How Much is Car Shipping From One State to Another?

“How much to have a car shipped to another state?” is a question we’re regularly asked. To save you some time we thought we’d take the time to answer this question for you in advance.

Whether you’re moving to another city or across the country, long distance moves take a significant amount of planning. One of the more daunting aspects of the moving process is getting your car to your new home. 

Shipping your vehicle is most certainly going to save you time, be very convenient, and protect it. However, the cost is something you might worry about, mistakenly thinking it’s going to be far too expensive. Knowing how much to get a car shipped to another state means you’ll be able to consider the cost in your moving expenses.  

Cost to transport a car to another state

How much you have to pay for car relocation services depends on many things. There’s no one size fits all because there are many variables. We can, however, give you some guidance, explain what factors affect the cost of shipping a car to another state and help you save some money. Let’s start by giving you a rough idea of how much it might cost on an average price per mile basis. 

These average prices per mile reflect market conditions as of April 2022. These rates are subject to change due to seasonal fluctuations, cost of gas, pick-up and delivery locations, etc. 

If you want to know the exact cost, get an instant quote for shipping your car to another state!

What factors affect the cost of shipping a car to another state?

The numbers in the table above are merely estimates - not exact figures. Every auto transport service is different as are customers' needs. While it’s possible to roughly estimate the cost of shipping a car to another state, there’s no way to give you an exact price without knowing the exact details. 

The cost of car shipping to another state typically depends on the following seven factors:  

The time of year

Just like moving company prices change depending on the time of year, you can expect more for auto transport when demand is high. The times of the year when prices are higher tend to be during the spring and summer months. For example, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can expect prices to be higher.

You should also keep in mind that location is also important. For example, if you want to move your car from Massachusetts to Florida during the winter when all the snowbirds move south, expect the cost to transport a car to be higher. 

The weight and size of your car

Companies that transport cars are limited to the number of vehicles they can transport. The trailers they use can only hold so many vehicles and so much weight. If your car is a large SUV, for example, it will cost more to move it to another state than moving a standard sedan. 

The distance traveled

This factor is not going to come as any surprise. The further the distance you need to move your car, the higher the price of the car shipping service. Costs such as fuel charges, tolls, and labor costs quickly add up when you're travelling thousands rather than a few hundred miles. If you only need to move your car a shorter distance, the cost is going to be less.

The type of auto transport method

When you move your car with an auto transport company there are two methods you can choose. Do you want to move your car with an open carrier or an enclosed carrier? The type of car shipping service you choose has a massive effect on how much to ship a car to another state. Open car shipping tends to be less expensive, while enclosed car shipping is typically more pricey. But that’s not the only difference. 

Open vs. enclosed car shipping

Open car shipping is exactly what it sounds like. You’ve probably seen these carriers while driving on the highway as they are the most common way to ship a car. Each open trailer is able to hold around 9-10 cars on two different levels. The trailer is open to the elements but that doesn’t mean it’s insecure or not safe. 

Open car shipping carriers are more common, easy to find and readily available. They are a much more affordable option for anyone who wants to move a standard car to another state. It’s worth bearing in mind that because the carrier is transporting multiple cars, they’ll have to make multiple stops to drop every car off with its owner. You might have to wait a little longer for your car to be delivered. 

Enclosed car shipping is a service that is designed for owners of very expensive, classic, antique, or custom cars. The enclosed trailer completely protects and shields your car from the elements.

Enclosed car shipping is also a good option if you want to ship your car during harsh weather conditions. Enclosed car shipping services come with a high price tag and are between 30% and 40% more expensive than open car shipping. 

Carriers offering enclosed car shipping generally only carry four to five cars at a time (sometimes less), which means you’ll receive your car much quicker.  

Other types of auto transport services

There are other types of auto transport services you can choose such as guaranteed pick-up and express auto transport. Both these services will get your car delivered in double quick time, but you’ll have to pay extra for the privilege. 

The type of car you’re moving

Your vehicle's make and model will affect the price of a car shipping service, especially if you’re moving a classic or luxury car. High end cars need special attention and services, which increases the cost of transport.

Condition of vehicle

If your car doesn’t run, there will be additional costs because the carrier will need specialized equipment to load and unload your car. 

Try to ensure your vehicle is running when booking your auto transport service. If it’s not running, make sure you inform the carrier, so there are no delays at pick-up. 

Added insurance

Professional auto transport companies like SGT Auto Transport have to carry cargo insurance. This means your vehicle is covered for damages. However, you might still want to purchase a separate policy just to make sure your car is covered as much as possible. 

How to ensure you get the best deal from an auto transport company

If you want to keep the cost of shipping a car to another state as low as possible, there are some things you can do to help.

Book in advance

Try to book your auto transport service at least a couple of weeks in advance. The earlier you’re able to make the arrangements, the more time you give the auto transport provider to find you the best deal.

Choose open car shipping

As we’ve already explained, open car shipping is much cheaper than enclosed auto transport. That being said, there are times when enclosed car shipping would be the recommended option. For example, if you’re the proud owner of a vintage, custom, classic, antique, or luxury car and need the added protection of enclosed shipping. 

Ask about discounts

Auto transport companies often offer discounts on their services. For example, students, snowbirds, veterans, and first responders are often eligible for a discount so make sure you ask if one of these applies to you. 

Be flexible

You could save money by being flexible with your shipping dates. There will be fewer providers to choose from if you're strict with your pick-up and drop-off dates which means you could end up paying more. 

Pick the right time of the year

There are a few peak car shipping times so if you want to save money, try to avoid them. Shipping your car in January and during the summer months tends to be more expensive. Winter months tend to be slower which often leads to lower rates. However, winter and fall are also snowbird seasons. There is a significant increase in auto transport traffic during these times and often means a spike in car shipping costs. 

Things to remember when getting your vehicle shipping quote online

Getting a quote for car shipping is not a complex process. However, there are a few things you should always be aware of.

• Check for all-inclusive prices: The cost of car shipping varies from company to company so you have to be careful when comparing quotes. Check whether the price is all inclusive because you don’t want to be caught out by extra charges. Always read the small print of the offer because not all carriers include all costs. Ask whether there are any additional fees or charges you’ll have to pay later. 
• Is full insurance included? Standard motor insurance policies don’t generally cover your car while its being transported across country. Therefore it’s essential that you ask the shipping company about its insurance coverage and make sure it's adequate for the value of your car. 
• What are the payment options? There are generally two payment options: Regular price and discounted cash price. The regular price is paid in full once your vehicle is scheduled for pick-up. With a discounted cash price, a small partial payment is taken once your vehicle is scheduled for pick up. The outstanding balance has to be paid when you take delivery of your car. 
• Are upfront payments required? Some auto transport companies take no upfront payments until they confirm your booking. Others may require a deposit in order to secure the quoted price. Here at SGT Auto Transport, we have $0 upfront payment at the time of booking. 
• How long is a quote valid? This is something else that tends to vary between transport providers. As far as a quote from SGT Auto Transport goes, it’s valid for seven days. If you can’t confirm your booking within that time, there’s no need to input your details again because we have them on file. Just get back in touch and we’ll recalculate the cost of shipping your car to another state.  

If you’re moving soon, now is the best time to sort out your auto transport arrangements.

Get an instant quote for shipping your car to another state!

Those of you who prefer to speak with a representative simply call (864) 546-5038 or use our Live Chat option.

If you like the price you’re given, click to make your booking or confirm the details with the SGT Auto Transport representative.