2026 Pricing Guide — Updated April 2026

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car in 2026?

The honest, complete guide to car shipping rates — real prices, what drives them, and exactly how to save money.

Quick answer — April 2026: Open transport costs $299–$1,400. Enclosed costs $699–$2,500. Most cross-country shipments run $900–$1,200 open. Short hauls under 500 miles start at $299.

Car Shipping Cost by Distance — 2026

Distance	Open Transport	Enclosed	Transit Time
Under 500 miles	$299 – $550	$550 – $900	1–3 days
500–1,000 miles	$550 – $750	$900 – $1,200	3–5 days
1,000–1,500 miles	$700 – $950	$1,100 – $1,600	4–6 days
1,500–2,000 miles	$850 – $1,100	$1,300 – $1,900	5–7 days
2,000+ miles (coast-to-coast)	$900 – $1,400	$1,400 – $2,500	7–9 days

Cost by Vehicle Type — Cross-Country

Vehicle Type	Open (2,000+ miles)	Enclosed (2,000+ miles)
Sedan / Small Car	$899 – $1,199	$1,400 – $1,900
SUV / Minivan	$999 – $1,299	$1,600 – $2,100
Pickup Truck	$1,049 – $1,349	$1,700 – $2,200
Motorcycle	$549 – $799	$799 – $1,199
Luxury / Classic Car	$1,099 – $1,499	$1,900 – $2,500
Non-Running Vehicle	Add $100–$200	Add $100–$200

Popular Route Prices — April 2026

Live carrier market pricing on the most-searched routes. Prices update weekly based on supply and demand.

Route	Open Transport	Enclosed	Distance
Chicago, IL → Miami, FL	$849–$1,049	$1,300–$1,900	1,380 mi
Los Angeles, CA → New York, NY	$999–$1,299	$1,600–$2,400	2,790 mi
New York, NY → Miami, FL	$799–$999	$1,200–$1,800	1,280 mi
Dallas, TX → Los Angeles, CA	$749–$999	$1,200–$1,800	1,435 mi
Chicago, IL → Los Angeles, CA	$949–$1,199	$1,500–$2,100	2,020 mi
Atlanta, GA → Chicago, IL	$599–$799	$900–$1,400	720 mi
Houston, TX → Orlando, FL	$649–$849	$1,000–$1,500	1,060 mi
Phoenix, AZ → Dallas, TX	$599–$799	$900–$1,400	1,070 mi
Seattle, WA → Los Angeles, CA	$549–$749	$849–$1,300	1,140 mi
Denver, CO → Chicago, IL	$649–$849	$1,000–$1,500	1,005 mi

7 Factors That Affect Your Car Shipping Price

Distance

The biggest cost driver. Longer routes cost more total, but the cost-per-mile decreases. A 2,500-mile coast-to-coast costs less per mile than a 300-mile regional hop.

Open vs. Enclosed Transport

Open transport costs 40–60% less than enclosed. Open is safe for standard vehicles. Enclosed is recommended for luxury, classic, or exotic cars worth $75,000+.

Vehicle Size & Weight

Larger vehicles take more carrier space and add fuel cost. A Ford F-350 costs $100–$200 more than a Honda Civic on the same route.

Pickup & Delivery Location

Rural locations with limited carrier traffic cost more. Major metro areas (LA, NYC, Chicago, Miami) have the most competition and cheapest rates.

Season & Time of Year

Prices peak in summer (May–August) and during snowbird migrations (Oct–Jan to Florida). Book in fall or early winter for the best rates.

Delivery Speed

Standard pickup: 1–7 days. Expedited (24–48 hours): 20–40% more. Planning ahead is the easiest way to save $100–$200.

Vehicle Condition

Non-running vehicles require winches or forklifts. Expect a $100–$200 surcharge. Always disclose inoperable status at booking.

Seasonal Pricing — Best & Worst Times to Ship

Season	Demand	Price Impact	Recommendation
Jan – Feb	Low	–10 to –20%	✅ Best time — lowest prices of the year
Mar – Apr	Rising	Baseline	✅ Good — book 2 weeks ahead
May – Aug	Peak	+20 to +35%	⚠️ Most expensive — avoid if flexible
Sep – Oct	Moderate	–5 to –15%	✅ Good — summer rush ends, rates drop
Nov – Dec	Mixed	+10–20% (FL/AZ)	🟡 Snowbird routes up; all others normal

7 Ways to Get the Cheapest Car Shipping Rate

✓Book 1–2 weeks in advance — last-minute orders pay 20–30% more
✓Choose open transport — just as safe for standard vehicles
✓Be flexible with pickup dates — a 3–5 day window beats same-day pricing
✓Ship during off-peak months (January–February or September–October)
✓Pick metro pickup/delivery points over rural addresses
✓Pay with check or ACH — avoids 2–3% credit card processing fee
✓Don't disclose a firm deadline — carriers quote higher when urgency is obvious

Car Shipping Costs by State

Prices vary significantly by state based on carrier availability, route demand, and local fuel costs. Select your state for a detailed breakdown:

California Car Shipping Cost

High demand state — great carrier availability

$699–$1,299

Florida Car Shipping Cost

Snowbird peak Oct–Feb adds ~15% to some routes

$699–$1,199

Texas Car Shipping Cost

Central location keeps costs moderate

$549–$999

New York Car Shipping Cost

NYC metro pickups carry a slight surcharge

$799–$1,299

Illinois Car Shipping Cost

Chicago hub — excellent carrier availability

$649–$1,099

Georgia Car Shipping Cost

Atlanta's central position means competitive rates

$499–$899

Ohio Car Shipping Cost

Strong Midwest carrier network

$399–$899

Arizona Car Shipping Cost

Snowbird destination — busy winter season

$599–$1,099

Colorado Car Shipping Cost

Mountain routes may add a small surcharge

$549–$999

Washington Car Shipping Cost

Pacific Northwest routes competitive from Seattle

$699–$1,199

What Customers Say About Our Pricing

"Got a better price than two other quotes. Booked online in minutes, car arrived cross-country in 8 days in perfect condition. The transparent pricing made it easy to decide."

Maria S.

San Francisco → New York

"Classic car transport from San Diego to Chicago. Chose enclosed and it arrived immaculate. Fair price, great communication throughout the whole process."

James W.