How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car? (2026 Price Ranges)

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Typical price ranges

Car shipping prices are set by the market for each route, so there is no official price list. The ranges below combine 2026 estimates published by industry sources (listed at the end). Treat them as a starting point, not a quote.

Move	Open carrier (typical)	Notes
Short (under ~500 mi)	About $500 to $900	Highest cost per mile
Mid (~1,000 mi)	About $1,000 to $1,300	Around $1.00 to $1.30 per mile
Long (~1,500 mi)	About $900 to $1,500	Busy interstate routes are cheaper
Coast to coast	About $1,500 to $2,500+	Can pass $3,000 enclosed or in peak season

Published national averages for 2026 sit around $1,150 to $1,215 per car, with most door-to-door shipments between about $700 and $1,500.

Cost per mile

The price per mile drops as distance grows, because loading and unloading cost the same whether the trip is 200 or 2,000 miles. 2026 estimates for open transport run from about $1.50 to $2.05 per mile on short trips down to about $0.84 to $1.00 per mile coast to coast.

What changes your price

Distance and route: major interstate corridors between big cities are cheaper than rural pickups or drop-offs.
Open vs enclosed: enclosed is typically 30 to 60 percent more. See open vs enclosed car shipping.
Vehicle size and condition: SUVs, pickups and cars that don't run (need a winch) cost more.
Season: summer and the January–March "snowbird" moves to and from Florida, Arizona and Texas raise prices on those routes.
Timing: a flexible pickup window is cheaper than a guaranteed or expedited date.
Fuel prices: carriers pass diesel costs into their rates.

How to pay less (safely)

Get at least three written quotes for the same dates, service (open or enclosed) and pickup type.
Book two to three weeks ahead and keep your pickup window flexible.
Meet the truck near a highway if your street is hard for a large trailer to reach.
Don't chase the lowest quote: a price far below the rest is a classic car shipping scam sign.
Before you pay anything, check the company's MC or USDOT number and make sure its authority is active and insurance is on file.

Sources

Ranges are summarized from 2026 estimates published by FreightWaves, Shipacarinc and AmeriFreight, checked November 2, 2026. These are industry estimates, not carmove.broker data; your actual price depends on your route, vehicle and dates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?

Coast-to-coast moves (about 2,500 to 3,000 miles) on an open carrier are commonly quoted around $1,500 to $2,500 and can pass $3,000 for enclosed transport, oversized vehicles or peak season. Get several written quotes for your exact dates.

Is it cheaper to ship a car or drive it?

For long distances, shipping is often close to the real cost of driving once you count fuel, hotels, meals, time off work and wear on the car. For short moves under a few hundred miles, driving is usually cheaper.

How much more is enclosed car shipping?

Published 2026 estimates put enclosed transport at roughly 30 to 60 percent more than open transport for the same route, and some companies quote even more for exotic or low-clearance cars.

Why is one quote much lower than the others?

A quote far below the rest is a common bait-and-switch: the price rises after you pay a deposit, or no driver accepts the load at that price. Compare quotes for the same service and dates, and check the company's FMCSA authority first.

Do I pay a deposit to ship a car?

Many brokers take a small deposit or fee once a carrier is assigned, and the rest is paid to the driver on delivery. Be careful with large deposits before a truck is assigned, and avoid wire transfers or gift cards.

Related Guides

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm a company's status with FMCSA before doing business.