Shipping a Car Cross-Country: Cost and How It Works
Shipping a standard car on an open carrier costs about $1,200 on average in 2026, and a coast-to-coast route typically runs $1,300 to $1,700. Enclosed transport usually costs 30 to 60 percent more. Most household movers do not carry cars on the same truck as your furniture, so the car is almost always a separate booking.
What it costs
| Shipment | Typical 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Open carrier, national average | About $1,200 |
| Open carrier, coast to coast (around 2,900 to 3,100 miles) | $1,300 to $1,700 |
| Enclosed carrier, national average | About $1,800 |
| Non-running vehicle | Typically a few hundred dollars more |
Per-mile prices fall as distance rises: a 500 mile shipment costs more per mile than a 2,500 mile one. SUVs and pickups cost more than sedans because they take up more space and weight on the trailer. Diesel prices have been high in 2026, and carriers pass fuel costs through.
Open or enclosed
About nine in ten cars ship on open carriers, the double-deck trailers you see on the interstate. Your car is exposed to weather and road dust, the same as driving it. Enclosed carriers protect the car completely and are worth it for classics, exotics, low-clearance or high-value cars. For an everyday car, open transport is the standard choice.
Shipping or driving
For cross-country moves, shipping can cost less than it looks once you add up driving: four or five days of fuel, motels and meals, plus wear on the car and time off work. For moves of a few hundred miles, driving is almost always cheaper. If you have two cars and one driver, shipping one is often the practical answer.
Car shipping is regulated too
Interstate auto transporters need federal operating authority and a USDOT number, just like household goods movers. As with moving, much of the market is run by brokers who sell the job to a carrier. The same verification applies: look up the number, check the authority is active, and find out who will actually carry your car. Our guide to brokers and carriers applies here as much as to household moves.
Check a mover against the federal record
Every legitimate interstate moving company holds a USDOT number. Enter it below to read the public FMCSA Company Snapshot for that carrier: operating status, safety rating, fleet size and recorded crashes. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere else.
A mover that will not give you a USDOT number in writing is the answer to your question.
Source: FMCSA Company Snapshot, the public record maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Read the official record at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. MoverChecked is not affiliated with FMCSA and does not rate or recommend any company.
On pickup day
- Inspect together. The driver should record the car’s condition on a bill of lading or inspection report at pickup. Walk around the car with the driver, note every existing scratch and dent, and take dated photos from all sides.
- Empty the car. Personal belongings are generally not allowed or not covered. Do not use the car as a moving box.
- Leave a modest amount of fuel. A quarter tank or less is a common request.
- Remove toll tags and parking permits, and note the mileage.
At delivery
Repeat the inspection before you sign. Note any new damage on the delivery report while the driver is there, and photograph it. Damage you do not record at delivery is much harder to claim afterwards.
Timing
Book one to two weeks ahead for the best rates. Pickup is usually a window of a few days rather than a fixed time, and cross-country transit commonly takes four to ten days. Last-minute bookings and fixed pickup dates cost more. If the car needs to arrive before you do, plan the pickup accordingly, or arrange for someone to receive it.
Sources: 2026 car shipping price data published by auto transport companies and consumer publications, including national averages for open and enclosed transport and route prices for coast-to-coast lanes; FMCSA registration requirements for interstate motor carriers and brokers. Prices are planning figures, not quotes. Last reviewed October 2026.