How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car Via Airline?

1. Cost Of Shipping A Car By Plane
2. The Advantages Of Shipping A Car With Air Freight
3. Related Information & Faq

Cost of Shipping a Car by Plane

Shipping a car by plane, also referred to as air freight in the transport industry, is the most expensive method of transporting a car, regardless of where it’s going and how far the distance is. So you may ask yourself, “Why would someone do it then?”

It's a reasonable enquiry, and the typical response is that the vehicle being shipped is extremely valuable, uncommon, or exotic and hence requires special handling. Throughout the course of our more than two decades in the auto transport industry, we've seen a number of customers who prefer to ship via aircraft; typically, these customers are transporting a vehicle with significant sentimental or financial value. Most cars on the road can't be shipped via airline since doing so would cost more than the car is worth.

As with any type of vehicle shipment, the cost is largely contingent on the transport distance involved. Air freight is exponentially more expensive than other methods so the cost goes up accordingly—in the neighborhood of thousands of dollars. To put that into perspective, you could have a car shipped across the U.S. by truck for around $2,000, while that wouldn’t be enough to cover air freight across the state in many parts of the country.

The Advantages Of Shipping A Car With Air Freight

Now that we’ve sufficiently covered the high cost of air freight shipping and put it context of standard transport costs, let’s look at why people do ship cars via airplane.

As mentioned in the first section, most people shipping cars on a plane are doing so because the car my be rare, antique, exotic, high-end, custom, or even one-of-a-kind. That said, it’s not uncommon to see these types of vehicles in an enclosed carrier on a transport truck either.

The speed and convenience of shipping a car by air freight is unparalleled. It is the absolute fastest way to ship a car and the only way to have a vehicle shipped over a long distance in less than a day or two. In most cases, you can also ship other cargo and personal goods when you use air freight, which is not an option with other methods, outside of containerized shipping.

Finally, there is the important element of safety. There is very little handling, or switching around of cargo when you use ship on an airline. Most shipments are destination-direct and stop only for deliveries, meaning your car is never sitting on a truck overnight or waiting to be unloaded from a ship for several days. It’s quick, easy, and safe, which is largely why people choose to pay the high price tag.

Related Information & FAQ

• Air or sea: which method of transport is right for you?