How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car?

Shipping a personal vehicle domestically can cost from $200 – $5000 based upon the specific shipping requirements. Key considerations that can affect the cost to ship a vehicle are:

  • Type of vehicle
  • Timing needs
  • Distance
  • Door-to-door vs. pickup/drop-off

Type of Vehicle

Larger vehicles take more space and weigh more and, as a result, will cost more to ship. The shipping requirements for heavy haul vehicles like trucks, farming equipment, construction equipment and military equipment are very different what is needed to ship personal cars, vans and SUVs.

Timing Needs

If you have more flexibility in your schedule this can result in a lower cost, as the shipper can insure a full truck, resulting in a cost savings. And while expedited vehicle shipping is available, this will increase the cost of shipping.

Distance

How far you need to ship the car affects timing, which affects cost. Depending upon the final destination, you can plan on allowing 3-12 days to ship a vehicle. While it seems that a longer distance would cost more, route popularity also figures into the equation. If a route is more popular, there are more trucks and drivers handling that route. Therefore, in a few instances, you may see a lower cost on a more popular route, even though it is a longer distance. In general, though, shipping over longer distances will cost more.

Pickup and Drop-off

Pickup and final delivery logistics also affect cost. If you are in a rural area and can coordinate meeting the driver at the nearest hub for drop off and/or pickup you can save money. If terminal storage is required at pickup or drop off, or if door to door shipping is needed, more time, distance and coordination and will be required, which increases the total cost.

If you need to ship a car down the road or coast to coast, contact a shipping expert at Ship Your Car Now. We can gather all of the pertinent information and give you a firm quote on getting your vehicle safely to its final destination.