- Car Shipping Cost By The Numbers – What Does It Cost To Ship A Car?
- State To State & Same State Auto-Deliver
- Terminal Auto Transport Car Shipping Companies
- Rv Transport
- International Shipping
- What Affects The Price Of Vehicle Shipping Estimates? Use The Car Shipping Cost Calculator
- Type Of Vehicle
- Distance & Location
- Auto Transport Company Shipping Routes
- Vehicle Transport Type
- Season
- Auto Transport Pricing Resources
- Cost To Ship Various Vehicles
Car Shipping Cost By The Numbers – What Does It Cost To Ship A Car?
We would love to provide our readers with accurate auto transport quotes of exactly what goes into the estimates of moving a car, truck, motorcycle , or RV, and how much the car transport costs too. These car transport quote metrics are valuable when using an online car shipping calculator.
State to State & Same State Auto-Deliver
Shipping a vehicle within the same state is usually more affordable, though the distance is crucial. Here's an example: El Paso, TX to Houston, TX is about 750 miles and would likely cost between $500 and $700, depending on the car and vehicle transport type. By comparison using a shipping cost calculator, El Paso to Los Angeles, which is 800 miles would be slightly more, probably in the $600 to $800 range.
Terminal Auto Transport Car Shipping Companies
Moving a car from one major city to another also increases the chances that you'll choose terminal auto transport, which is the most cost-effective way to have a vehicle shipped. Dallas, TX to Atlanta, GA is just under 800 miles, and the average car shipping cost, using a car shipping cost calculator would be in the same range as those mentioned above: between $600 and $700.
When auto transport companies consider smaller cities that are a similar distance apart but are not on a significant delivery route, the auto transport cost will be slightly higher. For example, if you need a vehicle shipped from College Station, TX to Athens, GA (also around 800 miles), the average auto transport cost would be slightly higher than the car shipping quote you'd be able to get by shipping directly from Dallas to Atlanta.
RV Transport
Since recreation vehicles and motor homes come in various sizes and shapes, the auto transport cost will vary accordingly. For example, the typically larger class A motorhomes will cost more than class B or class C RV transport. The weight of an RV is also a factor in the car shipping cost calculator that can sometimes push the cost of shipping a motorhome above the $1 per mile figure mentioned below, particularly for RVs that are longer than 25 feet.
International Shipping
Shipping a car internationally is slightly different for each country due to the laws and taxes involved in moving any cargo between nations. Based on data from a car shipping quote calculator, the cost of shipping alone can be expensive: you can plan at least $2,000 to $3,000 in the average cost to ship alone from the United States to Europe, in addition to import taxes, which vary from country to country.
Visit our international auto transport page to learn more about the specific documents and paperwork required when shipping a vehicle overseas.
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What Affects The Price Of Vehicle Shipping Estimates? Use The Car Shipping Cost Calculator
Deducing from a car shipping quote calculator, the cost of shipping a car will be between 50 cents and $1 per mile, depending on the vehicle transport type you opt for and how far the vehicle needs to be shipped. Here are some of the metrics used by a car shipping calculator.
Type of Vehicle
This has almost everything to do with the vehicle's weight, which is essential when hauling cargo over a long distance. Motorcycles will be on the cheaper end of the spectrum, closer to 50 cents per mile.
If you use a car shipping calculator, you'll realize that shipping a motorcycle between Philadelphia, PA , and Columbus, OH (about 470 miles) would cost around $300 compared to around $450 for a car. An RV like a class A motorhome would naturally cost more due to the size and weight of the vehicle.
Distance & Location
Distance and location are perhaps the two most important factors that affect the average car shipping cost. If you're hiring an auto transport company to move a car across the country or coast to coast, you start to see the impact of mileage. Seattle, WA to New York City, is nearly 3,000 miles and will generally cost over $2,000 even for standard shipping. San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL is a little over 2,000 miles and could be done for $2,000 or less.
Auto Transport Company Shipping Routes
Primary transport routes (between major U.S. metro areas) will usually be cheaper than moving a vehicle between suburbs and smaller cities. Shipping a car between New York and Florida can be done as cheaply as $700, even though it's over 1,000 miles (we're using New York City to Orlando for this example). The reason is that it's one of the main transport routes on the East Coast between the Northeast and the Southeast.
Vehicle Transport Type
The two primary methods of shipping a vehicle are open and enclosed carriers. Open-air car carriers often carry several vehicles at once that are loaded onto a trailer.
With an enclosed carrier, the vehicle is completely secured in an enclosed transport carrier that guards against any potential damage or curious eyes. Enclosed auto transport is a premium service that is ideal for high-value, performance , and classic cars.
Season
Many people don't consider the season when shipping a car, but in all actuality, it is an essential factor in how car transport is priced. More people relocate for work and school or travel for vacations in the spring and summer, and the auto transport industry is booming with business during these hot months.
This means there is a great demand for pickup trucks, and with that demand often comes higher rates as car shipping companies have to work customers in on busy transport routes.
In the winter, which is considered the slow season for car transport, you can often find discounted car shipping rates, especially if you are shipping in a southern state or a Midwestern state. If your auto transport company needs to ship from the north, where there may be snow and ice-covered roads, you might see a slight increase in pricing due to the weather.
The best way to find out about a seasonal rate is to ask the agent if you can have a seasonal discount. In many instances, a friendly inquiry can go a long way.
Auto Transport Pricing Resources
Driving Distance Calculator – Get accurate mileage information for the driving distance between any two U.S. cities by using the car shipping cost calculator feature from Travelmath.com.
Vehicle Weight – Get an accurate estimate of the curb weight of different types of vehicles, as well as the precise numbers for specific makes and models of vehicles.
Cost to Ship Various Vehicles
- Cost to ship a van
- Cost to ship an SUV
- Cost to ship an ATV overseas
- Cost to ship a boat overseas
- Cost to ship a car across the country
- Cost to ship a car by rail
- Cost to ship a car enclosed
- Cost to ship a car RORO
- Cost to ship a car state to state
- Cost to ship a car to another state
- Cost to ship a car via airline
- Cost to ship a classic vehicle overseas
- Cost to ship an exotic car overseas
- Cost to ship a golf cart overseas
- Cost to ship a golf cart
- Cost to ship an RV overseas
- Cost of shipping more than one car
- Cost to ship an ATV
- Cost to ship a car overseas
- Cost to ship a classic car
- Cost to ship an exotic automobile
- Cost to ship a motorcycle overseas
- Cost to ship a motorcycle
- Cost to ship an RV
- Cost to ship a car across state lines
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, our partner car shipment carriers must account for all variables that go into transporting your vehicle. The cost of their fuel is one such factor. Fortunately, gas prices generally fluctuate gradually and do not often cause sudden surges in car shipping prices
However, an unexpected fuel shortage caused by a natural disaster is one possible exception. Such an occurrence could rapidly drive up the car shipping cost.
Yes, there are plenty of discount opportunities when you're arranging shipping services through A-1 Auto Transport. Our car shipping company offers discounts to a variety of customers, including:
- Seniors
- Veterans
- Students
- Government employees
- Healthcare Workers
- Dealers
If you want to find out whether you are eligible for a discount, call our sales team for car shipping quotes. We will strive to find you the best deal on car transport services. However, it is essential to note that not all discounts are available year-round.
When a car shipping company calculates the average cost of your car transport services, the team must assess a variety of factors, including:
Distance
The total distance traveled is the most significant determining factor when a car transport company sets your auto shipping costs. Our partner set car shipping quotes by the mile. The more miles traveled, the higher the average cost of car shipping.
However, many of our carriers also offer price breaks as total mileage increases. These discounts are usually divided into 500-mile increments. For each additional 500 miles that your car is being shipped, the total per-mile rate will decrease.
Season
The demand for auto shipping services is the highest in the summer. This increased demand also drives up prices.
At the same time, many clients prefer arranging vehicle transport services in the summer, due to the great weather. Winter shipments are at a higher risk of being delayed by natural disasters and severe weather.
Weight of Vehicle
The overall weight of your vehicle will also influence total car shipping costs. Our carriers must adhere to the gross vehicle weight requirements set by the Department of Transportation. Currently, the GVW limit is set at 80,000 lbs.
If you intend to ship heavier vehicles, the enclosed auto transport carrier cannot hold as many cars as usual. To offset this open transport limitation, the car carrier will often charge higher vehicle shipping rates for hauling your vehicle.
Shipping Method
The open transport method used will also play a massive role in the average cost of shipping your car. The two primary open transport methods available are open or enclosed transport.
When they are hauling cars via the open transport method, carriers can usually accommodate seven to nine vehicles. This allows them to charge relatively low vehicle shipping rates.
However, enclosed transport trailers can only fit about three to five cars, so the car carrier must charge more for each vehicle to make a profit.
Delivery Method
When you're arranging your vehicle transport services, you will get to choose between terminal-to-terminal and door-to-door delivery. Terminal-to-terminal vehicle shipment is cheaper, but door-to-door is more convenient.
Make sure to weigh the benefits of each open transport option so that you can get the perfect delivery solution to meet your needs.
Routes
If you want your car shipped from one major city to another, the auto transport trailer will take a very direct route. They will be able to use interstate travel for much of the journey. However, shipping cars to pickup and delivery locations within rural areas will require them to take a less direct route, driving up car shipping costs.
The weight of your car impacts the total number of vehicles the car transporter can accommodate. The average tractor and trailer combination weighs approximately 35,000 lbs. Since the DOT limits a carrier's total GVW to 80,000 lbs, they can haul up to 45,000 lbs of cargo.
Due to these limitations, low-vehicle ground clearance auto transporters typically charge more to haul heavier cars. For example, let's say that your vehicle weighs 7,000 lbs. This is about twice as heavy as the average passenger car. To offset this, you will be charged higher auto transport rates.
If your goal is to ship a car at the lowest auto transport cost, then we recommend car transport companies offering terminal-to-terminal open-air car shipping. Terminal-to-terminal auto shipping involves dropping your car off at the nearest loading facility. It is the cheapest way compared to the door-to-door delivery option.
Opting for open car transport also saves you money because our vehicle shipping auto transporters can haul more vehicles using this method. The more cars they can move in a single trip, the lower the average shipping cost for each vehicle owner.
Due to their design and weight, enclosed transport trailers cannot hold as many vehicles as an open-air car hauler. The average enclosed transport trailer can only hold about three to five cars, about half as many vehicles as an open-air hauler. Since the carrier cannot accommodate as many vehicles, they must charge more per car to remain profitable.
Yes, oversized vehicles are more expensive to ship. A car with large exterior dimensions consumes more space on the carrier's trailer, limiting its ability to pick up additional vehicles. They charge a higher rate to offset this car transport cost.
Booking professional auto shipping services through A-1 Auto Transport is far more affordable than you might expect. We offer a wide array of transport cost savings opportunities, including:
Discounts
The best way to cut car transport costs when scheduling your auto shipping services is to take advantage of our various discount opportunities. We offer discounts to seniors, students, and dealers. There are also seasonal discounts available so that anyone can get a great deal on our expert open transport services.
Book in Advance
At A-1 Auto Transport, we work with a vast network of professional car shipment carriers. By doing so, we can accommodate virtually any open transport request, including last-minute auto transports. However, rush delivery requests are a bit more expensive than standard vehicle shipment options.
If you ship a car while maximizing your savings, we suggest booking our open-vehicle transport services in advance. For domestic car shipping, you should schedule your service two to three weeks ahead of time and then get assigned a professional truck driver.
International car shipping is more complex, so we recommend scheduling your services three to four weeks before your desired pick-up date.
Choose Open Trailer Shipping
While this method does not offset your carrying liability insurance, enclosed car shipping is a great way to protect your car. According to car shipping reviews, however, it is a more costly solution in the car shipping industry.
If you want to save even more money on A-1 Auto Transport's services, make sure to opt for open-air shipping. This is an efficient and affordable car shipping solution that is great for most vehicles.
Door-to-door car shipping is the most convenient car transportation solution available. Our partner carrier will respond directly to your residence and load your car onto their trailer. They will haul it across the country to your new home. When they arrive, the carrier will unload your car and turn it over to you.
Door-to-door car shipping places extra responsibilities on the carrier. Instead of dropping your car off at a centralized terminal, they must respond directly to your home address. As a result, it takes additional time and resources to complete the delivery, which drives up overall transport costs.
A-1 Auto Transport's car transport quotes are very accurate. However, it is essential to keep in mind that these car shipping estimates are based on the provided information. If you submit incorrect information, then the car shipping quote may not be accurate.
When you're requesting accurate car shipping quotes, the more information you can provide, the better. Our car shipping quote generation software only requires you to enter the city or zip code of the pick-up and delivery destinations.
If you can provide us with the specific addresses when obtaining your car shipping quote, we can provide more accurate estimates.
A-1 Auto Transport can honor your free car transport quote until the end of the business day. If you want to ship a car and do not reserve your open transport services before the close of business, we will not guarantee that rate.
However, we will gladly provide you with a new car transport quote for the following business day. We cannot guarantee auto transport quotes for more extended periods because the factors that impact car shipping costs can change daily.
Unlike cross-country car shipping, calculating the final cost of international shipping is more complicated than estimating rates for domestic auto transport services. However, many of the same criteria come into play. To estimate the cost of international car shipping services, A-1 Auto Transport will need to consider:
Distance
The further your luxury vehicle is being shipped; the more expensive the service will be. This rule applies to both domestic and international classic car shipping.
Final Destination
Every nation charges unique import taxes and fees when you ship a vehicle to their ports. You must be aware of these fees before arranging your auto transport services. If you would like to know more, contact the A-1 Auto Transport sales team.
Car Shipment Method
When you're transporting your car overseas, ocean freight is the most affordable option. However, you will still have the opportunity to choose between RoRo and container shipping.
If you choose the RoRo method, your car will be driven onto the ship's deck and strapped down. Container shipping is more expensive but protects your vehicle from the elements and dangerous ocean water.
Season
Like domestic shipping rates, international costs fluctuate by season. Winter is the cheapest time of year to ship your car internationally, while summer is the most expensive.
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