Car Shipping Cost Estimator

What's in this article?

A variety of factors goes into determining the cost of shipping your vehicle. Of course, the distance between point A and point B is a very important factor, as is the current fuel/gas price, and the time involved in the actual shipping process. However, there are a variety of additional components involved in determining the exact auto transport estimates. The best and most accurate way to get a personalized FREE quote is to submit your information in the contact form in the upper right of this page, or by calling (800) 452-2880.

Below are some approximate auto shipping costs to/from popular locations. These totals are based on average costs determined from past shipments and should be considered rough calculations at best.

Click here to learn all you need to know about your car shipping estimate. It is easy to get car shipping quotes in the auto transport industry. You just need to have the vehicle information at hand to get the average car shipping cost. Before you decide on the best car shipping companies, make sure you compare the rates.

Auto Transport Estimates: How Much Does It Cost?

Cars can get you from Point A to Point B, but what if you have to ship your car across the country? You need a car transport service. But before you ship your car to its destination by hiring auto transport services, you need to consider the car shipping costs.

Get car shipping quotes online to know how much you have to pay to ship your vehicle. Almost all car shipping companies provide instant free quotes on their website. You can also ask their number to know what you have to pay to ship a car.

How Much Do I Have to Pay to Ship My Car?

Usually, people don’t spend much time considering the car shipping cost until they need the service. But if you are planning on shipping the car, it might be a little challenging to navigate the fluctuating costs, prices of various auto transport services, and several providers in the market.

It can cost $1000-$2000 to ship a car. However, the number might vary depending on the vehicle you are transporting and the distance that has to be covered.

Car Transportation Cost Per Mile

A1 Auto Transport is a leading car shipping company that transports cars across town and country. If you choose A1 Auto Transport, you can check out the price estimates on the official website. Here’s what you might have to pay

$1.95/mile for 1-500 miles
$1.35/mile for 500-1500 miles
$0.95/mile for 1500+ miles

So, with the distance, the price per mile decreases. But covering a shorter distance will anyhow cost you less.

There are various factors that can influence the cost of transporting your car to some other location. Even though these are just the average car shipping costs, they will give you a fair idea about the money that you might have to shed to transport your car to the preferred location. But the best idea to get an estimate is to use the car shipping calculator on the car shipping company website.

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What does Car Shipping Quote Mean?

One of the first things you should consider when shipping a car is how much it is going to cost you. That’s when car shipping quotes come into play. It helps you understand if you are getting the best deal for vehicle shipment.

Getting the car shipping quote is more than just the initial transport rates. If, like others, you have set aside a certain budget for your auto shipping requirement, you have to find the service that falls within your budget and for that, you need to know the quote. To give you the quote to ship a car, the auto transport companies will factor in the type of vehicle, distance, your shipping requirements, and add-ons.

But remember, the final auto transport costs might be more or less than the original price. This is primarily because many car shipping companies tend to leave out the increase in price and added fees. The difference can be negligible.

Before choosing the right car shipping company, it is crucial to get car shipping quotes from more than one company. Getting the auto transport quote will help in gauging the reputation of the company. The online car shipping quotes will help you determine the auto shipping company you should ultimately go with.

Is it Worth Shipping Your Car With an Auto Transport Company?

Driving your car might seem cheaper than transporting it through a shipping company, particularly for shorter moves but using a car transport service is more convenient. It is also a safer choice. Driving a long distance can take up a lot of time and you should not have to drive more than 500 miles/day.

A car transport company will reduce the hassle and eliminate the time you are spending on the road. The car shipping service will also ensure that there are no potential damages to the car and it doesn’t have any wear and tear after the delivery.

Finding Car Shipping Quotes Online

After conducting initial research on the auto transport company, you should get the car transport rates to compare.

While some car shipping companies have a quote calculator on their official website, others will give you a quote over a call. But to get the perfect estimate for car shipping costs, you need to keep some information handy-

The pickup and drop-off location
Personal details, such as the name, phone number, and email address
Preferred shipping method
Type of vehicle, its model, and operability

Almost every car transport company gives you a free quote online. Get it before choosing the right auto transport provider.

Ways to Find Cheaper Car Shipping Rates

Car transport does not always have to hurt. If you plan well and take the initiative on time, you can get cheaper car transport rates. Booking early will get you the best car shipping quotes from auto shipping companies.

Some companies might have better car shipping rates for longer distances than shorter distances. The ideal way to check out and find a cheaper rate is to get the quotes online. Also you will find enclosed car shipping costlier than open transport.

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Details You Need to Get a Car Shipping Quote

There are a few details that you need to have at hand when you are planning on getting an accurate car shipping quote. If you have the following details, the car shipping process can be hassle-free.

The make, model, and year of the car

Mode of operation

Pickup and delivery locations

Shipping preferences, such as terminal-to-terminal, open, or door-to-door shipping

Your contact details, including the phone number and email

Factors Affecting Car Shipping Quotes

When you are hiring a vehicle shipment company, you might wonder how they are deciding on the car transport costs. A car transport quote is based on several factors. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Vehicle Type

When you are getting car transport quotes, you have to inform the potential car shipping service about the model, make, and condition of the car. Usually, special vehicles, such as luxury cars can cost you more money when it comes to transportation. That’s mainly because they need more attention and special service.

The size and length of the vehicle can also influence the car shipping price. The bigger the car, the more money you have to pay for auto shipping costs. So, an SUV Van will require you to pay more money to transport than a Sedan.

2. Shipping Time

The time of the year might also have an impact on the car transport cost. Just as in any other industry, there are seasons when there is a high demand for vehicle shipment. Usually, this is the summertime. Trends have shown that over half the household moves happen during this time and car shipping services are highly in demand.

While, during the winter time, the demand tends to be a little low. But it is not necessarily true at all times. If you plan to ship your car during severe weather conditions or during the holidays, the cost to ship the car might not be lower. In winter, snowfall can cause some routes to be impassable. In that case, car transport companies might not be able to choose the shortest route, causing you to pay more money than the average car shipping cost.

Being flexible can help you save some money. But if you want your vehicle transport within a strict time frame, you will end up paying more.

3. Shipping Date

So, how urgent is the car delivery for you? If you want your car to be delivered within the shortest possible time, the car delivery service will cost you more. For instance, if you are flexible with the timings, the car shipping prices are going to be a lot less. That’s because they can fit the car in the delivery schedule and reduce the overheads, passing over the savings to you. But if you want to transport within a strict time frame, you will end up paying more money than usual as auto transport companies will have to dedicate a transport just to carry your car.

4. Location

Location is an important factor to consider when you try to find out the car delivery service cost. When you are using the car shipping quote calculator, it will ask you to provide the pick-up and delivery location. Generally, city routes tend to be less expensive than rural routes.

When you ship a car to a city, you will see a reduced car transport quote. But if you are planning on shipping your car to a rural area, even the best car shipping companies will have to deviate from the main route. Thus, you will have to pay more than the average auto transport cost.

5. Vehicle Condition

The vehicle condition also plays a crucial role when it comes to getting instant car shipping quotes. If your car is not in a condition to be driven, it will cost you more. Car transport companies use tools and equipment to forklift the vehicle to get it on and off the shipping vehicle.

When any car has a locked wheel, it isn’t possible to just roll the car into the trailer. Hence, the entire car shipping process ends up taking more time and effort than usual. Cars that can be steered and rolled, and have a good braking system are considered to be in a good shape for getting the car shipped.

Cross-country or international car shipping is always going to be more costly as it requires different logistics to ship a car. Also, it means the car will be shipped over a long distance in an enclosed transport.

6. Shipping Method

If you want to use car shipping services, you should know that there are two main methods in the auto transport industry:

Enclosed auto transport
Open transport

Open transport is the most common mode of transport as it is cheaper than enclosed auto transport. But if you are transporting a luxury car, you might want to go with an enclosed car transport service as it offers an additional layer of protection.

If you choose open auto transport, the car is shipped with many other cars in an open-air carrier. This shipping method offers more flexibility in terms of pick-up and delivery date.

But when it comes to enclosed transport, your car is shipped in enclosed car carriers. It will protect the car from grime, dust, and unpredicted weather conditions. It is a recommended shipping method if you are shipping a luxury or classic car.

7. Distance to be Covered

One of the most important factors that can have an effect on car shipping quotes is the distance to be covered. The further you want to ship a car; the higher the cost to ship the car. The car shipping cost will include the tolls, fuel charges, and labor costs.

Short-distance shipping might not require you to pay for tolls but the cost per mile is usually higher in the auto transport industry.

8. Insurance from the Car Shipping Companies

Usually, car shipping companies carry liability insurance coverage for the auto transport service. If any vehicle transport company doesn’t offer any additional insurance, you will see a reduced cost in their car shipping services. But that doesn’t mean you should be elated. If the auto transport providers are not offering cargo insurance, you need to get some for your vehicle at the time of transit. Like with insurance policies, you need to be clear about the type of damage it is covering- the parts of the vehicle it is covering, where is the deductible, and other details.

9. Fuel Cost

The cost of fuel can also influence car shipping quotes from auto transport brokers. As the fuel prices increase, you can expect the car delivery prices to rise, too. The cost of fuel and the shipping cost is directly proportional in the car shipping industry.

Fluctuating Auto Transport Quote

Simply because an auto transport carrier is quoting some price now, doesn’t mean the car shipping quotes will be the same even after a few days or weeks. The prices keep changing as most car transport companies use dynamic pricing. The car shipping quotes from the auto transport carriers are only valid for 12-24 hours.

But that’s something you don’t have to worry about when you are hiring A1 Auto Transport. We offer a Price Lock Promise. So, you don’t have to pay even a penny more than the initial car shipping quote. You can use the car shipping quote calculator for checking the cost to transport cars.

Tips to Reduce Auto Shipping Costs

As you plan to move your vehicle from one place to another and look for the best car shipping quotes, you have to ensure that you are getting the best value for the price. There are a few things you can do to reduce the final car shipment cost.

Lighten the Car Load: Before you hand over the car to the auto transporters, remove all items from the car. The additional weight can add up to the transportation cost. Make sure the load is less so that the cost to ship a car is reduced.
Opt for Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping: Even though it’s not as convenient as door-to-door shipping, it costs you less money for shipping a car.
Choose Flexible Pick-Up and Drop-Off Dates: The car shipping service cost is often influenced by the availability of the car carriers. If you are flexible with your dates, the car shipping company can provide better rates.
Book the Car Shipment in Advance: Always make sure to book earlier as it helps in avoiding the expedited cost to ship the car. Use the auto shipping cost calculator to find booking rates from the auto transporters.

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How to Prepare Your Car Before Shipping?

If you have decided to use car transport services and have chosen an auto transport company, it is time to prepare your car. Check out the steps you have to follow-

Documents: All documents required should be available at the pickup and drop-off locations. Make sure you don’t miss out on them, especially if you plan on selling your vehicle later on.
Running Condition: If you have to plan to drive off your vehicle after it has been dropped off, make sure it’s in running condition. Check the battery charge, fuel in the bank, and tire pressure levels.
Cleaning: Make sure you remove all personal items before shipping a car as they might get damaged or lost in transit. Clean the vehicle thoroughly. It helps you check the condition of the car before and after arrival to spot any damages after shipping without any hassle.
Photographic Evidence: Click good quality photos of the car before handing it over to the auto transport company. Cover every part. It helps you in understanding the condition before shipping a car in case it incurs any damage during transport.

Planning to ship your vehicle?

Getting a Rough Estimate

Cost Distance Estimate

Shipping FROM City (A-Z)	Shipping TO City	Mileage Approximation	Projected Shipping Costs (Estimated)
Aberdeen, WA	Clarkston, WA	763	$435
Akron, OH	Laredo, TX	1617	$711
Albuquerque, NM	New Orleans, LA	1167	$513
Amarillo, TX	El Paso, TX	667	$402
Anaheim, CA	Raleigh, NC	2543	$943
Anchorage, AK	Frankfort, KY	3991	$1907
Arlington, TX	Irvine, CA	1419	$675
Ashland, OR	Oroville, WA	1112	$512
Atlanta, GA	Virginia Beach, VA	583	$375
Atlantic City, NJ	Astoria, OR	3060	$1362
Atlantic City, NJ	Oakland, CA	3062	$1362
Atoka, OK	Auburn, NE	940	$450
Aurora, CO	Corpus Christi, TX	1066	$471
Austin, TX	San Antonio, TX	84	$102
Baldwin City, KS	Garden City, KS	641	$389
Baltimore, MD	Gettysburg, PA	83	$102
Bartlett, TN	Jasper, TN	489	$260
Baton Rouge, LA	Madison, WI	1013	$479
Baton Rouge, LA	Slidell, LA	175	$215
Baxter Springs, KS	South Haven, KS	296	$264
Bedford, PA	Grantsville, MD	233	$245
Big Spring, NE	Sterling, CO	128	$110
Blaine, WA	El Centro, CA	1460	$680
Boston, MA	Colebrook, NH	413	$258
Bristol, VA	Cumberland Gap, VA	182	$217
Brownsville, TX	Rosenburg, TX	497	$361
Brunswick, GA	Perry, GA	261	$289
Brunswick, ME	Moose River, ME	285	$301
Buena Vista, CO	Salida, CO	48	$101
Buffalo, NY	Newark, NJ	387	$322
Burkeville, VA	Durham, NC	212	$234
Burley, ID	Granger, WY	440	$279
Burley, ID	Granger, IN	1634	$726
Caballo, NM	Florence, AZ	553	$402
Chandler, AZ	Greensboro, NC	2157	$875
Charlotte, NC	Boston, MA	839	$430
Chattanooga, TN	Cass Station, GA	157	$130
Cheraw, SC	Florence, SC	70	$101
Chicago, IL	Houston, TX	1091	$485
Chicago, IL	Modesto, CA	2124	$885
Chicago, IL	Mobile, AL	1502	$694
Chicago, IL	Geneva, IL	48	$97
Chicago, IL	Council Bluffs, IA	779	$428
Cincinnati, OH	Cheboygan, MI	843	$430
Clarksville, VA	South Hill, VA	53	$96
Claude, TX	Bowie, TX	392	$325
Cleveland, OH	Mesa, AZ	2027	$879
Cleveland, OH	Cincinnati, OH	418	$335
Cody, WY	Deaver, WY	41	$96
Colfax, WA	Dodge, WA	64	$99
Colorado Springs, CO	Minneapolis, MN	984	$450
Comfort, TX	Raton, NM	1142	$501
Conway, AR	Capulin, NM	1248	$570
Cortez, CO	Gallup, NM	233	$157
Covington, MI	Crystal Falls, MI	60	$97
Crescent City, CA	Grants Pass, OR	135	$126
Dallas, TX	Detroit, MI	1202	$569
Dallas, TX	South Sioux City, NE	1194	$565
Daytona, FL	Tampa, FL	268	$167
Denver, CO	Washington DC	1678	$702
Denver, CO	Laramie, WY	220	$153
Derby Line, VT	New Haven, CT	515	$399
Des Moines, IA	Little Rock, AR	616	$423
Detroit, MI	Miles City, MT	1391	$597
Detroit, MI	Grand Haven, MI	192	$125
Dodge City, KS	Bucklin, KS	49	$96
Dodgeville, WI	Fairplay, WI	62	$97
Dothan, AL	Brunswick, GA	429	$335
Douglasville, GA	Heflin, AL	90	$101
DuBois, PA	Morgantown, WV	405	$320
El Centro, CA	Paradise, NV	306	$313
Elizabeth, NJ	Cambridge, OH	795	$424
Elkhart, IN	Detroit, MI	261	$303
Eureka, MT	Wells, NV	1245	$575
Farmington, NM	Santa Ana, CA	773	$430
Flomaton, AL	Pensacola, FL	85	$98
Fort Worth, TX	Baltimore, MD	1404	$643
Frederick, MD	Washington DC	63	$102
Fredericktown, MO	Dallas, TX	1064	$497
Fresno, CA	Sacramento, CA	173	$215
Gainesville, GA	Macon, GA	219	$217
Galesburg, IL	Peoria, IL	98	$102
Galveston, TX	Noyes, MN	2450	$1430
Garden City, KS	Baldwin City, KS	568	$395
Glendale, AZ	Henderson, NV	261	$225
Glens Falls, NY	Sparkill, NY	182	$202
Grand Portage, MN	New Orleans, LA	1517	$721
Great Falls, MT	Santee, CA	1334	$640
Greenville, SC	Florence, SC	311	$312
Gulfport, MS	Jackson, MS	289	$309
Hancock, MD	Selinsgrove, PA	212	$280
Harrisburg, PA	Rockingham, NC	751	$427
Heflin, AL	Douglasville, GA	92	$101
Holbrook, AZ	Beaufort, NC	2140	$1357
Hondo, NM	San Antonio, NM	199	$278
Honolulu, HI	Miami, FL	5112	$2127
Horton, KS	Oswego, KS	350	$320
Huntington, WV	Fowler, IN	563	$396
Hurley, WI	New Orleans, LA	1289	$632
Indianapolis, IN	Columbus, OH	176	$215
Indianapolis, IN	Colby, KS	1560	$687
Jacksonville, FL	Van Horn, TX	1498	$682
Jacksonville, FL	Fredricksburg, VA	657	$414
Kansas City, MO	Pontiac, MI	1254	$629
Keokuk, IA	Dubuque, IA	319	$321
Key Bridge, VA	New Market, VA	132	$152
La Junta, CO	Trinidad, CO	140	$160
Lancaster, PA	Harrisburg, PA	70	$99
Lansing, MI	Toledo, OH	123	$110
Laredo, TX	Pembina, ND	1650	$699
Las Cruces, NM	Ambrose, ND	1623	$698
Laurel, MT	Greybull, WY	193	$168
Laurier, WA	Spokane, WA	172	$163
Lawrenceville, PA	Baltimore, MD	349	$340
Leon, IA	Kansas City, MO	259	$224
Lewiston, ID	Sandpoint, ID	302	$322
Lexington, KY	Tallahassee, FL	653	$404
Limon, CO	Manhattan, KS	406	$389
Lincoln, NE	Louisville, KY	698	$411
Little Rock, AR	Aloha, LA	459	$392
Long Beach, CA	Las Vegas, NV	279	$256
Lynchburg, VA	Charlotte, NC	356	$342
Manhattan, KS	Grand Junction, CO	737	$427
Maysville, KY	Paducah, KY	633	$404
McKenzie, ND	Pierre, SD	276	$315
Melbourne, FL	Kissimmee, FL	112	$124
Memphis, TN	Charleston, SC	1230	$612
Mena, AR	Fort Smith, AR	135	$146
Mesa, AZ	Oakland, CA	762	$423
Miami, FL	Fort Kent, ME	1924	$1024
Milford, PA	Clarks Ferry, PA	272	$255
Milwaukee, WI	Boston, MA	1081	$482
Milwaukee, WI	Green Bay, WI	173	$165
Minneapolis, MN	Dubuque, IA	420	$398
Mobile, AL	Mackinac Island, MI	1222	$606
Modesto, CA	Garland, TX	1654	$715
Montgomery, AL	Mariana, FL	265	$255
Montrose, CO	Durango, CO	200	$220
Morrisville, PA	Cape Charles, VA	412	$390
Motley, MN	Carlton, MN	212	$222
Muddy Gap, WY	Armington, MT	875	$443
Mule Creek, NM	Milwaukee, WI	1674	$480
Naples, FL	Copper Harbor, MI	1800	$808
Naples, FL	Miami, FL	183	$220
Nashville, TN	Tucson, AZ	1605	$699
New York City, NY	Los Angeles, CA	2783	$1023
Newberry, SC	Hendersonville, NC	194	$221
Norfolk, VA	Jersey City, NJ	351	$319
Norwalk, CA	Hartford, CT	2891	$1145
Ocala, FL	Orlando, FL	147	$201
Ocean City, MD	Elkton, MD	268	$255
Ogallala, NE	Dwyer, WY	370	$320
Olympia, WA	San Ysidro, CA	1219	$618
Omaha, NE	Tulsa, OK	422	$355
Omaha, NE	Greely, CO	969	$567
Ontario, OR	Florence, OR	755	$430
Orlando, FL	Durham, NC	621	$401
Oshkosh, WI	Fremont, WI	58	$96
Oswego, KS	Horton, KS	423	$258
Petersburg, VA	Wilmington, NC	401	$248
Philadelphia, PA	Phoenix, AZ	2394	$911
Philadelphia, PA	Ridgeway, PA	512	$376
Port Huron, MI	North Augusta, SC	1263	$628
Portland, OR	Oklahoma City, OK	1934	$872
Portsmouth, NH	Glens Falls, NY	324	$330
Portsmouth, OR	Mackinaw, MI	1114	$601
Provincetown, MA	Mill Plain, CT	1158	$603
Raton, NM	Santa Fe, NM	279	$312
Rawlins, WY	Babb, MT	1329	$703
Richmond, KY	Newport, KY	324	$289
Riverside, CA	Cincinnati, OH	2138	$884
Riverton, WY	Shoshoni, WY	45	$96
Roanoke, VA	Aberdeen, NC	355	$301
Rochester, NY	Lubbock, TX	1654	$715
Rock Springs, WY	Moran, WY	459	$396
Saint Louis, MO	Tampa, FL	1003	$469
Saint Paul, MN	Charleston, SC	1312	$661
Salt Lake City, UT	Cumberland, RI	2362	$910
San Antonio, TX	San Diego, CA	1286	$582
San Diego, CA	Savannah, GA	2390	$911
San Francisco, CA	Austin, TX	1763	$713
San Jose, CA	Jacksonville, FL	2769	$1017
Santa Ana, CA	Shawnee, KS	1611	$700
Seattle, WA	El Paso, TX	1943	$876
Sheffield, IL	Council Bluffs, IA	645	$412
Shreveport, LA	Lake Charles, LA	317	$288
Spanish Fork, UT	Nogales, AZ	1494	$689
St. Cloud, MN	Moorhead, MN	317	$288
St. Paul, MN	Natchez, MS	1843	$729
Stockton, CA	Bakersfield, CA	240	$223
Superior, WI	LaCrosse, WI	443	$380
Tallahassee, FL	Austin, TX	874	$443
Thistle, UT	Annapolis, MD	2151	$867
Toledo, OH	Pittsburgh, PA	232	$223
Tuskegee, AL	Kings Mountain, NC	642	$411
Twin Falls, ID	New York City, NY	2369	$909
Vaughn, NM	Pittsfield, IL	1731	$712
Vinton, IA	Owatonna, MN	276	$225
Virginia Beach, VA	Springfield, MO	1136	$472
Wakefield, PA	Reading, PA	111	$110
Wallula, WA	Umatilla, OR	42	$101
Walsenburg, CO	Valley City, UT	765	$476
Warner, OK	Oklahoma City, OK	211	$202
Water Street, PA	Cleveland, OH	378	$299
Weiser, ID	Eastport, ID	780	$418
White Pigeon, MI	Acme, MI	390	$252
Whitehouse, NJ	Wilmington, DE	154	$133
Williard, NM	Albuquerque, NM	121	$119
Willmar, MN	Belle Fourche, SD	783	$420
Winona, MN	Philip, SD	995	$573
Yemassee, SC	Cleveland, OH	718	$414