Car Shipping from Michigan to Ohio: Updated Auto Transport Costs 2025

Labor shortages: it’s been common knowledge for quite a few years that the commercial transport industry is often short-staffed when it comes to qualified drivers. At SGT Auto Transport, we’re pretty particular about the drivers we’ll engage and do business with. They’re handpicked not only for their experience and professionalism, but they have to meet our standards for licensing, DOT permits, certifications, vehicle safety and insurance. That means we offer premium pay for some of the best drivers around, and that pay does affect shipping rates. 

Regulatory standards: the commercial transport industry has to stay in compliance with all kinds of regulations: vehicle standards, driver safety, vehicle safety, emissions and many other moving parts. In addition to federal regulations, these standards change from state to state (and sometimes year to year), influencing market rates for shipping.

Inflation: it’s no secret to anyone that inflation has been a persistent issue around the world, especially after the Covid disruptions of the early 20s. If things like tires, commercial truck parts and maintenance costs are all trending upward, those costs have to be reckoned with. 

Calendar period: one thing that faces all auto transport companies in Michigan is the fact that the business is cyclical. We regularly see a surge in the number of people who need auto transport services around the holidays, back-to-school time and fall and spring (when “snowbirds” need their cars delivered). That means drivers are at a premium, and a supply/demand curve always will mean higher rates. 

Fuel prices: of all the variables that can affect shipping rates, this is maybe the most obvious one. We’re all at the mercy of oil prices and prices at the pump, and those extra costs have to be recouped somehow. 

Supply chain issues: ever since the Covid lockdown (and more recently, an uncertain global trade environment), various industries still continue to experience supply chain bottlenecks. That means that things like motor oil, truck parts, tires or other types of hardware that are critical to operations can get jammed up and in short supply. 

Vehicle year/make/model: the size and curb weight of your vehicle are a big factor in shipping costs as well. The dimensions and weight of a 5500 pound Chevy Tahoe are going to make it more expensive to transport than a vintage Alfa Romeo Spider that weighs scarcely over a ton. 

Routing: the Interstate system is very efficiently laid out to connect cities and adjoining towns, but for remote areas or rural areas that are far from the main highways, your transport driver would have to put in a lot of extra miles, which can run up shipping costs. 

Cost/mile: all these bullet points can be boiled down into cost per mile, as they all play a part in that calculation. As a Michigan car shipping company, we regularly transport vehicles cross-country, and the good news is that for very long distances of several hundred miles, cost/mile starts to come down, making it a solid value. 

Let’s get a little more specific and say we’re shipping a car from Cleveland to Detroit.

That’s a distance of just under 200 miles, and our company policy is that a 200 mile shipment can be done in a single day

At the other extreme, a shipment of 2000 miles can take up to 8 or 9 days to complete, so if you were shipping a vehicle from southern Ohio to Mackinac Island in far-north Michigan (400 miles or so), you could roughly figure on 2 to 3 days turnaround.

These are just estimates, though, and it’s important to keep in mind that things like weather, construction, road conditions, detours and heavy traffic can disrupt even the best-planned delivery schedule.

The one thing you can always count on, though, is that SGT’s drivers and dispatch all know the highway system very well; your car will always be transported on a route that’s the most direct and efficient, and if there’s any delay, you’ll be notified ASAP and informed of the new ETA for the transport driver. 

Get the quote for what you need and book your auto shipping job online. 

On your designated day and time, the driver will show up curbside to load your vehicle and get it on its way.

At the designated day and time, the driver will arrive at your destination and you can receive the vehicle. 

Trustworthiness and dependability

Transparency in pricing, with no surprise fees and no hidden charges

Responsive customer support available 24/7/365

Large network of handpicked transport drivers 

Verified Carrier Insurance for your peace of mind, rolled into the total for every quote

Please remove any external accessories like light bars, bike racks, rooftop cargo carriers, antennas

Please remove any toll transponders or tags, and disable any alarms 

Please be sure all four tires are fully inflated, your car’s battery is charged up, and your headlights and taillights work 

Don’t forget the driver will need a copy of your car’s ignition key 

It’s industry practice to ship vehicles with a quarter tank of fuel or less. Fuel weighs about 6 lb per gallon, and less fuel means less curb weight and lower shipping costs. 

Please inspect your car for any motor oil, coolant, transmission, brake or power steering fluid leaks.