Brogan Woodburn is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront and has read dozens of extended auto warranty contracts, including the fine print that will tell you whether your car insurance covers slashed tires or can get you a new engine replacement. His editorial experience in the auto industry includes work that appears on MarketWatch and Motor1.com.
Brogan is based in Prineville, Oregon, and enjoys exploring the outdoors in his free time. Having studied guitar at Berklee College of Music, he also performs classical guitar for local events and weddings.
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Car shippers provide a valuable service when you need to move your vehicle to another state. The best car shipping companies transport your car safely and keep you updated during its journey. Of course, this service comes at a cost.
Car shipping costs depend on factors such as the time of year, vehicle type, transport type and distance. In this article, we’ll look at how much car shipping costs from a few different viewpoints. The best way to know what you would pay is to compare free quotes.
On average, car shipping costs $1,113 for a 1,530-mile shipment with open auto transport services. In general, you can expect to pay between $500 and $2,000 depending on the distance and transport type.
Below are a few different examples to compare based on quotes we got from top car shipping services for transporting an operable 2019 Toyota Camry.
Open carriers are cheaper as they transport up to 10 vehicles at once. Enclosed auto carriers are more expensive, but they protect the vehicle on all sides.
Car shipping costs increase with distance, but the price per mile goes down. In other words, a 1,000-mile shipment won’t cost twice as much as a 500-mile shipment. You get more bang for your buck with long-distance shipments.
Below, you can see the cost per mile for different distances with open shipping.
The auto transport company you choose has a big impact on what you pay for shipping. While the average rate for a 1,530-mile shipment is $1,113, quotes we received ranged from $745 to $1,635. Below are a dozen companies ranked by their average per-mile costs.
This average includes the cost per mile for 571-mile open, 1,530-mile open, 1,530-mile enclosed and 2,363-mile open shipments.
The type of shipping is one of the biggest factors that influences car shipping costs. You have two main options: open or enclosed transport. Our rate data shows customers pay an average of $612 extra for enclosed transport on a shipment of 1,530 miles.
While open shipping rates range from $745 to $1,635, enclosed shipping rates range from $1,065 to $2,625 for 1,530 miles. Open transport is the cheapest way to ship a car. So why would you pay that much more for enclosed shipping?
Enclosed transport is the best option if you want to fully protect a classic car or luxury car along its journey. The truck driver will load your car into a contained trailer with up to three other vehicles. You don’t have to worry about harsh weather or road debris with enclosed trailer shipping.
Distance is another big factor affecting what you pay for car shipping. Let’s cover a few more details of our car shipping quotes by distance.
We found that for short-distance shipments of 571 miles, open shipping costs an average of $665, while quotes we received ranged from $435 to $885.
Next, with medium-distance shipments of 1,530 miles, open shipping costs an average of $1,113, while quotes ranged from $745 to $1,635.
Finally, for cross-country car shipments of 2,363 miles, open shipping costs an average of $1,236, while quotes ranged from $865 to $2,385.
What’s the main takeaway? Comparing car shipping quotes is important. One company might have good rates for short shipments but high rates for longer distances. The only way to tell is to get initial car shipping prices from a few different providers for your shipment.
Many things affect car shipping costs, from the time of year to the price of gas. Your auto transport provider will consider the following when determining your vehicle shipping cost:
Getting an auto transport quote is just the first step of the process. After that, the car shipping company will secure a carrier for your shipment. You might see the initial quote increase if the car transport company can’t find a carrier under that price.
In the auto transport industry, you have two options for payment from most companies. The first option is to pay a deposit by card when the carrier is dispatched to get your vehicle. Then, you pay the remaining balance in cash, money order or cashier’s check to the driver when they deliver your vehicle. You’ll save some money with this payment arrangement because drivers prefer to receive cash when they finish a job instead of waiting for the car shipping company to pay them later.
The other option is to pay for the entire vehicle shipment by card when the carrier is dispatched. This might be more convenient if you want to use a credit card. Some auto shipping companies even offer financing through PayPal.
There are a few things you can do to find cheap car shipping. The best strategy is to start comparing vehicle transport rates at least two weeks ahead of time. Many companies offer instant quotes and car shipping calculators, though some call back with a quote after you fill out a form.
By leaving a couple of weeks of flexibility, you won’t have to pay increased rates for expedited shipping. Comparing multiple quotes also gives you insight into which company offers better rates for vehicle shipping.
If you’re moving between large metro areas, you might also want to look into terminal-to-terminal shipping. Only some car shipping companies offer this service. It involves you dropping off and picking up your car from industry shipping terminals in various locations. It’s not available everywhere, but you can save some money compared with the standard option of door-to-door service.
Of course, an easy way to save some money is to opt for open transport instead of enclosed transport. This is the most economical transport option since your car shares a large open trailer with many other vehicles. You can also ask the carrier to load the vehicle on the top rack to protect it from dripping fluids.
While we found an average car shipping cost of $1,113 for a 1,530-mile shipment, you’ll find different costs depending on your vehicle and the shipping options you choose. We recommend comparing quotes from at least three providers to find the best option.
We also recommend starting your search at least two weeks before you need your vehicle shipped so you don’t have to pay for expedited shipping, and carriers have plenty of time to coordinate your shipment.
Start here with quotes from shipping companies:
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
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