Car shipping quotes run from $450 for a short move to $2,050 coast to coast on an open carrier across finalized shipments from the past 6 months. Enclosed transport adds 21.3% to 38.9%, depending on distance. Every quote is free, holds for 7 calendar days, requires no deposit, and covers your vehicle through verified carrier cargo insurance of $100,000 to $150,000 on open transport and $250,000 to $3,000,000 on enclosed.
What's Actually Inside Your Car Shipping Quote
Quotes include the full cost of the shipment, the carrier's cargo insurance up to its stated limits, order tracking, and door-to-door transportation as a built-in service. We take no deposit until a carrier is assigned.
The carrier is an independent trucking company. SGT Auto Transport is a licensed broker and does not own trucks. We hold FMCSA broker authority, verify carriers, and match your vehicle to a truck already running your route. The driver who collects your car works for a separate company with its own operating authority and its own cargo insurance.
Your shipment request goes to a load board. When you book, your shipment is posted with the route, dates, vehicle details, and rate offered to the carrier. Drivers watch these boards continuously and accept the loads that fit their route at a rate that works for them. That is why an affordable quote can be real: a driver already heading your way may accept a lower rate to fill an empty spot.
This is also the reason the same car can get two different quotes - two companies quoting the same route are making different guesses about what a driver will accept next Tuesday. A high quote may simply carry a larger broker fee.
What we do about it. We quote the carrier the current market rate plus our broker fee, and we collect nothing until a specific, named, verified carrier has accepted your vehicle at that rate. The word to listen for is "assigned." A booking means your request exists in a system. An assignment means a truck has your car.
How Much Does Car Shipping Cost?
Most car shipping quotes fall between $450 and $2,050 on an open carrier, depending on distance. Enclosed transport adds 21.3% to 38.9%, depending on distance.
That range is wide because distance does most of the work. A 400-mile move and a coast-to-coast move are different products with different economics behind them. The tables below break the price down by distance, transport type, vehicle, and route, and every figure comes from SGT's own bookings.
How We Calculate These Prices
Every distance, vehicle, and route price on this page comes from SGT's own bookings rather than from industry estimates or competitor pricing.
Each range covers the 5th to 95th percentile of SGT's finalized bookings from the past 6 months for operational vehicles of all body types on an open carrier, door-to-door. The distance, vehicle, and route tables each come from SGT's bookings for that category, so a single route can sit above or below its distance band.
In March 2026, we rebuilt the pricing model to account for seasonal demand and lane-level carrier supply.
Open Transport Rates by Distance
Open transport runs from $450 on the shortest moves to $2,000 coast to coast. It carries roughly 90% of the vehicles moved in the United States, including nearly all dealer and manufacturer inventory, and it is the baseline for every other figure on this page.
| DISTANCE | OPEN CARRIER | PER MILE |
|---|---|---|
*Per-mile figures use each band's midpoint: 300, 750, 1,250, 1,750, 2,250, 2,750 and 3,200 miles.
Two things are worth reading from that table. The per-mile rate falls steeply as the journey lengthens, because the fixed work at each end - the detour off the interstate, the collection, the inspection, the delivery - costs the carrier the same whether your vehicle travels 300 miles or 3,000. On moves under 500 miles, prices across the industry vary most, so compare short-haul quotes carefully.
Enclosed Transport Rates by Distance
Enclosed transport costs 21.3% to 38.9% more than open, and the premium generally rises with distance.
| DISTANCE | OPEN CARRIER | ENCLOSED PREMIUM |
|---|---|---|
| 100 - 499 mi | $450 - $800 | +21.3% |
| 500 - 999 mi | $725 - $1,150 | +28.0% |
| 1,000 - 1,499 mi | $900 - $1,425 | +34.1% |
| 1,500 - 1,999 mi | $1,075 - $1,625 | +38.9% |
| 2,000 - 2,499 mi | $1,225 - $1,775 | +37.3% |
| 2,500 - 2,999 mi | $1,325 - $1,900 | +37.3% |
| 3,000+ mi | $1,475 - $2,000 | +37.3% |
Longer trips spread the fixed costs of an enclosed trailer over more miles.
What the premium buys: one to six vehicles per trailer rather than seven to ten, soft nylon wheel straps rather than chains, hydraulic lift gates for low-clearance cars, and cargo coverage of $250,000 to $3,000,000 against $100,000 to $150,000 on open transport.
Cost by Vehicle Type
Vehicle type changes the price because of curb weight and dimensions. Carriers sell deck space and need to fit as many vehicles per trailer as possible; the larger the vehicle, the more it will cost to ship because it takes up more space.
| VEHICLE TYPE | PRICE RANGE |
|---|---|
| SUV Midsize | $800 - $1,675 |
| Sedan Compact | $750 - $1,575 |
| SUV Compact | $800 - $1,700 |
| Sedan Midsize | $725 - $1,575 |
| SUV Full-size | $775 - $1,750 |
| Coupรฉ | $675 - $1,550 |
| Pickup Crew Cab | $900 - $2,200 |
| Hatchback | $725 - $1,600 |
| Sedan Full-size | $675 - $1,575 |
| Pickup Small | $800 - $2,000 |
| Convertible | $650 - $1,550 |
| Pickup Extended Cab | $825 - $2,025 |
| Station Wagon | $775 - $1,675 |
| Minivan | $825 - $2,000 |
| Cargo Van Large | $725 - $2,175 |
| Passenger Van (8-12 People) | $725 - $2,100 |
| Micro-Car | $625 - $1,575 |
| Supercar | $550 - $1,525 |
| Passenger Van (Over 12 People) | $875 - $2,500 |
| Cargo Van Small | $700 - $2,000 |
| Pickup Dually | $600 - $1,900 |
"Vehicle prices are based on all body types, operational vehicles on an open trailer. Prices you encounter may be different as markets adjust over the season."
Cost on 30 Popular Routes
Route prices differ because demand along the route varies. Popular routes have more demand and attract carriers looking to optimize loads at both ends.
| ROUTE | DISTANCE | OPEN | TRANSIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| California to Texas | 1,530 mi | $1,050 - $1,575 | 3-4 days |
| Texas to California | 1,550 mi | $800 - $1,350 | 3-4 days |
| Florida to New York | 1,260 mi | $875 - $1,700 | 2-3 days |
| New York to Florida | 1,250 mi | $800 - $1,500 | 2-3 days |
| California to Washington | 1,140 mi | $925 - $1,425 | 2-3 days |
| Washington to California | 1,130 mi | $725 - $1,225 | 2-3 days |
| California to Georgia | 2,210 mi | $1,225 - $1,800 | 4-5 days |
| Georgia to California | 2,220 mi | $1,100 - $1,675 | 4-5 days |
| New York to Texas | 1,670 mi | $1,100 - $1,700 | 3-4 days |
| Texas to New York | 1,660 mi | $1,000 - $1,700 | 3-4 days |
| Michigan to California | 2,300 mi | $1,150 - $1,625 | 4-5 days |
| California to Michigan | 2,310 mi | $1,300 - $1,825 | 4-5 days |
| North Carolina to California | 2,600 mi | $1,225 - $1,875 | 5-7 days |
| California to North Carolina | 2,550 mi | $1,350 - $2,000 | 5-7 days |
| Florida to Texas | 1,190 mi | $850 - $1,400 | 2-3 days |
| Texas to Florida | 1,150 mi | $700 - $1,100 | 2-3 days |
| Florida to Ohio | 1,080 mi | $825 - $1,425 | 2-3 days |
| Ohio to Florida | 1,070 mi | $825 - $1,275 | 2-3 days |
| Maryland to Texas | 1,450 mi | $950 - $1,400 | 2-3 days |
| Texas to Maryland | 1,450 mi | $875 - $1,400 | 2-3 days |
| Washington to Florida | 3,100 mi | $1,375 - $2,050 | 7-10 days |
| Florida to Washington | 3,110 mi | $1,400 - $2,050 | 7-10 days |
| California to Virginia | 2,690 mi | $1,375 - $2,050 | 5-7 days |
| Virginia to California | 2,680 mi | $1,175 - $1,725 | 5-7 days |
| Illinois to Florida | 1,270 mi | $750 - $1,200 | 2-3 days |
| Florida to Illinois | 1,290 mi | $875 - $1,500 | 2-3 days |
| Oregon to Texas | 2,060 mi | $1,250 - $1,825 | 4-5 days |
| Texas to Oregon | 2,080 mi | $1,200 - $1,775 | 4-5 days |
| California to Massachusetts | 3,020 mi | $1,475 - $2,025 | 7-10 days |
| Massachusetts to California | 3,010 mi | $1,375 - $1,850 | 7-10 days |
โPrices are what customers paid in the past 6 months. Prices are based on operational vehicles on an open trailer.โ
A route into a busy metropolitan corridor prices at the lower end of its band because the driver has freight waiting for the return leg. A route ending somewhere with little outbound volume carries the cost of the empty miles back to the next load.
EV Car Shipping Costs
Electric vehicles ship on the same trailers as everything else, at +$100-$250 over the same body style in gasoline form. The premium is due to the extra weight, not the supposed risk.
- Battery weight. The pack adds 800 to 1,000 pounds, and carriers are limited by weight as much as deck space, so a trailer loaded with EVs carries fewer cars.
- Charge level. We ask for 30% to 50% on arrival, enough to drive on and off the trailer. There is no charging in transit, and a flat battery needs extra equipment to unload.
What Moves Your Price
Eight things move a car shipping quote: distance, vehicle size, transport type, running condition, route access, route demand, season, and fuel. Each is explained below, followed by pickup flexibility, which also moves the price.
8-Factor Quantified Table
Distance. The largest single factor. The per-mile rate falls as the journey lengthens, from $1.50 to $2.67 a mile on a short move to $0.46 to $0.62 coast to coast.
Vehicle size and weight. A midsize SUV costs $75 to $100 more than a midsize sedan, and a crew cab pickup $175 to $625 more, as set out above
Open or enclosed. 21.3% to 38.9%, depending on distance.
Running condition. A vehicle that does not start needs winch loading and a carrier equipped for it: +15% premium
Route access. Busy interstate corridors have more carriers competing, which keeps prices lower. A pickup or delivery 60 miles from the nearest interstate has far fewer trucks passing.
Route demand. Prices rise or fall depending on how easily a carrier finds a return load out of your destination.
Time of year. Demand peaks in summer and around the snowbird migrations, and eases in February.
Fuel. Diesel is a carrier's highest variable cost and moves quotes across the whole market within weeks.
Pickup Flexibility
A wide pickup window lets us match your vehicle to a truck already running your route. A narrow one means paying a driver to change plans. Most customers book the standard 1-3 business day window, which every price on this page is based on. If your date is genuinely immovable - a lease ending, a closing, a flight - Guaranteed Pickup buys a committed 24-hour collection window for an added fee.
How to Compare Car Shipping Quotes
Compare quotes on four things beyond price: whether the number is binding, how long it holds, whether a deposit is required, and what the cargo insurance limit and deductible are. Price alone tells you very little.
Ten questions to ask before you accept any car shipping quote
- Is this a quote or an estimate? An estimate can change. Ask which you have in writing.
- How long does it hold, and is there a cap on what the guarantee covers?
- Is a deposit required, and when is it taken - at booking or at carrier assignment?
- Am I speaking to a broker or a carrier? Both are legitimate.
- What is the cargo insurance limit in dollars, and what is the deductible?
- Who pays the deductible if there is a claim?
- Is door-to-door included, or will I pay extra for pickup and delivery at my address?
- Is the pickup date guaranteed or a window? How wide is the window?
- What happens if no carrier accepts the load at this price?
- Can you give me the assigned carrier's name, MC number, and insurance certificate before pickup?
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you fill in a form and receive eight calls within an hour, you filled in a lead-generation form, not a quote form. Your details were sold to multiple brokers. A real quote comes from one company that can answer all ten questions above.
What Can Go Wrong Between Quote and Pickup
The three most common problems are a quote priced too low to attract a carrier, a pickup window that slips, and damage found at delivery after the paperwork is signed.
The lowball quote. Compare any quote against the published ranges. Keep an eye out for a quote dramatically below other companies.
Carrier no-show or a slipping pickup window. Carriers are independent operators dealing with weather, breakdowns, and hours-of-service limits, and occasionally a truck cannot make a collection.
Damage, claims, and the deductible. Damage can occur, but it's rare, and it's usually small cosmetic rock chips from the road - most frequently occurring on vehicles on the lower deck of an open trailer.
Not covered: personal items, pre-existing damage recorded at pickup, mechanical failures unrelated to transport, and undeclared aftermarket parts.
Payment traps. A large deposit taken before any carrier is assigned, followed by silence. Confirm in writing what is due, when, and in what form at each stage.
Who We Ship For
Most of our bookings fall into five groups: snowbirds moving seasonally, military families on PCS orders, students, online car buyers, and dealers moving inventory. Each has different timing pressures.
Southbound to Florida, Arizona, and Texas from September to December; northbound from March to May. These are the most predictable lanes in the industry and the most price-sensitive to timing. Book the southbound leg before late October and the northbound leg before March to avoid the busiest weeks. Many customers book both legs at once.
Orders arrive with fixed report dates and a May-to-August concentration that collides with peak civilian moving season. Bring us the orders as soon as you have them; a three-week lead time on a PCS move is worth more than any discount. We can work to a report date rather than a preferred date, and we ship to and from installations.
August is the single busiest month on college lanes, and prices reflect it. Shipping a car to campus saves a long drive and the wear on the car.
Buying from a dealer or auction in another state is now routine, and the transport is the part people forget to price. We collect from dealers, private sellers, and auction lots. For auction collections, we need the lot number and gate pass, and the vehicle's running condition confirmed by the seller rather than assumed.
Multi-car shipments price better per unit than the same vehicles booked separately, because you are filling more of a single trailer. Tell us the full set at quote stage rather than booking one at a time.
How to Prepare Your Car: 5-Step Checklist
Wash it, photograph everything, empty it down to a quarter tank, remove exterior accessories, and be present at pickup with one key and your documents.
Wash it and photograph everything.
ยผ of fuel in the tank.
Remove exterior accessories.
Personal items.
Check that it will load.
License plates.
Be there with one key.
Why Choose SGT Auto Transport
You pay nothing until a verified carrier is assigned - no deposit, no card required to quote. Your price holds for 7 calendar days, and we match any legitimate comparable quote.
No Deposit Required. Nothing is collected at booking. Payment is required only when a specific, named, verified carrier has accepted your vehicle at the quoted rate. This is a stronger commitment than a price lock, because it removes any incentive to quote a number no carrier will accept: if we cannot assign one at our price, you have paid nothing.
Price Match Guarantee. Find a legitimate comparable quote for the same service at a lower price, and we will match it.
A quote that holds for 7 calendar days. We hold it for 7 days because carrier rates move week to week, and a short hold is one we can honor.
Stated insurance limits. Every carrier's operating authority and cargo insurance are verified before assignment, at $100,000 to $150,000 on open transport and $250,000 to $3,000,000 on enclosed. Certificates available on request.
Payment your way. Credit and debit card, Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, cash, or cashier's check on delivery. The discounted option takes a partial payment at carrier assignment, with the balance to the driver on delivery, which saves up to $100.
Licensed and verifiable. MC 873392 and USDOT 2521690, linked to our FMCSA SAFER record.
Scale and speed. A network of 26,000+ vetted carriers, 128,940+ customers shipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do car shipping quotes vary so much between companies?
Quotes vary because each company guesses differently at what a carrier will accept, and broker fees differ. SGT matches any legitimate lower quote for the same service. Prices can also differ based on the time of the quote and the demand during that period, as well as many other factors, like the brokerโs cut, possible insurance surcharges, etc.
How long is a car shipping quote valid?
For SGT Auto Transport, your car shipping quote will be valid for 7 days after you receive it. This is to keep the price range as close to the actual market conditions as possible and to set realistic expectations.
Is a car shipping quote binding, or can the price change?
The price can change if you choose different services or there is a market shift and the demand either drops or rises. Your SGT Auto Transport quote will be valid for 7 days, after which it expires. You can get another quote closer to your shipping date.
Do I have to pay a deposit to get a quote?
No, SGT Auto Transport does not require, ask for, or expect a deposit to quote you a price. Payment is required only after a carrier is assigned and has confirmed your pickup date. You can either choose to pay the full amount after carrier confirmation, or go for the discounted method - first half of the payment by card, and the second half by cash or cashierโs check upon delivery.
Am I quoting with a broker or a carrier?
SGT Auto Transport is a licensed broker, so your price combines the carrier's rate and our fee. We quote the carrier rate we expect to pay, plus our brokerage fee, which can range based on the vehicle and the distance.
What insurance is included, what's the deductible, and how do I file a claim?
Cargo insurance covers $100,000 to $150,000 on open trailers and $250,000 to $3,000,000 on enclosed, plus $1,000,000 in liability. The carrier pays its own $1,000 to $5,000 deductible, so you pay nothing. Note any damage on the Bill of Lading at delivery, photograph it, and report it to the carrier's insurer within 24 to 48 hours.
Can I ship personal items in the car, and how much weight is allowed?
Yes, up to 100 lbs in one box or suitcase, in the trunk or on the back seat below the window line. Front seats must stay empty. Cargo insurance does not cover personal items, so leave valuables out.
Do I need license plates on the car to ship it?
No. The car does not need license plates while it travels on the trailer. Keep the registration and proof of insurance in the vehicle, as with any shipment.
What are the risks of car shipping?
The main risks are minor damage such as rock chips, rare accidents or weather events, delivery delays, and dealing with unlicensed carriers or brokers who trap customers into a bait-and-switch tactic or push for a deposit payment and then disappear.
Is my car insured while transporting it?
Yes. The carrier's cargo insurance covers your car from the moment it is loaded until it is unloaded, at the limits above. Damage during loading, transit, or unloading is claimable, so record the car's condition on the Bill of Lading at pickup.
What is the most cost-effective way to ship a car?
Open transport is the most affordable option. It runs $450 to $800 for 100 to 499 miles, $725 to $1,150 for 500 to 999 miles, $900 to $1,425 for 1,000 to 1,499 miles, and $1,475 to $2,000 beyond 3,000 miles. Enclosed adds 21.3% to 38.9%, depending on distance.
How is a car transport quote calculated?
A quote is calculated from the distance between your pickup and delivery addresses, your vehicleโs size and weight, its running condition, and whether you choose open or enclosed transport. Demand on your route also matters: busy seasonal corridors, such as southbound routes from September to December, price above the standard rate.
External Sources
- FMCSA. SAFER Company Snapshot, SGT Auto Transport (USDOT 2521690). https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=USDOT&query_string=2521690
- FMCSA. Licensing & Insurance (L&I) public search. https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/
- FMCSA. Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/summary-hours-service-regulations
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR 387.307, Property broker surety bond or trust fund. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-387/subpart-C/section-387.307
- Legal Information Institute. 49 U.S.C. 14706, Liability of carriers under receipts and bills of lading (Carmack Amendment). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14706
- Trustpilot. SGT Auto Transport reviews. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/sgtautotransport.com
