How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car in 2026?

• March 4, 2026

Last updated on March 4, 2026

The short answer: $400 to $1,500 for most domestic moves. The real answer depends on where you’re going, what you’re shipping, and when you need it there.

We quote thousands of vehicle shipments a year. This guide breaks down exactly what drives the price so you can tell a fair quote from a ripoff before you put down a deposit.

Average Car Shipping Costs by Distance

Distance is the biggest factor. Here’s what you’re looking at in 2026:

Route Type	Distance	Average Cost
Local / Short haul	Under 500 miles	$400 – $700
Regional	500 – 1,000 miles	$600 – $1,000
Long distance	1,000 – 1,500 miles	$800 – $1,200
Cross-country	1,500 – 2,500+ miles	$1,000 – $1,500
Hawaii	Ocean + ground	$1,500 – $2,500
Alaska	Ocean + ground	$1,500 – $2,200
Guam	Ocean freight	$2,000 – $3,000+

The per-mile rate drops as distance increases. A 300-mile move might cost $2.00/mile. A 2,500-mile cross-country run drops to $0.40-$0.60/mile. Longer routes are more efficient for carriers because they spend less time loading and unloading relative to miles driven.

What Makes Car Shipping More Expensive

Vehicle Size and Weight

A Honda Civic and a Ford F-350 dually don’t cost the same to ship. The truck takes up more space on the carrier and adds more weight. Expect to pay 15-30% more for:

• Full-size trucks and SUVs
• Vans and minivans
• Lifted or modified vehicles (extra height = fewer vehicles per carrier)
• Dual-rear-wheel trucks (take up 1.5 spots)

Sedans and compact cars are the cheapest to ship. Mid-size SUVs fall in the middle.

Open vs. Enclosed Transport

Open transport is the standard — your car rides on an open multi-car carrier alongside 8-10 other vehicles. About 90% of vehicles ship this way.

Enclosed transport puts your car inside a fully covered trailer with 2-6 other vehicles. It costs $200-$500 more than open, depending on the route.

Choose enclosed if:

• Your car is worth over $75,000
• It’s a classic, exotic, or collector vehicle
• It’s brand new and you want showroom delivery
• You’d lose sleep over a rock chip

Choose open for everything else. The damage rate on open carriers is under 1%. It’s the industry standard for a reason.

Season and Timing

The car shipping market runs on supply and demand, just like airlines.

Peak season (June – August): Prices climb 15-25%. Military PCS season drives a huge spike — service members across every branch are relocating simultaneously. Add college moves, snowbird returns, and general summer activity, and carrier capacity gets tight.

Cheapest months (November – February): Demand drops, prices follow. If your timing is flexible, shipping in winter can save you a few hundred dollars. The trade-off: weather delays are more common, especially on northern routes.

First available date flexibility: The more flexible you are on pickup dates, the better rate your broker can find. A carrier heading your direction with an open spot will take a lower rate to fill it. Rigid “must pick up Monday” requests limit options and cost more.

Route Popularity

High-volume lanes have more carriers running them, which keeps prices competitive:

• Cheap lanes: Florida ↔ New York/New Jersey, Texas ↔ California, Florida ↔ Texas
• Expensive lanes: Rural-to-rural (Montana to Vermont), single-direction routes where carriers can’t find a return load, remote locations far from interstate highways

Operability

A non-running vehicle costs $100-$200 extra. The carrier needs a winch or special equipment to load and unload it. If your car rolls, steers, and brakes, it ships at standard rates. If it doesn’t, let your broker know upfront — misrepresenting operability causes problems at pickup.

Hidden Costs to Watch For

The Deposit

Most brokers collect a deposit at booking — typically $100-$200, applied toward your total. This is standard and normal. What’s NOT normal:

• Deposits over $500 (red flag)
• “Non-refundable” deposits before a carrier is assigned (avoid)
• Full payment required upfront (walk away)

The Bait-and-Switch

Some brokers quote low to win your business, then call back a few days later saying the price went up because “market conditions changed” or “we couldn’t find a carrier at that rate.” This is the oldest trick in the industry.

How to avoid it: If a quote is 20-30% below everyone else’s, it’s probably not real. Get 2-3 quotes and go with the one that explains their pricing, not the one that just gives you the lowest number.

Terminal Fees

Some carriers operate through terminals (parking lots or yards) rather than offering door-to-door service. If your vehicle is picked up from or delivered to a terminal, there may be a storage fee ($25-75) if you don’t pick it up within the free window (usually 24-48 hours).

Door-to-door service avoids this entirely. “Door-to-door” means as close to your address as the carrier truck can safely park — usually within a block or two of your home.

How to Get the Best Price

1. Get multiple quotes. Three quotes from different brokers gives you a reliable price range. Don’t go with the lowest — go with the one you trust.

1. Be flexible on dates. A 5-7 day pickup window (rather than a specific date) gives your broker more carrier options and usually a better rate.

1. Ship in the off-season. If your timeline allows, November through February offers the best rates.

1. Book early. Last-minute shipments cost more because your broker has less time to find the right carrier at the right price.

1. Know your vehicle dimensions. If your car is modified (lift kit, roof rack, oversized tires), mention it upfront. Surprises at pickup can delay your shipment or trigger re-quoting.

1. Skip the middlemen. Some “lead generation” sites sell your info to 5-10 brokers, who all call you simultaneously. Work directly with a broker who answers their own phone.

What Transcar Charges

We’re transparent on pricing. Use our rate calculator for an instant quote — no phone call, no callback, no sales pitch. The price you see is the price you pay, minus any seasonal adjustment at the time of carrier assignment.

Our rates include:

• Door-to-door service (standard)
• Full carrier insurance coverage
• A dedicated coordinator (Lori) — not a call center
• Our 7-day pickup guarantee
• Text and email updates throughout

We don’t charge hidden fees. The deposit ($100-200) applies to your total. The remaining balance is paid directly to the carrier driver at delivery.

Quick estimates for common routes (open transport, standard sedan, 2026):

Route	Estimated Cost
Dallas → Los Angeles	$700 – $900
New York → Miami	$650 – $850
Chicago → Phoenix	$800 – $1,000
Seattle → Houston	$1,000 – $1,200
Atlanta → Denver	$750 – $950
San Diego → Virginia Beach (military PCS)	$1,100 – $1,400

Want an exact number for your move? Get a quote in 30 seconds →

Military PCS Moves: What Your Contract Covers (and Doesn’t)

If you’re PCSing, the government contract covers shipping one personally owned vehicle (POV). But most military families have two or three vehicles. The extras need a private carrier — that’s where we come in.

We handle about 65% of our volume from military PCS customers. We know the timeline pressure, the stress of coordinating across time zones, and the fact that your first available date usually isn’t flexible.

Military PCS pricing follows the same factors above, with one addition: if you need to ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, or overseas, the ocean freight portion adds significant cost. We work with our parent company TGAL to handle the international leg.

Learn more about military PCS vehicle shipping →

FAQ

Why is my quote different from what I found online?

Online averages are just that — averages. Your actual cost depends on your specific route, vehicle, timing, and transport type. Two “New York to Florida” quotes can differ by $200+ depending on exact pickup/delivery locations and time of year.

Can I negotiate the price?

There isn’t much room to negotiate individual quotes. The price reflects current carrier rates for your route. What you CAN do: be flexible on dates, choose open over enclosed, and book during off-season — those are the real money savers.

Why do prices change during peak season?

Same reason flights cost more in summer. Carrier capacity is fixed (there are only so many trucks), but demand spikes. More people competing for the same carrier spots = higher prices. Book early in peak season to lock in better rates.

Is the cheapest quote the best deal?

Almost never. The cheapest quote usually means the broker can’t actually move your car at that price. They’ll either re-quote you higher later, or your car sits waiting for a carrier that never comes. A fair price from a reliable broker beats a fantasy price from a cheap one.

Do I tip the carrier driver?

It’s not required but appreciated for good service. $20-50 is common if the driver was professional, communicated well, and delivered on time. Cash at delivery.

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Questions? Call (682) 252-4654 — Lori will give you a straight answer. No upsell, no runaround.