Car Shipping Guide
The Cheapest Way to Ship Your Car to Another State
An honest look at every way to get your car to another state, what each one really costs you, and how to get the lowest price without getting burned.
Shipment Details
20+ YEARS
of combined auto transportation experience.
10,000+
top-rated, vetted carriers within our network.
$0
due upfront. You only pay when we assign a carrier.
The Short Answer
So, What's the Cheapest Way?
For most people, the cheapest way to ship a car to another state is open carrier transport, booked a week or two ahead, with a little flexibility on the pickup date. That's the setup that lets a carrier fit your car onto a truck that's already headed your way, and that's what keeps the price down.
Driving it yourself can beat that on a short trip. Once you're past a few hundred miles, though, the gas, hotels, food, and days off work start to add up fast. Plenty of people find shipping costs about the same and saves them the trip.
Below, we compare every option honestly, including the ones we don't sell, so you can pick what actually works for you.
Your Options
Every Way to Get Your Car to Another State
There are really only a handful of ways to do it. Here's when each one makes sense, and the catch with each.
| Option | Cheapest When | The Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Drive it yourself | Short trips, roughly under 500 miles, when you have the time. | Gas, hotels, food, time off work, a flight home if you're not staying, and the miles on your car. |
| Tow it behind a rental moving truck | When you're already renting a truck for your stuff. | Slower, harder driving. Tow dollies generally only work for front-wheel-drive cars. AWD and RWD usually need a full trailer. |
| Open car carrier | Most people. It's the cheapest way to have a professional move your car, and it's how most cars are shipped. | Your car rides in the open, so it sees weather and road dust, the same as driving it. |
| Enclosed car carrier | Classic, exotic, and high-value cars that need full protection. | Costs noticeably more than open transport, and there are fewer enclosed trucks to choose from. |
| Terminal-to-terminal | When a terminal happens to be close to both ends of your trip. | You drop off and pick up at a lot, which can mean storage fees and two extra trips. The savings are often small. |
| Amtrak Auto Train | Only if you're going between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, and want to ride along. | That's the only route. Anywhere else, it isn't an option. |
Drive or Ship?
The Real Cost of Driving It Yourself
Most people compare a shipping quote to the cost of gas. That's not really a fair fight. A 1,500-mile drive is two or three long days, and gas is only part of the bill.
Add up everything on the right using your own numbers. If you're moving more than one car, or someone has to fly back after dropping the car off, shipping often comes out ahead. If it's a short trip and you have the time, driving is probably cheaper, and we'll tell you so.
Example: A 1,500-Mile Drive
- Gas (1,500 miles at 25 mpg, $3.25/gal)
- ~$195
- Hotels (2 nights)
- Varies
- Food on the road (3 days)
- Varies
- Flight home, if you're not moving
- Varies
- Unpaid time off work
- Varies
- Wear on your car (oil, tires, resale value)
- 1,500 miles
Example only. Gas prices and mileage vary, so plug in your own numbers.
Save Money
8 Ways to Lower the Cost of Shipping Your Car
Carriers price by how easily your car fits into a trip they're already making. Everything here makes that easier.
Pick Open Transport
Open carriers haul 7 to 10 cars at once, so each car's share of the trip is smaller. Unless your car is rare or very valuable, open is the way to go.
About open auto transport →Be Flexible on Pickup
If you can give a pickup window of 3 to 5 days instead of one exact date, more carriers can fit you in. More options usually means a lower price.
Book Ahead
Give yourself at least 1 to 3 weeks. Earlier is better, especially in busy seasons or if you're off the main routes. Last-minute bookings almost always cost more.
Avoid Peak Season
Summer moving season, the last few days of the month, and snowbird season (south in fall, north in spring) all push prices up. If you can ship outside those, do it.
About snowbird season →Make Pickup Easy
A 75-foot carrier can't always get down a narrow street or into an HOA neighborhood. Meeting the driver at a nearby parking lot can save time and money.
Ship From a Big City
Pickups near major interstates and metro areas cost less than rural ones because more trucks pass through. If you live outside a city, a short drive to a metro pickup can help.
Tell the Truth About the Car
If it doesn't run, say so up front. A non-running car needs a winch, and finding that out at pickup causes delays and price changes.
Pack Light
Personal items aren't covered by insurance, and too much inside can mean extra charges. Keep it under 100 pounds, in the trunk or below the window line, or pack it with the rest of your move.
Watch Out
Why the Cheapest Quote Often Isn't
Here's something the industry doesn't advertise. Most car shipping companies are brokers, and carriers choose which loads to take based on what they pay. If a company quotes you a price that's too low, no carrier will pick up your car at that price.
So your car sits. Your pickup date comes and goes. Then you get a call asking for more money to "get it moving." By then you've lost a week, and you end up paying what it should have cost in the first place, or more.
That's why we give final-price quotes. The number we give you is set at what carriers on your route actually accept, and it doesn't change after you book.
Red Flags in a Car Shipping Quote
- The quote is way lower than every other quote you got.
- It says "estimate" and the price can change after you book.
- They want a big payment before a carrier is even assigned.
- They won't give you their DOT or MC number.
- They promise an exact pickup date months from now.
You can look up any broker or carrier's DOT number on the FMCSA website. Ours is DOT 4238940, MC-1641261.
Get a Final-Price QuoteOur Services
Find the Right Fit for Your Budget
Every shipment is door-to-door with a final-price quote and $0 due at booking.
Open Auto Transport
The most affordable way to ship a car to another state.
Learn more →Door-to-Door Shipping
Pickup and delivery at your addresses, so there are no terminal fees or extra trips.
Learn more →Enclosed Auto Transport
Full protection for classic, exotic, and luxury vehicles.
Learn more →Snowbird Car Shipping
Seasonal moves between your summer and winter homes.
Learn more →- Final-price quotes
- $0 due at booking
- Vetted, insured carriers
FAQ
Cheap Car Shipping FAQs
What is the cheapest way to ship my car to another state?
For most people, it's open carrier transport with a flexible pickup window, booked 1 to 3 weeks ahead and outside of peak season. Driving it yourself can be cheaper on short trips, but on long ones the gas, hotels, food, and time off usually add up to about the same or more.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car to another state?
On a short trip, under about 500 miles, driving is usually cheaper. On a long trip, add up the gas, hotels, meals, time off work, and a flight home if you're not staying. Many people find shipping costs about the same, and it saves days of driving and the miles on the car.
Is open car transport safe?
Yes. Open transport is how most cars are shipped, including new cars going to dealerships. Your car is exposed to weather and road dust like it would be if you drove it, but it isn't putting on miles. Every carrier we use carries cargo insurance.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car?
Usually late fall and winter, outside of the snowbird routes, and in the middle of the month, booked a few weeks ahead. Summer is the busiest moving season, and the end of the month gets crowded with lease and closing dates.
Does terminal-to-terminal shipping save money?
Sometimes, but often not as much as people expect. Terminals can charge storage fees, and you have to get to and from the lot at both ends. We only do door-to-door, and if your street is hard to reach, the driver will meet you at a nearby spot instead.
Can I pack my car full of stuff to save on moving costs?
Not full, no. We generally recommend against packing anything, but up to 100 pounds of personal items is allowed in the trunk or below the window line. Those items aren't covered by insurance, and carriers can charge extra or decline a car with too much inside.
Why are some car shipping quotes so much lower than others?
Some companies quote a low price to win the booking, then can't find a carrier willing to haul the car for that amount. The car sits, and the price goes up. A slightly higher quote that's a guaranteed final price is often cheaper in the end.
Do I have to pay upfront?
Not with us. There's $0 due at booking. Once a carrier is assigned, you can either pay a small deposit and the remaining balance directly to the driver at delivery, or pay in full at that point so nothing is due at delivery.
Is my car insured during transport?
Yes. Every carrier we work with is required to carry active cargo insurance. Your vehicle's condition is documented on the Bill of Lading at pickup and checked again at delivery. Personal items left in the vehicle are not covered.
Keep Exploring
Related Routes & States
Other Popular Routes
Don't see your route? We ship door-to-door between cities and states all across the country. Browse all states we serve.
See What It Would Actually Cost
Get a free, final-price quote in minutes and compare it to driving. Nothing is due at booking, and you don't pay a thing until a carrier is dispatched.
Prefer email? hello@nexlogistix.com
Licensed, bonded & insured broker · DOT 4238940 | MC-1641261