Shipping a car to another state costs $550–$1,500 for most people. Here's exactly why yours will land where it does.#

Every cost guide in this industry gives you the same answer: "it depends on distance, vehicle type, and time of year." That's true. It's also useless on its own. What you actually need to know is how much each of those factors moves the number — and what a realistic total looks like for your specific route.

I've priced and dispatched enough state-to-state shipments to give you real numbers rather than a range so wide it tells you nothing. Here's how the cost of shipping a car to another state actually breaks down.

The five things that determine your price#

Before the numbers, here's what's driving them. Five factors set the cost of any shipment. Once you understand what each one adds or subtracts, any quote you receive will make immediate sense.

Distance is the biggest factor. More miles means more fuel, more driver time, more wear on the truck. It's not perfectly linear — per-mile rates actually drop as distance increases, because the fixed costs of a pickup and delivery (routing, fuel for the first and last stretch) spread across more revenue-generating miles.

Transport type is the second lever. Open transport (the standard two-level carrier) is the default for most vehicles. Enclosed transport protects your car from weather and road debris inside a covered trailer. Enclosed costs 50–80% more than open.

Vehicle size affects how much space your car takes up on a trailer. Carriers price by slot, and an oversized full-size truck or large SUV takes up more space — or requires repositioning other vehicles — adding cost.

Season and timing move prices more than most people expect. Summer (June through August) is peak season, and prices run 15–25% above the off-season baseline. Booking 3–4 weeks ahead versus last-minute also matters.

Route popularity reflects how often carriers run your lanes. Major corridors between high-population metros are cheap because trucks head that direction constantly. Remote origins or destinations require detours off standard runs, which carriers price accordingly.

Cost by distance: the real ranges#

These are open transport prices for a standard sedan or midsize SUV, door-to-door, in the off-season, on a moderate-demand route.

Short haul (under 500 miles): $550–$850. Regional moves — Ohio to Michigan, Georgia to Tennessee, California to Nevada. These sometimes run higher per mile than longer hauls because the pickup/delivery overhead doesn't distribute across as many miles. A carrier isn't detouring three states for a 300-mile shipment unless the price makes it worthwhile.

Mid-range (500–1,000 miles): $750–$1,050. The most common distance bracket for state-to-state moves. Florida to Georgia is short; Florida to the Carolinas or Tennessee falls here. The Midwest to Texas. Texas to the Mountain West. Carriers run these lanes regularly, which keeps supply solid.

Long haul (1,000–1,500 miles): $950–$1,200. Florida to the Midwest, the Southeast to the Northeast, Texas to the Pacific Northwest. Established lanes with frequent coverage. This is where the per-mile rate starts to feel efficient.

Cross-country (1,500+ miles): $1,100–$1,500. California to Florida, New York to Los Angeles, the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast. These mega-routes are actually well-priced relative to distance because carriers build their entire schedule around running them. Supply is consistent.

Why short hauls can cost more per mile

A 300-mile shipment and a 1,500-mile shipment both require the same pickup, loading, unloading, and delivery effort. That overhead gets spread across fewer miles on the short haul, which is why the cost per mile is often higher — even though the total is lower. Don't be surprised if a 400-mile quote looks almost as high as an 800-mile one.

Real route examples with actual numbers#

Generic ranges only go so far. Here's what you'd actually pay for some common routes right now, using open transport, standard sedan, booked 2–3 weeks out.

Florida to New York (1,250 miles): $950–$1,150. This is one of the highest-volume lanes in the country — snowbirds, retirees, college moves. Carriers run it year-round. Summer prices are higher; off-season pricing is very competitive.

California to Texas (1,400 miles): $900–$1,100. Another major corridor. Bidirectional freight demand keeps pricing reasonable. LA to Dallas, San Francisco to Houston — both fall in this range.

Illinois to Georgia (750 miles): $750–$950. A mid-range regional move. Chicago to Atlanta is a well-traveled lane with consistent carrier coverage.

New York to Florida (1,250 miles): See above — same corridor, same pricing in reverse.

Washington to Arizona (1,400 miles): $950–$1,150. West Coast to Southwest is solid coverage. Seattle or Portland to Phoenix or Tucson.

Ohio to Colorado (1,300 miles): $900–$1,100. Midwest to Mountain West is a standard run. Columbus or Cleveland to Denver.

Texas to Michigan (1,200 miles): $900–$1,050. Solid demand in both directions for this lane.

For your specific route, use our car shipping calculator to get a precise estimate.

How vehicle size affects the price#

Standard sedans and most midsize SUVs are your baseline. Carriers build their per-slot pricing around these.

Compact and midsize sedans (Civic, Camry, Accord, Corolla): Baseline pricing. No surcharges.

Midsize SUVs (RAV4, CR-V, Equinox, Tucson): Baseline or very minor surcharge. Most carriers treat these the same as a standard sedan.

Full-size SUVs (Tahoe, Expedition, Suburban, Sequoia): Add $100–$250 over baseline. These are taller and heavier, limiting how many vehicles fit on a carrier's top level.

Full-size pickup trucks (F-150, Ram 1500, Silverado, Tundra): Add $100–$200 over baseline, more if lifted or with a topper. An extended cab, long-bed pickup can take up as much trailer space as two compact cars.

Minivans (Odyssey, Sienna, Pacifica): Usually similar to midsize SUV pricing. Occasionally more depending on height.

Oversized or modified vehicles (lifted trucks, extended wheelbase vehicles, very low vehicles): Expect to discuss pricing specifically with the carrier. Modifications change loading logistics.

What open vs. enclosed actually adds#

Open transport is the standard, and it's what the ranges above reflect. If you're shipping a daily driver, an older vehicle, or anything under $40,000–$50,000 in value, open transport is the right call. It's safe — it's how manufacturers ship new cars from factories.

Enclosed transport puts your vehicle in a covered, weatherproof trailer. It's the right choice for high-value vehicles (think $60,000+), classic or antique cars, exotics, or anything where cosmetic perfection is genuinely critical.

The cost premium: 50–80% over open transport. On a $1,000 cross-country quote, that means $1,500–$1,800 for the same route in an enclosed trailer. On a $750 mid-range quote, expect $1,100–$1,350 enclosed.

That premium buys real protection against weather, road debris, and the minor exposure risks of open-air transport. For most vehicles, it's unnecessary. For the right vehicle, it's absolutely worth it.

Seasonal pricing: when you ship matters#

Peak season (June–August) adds 15–25% to your quote. Demand surges as families move between school years, snowbirds head north, and college students relocate. The calendar is predictable, and carriers know it.

If you have any flexibility on timing:

October through December and February through April offer the lowest prices of the year. Supply exceeds demand on most lanes.
January sees a spike on Florida routes as snowbirds head south — prices on that corridor run higher even in "off-season."
Holiday weeks (Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year's, Memorial Day) see both demand spikes and reduced driver availability. Avoid shipping the week before or after major holidays if cost is a concern.

The difference between booking a California-to-New York shipment in July versus October can be $150–$250 on the same route, same carrier type.

Last-minute bookings cost more

Calling on Monday to move your car by Friday puts you at the back of the line. Carriers fill their runs in advance, and getting priority placement costs money. Book 2–4 weeks ahead and you'll pay the market rate. Book last-minute and you're paying a premium for urgency — typically $100–$300 more, depending on route demand.

Route demand: the hidden price factor#

This one surprises people. Two routes with the same mileage can cost meaningfully different amounts based on how often carriers run them.

High-demand lanes — California to Florida, New York to Florida, Chicago to Los Angeles, Texas to the Northeast — have carriers going that direction constantly. Your car fits into an existing run with capacity to spare. Pricing is competitive.

Low-demand lanes — rural origins, small markets, or routes that require a carrier to detour significantly from their standard run — cost more. The carrier is burning fuel and time to serve you in a geography that doesn't pay them on the return trip.

Examples of routes with demand premiums: rural Montana to rural Vermont, Northern Maine to Southern Arizona, most routes in and out of Alaska and Hawaii (which involve ocean freight entirely). These aren't impossible, but the pricing reflects the logistics reality.

For state-specific routes — Florida to California, Texas to New York, and other common corridors — see our state shipping guides for route-specific pricing.

What's not included in a quote#

Most auto transport quotes cover one thing: getting your vehicle from pickup to delivery. Here's what falls outside the standard quote and can add costs.

Oversized or non-standard vehicles: If you didn't disclose that your truck is lifted, your vehicle has a roof rack, or your car is non-running, expect a price adjustment at pickup. Disclose everything when requesting a quote.

Expedited pickup: Standard service comes with a 1–5 day pickup window. Expedited pickup (guaranteed within 24–48 hours) costs $100–$300 more depending on route.

Enclosed upgrade: If you request enclosed transport after receiving an open quote, it's a separate price — not an add-on.

Non-running vehicles: Cars that can't roll or steer under their own power require a winch to load. This costs $100–$200 more than a running vehicle. Disclose at booking.

Storage fees: If you're not available to accept delivery and your car sits at a terminal or depot, some carriers charge daily storage. Ask about this policy before booking if your delivery timeline is uncertain.

How to get the most accurate quote for your route

Use our car shipping calculator with your actual origin and destination zip codes, your vehicle year/make/model, and your preferred dates. You'll get a real-time estimate based on current carrier rates on your specific lane — not a national average that may not reflect your route.

The bottom line#

Shipping a car to another state costs $550–$1,500 for the vast majority of moves on open transport. The biggest variables — distance, season, and route demand — are things you can work with. Book ahead, ship off-peak if you can, and use a realistic quote based on your actual zip codes rather than a generic range.

The carriers running state-to-state routes do this every day. Your car will get there in the same condition it left — as long as you verify the carrier's USDOT credentials before you book and document your vehicle's condition at pickup.