The car shipping services industry in the U.S. has grown to a market size of approximately $10.1 billion, indicating a substantial volume of car shipments annually. But you’ll always see a significant contrast between different car shipping quotes. So, how much does it actually cost to ship a car?
Learn through this guide about car transport pricing, how it works, and how much you should expect to pay.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship a Car?
On average, expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,700in vehicle shipping costs. But car shipping quotes in the U.S. usually aren’t that straight forward, they depend on a number of different factors. And only after considering them all, can you get an estimate for your car transport pricing. Let’s go through all those factors that count while creating an auto shipping estimate, so you can avoid expensive quotes.
But first, Let’s establish cost ranges from different authority websites like Angi, Forbes, Move.Org etc. to get a range of industry averages and establish how much it actually costs so you know what to compare quotes against and not overpay.
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| Source | Average Cost for a 1000-mile trip | Notes |
| Angi | $800-$1,300 | Prices vary based on distance, vehicle type, and time of year |
| Forbes | $900 | The national average cost to ship a car is $1,610 |
| Move.Org | $790 | Cost calculated for 500-1000 miles distance |
| Market Average | $913 | Average cost based on the data collected from authoritative sources |
Note: Expect to pay around $800 more for enclosed transport shipment on a 1000-miles trip.
Distance
Distance is the number one factor that affects your car shipping quotes online. The longer the distance, the higher your final car shipping price will be. However, the cost per mile will be lower. It’s the total shipping cost that will increase with distance. On average, expect to pay $1.20-$1.95 per mile for a distance of around 500 miles.
Destination Point
Another major factor that directly impacts your auto transport rates is your delivery destination. Whether you choose your transport to be delivered at your doorstep or choose a terminal-to-terminal service greatly impacts the final quote. For instance, it adds extra cost to your final quote if you choose to ship your car to your exact location. So, if you’re a student or on a tight budget, go for terminal-to-terminal vehicle shipping service.
Vehicle Type
This might not sound important but your vehicle type is as important as where you’re shipping from or to. That’s because the larger the vehicle, the more space it’ll take on a shipping trailer, and eventually costs more. In fact, if your car is bigger than an average vehicle, driving it yourself to your destination might be more convenient for you than using a car shipping service. As per Angi, a midsize car will cost $1.19 per 1000 miles.
Carrier Type
The shipping method you choose can either increase or decrease your final vehicle shipping cost. And you need to pick as per your budget and convenience preference if you’re looking to avoid unexpected price hikes at the end. For some quick intro, an open carrier will cost lower, while a closed container will be more expensive.
However, the safest option is an enclosed container that’ll protect your vehicle from weather, dirt, and any other damage.
Time of the Year
You’d be surprised, but yes, there’s a season for car shipping. A significant portion of car shipping occurs in the summer months. It’s the busiest season for car shipping companies, and you should expect to pay more when getting your vehicle booked for car shipping during this season.
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Other Factors That Impact the Final Auto Transport Rates
Besides the key factors, other points that can impact your final car shipping cost include:
- How quickly do you need your vehicle to be transported
- Your vehicle’s condition and its maneuverability
- Fuel prices
- Whether or not you’re shipping to or from a rural/remote area
- Vehicle Value
- Tolls and Lodging
All these points are as important as the key factors, and they all count when you’re getting your final auto shipping estimates.
Quick Formula for Car Shipping Cost Calculations
Final Car Shipping Cost = Base rate per mile × Distance (miles) + Additional Fees
Note: Base rate per mile depends on your vehicle size, shipping method, and route. And additional fees will cover everything from fuel price to seasonal demand adjustments and toll price if you choose to ship your car through faster routes.
How to Avoid Paying Extra When Shipping a Vehicle?
The best way to avoid paying extra when shipping a vehicle is to connect with a reputable car shipping company. Research your local car shipping service providers, read reviews about them, compare quotes, and then decide on the most suitable option for you.
Besides this, here are 3 other ways you can avoid paying extra when shipping a car.
1. Look out for Hidden Charges
It’s unbelievable how quickly hidden charges can drain your budget. It’s an owner’s worst nightmare, because at first glance everything will look great, but how quickly those fuel surcharges spike will be unbelievable.
How best to avoid this issue? Make sure your company is clear about all the extra charges from the start. No reputable company will hide its pricing. And if someone’s playing a shell game with you, be careful.
2. Don’t Fall for the Vague Contract Terms
Refrain from choosing companies that use unclear terms in their contract, like ‘delivery within 2-3 weeks’ or ‘additional fees may apply,’ if you’re looking to avoid paying extra during vehicle shipping. Make sure the pricing structure is clearly mentioned on the contract and you know the exact delivery date and time. Best if your contract states the damage claim procedure clearly.
3. Book in Advance
You can avoid paying more if you book your car shipping service in advance. Be flexible with the delivery dates, and there won’t be extra charges for last-minute bookings. According to Move.Org, if you book at least 2 weeks in advance, you can save hundreds of dollars, because then you get the advantage of multiple companies bidding against each other, and you can pick the lowest price.
4. Scout The Market
You can also save money by getting quotes from multiple shippers and finding the one offering best value. For this, get an average of the quotes, find a range of high, medium and low prices, and then judge which one offers more value for money to avoid paying extra.
