The cost to ship a car across the US is $1,000 to $1,800 for most routes, with the national average sitting around $1,150. A coast-to-coast move takes 7 to 10 days. Distance, vehicle size, and transport type all factor into the final number.
Shipping your car across the country involves more than a single price tag. This section covers accurate pricing, whether driving it yourself actually offers any savings, and how to reduce your cost without compromising on safety. Get your free proposal today and see exactly what your route should cost.
Key Takeaways
The cost to ship a car across the US typically runs $1,000 to $1,800, with the national average sitting around $1,150 and coast-to-coast transit taking 7 to 10 days.
Driving is rarely cheaper than shipping once fuel, hotels, meals, lost work days, and added mileage on the car are all counted, often totaling $1,000 more than a shipping quote.
Shipping a car to another state typically costs $600 to $1,400 depending on distance, and crossing a state line itself does not add cost since distance and route popularity are what actually drive the price.
A larger vehicle like an SUV or truck adds $100 to $400 over a standard sedan, and enclosed transport adds 30 to 50 percent over open transport on the same route.
Requesting quotes from two or three companies, confirming FMCSA licensing, and staying flexible on the pickup window can lower the price by 10 to 20 percent and help you spot a fair, accurate number.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car Across the Country?
The cost to ship a car across the country runs $1,000 to $1,800 on average, with shorter regional trips closer to $700 and true coast-to-coast routes reaching $1,450 or more. The exact number depends mainly on distance and vehicle size.
This range holds fairly steady across brokers, since the underlying cost drivers- fuel, driver time, and trailer space- are the same no matter who you book with.
A quick breakdown by distance:
Under 500 miles: roughly $550 to $900.
500 to 1,500 miles: roughly $900 to $1,400.
Over 1,500 miles (coast-to-coast): roughly $1,100 to $1,800.
How much it costs to ship a car across the US depends heavily on which of these bands your route falls into, plus whether you choose open or enclosed transport. Open trailers, which carry seven to ten vehicles at once, keep costs lower than enclosed trailers, which carry only one to six.
Is It Cheaper to Drive Than Ship?
Driving is rarely cheaper than shipping once every cost is counted, not just gas. Fuel alone can run $300 to $600 for a cross-country trip, but add hotels, meals, lost vacation days, and wear on the car, and the total often runs $1,000 more than a shipping quote.
A few costs drivers tend to forget:
Two to four nights of hotel stays for a coast-to-coast drive.
Meals for multiple days on the road, which add up faster than expected.
Extra mileage on the car itself, which can affect resale value later.
The cost to transport a car across the country also saves something driving cannot: your time. A shipped car arrives in 7 to 10 days without you needing to take time off work or put miles on a car you might be trying to sell later. That extra time is worth real money, even if it never shows up as a line item on a quote.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Another State?
Shipping a car to another state typically costs $600 to $1,400, depending on how far apart the two states are and which route the carrier travels. A short state-to-state move can run less than $700, while a longer one approaches cross-country pricing.
How much to ship a car across the country for a shorter, single-state hop is usually the cheapest tier available, since carriers cover these routes frequently and can fill trailers efficiently.
For a longer multi-state move, how much to ship a car across country pricing follows the same distance curve, just applied over more total miles.
Cost to ship a car cross-country between two distant states still follows the same distance-based logic as any other move, just applied to a shorter total mileage. The state lines themselves do not add cost. Distance and route popularity do, the same way they would for a move that never crosses a state line at all.
What Determines the Average Cost to Ship a Car?
The average cost to ship a car is set mainly by distance, vehicle size, and transport type, with season and route popularity adding smaller adjustments on top. These same factors apply whether you are moving a sedan or a full-size truck.
A quick summary of what shifts the number:
Distance sets the baseline, with per-mile rates dropping as total mileage grows.
A larger vehicle, like an SUV or truck, adds $100 to $400 over a standard sedan.
Enclosed transport adds 30 to 50 percent over open transport for the same route.
Ship car across country cost estimates should always account for all three of these together, not just distance alone, since two routes of equal length can price very differently based on vehicle size and season.
Cost to transport car across country figures also shift with how far ahead you book. A rushed booking inside a week of pickup often costs more than one made two to three weeks out.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Motorcycle?
Shipping a motorcycle typically costs $300 to $1,000, depending on distance and whether it travels in a crate, on an open trailer, or alongside a car shipment. Motorcycles cost less than cars since they take up far less trailer space.
This lower cost reflects how efficiently a motorcycle fits into a load. A carrier can often add one to a trailer already carrying cars, filling otherwise unused space rather than dedicating a full slot to it.
Cost to ship motorcycle across country moves generally run on the lower end of that range for shorter trips and climb toward $1,000 for a true coast-to-coast move. Crated shipping, which offers the most protection, typically costs more than open-trailer transport.
Cost to ship motorcycle pricing follows the same basic logic as car shipping: distance is the biggest factor, and booking ahead usually beats a last-minute request.
How Do You Get an Accurate Quote for Your Route?
Get an accurate quote by providing your exact pickup and delivery ZIP codes, vehicle details, and preferred timeline, then comparing that number against at least one other provider. A rushed, vague quote request usually produces a rough estimate, not a real price.
Before booking, verify the company through the FMCSA's public database, which confirms active operating authority and required insurance. A legitimate company will have both in place and will not hesitate to share its USDOT number.
A few habits that help you get a fair number:
Request quotes from two or three companies using the same exact details.
Ask directly whether the quote includes insurance or if it is a separate add-on.
Stay flexible on your pickup window, since flexibility alone can lower the price by 10 to 20 percent.
Taking these few steps before booking is a small time investment that consistently pays off in a more accurate, more trustworthy quote.
What People Also Ask About Shipping a Car Across the U.S.
Shipping a car across state lines brings up a consistent set of questions. Here are direct answers to the ones we hear most.
How much does it cost to ship a car across state lines?
Typically $600 to $1,400, depending on how far apart the states are. A short hop between neighboring states costs less than a long cross-country move.
How long does it take to ship a car across the country?
Most coast-to-coast shipments take 7 to 10 business days from pickup to delivery. Shorter routes usually take less time.
Does the type of vehicle change the price?
Yes. Larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks typically add $100 to $400 over a standard sedan on the same route, since they take up more trailer space.
Is enclosed transport worth the extra cost?
It depends on the vehicle. Enclosed transport costs 30 to 50 percent more but is worth it for classic, luxury, or high-value cars that need extra protection.
Can I ship personal items inside the car?
Most carriers allow a small amount of weight, often up to 100 pounds, packed in the trunk. Always confirm this limit with your specific carrier before packing.
Compare the Real Numbers Before You Decide
How much to ship a car across the country really comes down to distance, vehicle size, and how far ahead you book, not guesswork. Once you know these numbers, comparing quotes becomes simple instead of overwhelming.
Most people overpay or feel confused about their quote for the same reason: they never had a clear baseline to compare it against. The ranges in this guide give you exactly that, section by section.
Shipping a car across the country with belongings inside, within the standard weight limit, adds no extra cost, which makes shipping an even easier choice compared to packing and driving yourself.
This guide to shipping your car across the country should give you a realistic baseline for any quote you receive. Costs to ship a car across the country that fall far outside these ranges, in either direction, are worth a second look before you commit. Get your free, price-locked quote today and see the real cost for your specific route.
