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CarShippers.ai
— Transparent pricing

Car shipping prices — real costs for popular US routes

Real prices from real shipments — updated weekly from live carrier data. Get your expert-verified quote in 30 minutes.

Updated weekly $0 hidden fees Expert-verified in 30 min
— The short answer

Car shipping costs between $400 and $1,800 for most domestic routes in the US. The average for a standard sedan on open transport is around $950. Coast-to-coast routes such as Los Angeles to New York typically range from $900 to $1,500. Shorter routes under 500 miles start from $400.

— Popular routes

Live pricing for the routes we ship most

Starting prices for a standard sedan. Your exact quote depends on vehicle size, pickup dates, and carrier availability.

OriginDestinationDistanceOpen fromEnclosed fromAvg transit
Los Angeles, CANew York, NY7-9 days
Miami, FLNew York, NY7-9 days
Chicago, ILLos Angeles, CA7-9 days
Dallas, TXLos Angeles, CA7-9 days
Seattle, WAPhoenix, AZ7-9 days
Boston, MAMiami, FL7-9 days
Atlanta, GALos Angeles, CA7-9 days
Denver, COChicago, IL7-9 days
Houston, TXNew York, NY7-9 days
San Francisco, CASeattle, WA7-9 days
Phoenix, AZDallas, TX7-9 days
Portland, ORLas Vegas, NV7-9 days

* Starting prices. Updated weekly from PricingCache live data.

— By vehicle

Price by vehicle type

Averages from historical data on open transport. Enclosed costs 30–50% more.

VehicleUnder 500 mi500 – 1,500 miOver 1,500 mi
Sedan
SUV / Crossover
Pickup truck
Van / Minivan
Motorcycle
— What affects your price

Five factors, no surprises

Distance

Per-mile cost falls with distance. Under 500 mi: $0.80–$1.60/mi. Over 1,500 mi: $0.40–$0.70/mi.

Vehicle size

Full-size truck or SUV costs 15–30% more than a sedan on the same route.

Transport type

Enclosed costs 30–50% more than open. Fewer carriers, higher overhead.

Timing & season

Summer & Oct snowbird season add 15–25%. Jan–Feb is the cheapest window.

Route demand

High-demand corridors have more carriers competing — better pricing.

— Seasonal calendar

When is the cheapest time to ship a car?

The auto-transport calendar is highly seasonal. Use this to plan around peak windows.

Jan – Feb
Low
Quietest months. Best window for price-sensitive shippers.
Mar – May
Moderate
Spring uptick begins. Book ~2 weeks ahead.
Jun – Aug
Peak
+15–25% above average. College moves & relocations. Book 3–4 wks early.
September
Moderate
Summer cools. Snowbird season approaching.
Early October
Peak
Snowbird rush begins. Florida & Arizona routes spike.
Late October
Low
Brief dip before Thanksgiving. Good window.
Nov – Dec
Moderate
Mixed: holiday slowdown vs year-end dealer volume.
— Open vs enclosed

Pick the transport type that fits the car

Open transport
$400–$1,800

Best for: standard vehicles, first-time shippers, price-conscious buyers.

Enclosed transport
$700–$2,500+

Best for: luxury, classic, exotic, EV, and high-value vehicles. 30–50% more than open.

— Save more

How to save on car shipping

  1. 1Book 3–4 weeks early — last-minute pays a 20–40% premium.
  2. 2Be flexible on pickup dates — a 3–5 day window cuts cost 10–15%.
  3. 3Choose open transport for standard vehicles — enclosed adds 30–50%.
  4. 4Ship in January or February — the two quietest months.
  5. 5Get an expert-verified quote — AI matching removes broker markup.
— FAQ

Pricing questions, answered

Car shipping costs between $400 and $1,800 for most domestic US routes. The average for a standard sedan on open transport is around $950.

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