How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car?

Your route

Distance matters, along with the pickup and delivery locations and carrier availability between them. Two trips of similar length can have different prices. Send both ZIP codes so we can check your specific route.

Your vehicle’s size and condition

Make, model, size, weight, and modifications affect the equipment and trailer space needed. A large pickup and a compact sedan may cost different amounts to ship on the same route.

Tell us whether the vehicle starts, rolls, steers, and brakes. A non-running car may need special loading equipment and additional labor, which we include in your quote before you book. Mention low clearance, oversized tires, or other modifications before we prepare the quote.

Your pickup dates

Seasonal demand and the carriers available for your dates affect pricing. A narrow pickup window can limit your options. Share your first available date, how flexible you are, and any deadline we should know about.

Demand also moves with the calendar. Routes into Florida and Arizona get busier in the fall and early winter, and the trip back north gets busier in spring. Heading south for the winter or back north in spring? Read our snowbird car shipping guide for seasonal timing.

Open or enclosed transport

Open transport usually costs less and suits most everyday vehicles. Your car travels on an open trailer, exposed to weather and road debris.

Enclosed transport adds protection from the elements and may suit a classic, exotic, or collector car. Tell us about your vehicle and priorities so we can review suitable options and loading requirements. Compare open and enclosed car shipping before choosing.

Pickup and delivery access

Door-to-door means the driver gets as close to your address as is safe and legal for a large truck. Narrow streets, low trees, gated communities, and HOA rules can mean meeting the driver at a nearby open lot. Tell us about access limits up front so the quote and the plan match.

Independent consumer publications survey car shipping companies and publish typical ranges. These are industry estimates, not BladeHaul prices:

• ConsumerAffairs (updated March 25, 2026) reports that the cost to ship a car usually ranges from $500 to $1,700, or roughly 53 cents to $2.30 per mile.
• Forbes Advisor (published September 3, 2026) reports that enclosed carriers cost about 40% to 60% more per mile than open transport.

Industry survey ranges, not a BladeHaul quote.

Your actual price depends on your route, vehicle, and dates, and on the carriers available when you book. Your quote is an estimate based on current market prices for similar shipments on your route. It can change until a carrier accepts your order, but never without your OK, and you can cancel at no charge if you don't agree. Once a carrier is confirmed, your price is locked in with that carrier. If that carrier cancels, any new price needs your OK too. No hidden fees.

Longer trips cost more in total but usually less per mile. Much of a long haul runs on interstates, and a full truck spreads its costs over many vehicles and many miles. Short trips carry the same loading, unloading, and scheduling work over fewer miles, so their per-mile rate tends to be higher.

That is why a per-mile figure only gives a rough idea. Two routes of the same length can price differently when one runs between major metro areas and the other starts or ends far from the main corridors.

For short distances, driving is usually cheaper. For long moves, compare a shipping quote with the full cost of driving: fuel, hotels, meals, days off work, a flight back if needed, and the miles and wear added to your car. Shipping also frees you to fly or drive a second vehicle.

A few choices tend to keep the cost down:

• Choose open transport unless your car needs enclosed.
• Give a flexible pickup window instead of one fixed day, so more carriers can fit your car in.
• Request your quote early, especially before the busy fall and spring seasons.
• Make pickup easy: a spot a large truck can reach, and the car ready to load on time.

The lowest number is not always the best deal. A price that is too low for the route can sit without a carrier accepting it, which costs you time.

Start with complete shipment details:

• Pickup and delivery ZIP codes
• Vehicle year, make, and model
• Whether it starts, rolls, steers, and brakes
• Earliest pickup date and any timing limits
• Open or enclosed transport preference
• Modifications or pickup access requirements

A real person reviews your request and follows up. We prepare the quote around your shipment and current carrier rates. If your route, vehicle condition, or dates change, tell your agent so the options reflect what you actually need.

Carrier availability and prices can change before you accept an arrangement. Your agent explains the available options and confirms the carrier, total price, and booking details in writing.

A different price or material change needs your agreement. Requesting a quote alone does not book a carrier or authorize a payment.

Compare the full shipment details alongside the total price:

• Does each quote cover the same route, vehicle condition, and trailer type?
• What pickup window is being discussed?
• Has a carrier been confirmed?
• Is the quoted price all-in? Your quote is an estimate based on current market prices for similar shipments on your route. It can change until a carrier accepts your order, but never without your OK, and you can cancel at no charge if you don't agree. Once a carrier is confirmed, your price is locked in with that carrier. If that carrier cancels, any new price needs your OK too. No hidden fees.
• What does the shipment agreement say about changes and cancellation?

An estimate is easier to evaluate when you know what it includes and what still needs to be confirmed. Ask for those details in writing before deciding.

No payment is collected until the carrier or driver confirms in writing; the spot reservation amount is due after that confirmation, before pickup.

The remaining carrier balance is paid directly to the carrier according to your transport agreement. Together, these make up your total price.

Your transport agreement lists the amounts, when each is due, and the cancellation terms. You sign it before you pay. Learn how booking and payment work, or read our website terms.

BladeHaul Auto Transport LLC is a Texas-based FMCSA-authorized property broker, MC-85480782, that arranges vehicle transportation with independent motor carriers. The carrier handles the physical move. Your BladeHaul agent helps coordinate the shipment.

Send us your route and vehicle details. We’ll help you understand the available options and what your shipment will cost. See how shipping with BladeHaul works. For questions before you request a quote, contact BladeHaul.