Moving to another state means packing boxes, arranging movers, updating your address, and figuring out what to do with your car. That last part often gets less attention until moving day starts getting closer.
Driving might seem like the obvious choice. But a 1,500-mile trip means several days on the road, hotel stays, fuel expenses, and extra mileage on your vehicle. Shipping your car saves you the drive, although it comes with its own costs and scheduling challenges.
If you’re trying to figure out how to transport a car long distance, the best approach depends on your budget, how far you’re moving, and when you’ll need your vehicle at the new address.
Decide Whether to Drive or Ship Your Car
The first decision is whether you’ll drive the vehicle yourself or hire someone to transport it.
Driving gives you control over your schedule. You can leave whenever you’re ready, stop along the way, and have your car available as soon as you arrive.
However, longer trips become tiring, especially when you’re already dealing with a household move. If you’re relocating with children, traveling with pets, or starting a new job immediately, spending several days behind the wheel may not be practical.
Professional car shipping offers an alternative. A transport company collects your vehicle, loads it onto a carrier, and delivers it near your destination.
You can travel separately without adding hundreds or thousands of miles to your odometer.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Factor | Driving Yourself | Shipping Your Car |
| Cost | Fuel, meals, hotels, tolls | Transportation charges |
| Travel time | Several days for longer routes | You travel separately |
| Vehicle mileage | Increases | Minimal additional mileage |
| Convenience | Requires your time and attention | Carrier handles transportation |
| Vehicle availability | Available upon arrival | Depends on delivery schedule |
If you’re deciding whether to drive or ship a car when moving, don’t compare transportation prices alone. Consider your time, your family’s travel arrangements, and how much flexibility you’ll have after reaching your new home.
Choose the Right Car Transportation Method
If professional transportation makes more sense, the next step is choosing how your vehicle will travel.
Most auto transport services use either open or enclosed carriers. Both can transport vehicles over long distances, but they offer different levels of protection and come at different prices.
Open vs. Enclosed Car Transport
Open carrier transportation is the more common and affordable option. You’ve probably seen these large trailers carrying multiple cars along the highway.
Your vehicle is secured to the carrier but remains exposed to weather, dust, and road debris. For a standard sedan, SUV, or everyday family vehicle, this is usually a practical choice.
Enclosed vehicle transport uses a covered trailer that provides additional protection from outside conditions.
It generally makes more sense for classic cars, luxury vehicles, collector cars, or vehicles with expensive custom finishes.
The price difference can be significant.
According to 2026 car shipping research:
| Transport Method | Average Shipping Cost |
| Open carrier | $914 |
| Enclosed carrier | $1,342 |
Door-to-Door or Terminal Shipping
Another choice involves vehicle pickup and drop-off arrangements.
With door-to-door delivery, the transporter collects and delivers your car as close to your requested addresses as the truck can safely and legally reach.
That doesn’t always mean directly outside your house. Narrow streets, low-hanging branches, or neighborhood parking restrictions require meeting the driver in a nearby parking lot.
Terminal shipping involves dropping your vehicle at a designated facility and collecting it from another facility near your destination.
Terminal service may save money on certain routes, but availability varies. Ask about storage charges and pickup deadlines before choosing it.
How Much Does It Cost to Transport a Car Long Distance?
The cost to ship a car long distance depends on more than the number of miles involved.
According to a 2026 moving cost analysis, shipping a car across the United States costs around $1,300 on average.
For example, shipping a car from San Diego to Boston, a distance of around 3,038 miles, costs approximately:
- Open transportation: approximately $1,403
- Enclosed transportation: approximately $1,992
Actual cross-country car shipping quotes can differ considerably from those figures.
Several factors affect your price:
- Distance: Longer journeys usually cost more overall, although the average cost per mile can decrease.
- Vehicle size: Larger SUVs and pickup trucks take up more carrier space.
- Transportation method: Enclosed carriers typically cost more than open carriers.
- Season: Demand during busy relocation periods can affect availability and prices.
- Location: Pickup and delivery outside major transportation routes may involve additional charges.
- Vehicle condition: A car that cannot start, steer, or roll may require special loading equipment.
Is Driving Really Cheaper?
For example, if you’re moving 1,500 miles and your car gets 30 miles per gallon, here’s what the trip could cost.
Using the national regular gasoline average of approximately $4.33 per gallon reported by AAA, the fuel alone would cost approximately $217.
Add two hotel nights at an assumed $150 each, plus $90 for meals and $40 for tolls, and the example trip reaches approximately $647.
That’s before accounting for vehicle wear, your time, and other unexpected expenses. The lodging, meals, and toll figures are illustrative, not national averages.
Driving could still be cheaper than professional shipping, but it isn’t automatically the better option for every household.
Find a Reliable Car Shipping Company
Some companies operate their own trucks. Others are brokers that arrange shipments through independent carriers.
Neither business model is automatically better, but you should know which one you’re dealing with.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires interstate auto transport brokers and carriers to register with the agency. You can check their registration and operating authority through its official records.
Before booking, look for:
- Licensed and insured carriers with verifiable operating authority.
- Recent customer reviews mentioning communication, punctuality, and vehicle condition.
- A written quote explaining what is included.
- Clear payment and cancellation terms.
- A realistic pickup and delivery window.
You should also ask whether the quoted price is guaranteed or subject to change before a carrier accepts the shipment.
Note: Be careful with quotes that seem unusually cheap. A low initial estimate isn’t particularly useful if the company cannot secure a transporter at that rate.
Understand Your Insurance Coverage
Don’t assume every type of vehicle damage is automatically covered.
Ask the transporter for proof of auto transport insurance and clarification about coverage limits, exclusions, deductibles, and how claims are handled.
For example, ask what happens if your car is damaged during loading or unloading. Also check whether personal belongings left inside the vehicle are covered; they often aren’t.
Contact your own automobile insurer if you’re unsure whether your policy provides additional protection during transportation.
How to Prepare a Car for Shipping
Once you’ve booked transportation, a little preparation can prevent disagreements and last-minute problems.
Start with the vehicle’s condition.
Wash the exterior so existing scratches and dents are easy to identify. Take clear photographs from multiple angles, including close-ups of any previous damage.
Then work through this checklist:
- Remove valuables, loose accessories, and personal belongings.
- Check the battery, tires, and fluid levels.
- Report mechanical problems or leaks to the transporter.
- Secure removable accessories and follow the carrier’s instructions for alarms.
- Confirm the required fuel level, often around one-quarter of a tank.
- Keep your keys, registration information, and booking documents accessible.
Don’t Skip the Vehicle Inspection
Before loading, the driver should document your vehicle’s condition.
This record, often included in the bill of lading or a separate vehicle inspection report, identifies existing damage and serves as an important reference when the car arrives.
Review it carefully before signing.
Keep copies of your photographs and shipping paperwork. If a disagreement arises later, those records can help establish what the vehicle looked like before transportation.
Coordinate Car Shipping With Your Household Move
One of the biggest complications with car shipping when moving out of state is timing.
Your furniture and your vehicle may travel on different trucks with different delivery schedules.
Imagine moving from Chicago to Phoenix. Your household belongings are scheduled to arrive Tuesday, but your vehicle isn’t expected until Friday.
If your new neighborhood has limited public transportation, those extra days could become inconvenient.
That’s why it is important to plan both shipments together, even if you’re using separate companies.
Start by reviewing your overall household moving expenses. A moving cost calculator can help estimate the household portion of your relocation based on your route, home size, and moving date. You’ll still need a separate quote for transporting the vehicle.
Next, compare the services offered by household movers.
Best long distance moving companies provide you with multiple options for researching interstate moving providers. Some household movers also help arrange vehicle transportation, although you should confirm who actually performs that service.
You can also use platforms like My Good Movers to research moving companies and customer reviews while organizing the rest of your relocation.
Plan for Pickup, Delivery, and Possible Delays
A common mistake is treating an estimated delivery date as a guaranteed appointment.
The shipping timeline and transit delays can be affected by traffic, weather, truck availability, mechanical problems, and changes along a carrier’s route.
Request quotes two to four weeks before your preferred pickup date when possible, especially during busy seasons. This is a planning window, not a guarantee of carrier availability.
Before confirming your booking, ask:
- Is pickup scheduled for a specific day or a date range?
- When will the delivery window be confirmed?
- How will the driver communicate delays?
- Can someone else accept the vehicle if you’re unavailable?
- Are storage or rescheduling fees possible?
Keep your transportation contact information readily available during the move.
Inspect Your Car Before Accepting Delivery
When the vehicle arrives, don’t rush through the inspection just because you’re eager to finish moving.
Compare its condition with the photos taken before pickup.
Look closely at the bumpers, doors, roof, wheels, and mirrors. Check for new scratches, dents, or other visible damage.
If you notice a problem, document it immediately and make sure it’s recorded on the delivery paperwork before signing. Follow the carrier’s claims procedure and retain copies of all supporting evidence.
Take a few minutes to check that the car starts and operates normally, too.
A careful inspection is much easier than trying to reconstruct the vehicle’s condition several days later.
FAQs
How much does it cost to ship a car 1,000 miles?
Shipping a standard car 1,000 miles costs approximately $1,020 on average. Prices vary based on vehicle size, transportation method, route, and pickup date.
How long does it take to ship a car across the country?
Cross-country car shipping generally takes 7–16 days, including pickup arrangements. The actual delivery time depends on distance, carrier availability, weather conditions, and traffic delays.
How far in advance should I book car shipping?
Book car transportation 2–4 weeks before your preferred moving date. Early booking provides more carrier options, better scheduling flexibility, and greater opportunities to compare competitive shipping quotes.
Is open or enclosed car transport cheaper?
Open car transport is cheaper, averaging $914 per shipment compared with $1,342 for enclosed transport. Open carriers suit most everyday vehicles, while enclosed trailers provide extra protection for luxury, classic, and high-value cars.
What happens if my car gets damaged during shipping?
Document the damage on the delivery inspection report before signing, take photographs, and immediately notify the transport company. Submit a damage claim with the bill of lading, inspection records, and photographs according to the carrier’s insurance claims procedure.
