Car Shipping Questions, Answered

Most open-carrier moves land between $400 and $1,500: roughly $400–$700 under 500 miles, $700–$1,000 around 1,000 miles, and $1,000–$1,500 cross-country for a standard sedan. Our estimate ranges come from a published formula, and the price you pay is the one the company you choose puts in writing. Full breakdown.

Distance first, then vehicle size and weight, open or enclosed, whether the car runs, how rural the pickup and delivery are, and the season. Flexible dates are the single biggest lever you control. What affects pricing.

Yes. Diesel is a carrier's biggest variable cost, so offers rise and fall with it. Our estimator adjusts for the current national diesel price against its 52-week average, and you can see the live input on how we estimate.

Summer moves and the January snowbird run south (and the April run north) fill trucks, so offers climb 15–25% above spring baseline. Late fall and mid-winter are the quiet, cheaper windows. Seasonal pricing.

It does. A carrier sells space and weight on a trailer, so a full-size pickup, SUV, lifted truck or dually costs more than a sedan, and an oversized vehicle may need a specialized trailer. Tell us the exact make, model and any modifications so the offers you get are for the right truck.

An enclosed trailer carries 2–6 vehicles instead of 7–9 and the equipment costs more, so expect roughly 40–60% above open transport. Worth it for exotics, classics and anything with paint you would not want in the weather. Open vs enclosed.

Open transport, flexible pickup dates, a running vehicle, and metro-area pickup and delivery. Terminal-to-terminal can shave a little more if a terminal is convenient. Cheapest way to ship a car.

Because several licensed companies compete for your shipment, you usually see a better number than a flat discount would give you. Tell us if you are shipping two or more vehicles, are active-duty military, or are a student, and the companies price the whole job accordingly. See military car shipping and college car shipping.

Offers from the companies reflect the market that week, so treat them as good for a few days to a week. If yours is older than that, get a fresh estimate; if diesel or the season has moved, the number will too.

Three steps. You get your free estimate. We put your shipment in front of vetted, licensed auto transport companies who compete with their best offers. You compare prices, ratings and timelines, choose the company you want, and book directly with them. We stay with you until delivery and you never pay us a cent. Every partner is listed with its USDOT and MC numbers on our partners page.

Pickup and delivery ZIP codes (city and state will do), the year, make and model, whether it runs, open or enclosed, and your earliest pickup date. That is enough for an accurate estimate and for the companies to price it properly.

Free, and no. Compare the offers, ask questions, and book only when one is right for you.

Two to three weeks is comfortable most of the year; three to four in summer and around the holidays. Two to three days is possible, but the earlier you book, the more trucks are in play and the better the offers.

You choose the company and its pickup window, typically 1–5 business days around your requested date, and the driver calls 12–24 hours ahead with the specific time. If you need a guaranteed date, ask for expedited service when you request your estimate; it costs more and most companies offer it. Pickup windows.

Yes. A city and ZIP is enough to get offers and book. Give the driver the street address before the truck is dispatched, and let the company know if that address has gate or access restrictions.

A binding price is written and does not change; a non-binding one is an estimate that can move. Get the price in writing from the company you book with and confirm what it covers. Binding vs non-binding.

You pay the company you choose, on the terms in its offer. Most take a deposit by card at booking (typically $150–$300, applied to the total) with the balance due at delivery in cash, certified funds, or increasingly Zelle, Venmo or Cash App. Confirm with the company before delivery day. Payment methods.

Yes. The company you book with sends its service agreement, and the Bill of Lading you sign at pickup records the vehicle's condition and the terms. Read both before the truck arrives. What is a Bill of Lading.

Usually not. Door-to-door is standard: the driver comes to you at both ends. If a 75-foot rig cannot get into your street, the driver will ask to meet at a nearby lot or wide road. The process start to finish.

You drop the vehicle at a carrier's terminal and pick it up at one near the destination. It can cost less and gives you flexible dates, but it adds your own driving and storage fees if you are late. Most customers choose door-to-door.

Transit runs about 1–3 days for regional moves, 3–5 days for 500–1,500 miles, and 7–10 days coast to coast. Carriers cover 400–500 miles a day under federal hours-of-service rules and make other stops along the route. Transit times.

Yes, though it does not have to be you. Any adult you trust with the keys can sign the inspection and Bill of Lading. Terminal-to-terminal is the exception, since the terminal staff handle it.

Larger fleets run GPS; many owner-operators do not, and a call or text to the driver is the tracking. You get the driver's number when the vehicle is dispatched, and we can help you get a status update. Tracking.

Almost always. In a few cities a local tow moves the vehicle to where the long-haul truck can load it. The company tells you the carrier name and driver before pickup.

Open transport usually means a two-level, 7–9 car hauler like the ones that deliver to dealerships, or a smaller 3-car rig for tight neighborhoods. Enclosed means a hard-sided trailer carrying 2–6 vehicles, often with a lift gate.

Weather, traffic and other customers' schedules cause most delays. The driver should call with a new window; if you cannot reach them, call the company, and call us if you are not getting answers. Delays.

Walk around the car with the driver, compare it to the pickup inspection and photos, and note anything new on the Bill of Lading before you sign. That signature is what a damage claim rests on. Delivery checklist.

Wash it so the inspection is accurate, leave about a quarter tank, remove toll tags and loose accessories, fold in mirrors and antennas, and photograph every panel. Preparation checklist.

Yes. Say so up front so the offers come from carriers with a winch; expect an inoperable fee of roughly $100–$250. The vehicle must roll, steer and brake. Non-running vehicles.

Carriers are licensed for vehicles, not household goods, and their cargo insurance does not cover contents. Many drivers allow up to about 100 pounds in the trunk, below the window line, at your own risk. Nothing in the cab. Personal items.

No. The carrier needs the keys and someone to sign at each end. Keep your registration and insurance card with you, not in the car. Documents.

No. Plates are only needed to drive on public roads, and the car rides on a trailer. If you removed the plate for a sale or a move, that is fine.

Yes. Lifted trucks, duallies, vans, and anything over about 7 feet tall or 20 feet long need the right trailer and sometimes a permit, so give exact dimensions. Oversized vehicle shipping.

Yes, and it is one of the most common jobs we see. Give the auction or seller's pickup details and any release requirements, and price the transport before you bid. Buying out of state.

Yes. Enclosed carriers with lift gates and soft tie-downs handle them every day, and the companies list their cargo insurance limits so you can match coverage to the car's value. Exotic car transport and classic car shipping.

Yes: motorcycles, RVs and campers, boats, ATVs and UTVs, and heavy equipment. Each has its own page with what the carriers need to know.

A licensed, insured auto transport company you chose from the offers, with its own trucks and drivers. Every company we work with is named with its USDOT and MC numbers on our partners page, so you can check it on the FMCSA site before you book.

Active FMCSA operating authority, insurance on file, safety rating and history, and a signed agency agreement with us before their offers ever reach you. We keep a copy of each company's insurance certificate.

Yes. Federal rules require every carrier to hold liability and cargo insurance, typically $100,000 to $250,000 per vehicle and often more for enclosed. Your own policy is secondary. Carrier insurance.

Only if the car is worth more than the carrier's cargo limit. Ask the company for its certificate, compare the limit to your car's value, and add a rider through your own insurer if there is a gap. Additional coverage.

Note it on the Bill of Lading at delivery, photograph it, and file with the carrier's insurer; the pickup inspection is what separates new damage from old. If the company drags its feet, call us and we will help you push it through. Filing a claim.

Do not pay it before you have spoken to the company; the written price you accepted is the agreement. If the driver will not release the car, call us too. It is rare, and we stay with you until delivery. Disputing a charge.

Neither. We do not haul vehicles and we do not book a carrier for you. We put your shipment in front of licensed auto transport companies we represent, they compete, and you choose the one you book with. Brokers vs carriers explained.

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