When you are moving to a new location, you need to consider the best options for moving your car. But before that, it is necessary to form an idea about the cost to move a car and make sure that it fits into your moving budget.
If you want to cut down on car shipping costs, it is important to understand the factors that influence them. To help you out, we will take a closer look at the various aspects of car shipping costs in this article.
How Much Is It to Ship a Car?
Firstly, you need to decide whether to drive the car or ship it. While driving takes time and adds to the wear of the vehicle, shipping a car costs more money. Then again, you may not have the car in the right condition for a long drive to a new location across the country,
While there are various methods of shipping a car, using a truck is the most popular choice. The average costs for shipping your car will depend on a number of factors including the number of miles.
The average costs of car shipping can vary between $500 to $1700 with open car shipping services. In case the distance is less than 200 miles, the costs are around $2 per mile.
Other options are choosing a cargo train or air freight to ship a car. However, train routes are limited and are mostly reserved for commercial car dealerships. Air freight is the most expensive option and is only suggested for those with a high budget.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Another State?
In general, the average cost per mile for shipping your car comes down with longer distances. Note, if you are planning to transport a car to another state like Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico, finding a transport company can be more challenging.
| How Many Miles | Average Cost Per Mile | Cost Examples | Where To? |
| 500 miles | $1.25 | $532 | Chicago to Minneapolis |
| 1,000 miles | $0.75 | $675 | New York to Nashville |
| 2,000 miles | $.50 | $1000 | Pittsburgh to Phoenix |
| 3,000 miles | $0.55 | $1815 | Seattle to Miami |
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car Cross Country?
Cross-country vehicle shipments are long-distance moves. When you ship a car across the country, make sure to choose a reputable car shipping company after comparing prices and reviews.
Listed below are some cost estimates to help you get an idea about the costs.
| How Many Miles | Average Cost Per Mile | Cost Examples | Where To? |
| 1,000 miles | $0.75 | $750 | Chicago to Dallas |
| 2,000 miles | $.50 | $1020 | Chicago to Seattle |
| 3,000 miles | $0.55 | $1815 | Seattle to Miami |
Cost to Move a Car In an Open Vs Enclosed Transport
Choosing between open and enclosed transport options can make a lot of difference in the cost to transport a car. Also, the heavier the car, the more will be the cost.
The chart below will help you to make a quick comparison.
| Where To? | How Many Miles | Car Type | Open Transport Cost | Enclosed Transport Cost |
| Chicago to Kansas City | <500 miles | Toyota Camry | $560 | $800 |
| Chicago to Boston | 500-1,000 miles | Toyota Camry | $800 | $100 |
| Miami to Boston | 1,000-1,500 miles | Toyota Camry | $1000 | $1350 |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | 1,500-2,000 miles | Toyota Camry | $1180 | $1600 |
| Los Angeles to Atlanta | 2,000-2,500 miles | Toyota Camry | $1410 | $1850 |
Factors That Affect the Cost of Moving a Car
The costs to ship a car depend on multiple factors. Not all shipping companies may be able to make a delivery in the location where you want your car delivered. So, pick a company that serves the route that touches your delivery point.
The four main factors that influence vehicle shipping costs are listed below.
Vehicle Type
While processing a car shipping quote, the moving company will ask for the details of the vehicle. This will include the make, model, vehicle condition, and more.
Larger the size of the car, the more space it will need in the truck. This will affect the shipping costs. For luxury vehicles that require special handling, the costs of transportation will be higher.
Sedans are lighter and have an average height of less than 60 inches. Trucks and SUVs are heavier and more than 70 inches in height. So moving them is more expensive. If you have made modifications to the vehicle like added roof racks or larger tires, the costs will go up.
Transport Type
The kind of shipment that you decide to choose has a big impact on the costs. In general, open shipping is the cheaper and more popular option. Enclosed vehicle shipping is a premium option and is only suggested for moving luxury, exotic, or antique cars.
In open shipping, the vehicle will be carried in a truck with an open back. Such trucks are more readily available and since they carry less weight the gas costs are lower. In enclosed shipping, the vehicle is carried inside a large container to protect it from any weather-related damage and dirt. However, the heavier weight makes the process more expensive.
Time of the Year
Just like moving your house, the costs of car shipping depend on the season. But, finding the best car shipping season is not so simple as it depends on multiple factors and regional trends.
To start with, the shipping rates will depend on the traffic patterns and the weather conditions. During spring and fall many season residents move between their summer and winter homes. Also, most household moves happen during summer, causing a higher demand for auto transport services. This limits the carrier availability and pushes up the charges.
In some scenarios, moving a car outside of this shipping season will cost more. For example, some roads may become impassable for heavy trucks in winter. So the carrier may not be able to choose the shortest route, leading to an increase in the costs. Discuss with the moving company about off-season timings and discounts available during these periods.
On top of that, if you want expedited shipping the costs will be higher. If your delivery dates are more flexible, you can get better deals during the peak shipping season.
Fuel Cost
The fuel costs will depend on the distance the car has to travel. During cross-country moves, the larger the distance of travel from the pickup location, the higher the fuel charges, labor costs, and tolls.
Besides, if you are transporting your car to a major city on a popular auto transport route, the costs will be lesser. In case the destination is a rural area. the truck will have to travel further from its route to reach the drop-off point. This will further increase the fuel costs
The fuel costs will also depend on the size of the vehicle. The fuel consumption for shipping a midsize truck like the Toyota Tacoma will be more expensive than shipping a lighter vehicle like the Honda CR-V.
Why Car Shipping Costs Are Different
Car shipping costs are driven by various backstage processes that make it more complicated. These factors can make the shipping costs change faster than you expect.
In general, auto transport companies provide you with a quote based on the quotes they receive from the brokers. The brokers act as mediators between the carrier services and the customer. So, the quote that you receive includes a broker and a carrier fee.
Multiple Cost Factors
Since the cost of shipping your car depends on multiple factors, there is a higher chance of fluctuations. The moving company will use the factors like car conditions, delivery preferences, and shipping options to estimate the costs.
Beyond that, you will have to pay for additional services like top loading. During top loading, your car will be placed at the top level of a two-level carrier. Positioning your car at the top level offers better protection from road debris. Besides, transporting a car that is damaged or inoperable will attract higher charges.
Your price will also depend on the insurance coverage that you choose. Most shipping companies provide standard liability insurance as per the US Department of Transportation guidelines. However, you may pick a more comprehensive car insurance plan based on your requirements.
The Bookings Go Through a Bidding Process
Initially, the auto transport company will provide you with a quote which is not the final price. However, some companies do offer the quoted amount as a guaranteed price.
An experienced moving company will know how much it costs to ship a car to another state. So they will provide a quote that matches closely with what the carrier will charge. The actual bidding war takes place on a car transport bidding site where the carriers bid on a particular job. The bidding process helps transporters to increase their fleet utility and scale up revenues.
This makes it necessary to choose a reliable transport company with years of experience in car transport service bidding. Otherwise, you may find the final price much higher than the quoted amount.
The Cost to Move a Car- FAQs
What is the average cost to ship a car per mile?
The average costs depend on the number of miles. For distances less than 200 miles, the cost to transport a car is over $2 per mile. For long-distance moves over 1,500 miles, this can drop to $0.58 per mile
Do car shipping costs depend on the transport company?
Car shipping costs will depend on the company you pick, Some companies offer cheaper rates and better discounts than others. However, it’s best not to fall for rates that are too good to be true.
Is it less expensive to drive or ship a car across the country?
Even if you consider the costs for lodging, gas, and food for the driver, driving the car to the new location will always be cheaper than shipping the car.
Final Thoughts
Before you pick a moving company, compare multiple quotes to find out the best cost to move a car. And no matter the company you pick, make sure to conduct a mechanical and cosmetic check-up of the vehicle before and after delivery.
If you are finding it difficult to choose between the best car shipping companies, let the Agoyu app do the heavy lifting for you. With a simple and user-friendly interface, Agoyu can be your one-stop solution for hassle-free car shipping.
