The Car Shipping Guide: Costs, Services, and Safety Tips

What Are Your Car Shipping Options?

The first thing you'll need to do when you start looking into how to ship your car is to pick a carrier type. Next, decide how you want the company to handle pickup and delivery. These choices can have a big impact on your shipping costs and convenience. They also determine how your car is protected — which is especially important if you’re shipping a high-value vehicle.

Open vs. enclosed carriers

Open carriers are the most popular type of car shipping. You've probably seen them on the highway before — they usually have two open-air decks loaded with cars. This budget-friendly option works well, but keep in mind your car will be exposed to the weather. It’s usually best for standard or lower-value vehicles.

But if you have a rare, vintage, or luxury vehicle, an enclosed carrier is probably the better option. Your car will be transported in an enclosed box trailer, so you can rest assured that it's safe from people, flying debris, and weather.

Terminal-to-terminal vs. door-to-door

With terminal-to-terminal shipping, you'll drop your vehicle off at a transportation terminal. Drivers will load it onto a truck and move it to a terminal close to your destination. If you’re close to terminals — and don’t mind handling drop-off and pick-up yourself — this option can save you some cash.

If you want something more convenient, you can also opt for door-to-door shipping services, where the carrier drives right to your pickup location and drops off the car at an address that works for you. This type of shipping can also be a good choice if you live in a rural area without a terminal nearby.

Domestic vs. international shipping

If you're shipping a car within the country, your shipper will probably use a truck. For international shipments, the journey could involve a ship, a truck, a train, or some combination. International shipping usually costs more and takes longer than domestic shipping, so be sure to plan ahead if your car is crossing borders.

How Much Does Car Shipping Cost?

Car shipping isn't a one-price-fits-all situation. You could pay anywhere from $500 to $2,500. However, the cost could be higher or lower depending on your vehicle type and the details of your move.

Most car shipping companies charge by the mile. On average, that’s about $2.92 per mile for trips under 200 miles and $0.78 per mile if you’re shipping over 1,000 miles.

Here's a look at car shipping costs for various distances:

Here's a look at car shipping costs for various distances:

For example, let's say you're shipping a 2020 Toyota 4Runner from New York City. You might pay $1,400 to ship it to Los Angeles and $525 to ship it to Boston. A bigger vehicle, such as a Chevrolet Suburban, would cost $1,525 or $600 for the same routes.

Factors That Affect the Price of Car Shipping

The prices above are just estimates — you might pay more or less depending on your situation. How much it costs to ship your car depends on a few key factors:

• Distance: The longer the distance, the more you'll pay for shipping. Shipping a car to another state is often more expensive than intrastate shipping.
• Vehicle size: It typically costs less to ship a compact car or a crossover than a full-size van or truck.
• Vehicle condition: If your car isn't drivable, you'll probably pay more for shipping. The company will determine how to transport the car using special equipment for loading and unloading.
• Carrier type: Because enclosed carriers provide more protection for your car, they tend to be more expensive than open carriers.
• Delivery type: It's almost always more expensive to have your car shipped to a residential address than to have it dropped off at a terminal.
• Location: Shipping your car between major cities or ports? You might get a better deal than you would when shipping to a small town or rural area.
• Season: Carriers often charge more to transport your car during the peak spring and summer seasons.
• Timeline: If you need your car delivered in a hurry, it's safe to expect a higher price tag. You may be able to save money with a slower service.

How to Choose a Car Shipping Service

After you decide how to ship your car, you're ready to start comparing car shipping companies. Don't be afraid to take your time — a bit of research up front can save you time, money, and stress later on. Start by making a list of companies that ship cars in your area, and then use these tips to choose the one that's right for you.

Check Licensing and FMCSA Registration

Before you do anything else, make sure that each company on your list is legal. Search for the business name in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) SAFER System. This will bring you to an info page about the company. Make sure it has an active US Department of Transportation (DOT) number and that it's allowed to transport vehicles.

While you're at it, enter the company's USDOT number into the FMCSA's licensing and insurance search tool to check that the business is licensed.

Verify Insurance and COI

Insurance isn’t exciting, but it’s what protects you if something goes wrong. While you're looking at the company's FMCSA licensing and insurance listing, find the "Insurance Type" section. It tells you what type of insurance the business is supposed to have — and more importantly, whether it actually has that coverage. This can protect you financially if your car is dented or the carrier gets in an accident.

Not all car shipping companies do the transportation themselves; they may outsource it to a third-party carrier. To make sure you can trust that carrier, ask the shipping company for the carrier's certificate of insurance (COI). The COI confirms the carrier is insured and that your car will be covered. It's an extra layer of protection for your vehicle.

Read Customer Reviews to Understand the Company's Reputation

Customer reviews give you a real look at what it’s like to work with a company — the good and the bad. For each of the shippers on your shortlist, check their Google Business Profile to find honest reviews. A Google Business Profile shows reviews, ratings, and basic company details right in Google search. If you're on the fence, dive a little deeper by reading social media comments and Reddit threads about companies you’re considering.

Want to make sure the company has a good reputation? Look for complaints on its Better Business Bureau profile, and search for the business name on Google to find out if it's popped up in the news. The FMCSA SAFER results tell you if the company has any safety issues or failed inspections.

Look for Green Flags

Green flags are signs you've found a keeper. Keep an eye out for positive signs such as:

• Transparent quotes: Make sure the car shipping quote spells out all the important details, such as the type of service, what's included, and extra fees.
• Easy references: A company with nothing to hide will gladly give you references who can speak to their service.
• Written contracts: Your shipping provider should always give you a written contract with the vehicle information, carrier type, services, and costs. Make sure it includes the pickup and delivery dates and locations, a schedule, and insurance information.

Look for Red Flags

Not all car shipping companies are trustworthy. If you spot any of these red flags, it’s best to walk away:

• Cash-only payments: If a company insists on cash-only payments, it's a major red flag.
• Missing legal details: Don't hand over your expensive car to a company that isn't licensed, registered, and insured.
• Vague or inadequate insurance: If the company is vague about what's covered and what's not, it's a problem. Good companies will offer crystal-clear coverage details.

How the Car Shipping Process Works

Shipping your car can feel complicated, but once you choose a great provider, you're halfway there. From there, the process is pretty straightforward once you know what to expect.

Step 1: Get a quote and book

First, contact the company and request a quote. If the price works with your budget, go ahead and book. The company will help you plan pickup and delivery. It’s best to get quotes from several companies so you can compare and find the best price for your needs.

Step 2: Prepare your car

Next, it’s time to get your car ready to hit the road. Give it a good cleaning, and take photos of the inside and outside — they’ll be useful if you need to file an insurance claim.

Step 3: Terminal-to-terminal shipping

If you choose terminal-to-terminal shipping, you’ll need to drive the car to the terminal. You’ll hand over the keys and sign paperwork, and the company will take it from there. When the car arrives, you’ll pick it up and sign papers to confirm that it was delivered safely.

Step 4: Door-to-door shipping

The process for door-to-door shipping is even easier. A truck will come right to your home (or another pickup location). You’ll hand over the keys, and the driver will load your car. They’ll drop it off wherever you choose.

Step 5: Special circumstances

Live in an area that’s hard for trucks to access? You might need to meet the driver somewhere with more space for pickup or drop-off.

Step 6: Delivery timeline

If you’ve booked a rush delivery, your car could arrive in just a few days. Standard delivery usually takes a couple of weeks.

Prepare Your Car for Transport

Before your car starts its journey, get it ready to hit the road. Preparing the vehicle protects it from accidental damage and ensures that the driver can get it safely on and off the carrier.

Here's how to prepare your car for shipping:

• Empty out the car: Grab a few plastic bags, and empty out all your personal items. Then, take off exterior accessories such as bike racks, and if you have toll passes, make sure to grab them so you don’t get stuck with surprise charges.
• Protect exterior accessories: Do you have accessories that can't be removed, like roof racks or antennas? Tighten the screws to make sure they don't wiggle loose on the road.
• Clean the car: Once everything is out of your car, vacuum the floors and wipe down the dash and door panels.
• Take photos: Snap some close-up shots of existing dents and dings as well as a few wider-angle shots. This will be helpful if you need to file an insurance claim.
• Top up fluids: To help avoid issues during loading or unloading, top up the oil, brake fluid, coolant, and wiper fluid.
• Protect the interior: Wrap your driver's seat and floor mats with plastic. That way, you don't have to worry if the driver tracks in a little dirt or oil.
• Get some gas: If your car is drivable, you'll need to leave some fuel in the tank so the carrier can drive it on and off the truck. A quarter tank of gas is usually plenty, but check your contract for the recommended fuel level.

Common Car Shipping Mistakes to Avoid

First time shipping a car? Here are common mistakes that trip people up — and more importantly, how you can avoid them.

• Waiting too long to book: The best companies book up early. If you wait, you might pay more and have fewer dates to choose from.
• Choosing a company based solely on the lowest price: A low price tag might sound great, but not if it comes at the expense of safety. Before you snap up that good deal, read reviews and check the company's insurance.
• Not checking insurance coverage: If something goes wrong on the road and the company isn't insured, you'll be on the hook for the repairs.
• Leaving valuables in the vehicle: Stuff in your car can catch the attention of thieves, especially when the carrier is stopped at a truck stop.