Shipping a car on an open carrier typically costs $1,195 to $1,975, with a median of $1,595. A short in-state haul runs about $600 to $900, depending on the state. Enclosed costs about 40% more for the same car. These figures come from the last 90 days of Allied quotes for open-carrier shipments.
- Route sets most of the price. In recent Allied quotes, California to Texas typically cost $1,595 and California to Florida $1,895.
- Enclosed transport typically costs about 40% more than open for the same car.
- A quote far below the rest is not a real quote. Ask what happens to the price after you book.
- With Allied, there is no deposit and nothing to pay until pickup.
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Here is what a picked-up open-carrier shipment typically cost, based on the last 90 days of Allied quotes. “Typical” is the median. The range is the middle half of quotes on that route.
| Route | Typical open-carrier price | Range |
|---|---|---|
| All routes combined | $1,595 | $1,195 to $1,975 |
| California to California | $786 | $695 to $795 |
| Texas to California | $1,295 | $1,195 to $1,695 |
| New York to Florida | $1,475 | $1,295 to $1,795 |
| California to Texas | $1,595 | $1,495 to $1,975 |
| New York to Texas | $1,695 | $1,595 to $1,820 |
| Florida to California | $1,795 | $1,695 to $1,895 |
| California to Florida | $1,895 | $1,795 to $1,995 |
| New York to California | $1,935 | $1,795 to $1,995 |
By vehicle, the typical open-carrier price was $1,495 for a car, $1,595 for an SUV and $1,695 for a truck. Hawaii runs higher: $2,995 typical, $2,295 to $3,690 for the middle half. Alaska is higher again at $4,275 typical. For ports and steps, see our Hawaii vehicle shipping page.
Your price will land somewhere in or near these ranges. Your exact number depends on your route, your vehicle and your pickup window.
How is the price of shipping a car built?
A carrier driver spends the same days and burns the same fuel from Location A to Location B no matter how many cars are on the truck. So the price comes down to how much of the truck your car takes up and how easy it is to fill the rest.
These are the pieces:
- Distance. Longer routes cost more in total. Fuel costs move the number up or down.
- Direction. Trucks fill more easily heading with the flow of national traffic. At times it is easier to move a car west to east than the other way. Going against the flow, space is tighter, and a space costs more.
- Size and weight. Bigger, heavier vehicles take more room. A truck typically costs more than a car on the same route.
- Open or enclosed. See below.
- Condition. A car that does not run needs a carrier with a winch. Tell your advisor up front so the quote is right.
- Pickup window. A flexible pickup window lets the driver fit in other pickups and drop-offs and stay inside federal hours-of-service limits. A tight window can cost more, because the driver may have to skip another pickup to meet it.
- Storage. If no one can receive the car at the destination, it may need to go into storage until the owner arrives, and storage costs extra. Tell us early if your plans are uncertain.
How much more does enclosed car shipping cost?
In recent Allied quotes, enclosed typically cost about 40% more than open for the same car, with a typical enclosed price of $1,995 and a middle half of $1,575 to $2,675.
Enclosed trailers hold fewer vehicles, use special equipment and there are fewer of them on the road. Open carriers are the most common choice. They work for any make and model unless the vehicle is heavily modified, and a typical open carrier hauls 7 to 10 vehicles across both levels. Enclosed protects a classic or high-value car from weather and road debris. See enclosed carrier auto transport.
Why is a quote far below the rest not a real quote?
Some companies quote low to win the booking. Then the price changes before pickup, sometimes before the driver is even assigned. Now you owe hundreds more than your other quotes said, or you start over with another company. If you cancel, some of them keep a deposit.
Online calculators have the same problem. A calculator gives a standard rate and knows nothing about your car, your route or your timing. If the rate is too low for a carrier to accept, nobody picks up the car.
The most reliable way to get a real price is to tell an advisor the full story: the vehicle, the route, the pickup window and whether the car runs. If you collect several quotes, treat the one far below the rest as a warning.
At Allied, the price moves only if the facts change: the car does not run, it carries more weight than described, you switch to enclosed, or you add insurance for an international move.
What does a real car shipment cost?
These are real Allied quotes that customers booked. Names are removed.
- Running truck, open carrier, Orange, CA to Dallas, TX: $1,695.
- Running car, open carrier, Sacramento, CA to Chula Vista, CA: $650.
- Running car, open carrier, Houston, TX to Santa Barbara, CA: $1,245.
- Running car, open carrier, Thousand Oaks, CA to Miami, FL: $1,795.
- Running car, open carrier, Jacksonville, FL to Palm Desert, CA: $1,795.
- Running SUV, open carrier, Nashville, TN to Honolulu, HI: $3,495.
- Running car, enclosed carrier, Round Rock, TX to Chino Hills, CA: $1,675.
- Running motorcycle, enclosed carrier, Charleston, SC to Marengo, IL: $1,790.
- Running truck, open carrier, Jupiter, FL to Granite City, IL: $3,275.
Two cars on the same route can still land apart. Size, timing and carrier space all move the number.
Who moves my car, and how are carriers vetted?
Allied is an FMCSA licensed broker and fully insured. We do not own the trucks. We assign the carrier from our network of vetted, licensed and insured carriers. Every shipment is approved and dispatched by the owner. Your advisor keeps you posted from quote to delivery.
When do I pay?
No deposit. No upfront fees. No payment until pickup.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?
In recent Allied quotes, a coast-to-coast open-carrier shipment typically cost $1,795 to $1,935. That covers Florida to California, California to Florida and New York to California. Enclosed typically costs about 40% more.
What is the average cost to ship a car?
The typical open-carrier price in the last 90 days of Allied quotes was $1,595, and the middle half of quotes ran from $1,195 to $1,975. Short in-state hauls cost far less, and Hawaii and Alaska cost more.
How do I get a car shipping estimate?
Give an advisor your pickup and drop-off locations, your vehicle, whether it runs and when you want it picked up. You get a quote built on your details, not a standard rate. Get a quote or call (800) 997-4181.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?
In recent Allied quotes, a car shipped to or from Hawaii on an open carrier typically cost $2,995, with a middle half of $2,295 to $3,690. See Hawaii vehicle shipping.
How much does it cost to ship a car to Canada?
It depends on your route and vehicle, so get a quote for your exact pickup and drop-off. We handle transport only. Border and import rules are yours to meet, so check them with the Canadian agencies first. See the cost of shipping a car from the USA to Canada.
How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle?
Most motorcycle quotes in the last 90 days were for enclosed transport, at a typical price of $1,295. A motorcycle quote still depends on your route and the bike, so ask for your exact number.
Does a car that does not run cost more?
It can. A car that will not start or drive needs a carrier with a winch, which limits the choice of carriers. Tell your advisor up front so the quote is right.
Call (800) 997-4181 or get a quote. No deposit. No upfront fees. No payment until pickup.
