What people paid to ship a car
Prices reported in published reviews on this site: 1,911 shipments from 2015 to 2022. These are past prices, not quotes, and today’s prices are generally higher; use them to judge whether a quote is in a reasonable range.
By carrier type
| Carrier | Reviews with a price | Average paid |
|---|---|---|
| Open | 1,809 | $926 |
| Enclosed | 100 | $1,285 |
| Driveway | 2 | $2,000 |
By route
Routes with at least 3 reported prices.
| Route | Prices | Average | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida → California | 66 | $1,145 | $600 | $2,900 |
| Florida → New York | 55 | $827 | $419 | $1,500 |
| New York → Florida | 44 | $752 | $390 | $1,290 |
| California → Florida | 39 | $1,084 | $625 | $1,850 |
| Texas → Florida | 22 | $782 | $425 | $3,600 |
| New Jersey → Florida | 21 | $820 | $440 | $2,400 |
| Florida → New Jersey | 21 | $752 | $400 | $1,230 |
| California → New York | 20 | $1,172 | $840 | $2,300 |
| Florida → Texas | 20 | $711 | $490 | $1,400 |
| Georgia → California | 19 | $964 | $320 | $1,390 |
| Georgia → Florida | 18 | $429 | $200 | $700 |
| Texas → California | 17 | $866 | $390 | $1,490 |
| Florida → Georgia | 17 | $445 | $290 | $900 |
| California → Texas | 17 | $735 | $575 | $1,250 |
| California → Georgia | 16 | $901 | $640 | $1,285 |
| Florida → Massachusetts | 15 | $681 | $400 | $1,300 |
| California → New Jersey | 15 | $1,291 | $850 | $3,000 |
| New York → California | 14 | $1,209 | $975 | $1,425 |
| Nevada → Florida | 14 | $852 | $750 | $1,150 |
| Florida → Washington | 14 | $1,519 | $990 | $3,025 |
| Massachusetts → Florida | 13 | $768 | $550 | $975 |
| California → Arizona | 13 | $1,248 | $300 | $10,000 |
| Pennsylvania → California | 12 | $1,310 | $1,000 | $1,700 |
| Illinois → California | 12 | $1,010 | $690 | $1,490 |
| Georgia → Texas | 11 | $663 | $490 | $992 |
| Maryland → California | 11 | $1,215 | $850 | $2,280 |
| Louisiana → Florida | 11 | $500 | $400 | $940 |
| Pennsylvania → Florida | 11 | $855 | $500 | $1,650 |
| California → Washington | 11 | $786 | $590 | $1,429 |
| California → Virginia | 11 | $1,116 | $850 | $1,790 |
| New Jersey → California | 11 | $1,327 | $850 | $2,450 |
| Connecticut → Florida | 10 | $853 | $534 | $1,890 |
| Florida → Illinois | 10 | $822 | $490 | $2,188 |
| California → Massachusetts | 9 | $1,032 | $650 | $1,290 |
| Washington → Florida | 9 | $1,362 | $110 | $2,490 |
| Colorado → Florida | 9 | $957 | $650 | $1,390 |
| Virginia → California | 9 | $1,148 | $900 | $1,395 |
| Illinois → Arizona | 9 | $867 | $800 | $900 |
| Arizona → Florida | 8 | $781 | $500 | $1,050 |
| California → Michigan | 8 | $970 | $890 | $1,090 |
How car shipping prices work
What sets the price
- Distance and route. Longer trips cost more in total but less per mile. Busy routes between big cities are cheaper than rural pickups, because carriers can fill their trucks more easily.
- Vehicle size and weight. Pickups, large SUVs and vans take more space and weight on the trailer than a sedan, so they cost more.
- Whether it runs. A vehicle that can’t drive onto the truck needs a winch or forklift and usually costs extra.
- Open or enclosed. Open carriers are the standard, cheapest option. Enclosed transport protects the vehicle from weather and road debris and typically costs 30 to 60 percent more.
- Season and timing. Summer, holidays and the “snowbird” months, when people move cars between the north and the Sun Belt, are busiest. Flexible pickup dates usually get a better price than a fixed date.
- Fuel prices. Diesel is a large part of a carrier’s cost, so prices rise and fall with it.
Getting a fair quote
- Get two or three quotes and compare them with the prices below for your route.
- Be careful with a quote far below the rest. A carrier still has to agree to haul your car at that price, and a low quote can mean a long wait for pickup or a higher price later.
- Ask what’s included: insurance, door-to-door pickup, any fuel surcharge, and whether the price is guaranteed or an estimate.
- Find out how much is due upfront and how the rest is paid. Many companies take a deposit at booking and the balance in cash or certified funds at delivery.
- Check the company’s reviews here and its registration with the FMCSA before you pay anything.