,370 into $1,302 on a 1,500-mile move (saves ~$68).
- Compare 2–3 written quotes and ignore outliers 20%+ below the pack — that is the lowball pattern.
What this calculator is not
This tool prices consumer auto transport — your car riding on a hauler. It does not price business freight: pallet and LTL shipments use NMFC freight classification (see our freight class calculator), and container loads are a different model entirely. It also doesn’t price repairs or glass: for those, see the brake repair cost calculator and windshield replacement cost calculator.
Car shipping cost — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car?
For a typical 1,000-mile move, expect about $980 for a sedan on an open carrier (realistic range $784 – $1,176). A short 300-mile hop runs about $500; a 2,800-mile cross-country shipment runs about $1,600 ($1,280 – $1,920). These are most-likely estimates ±20% — get 2–3 written quotes before booking.
How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?
A 2,800-mile coast-to-coast shipment for a sedan on an open carrier runs about $1,600, with a realistic range of $1,280 – $1,920 and 5–7 days of transit. Larger vehicles and enclosed trailers push it higher — a 2,500-mile SUV in an enclosed trailer is about $2,587.
How much more does enclosed car shipping cost?
Enclosed transport typically costs about 40% more than open (industry range 30–60%). On a 2,500-mile SUV shipment, that is $2,587 enclosed versus $1,848 open — a $739 premium. It buys full weather and debris protection, which matters for classics, exotics, and fresh paint.
How much does it cost to ship an electric car (EV)?
Expect about $100 on top of the standard price — EVs are heavier and carriers take extra battery precautions. A 1,000-mile sedan shipment at $980 becomes about $1,080 for an EV. Keep the charge around 40–60% for pickup, as drivers prefer it.
Is there a military discount for shipping a car (PCS)?
Many brokers and carriers offer about 5% off for active-duty PCS moves. On a 1,500-mile open shipment, that turns $1,370 into about $1,302 — roughly $68 saved. Ask for the PCS rate explicitly; it is not always applied automatically.
What is the average cost per mile to ship a car?
Per-mile cost falls with distance: about $1.00/mi under 500 miles, $0.78/mi for 500–1,500 miles, $0.58/mi for 1,500–2,500 miles, and $0.50/mi beyond 2,500 miles — each on top of a $200 flat dispatch fee. So a 1,000-mile trip averages $0.98/mi all-in, while 2,800 miles averages $0.57/mi.
How long does it take to ship a car?
Actual hauling time runs about 1–2 days for 300 miles, 2–3 days for 1,000 miles, 3–4 days for 1,500 miles, and 5–7 days for 2,500+ miles. Add 1–5 days of booking window before pickup — the truck has to be scheduled, not just driven.
Should I book with a car shipping broker or directly with a carrier?
Carriers own the trucks; brokers match your order to a truck on a national dispatch board. Booking direct can be cheaper on popular lanes but slower to schedule. Brokers are faster and handle problems, adding a $150–$300 fee. Either way, verify the MC/DOT number and get the carrier insurance certificate in writing.
Can I pack personal items in my car during shipping?
Most carriers allow up to 100 lbs of personal items below the window line, at your own risk — carrier cargo insurance covers the vehicle, not your belongings. Some brokers forbid it entirely, so confirm in writing before loading the trunk.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car?
Open carrier, off-peak season (fall or spring), a flexible 3–5 day pickup window, an operable vehicle, and a popular metro-to-metro lane. Each upgrade — enclosed (+40%), expedited (+25%), peak season (+15%), inoperable (+$150) — stacks on the base price, so skipping them is where the savings are.
How much extra does it cost to ship a car that does not run?
Inoperable vehicles add about $150 for winch loading. A 1,000-mile sedan shipment goes from $980 to about $1,130. The car must still roll, brake, and steer — fully seized vehicles need a forklift and cost far more.
When is the cheapest time of year to ship a car?
Fall (September–November) and late winter/spring (February–April, avoiding the March–April northbound snowbird rush) are the soft spots. Summer moving season and the October–December southbound snowbird migration run about 15% higher — a $980 shipment becomes about $1,127 at peak.
Is my car insured during auto transport?
Yes — licensed carriers must carry cargo insurance covering your vehicle in transit. Ask for the certificate and check the coverage limit against your car value; high-value cars may need enclosed transport with higher limits or a supplemental policy. Personal items in the car are not covered.
Why do car shipping quotes vary so much?
Quotes on one lane can spread 20%+ because brokers guess what carrier pay will clear the dispatch board that week — fuel, season, and truck availability move daily. Be wary of quotes far below the pack: the classic lowball wins your deposit, then the price rises when no truck accepts the load. An anonymous estimate like this calculator gives you the honest middle to compare against.
Related auto tools
Sources: Super Dispatch 2025 dealer/broker car shipping cost guide; First Haulers vehicle shipping calculator guides (2025); Safeeds Auto Transport 2026 per-mile rate bands; Haulwide car shipping cost-per-mile (SGT Auto Transport, move.org, KBB, RoadRunner data, Sep 2026); SpareFoot 2025 car shipping cost averages. Model: $200 dispatch + banded per-mile linehaul with size/enclosed/season multipliers. Full citations in SOURCES.md. Estimates, not quotes — market rates move with fuel and season.
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