Shipping a car costs $540 to $3,000 in 2026
FreightWaves puts the 2026 average at about $1,150, from $540 for short trips to over $3,000 cross country. In Sherpa Auto Transport's data from more than 258,000 shipments, open transport averaged $1,205 and enclosed $1,804. A 1,000 mile trip commonly runs $1,000 to $1,300.
Real prices by vehicle and option
| Under 500 miles | $540 to $1,100, about $1.25 to $2.00 a mile (FreightWaves). |
|---|---|
| 500 to 1,500 miles | $700 to $1,800, about $0.65 to $1.20 a mile. |
| Over 1,500 miles | $1,050 to $3,000 or more, about $0.55 to $0.95 a mile. |
| Coast to coast | About $2,200 to $2,800 (Ship A Car). |
| Atlanta to Los Angeles | $1,100 to $1,325 (Sherpa). |
| Boston to Los Angeles | $1,350 to $1,575. |
What pushes a quote up
| Distance | Longer trips cost more in total but less per mile. |
|---|---|
| Open or enclosed | Enclosed costs 20 to 60 percent more. |
| Vehicle size | SUVs and trucks cost more. |
| Running or not | Non running cars add $150 to $300. |
| Season | Spring and summer cost most, late fall and winter least. |
Car shipping cost by region
| Lower cost states | $550 to $1,450. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas. |
|---|---|
| Average cost states | $700 to $1,800. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities. |
| Higher cost states | $900 to $2,300. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC. |
These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Busy routes between big cities cost less per mile than remote pickups.
How to get a fair quote
Car shipping is a spot market, so prices move with season, fuel and how busy the route is. Ship A Car notes most standard cars on an open carrier price out at about $0.84 to $2.05 a loaded mile in 2026. Treat any online number as an estimate until a carrier accepts the job.
Open transport is fine for most cars. Enclosed transport protects classic, luxury and freshly painted cars, and costs more. Sherpa's data showed enclosed averaging about $600 more than open.
Avoid bait quotes
A quote far below the rest often means your car will sit until a carrier accepts a higher price. Ask whether the price is locked, what the deposit is, and whether insurance is included. Photograph the car at pickup.
For a short move, towing may cost less. See our towing cost page.
Why this costs more in 2026
Car carriers run on diesel, and fuel moves every quote this year.
The short version is oil. Diesel passed $6 a gallon on the AAA national average for the first time on September 11, 2026. A year earlier it was about $3.70 (CBS 8 reporting AAA). That lands in trip charges, deliveries and anything made from petroleum. Quotes are being held open for shorter periods this year, so ask for the expiry date in writing.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask if the price is locked.
- Ask about the deposit and when it is charged.
- Ask open or enclosed.
- Ask about insurance and the deductible.
- Ask the pickup window and delivery time.
Ways to pay less
- Choose open transport for most cars.
- Ship in late fall or winter.
- Be flexible on dates.
- Meet on a main road instead of a hard to reach address.
What will this cost me?
Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.
An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship a car?
About $1,150 on average in 2026, from about $540 to over $3,000.
How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?
About $2,200 to $2,800 for coast to coast open transport.
How much is enclosed car shipping?
About 20 to 60 percent more than open transport.
What is the cheapest time to ship a car?
Late fall and winter.
Other car repair costs
Photo: Syced, Wikimedia Commons, CC0, cropped.