Key takeaways
- Most US car shipments cost $700–$1,600 door-to-door, all-in.
- The biggest drivers: distance, season, vehicle size, and open vs enclosed.
- Open transport is 40–60% cheaper than enclosed and ships 95% of cars on US roads.
- AI-driven quoting eliminates the broker padding that adds $100–$300 to legacy quotes.
The short answer
In 2026, shipping a standard sedan or crossover door-to-door in the US runs $700 to $1,600 on open transport. Enclosed transport for the same route runs $1,200 to $3,500. Anything outside that range is either a very short (under 300 mi) hop, an oversized vehicle, or a specialty service like expedited or door-to-island.
What actually drives the price
1. Distance
Per-mile rates drop sharply as distance grows. A 200-mile move runs about $1.50/mile; a 2,500-mile cross-country trip runs about $0.50/mile. That's not a discount — it's carrier economics. Loading and unloading take the same time whether the trip is 200 or 2,500 miles, so short hauls have to absorb that cost.
2. Season
Snowbird season (Oct–Dec southbound, Apr–May northbound) and summer relocation season (Jun–Aug) both push prices up 10–25%. Mid-winter and mid-fall are the cheapest windows.
3. Vehicle size and condition
Trucks, SUVs, and lifted vehicles take more space and weight on the trailer — typically $100–$250 more than a sedan on the same route. Inoperable (non-running) vehicles need a winch, which adds $150–$300.
4. Open vs enclosed
Enclosed trailers carry 2–6 cars instead of 7–10, so the per-vehicle cost is higher. Expect a 40–60% premium for enclosed transport. Worth it for exotics, classics, and freshly-painted restorations; rarely worth it for daily drivers.
5. Pickup and delivery location
Major metros (LA, NY, Houston, Miami) have the most carrier capacity, so they're the cheapest. Rural pickups can add $50–$200 because a carrier may have to deadhead in.
Why AI-driven quotes are different
Traditional brokers quote you a lowball number to win the booking, then re-list your shipment on Central Dispatch at a higher price hoping a carrier accepts. Half the time they have to come back and raise the price. The other half, your car sits.
Our AI rate engine reads live carrier capacity, fuel prices, and lane demand at the moment you quote — and only returns a price a carrier will actually accept. It's the real number, not a sales pitch.
Sample 2026 pricing
- Houston → Dallas (240 mi): $450–$650 open / $750–$1,000 enclosed
- LA → Phoenix (370 mi): $500–$700 open / $850–$1,200 enclosed
- LA → Houston (1,550 mi): $900–$1,200 open / $1,800–$2,400 enclosed
- Miami → NYC (1,280 mi): $850–$1,200 open / $1,700–$2,400 enclosed
- LA → NYC (2,790 mi): $1,200–$1,600 open / $2,400–$3,500 enclosed
The fastest way to get a real number for your route is to get an instant AI quote — it takes under a minute and the price is final.
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