How much does car shipping cost?

Cost depends on distance, vehicle type, transport type (open vs enclosed), seasonal demand, and current carrier capacity. Most cross-country open transport quotes range from $900–$1,800. Get an exact, expert-verified quote in 30 minutes — no estimates, no ranges.

Open or enclosed transport — which should I choose?

Open transport is the industry standard (~95% of shipments) and works for most vehicles. Enclosed transport costs 40–60% more and is recommended for luxury, exotic, classic, or high-value vehicles that require protection from weather and road debris.

What is the Bill of Lading?

The Bill of Lading (BOL) is the legal document recording your vehicle's condition at pickup and delivery. Review it carefully before signing at both ends — signing without noting damage waives most damage claims.

What happens if my car is damaged during shipping?

Document any damage on the delivery BOL before signing, photograph it immediately, and notify CarShippers.ai within 24 hours. We assist with the carrier insurance claim process.

Is my car insured during shipping?

Yes. All carriers in the CarShippers.ai network carry cargo insurance — minimum $750,000 — confirmed before assignment. Your personal auto insurance typically remains in effect as secondary coverage.

Can I leave items in my car?

Yes, up to 100 lbs total. Items over this limit can cause carrier loading refusals. Personal items are not covered by cargo insurance — they are shipped at your own risk.

Do I need to be present at pickup and delivery?

Yes — you or an authorised representative must sign the Bill of Lading at both pickup and delivery. If you cannot be present, arrange a trusted person with authority to sign on your behalf.

How it works

How car shipping works — from quote to delivery

Most of our customers have never shipped a car before. Here is exactly what happens at every step — so there are no surprises.

01Get your quote90 seconds
02Carrier matching30 minutes
03Booking & confirmationSame day
04Prepare your vehicle15 minutes
05Pickup & inspection30 minutes
06In transit & tracking1–10 days
07Delivery & inspection30 minutes

10,000+ cars shipped
4.9/5 rating
Avg. quote time 28 min
4.9/5 on-time delivery

01Step 1

Tell us about your shipment — takes 90 seconds

Enter pickup city, delivery city, vehicle year/make/model, preferred pickup dates, and transport preference (open or enclosed). No account, no credit card, no commitment.

What's in the quote: Origin & destination · vehicle details · transport type · starting price (no range — a real price) · estimated transit days · pickup window · all fees included.
What's NOT in the quote: No credit card required · no account needed · no commitment · price is held for 7 days (standard).
Why 30 minutes?: AI matches the route instantly. The 30-minute window is the human specialist review — every quote is checked by a person before it reaches you. Speed of AI, accuracy of human expertise.

Step 2 · Carrier matching

The AI finds your match — a human verifies it

What happens between your quote request and the price landing in your inbox.

Live carrier scan

Our system pings 10,000+ FMCSA-verified carriers active on your route — looking at availability, capacity, equipment type, and route history in real time.

Best-match scoring

Carriers are ranked by safety score, on-time rate, customer rating, and pricing — not just who's nearest or cheapest.

Specialist review

A human shipping specialist verifies the AI match against route conditions, seasonal factors, and any vehicle specifics before sending the quote.

03Step 3

Book your shipment — same-day confirmation

Approve your quote, place a small deposit, and we lock the carrier. You receive everything you need within minutes.

Booking confirmation: Email with all shipment details, total price breakdown, and your dedicated specialist's direct line.
Carrier assignment: Carrier name, MC#, driver direct contact number, and a 2-day pickup window.
Pre-ship checklist: Vehicle-specific preparation guide sent to your email — tailored to your make and model.
Tracking link: Activates the moment the carrier confirms pickup. GPS updates every 4 hours during transit.

Step 4 · Prepare your vehicle

15 minutes of prep prevents the #1 cause of pickup problems

What to do	Why it matters	Notes
Fuel level: 1/4 tank or less	Fuel adds weight; full tanks can cause loading refusals.	EVs: charge to 20–50%.
Remove personal items over 100 lbs	Cargo insurance does not cover personal items; carriers can refuse over-limit loads.	Lock all valuables in the trunk if kept.
Document existing damage	Photographs become your reference if disputes arise at delivery.	Wash car first. Photo all sides + close-ups.
Disable toll tags & alarms	Prevents accidental charges and false alarms during transit.	Remove EZ-Pass / SunPass devices.
Provide a working set of keys	Carrier needs them to load and unload.	Bring the spare to delivery, not pickup.

05Step 5

Pickup day — inspection, photos, and signed Bill of Lading

Be present (or arrange a representative). The driver inspects the vehicle, photographs every panel, and you both sign the Bill of Lading recording the vehicle's exact condition.

Bill of Lading: The legal condition record. Review carefully before signing — note any pre-existing damage.
If the carrier doesn't show: Contact your specialist immediately. We reassign within 24–48 hours at no cost.
Door-to-door access: Tell us at booking about narrow streets, gates, or low clearance — we'll arrange the closest accessible point.

Step 6 · In transit

You always know where your car is

What you'll receive

Real-time GPS tracking, active from the moment of pickup.
Carrier location updates every 4 hours during active transit.
Automated SMS/email at: pickup confirmed · halfway point (long routes) · within 24 hrs of delivery · delivered.
Direct driver phone number — call them anytime.
Proactive delay alerts — we contact you before you have to ask.

Transit times

Under 500 mi1–3 days
500–1,500 mi3–5 days
1,500–2,500 mi5–7 days
Cross-country7–10 days

Active transit only. Add 1–5 days for the pickup window.

Step 7 · Delivery

The most important 30 minutes of the entire shipment

Everything you do at delivery determines what protection you have if something is wrong.

01Inspect the vehicle before signing — every panel, in good light.
02Compare to the pickup BOL photos. Note any new damage on the delivery BOL.
03Photograph everything yourself — even if no damage is visible.
04Pay the carrier directly (cash, certified check, or app — confirmed at booking).
05Sign the BOL only after you're satisfied with the vehicle's condition.

Choose your transport

Open or enclosed — which one?

Open transport

Standard · ~95% of shipments

Best forDaily drivers, most cars & trucks
Capacity7–10 vehicles per truck (faster matching)
ProtectionExposed to weather & road debris
PriceIndustry standard

From $0.40/mile

Enclosed transport

Premium · luxury, exotic, classic

Best forHigh-value, low-clearance, classic, electric vehicles
Capacity1–6 vehicles per truck (slower matching)
ProtectionFully enclosed trailer, weather-sealed
Price40–60% premium over open

From $0.65/mile

For business

Shipping vehicles at scale? The process works differently for business accounts.

Dealer, fleet, and corporate accounts get batch booking (50 vehicles in one portal action), a dedicated account manager, SLA-backed pickup windows, consolidated invoicing, and API integration with your DMS or fleet management system.

Dealer accounts Fleet & corporate

Questions

Everything else you might be wondering

Direct answers from our dispatch team.

Transit time depends on distance: 1–3 days for routes under 500 miles, 3–5 days for 500–1,500 miles, 5–7 days for 1,500–2,500 miles, and 7–10 days for cross-country. These are active transit days — total time also includes the 1–5 day pickup window.

Ready when you are.

Get your expert-verified quote in 30 minutes. No credit card. No commitment.

Get my quote Talk to a specialist