How Gas Prices Affect Car Shipping Costs

Fuel prices have become somewhat volatile since the start of 2026 due to geopolitical tensions and crude oil tanker restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, and since fuel expenses account for a large percentage of the total price of the services we provide, it's only natural to ask that question.

An average cross-country car shipment may require a car hauler to travel 2,100 miles, depending on the destination, and an extra $1 cost to fuel may increase the overall expense of the trip by several hundred dollars. Since car haulers have a capacity of 8 to 9 cars at once, these extra costs will be distributed amongst several customers at once, so the price increase will not be felt that drastically; however, it may be a fact nonetheless.

As a result, if you are a customer who is planning to ship a car from one state to another, we recommend you do a price check at the moment, and see if the current market levels are not more suitable than the ones that may be coming in the future.

The short answer is “It’s highly possible”, and the long answer is that it’s a nuanced situation that requires a bit more to consider. With the start of the Iran War and the conflict affecting many Gulf nations, one of the chief concerns is the restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that sees one of the most intense oil tanker traffic in the world.

If active conflict or blockades restrict this key point in the Middle East, the global supply of crude oil can be severely restricted, which will inevitably also affect the price of fuel. Even if there was no conflict, the markets have seen how even speculation or small disruptions can lead to market speculation with prices, which affects the cost of fuel, and more specifically, diesel.

If the conflict continues or escalates, several possible economic effects may follow:

• Higher global crude oil prices;
• Increase diesel and gasoline prices;
• Rising freight and transportation fees;
• Higher consumer prices across several industries.

Since auto transport heavily relies on the end fuel prices, it will also be directly affected by an increase or decrease in fuel costs. The length of the conflict will determine how heavily the industry is affected, meaning that if the conflict is resolved quickly, fuel prices may normalize quickly, and things may go back to normal, at least in terms of auto transport prices in the U.S.
 

There are a lot of hidden costs of car hauling that inevitably affect the cost of the service. These costs include the cost of labor, the cost of the insurance coverage each carrier is obligated to have as per DOT regulations, and the fuel or ferries.

All of these costs are covered by the end price that the customer sees on their statement, and one of the expenses that is most likely to increase this summer is the cost of fuel. 

Higher operation costs for car carriers and hauling businesses, of course, mean higher prices, as we’ve discussed multiple times in different sections of this article. Whether that would actually happen is not yet clear, as the sharp rise of fuel prices since the start of March has been more closely related to the overall speculation of global prices, rather than an actual disruption of fuel production.

If the conflict with Iran continues, chances are there will be an actual, substantial increase in the cost of diesel and, therefore, the operational cost for car carrier services.