Car Shipping Cost
How much does it cost to ship a car? Most moves run $500–$1,850 depending on distance, vehicle, and transport type. Get your exact price in seconds — 55,697 vehicles shipped, rated 4.8/5.
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How much does it cost to ship a car?
A direct answer first, then the full breakdown by distance, vehicle, state, and route.
Most car shipments cost between $500 and $1,850 on open transport, and the average price customers actually paid on our recent orders is about $1,300. A move under 250 miles averaged $493, 500 to 1,000 miles averaged $1,010, and a cross-country move of 2,000+ miles averaged about $1,765. Your exact price is driven mostly by four things: distance, vehicle size, open vs. enclosed transport, and the time of year.
These are not estimates from a rate sheet. They are the final prices customers paid on 12,908 completed open-transport orders at Navi Auto Transport in the 90 days to October 19, 2026, across all 50 states. The single biggest factor is distance — but not in a straight line. Car shipping is priced largely per mile, and that per-mile rate drops as the trip gets longer, because carriers spread their fixed costs (loading, fuel, driver hours) across more miles. In our data a 2,500+ mile move costs about $0.66 a mile while a move under 250 miles costs about $3.01 a mile. Below, we break the price down the way it actually builds: by distance, by vehicle, by state, by route, and by transport type — then you can pull your exact number from the instant calculator.
Car shipping cost by distance
What customers actually paid, open transport, all vehicle types. Note how the per-mile rate falls as the trip gets longer.
| Distance | Average Paid | Lowest Paid | Per Mile | Navi Orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 250 mi | $493 | $199 | $3.01 | 662 |
| 250–500 mi | $704 | $250 | $1.89 | 1,188 |
| 500–1,000 mi | $1,010 | $474 | $1.34 | 2,720 |
| 1,000–1,500 mi | $1,280 | $446 | $1.03 | 3,140 |
| 1,500–2,000 mi | $1,539 | $780 | $0.88 | 1,757 |
| 2,000–2,500 mi | $1,688 | $474 | $0.76 | 1,655 |
| 2,500+ mi (cross-country) | $1,844 | $374 | $0.66 | 1,574 |
Source: Navi Auto Transport completed open-transport orders created in the 90 days to October 19, 2026. “Average Paid” is the final price the customer paid, including any approved changes after booking. “Per Mile” is average price divided by average miles in the band.
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Car shipping cost by vehicle type
Cross-country (2,000+ miles), open transport. Enclosed typically adds 40–70%, depending on the lane, the season and carrier supply on your route.
| Vehicle Type | Average Paid (2,000+ mi, open) | vs. Sedan | Navi Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan / Coupe | $1,647 | $0 (baseline) | 488 | Reference price for comparison |
| SUV / Crossover | $1,775 | +$128 | 328 | Height & weight add cost |
| Pickup Truck | $2,235 | +$588 | 157 | Full-size and lifted trucks add the most |
| Any vehicle, enclosed | $2,653 | +50% vs. open average of $1,764 | 122 | Enclosed transport advised for luxury and exotic cars |
Vehicle groups are built from the most common models on Navi orders (for example Camry, Accord and Civic for sedans; RAV4, CR-V and Explorer for SUVs; F-150, Silverado and Ram for pickups). Enclosed orders are all vehicle types combined. Minivans and luxury cars are not shown because we do not have enough clean orders to publish an average.
Car shipping cost by state
The 10 busiest states to ship a car from and to on Navi's recent orders — open transport, all vehicle types.
Shipping a car from
| State | Average Paid | Navi Orders |
|---|---|---|
| California | $1,568 | 2,092 |
| Florida | $1,153 | 1,251 |
| Texas | $1,073 | 1,189 |
| New York | $1,426 | 585 |
| Illinois | $1,073 | 483 |
| New Jersey | $1,239 | 473 |
| Washington | $1,635 | 442 |
| Georgia | $1,115 | 425 |
| Arizona | $1,489 | 422 |
| Virginia | $1,257 | 410 |
Shipping a car to
| State | Average Paid | Navi Orders |
|---|---|---|
| California | $1,387 | 1,776 |
| Florida | $1,268 | 1,726 |
| Texas | $1,280 | 1,403 |
| Arizona | $1,384 | 544 |
| Georgia | $1,141 | 528 |
| North Carolina | $1,217 | 527 |
| New York | $1,308 | 438 |
| Illinois | $1,177 | 414 |
| Virginia | $1,287 | 411 |
| Colorado | $1,437 | 374 |
Source: Navi Auto Transport completed open-transport orders created in the 90 days to October 19, 2026. A state's average reflects the mix of distances on its orders, so treat it as a planning guide, not a quote for your lane.
Need a specific state pair? See state-to-state car shipping or get your exact price
7 factors that change car shipping cost
From the dispatch desk — what actually moves a quote up or down on a real lane.
1Distance & the per-mile curve
The biggest factor — but per-mile rate falls with distance. Short hauls carry a higher per-mile rate because the carrier still has to dispatch, load, and detour for a single short trip. Long hauls spread those fixed costs out, so cross-country lanes land near $0.66–$0.76 a mile on our orders.
2Open vs. enclosed
Open transport is the standard and the cheapest — it's how ~90% of cars move. Enclosed car shipping cost typically runs 40–70% higher, depending on the lane, the season and carrier supply, because the trailer holds fewer cars and fully shields the vehicle. On our recent orders enclosed ran about 46% above open at 1,000–1,500 miles and about 50% above open at 2,000+ miles. Not sure which your car needs? Our open vs enclosed car shipping guide gives you the 30-second answer.
3Vehicle size, weight & condition
Bigger and heavier means fewer cars fit on the trailer. On cross-country lanes SUVs averaged about $130 more than sedans and full-size pickups about $590 more. Non-running vehicles need a winch-equipped carrier, which typically adds $150–$350 depending on whether the vehicle rolls, steers and brakes. Lifts, oversized tires, and roof racks can add cost too.
4Season & timing
Demand is not flat across the year. Late spring and summer (college and family moves) tend to push many lanes up, and snowbird routes into the Sun Belt spike in fall and winter. On long-haul orders we averaged about $0.78 a mile in June and about $0.74 a mile in October, so the gap is real but smaller than most guides claim.
5Route density (popular vs. remote)
Busy lanes between major metros have lots of carriers competing, which keeps prices down. Rural pickups or deliveries off the main interstates cost more because a truck has to detour off its route to reach you.
6How flexible your dates are
The single easiest way to save. Flexible pickup and delivery windows let a carrier slot your car into a route they're already running. Tight or guaranteed dates require dedicated dispatch and cost more. Booking 2–3 weeks ahead helps too.
7Door-to-door vs. terminal
Most shipments go door-to-door, which is the most convenient option. Terminal-to-terminal can shave cost on some lanes but adds drop-off/pickup logistics on your end — and terminals aren't available everywhere.
Car shipping cost on popular routes
What customers paid on open transport, all vehicle types. Tap a lane for full pricing, transit time, and city pairs.
| Route | Distance | Average Paid | Lowest Paid | Navi Orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida to Indiana | ~1,055 mi | $1,095 | $770 | 17 |
| Florida to New York | ~1,250 mi | $1,086 | $771 | 78 |
| New York to Florida | ~1,250 mi | $1,383 | $874 | 262 |
| Maryland to Florida | ~1,000 mi | $1,162 | $780 | 54 |
| California to Texas | ~1,550 mi | $1,542 | $950 | 277 |
| Texas to California | ~1,560 mi | $1,135 | $704 | 223 |
| Illinois to California | ~2,020 mi | $1,345 | $1,000 | 95 |
| California to Florida | ~2,610 mi | $1,800 | $1,255 | 204 |
| New York to California | ~2,820 mi | $1,938 | $1,318 | 105 |
| California to New York | ~2,810 mi | $1,915 | $1,370 | 104 |
Source: Navi Auto Transport open-transport orders created in the 90 days to October 19, 2026 (completed and in progress, cancelled orders excluded). The direction of the lane matters: carriers have more trucks leaving some cities than others, so the same two cities can price differently each way.
Shipping a different lane? Get your exact route price
4 ways to lower your car shipping cost
Practical levers that actually move the price — without choosing a carrier that won't show up.
Stay flexible on dates
Give a pickup window instead of a fixed day. Carriers fit flexible loads into existing routes at a lower rate.
Choose open transport
Unless you're moving a luxury or classic car, open transport is safe, standard, and typically 40–70% cheaper than enclosed.
Avoid the summer rush
Ship in fall or winter on most lanes (outside snowbird routes) to avoid the summer demand premium.
Book 2–3 weeks ahead
Lead time gives carriers room to schedule efficiently. Last-minute and guaranteed dates cost the most.
Know your exact price before you book
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Car shipping cost — common questions
Straight answers to what customers ask before they book.