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Shipping a sedan on an open carrier costs about $700 for 300 miles, $1,167 for 1,000 miles and $1,807 coast to coast at October 2026 diesel prices — $2.33 a mile on short hauls falling to $0.65 a mile cross-country. Enclosed transport adds 21–39%, SUVs and pickups 7–22%, and a non-running car $200–$350. Expect a 1–5 day pickup window, then 1–2 days on the truck under 500 miles or 6–10 days coast to coast.
Enter your road miles, vehicle and trailer type to get a market-typical quote and range, the cost per mile and door-to-door days. Adjust for season, snowbird direction, rush pickup, rural addresses and today’s diesel price, add Hawaii or Alaska ocean freight, see prices for every distance, or check whether driving it yourself is cheaper.
Last updated October 2, 2026. Free, no sign-up, no phone number. Guides: how much it costs to ship a car · open vs enclosed car shipping cost
Road miles from pickup to delivery (map app)
Trailer
Same pickup and delivery addresses
EIA weekly U.S. average; prices are calibrated at $4.20
Estimated price
$1,167
typical quotes $992 – $1,400
Door to door
3–9 days
pickup in 1–5 days + 2–4 days on the truck
Truck leg per vehicle
$1,167
$1.17 per mile
Enclosed instead
$1,529
enclosed premium +31.1% at this distance
Fuel adjustment
×1.156
diesel $6.38 vs $4.20 baseline
| Open-carrier base, sedan, 1,000 mi | +$1,010 |
| Diesel at $6.38 vs $4.20 baseline (×1.156) | +$157 |
| Per vehicle | $1,167 |
Car shipping (auto transport) is moving a vehicle on a truck instead of driving it. About nine in ten consumer moves go on open carriers that haul 7–10 cars on a two-level trailer; the rest go in enclosed trailers that protect classic, exotic and high-value cars from weather and road debris. Prices are set per trip, not per pound: the cost per mile falls as the distance grows, because loading, inspection and paperwork cost the same whether the car travels 300 miles or 3,000.
base = 53.6 × miles^0.425 (open carrier, sedan, at least $250)
price = base × vehicle × (1 + enclosed %) × season × fuel × speed + flat fees
fuel = 1 + 0.3 × (diesel ÷ $4.20 − 1) · range = 0.85× to 1.2×
Car carriers price by the trip, not the pound. A driver spends the same time loading, inspecting, strapping and unloading a car whether it rides 300 miles or 3,000, so short trips cost more per mile and long trips less. Prices are planning estimates, not quotes: they assume a running vehicle, standard pickup and city or interstate addresses unless you change them.
Running vehicle, standard 1–5 day pickup, typical month, diesel $6.38. Most quotes land within 15% below to 20% above these figures.
| Miles | Sedan, open | Per mile | Sedan, enclosed | Small SUV, open | Pickup / full-size SUV, open | Transit after pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $439 | $4.39 | $532 | $469 | $535 | 1–2 days |
| 200 | $589 | $2.94 | $714 | $630 | $718 | 1–2 days |
| 300 | $700 | $2.33 | $849 | $748 | $853 | 1–2 days |
| 500 | $869 | $1.74 | $1,080 | $930 | $1,060 | 1–3 days |
| 750 | $1,033 | $1.38 | $1,322 | $1,105 | $1,260 | 2–4 days |
| 1,000 | $1,167 | $1.17 | $1,529 | $1,249 | $1,424 | 2–4 days |
| 1,500 | $1,386 | $0.92 | $1,892 | $1,483 | $1,691 | 3–6 days |
| 2,000 | $1,567 | $0.78 | $2,163 | $1,676 | $1,911 | 4–7 days |
| 2,500 | $1,722 | $0.69 | $2,365 | $1,843 | $2,101 | 5–9 days |
| 3,000 | $1,861 | $0.62 | $2,555 | $1,991 | $2,271 | 6–10 days |
SGT Auto Transport’s trailing-12-month averages for delivered single-vehicle open shipments, compared with this calculator’s base curve (diesel $4.20).
| Distance band | Avg miles | Avg per mile | Avg price | Model | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100–499 mi | 332 | $2.04 | $623 | $632 | +1.4% |
| 500–749 mi | 636 | $1.30 | $824 | $833 | +1.1% |
| 750–999 mi | 875 | $1.11 | $964 | $954 | −1.0% |
| 1,000–1,499 mi | 1,257 | $0.89 | $1,112 | $1,113 | +0.1% |
| 1,500–1,999 mi | 1,732 | $0.75 | $1,289 | $1,275 | −1.1% |
| 2,000–2,499 mi | 2,237 | $0.63 | $1,414 | $1,422 | +0.5% |
| 2,500+ mi | 2,796 | $0.55 | $1,534 | $1,563 | +1.9% |
SGT’s mix-adjusted enclosed premium by haul length (32.3% overall), applied to a sedan at today’s diesel.
| Distance | Premium | At miles | Open | Enclosed | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100–499 mi | +21.3% | 300 | $700 | $849 | $149 |
| 500–999 mi | +28.0% | 750 | $1,033 | $1,322 | $289 |
| 1,000–1,499 mi | +34.1% | 1,250 | $1,283 | $1,720 | $437 |
| 1,500–1,999 mi | +38.9% | 1,750 | $1,480 | $2,056 | $576 |
| 2,000+ mi | +37.3% | 2,250 | $1,647 | $2,261 | $614 |
Larger vehicles use more deck space and weight allowance on a trailer limited to 80,000 lb gross. Duallies, lifted trucks and tall vans may need a flatbed or hotshot carrier and a custom quote.
| Vehicle | Examples | Factor | 500 mi | 1,000 mi | 2,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan, coupe or hatchback | Camry, Civic, Model 3, Mustang | ×1 | $869 | $1,167 | $1,567 |
| Small SUV or crossover | RAV4, CR-V, Model Y, Equinox | ×1.07 | $930 | $1,249 | $1,676 |
| Midsize 3-row SUV or minivan | Highlander, Explorer, Odyssey, Sienna | ×1.15 | $999 | $1,342 | $1,802 |
| Full-size SUV or half-ton pickup | Tahoe, Suburban, F-150, Silverado 1500 | ×1.22 | $1,060 | $1,424 | $1,911 |
| Heavy-duty pickup (¾–1 ton) | F-250, Ram 2500, Silverado 3500 SRW | ×1.32 | $1,147 | $1,540 | $2,068 |
| Dually, lifted or oversized | F-350 dually, lifted Wrangler, Sprinter van | ×1.5 | $1,304 | $1,750 | $2,350 |
1,000-mile sedan, open carrier. Summer is the national peak; February is usually cheapest; snowbird lanes swing by direction.
| When | Factor | Change | 1,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical month (March–May, September) | ×1 | +0% | $1,167 |
| Summer peak (June–August) | ×1.1 | +10% | $1,284 |
| Off-peak (October–February), non-snowbird route | ×0.92 | −8% | $1,074 |
| Snowbird route, busy direction (south Oct–Dec, north Mar–May) | ×1.2 | +20% | $1,400 |
| Snowbird route, empty direction (north in fall, south in summer) | ×0.88 | −12% | $1,027 |
Applied to a 1,000-mile open-carrier sedan ($1,167 with no extras).
| Option | Adds | 1,000 mi total |
|---|---|---|
| Doesn’t run, but rolls, brakes and steers (winch) | +$200 flat | $1,367 |
| Doesn’t roll or steer (forklift or tow needed) | +$350 flat | $1,517 |
| Flexible (1–7 day pickup window) | −5% | $1,109 |
| Expedited (guaranteed pickup in 0–2 days) | +25% (at least $200) | $1,459 |
| One end rural or remote | +$125 flat | $1,292 |
| Both ends rural or remote | +$250 flat | $1,417 |
| Enclosed trailer | +31% at 1,000 mi (21–39% by distance) | $1,529 |
Approximate driving miles between city centers; sedan, typical month, today’s diesel. Busy interstate corridors often price below the curve and remote towns above it.
| Route | Miles | Open | Per mile | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selma, AL → Hattiesburg, MS | ≈ 195 | $582 | $2.99 | $707 | 1–2 days |
| Dallas, TX → Denver, CO | ≈ 795 | $1,058 | $1.33 | $1,361 | 2–4 days |
| Houston, TX → Atlanta, GA | ≈ 790 | $1,056 | $1.34 | $1,356 | 2–4 days |
| Woolwich, ME → Clemmons, NC | ≈ 890 | $1,110 | $1.25 | $1,440 | 2–4 days |
| Seattle, WA → Los Angeles, CA | ≈ 1,135 | $1,231 | $1.08 | $1,634 | 3–5 days |
| New York, NY → Miami, FL | ≈ 1,280 | $1,296 | $1.01 | $1,742 | 3–5 days |
| Boston, MA → Orlando, FL | ≈ 1,315 | $1,311 | $1.00 | $1,766 | 3–5 days |
| Chicago, IL → Miami, FL | ≈ 1,380 | $1,338 | $0.97 | $1,811 | 3–6 days |
| Austin, TX → Santa Barbara, CA | ≈ 1,450 | $1,366 | $0.94 | $1,859 | 3–6 days |
| Chicago, IL → Phoenix, AZ | ≈ 1,750 | $1,480 | $0.85 | $2,056 | 4–7 days |
| Los Angeles, CA → New York, NY | ≈ 2,790 | $1,805 | $0.65 | $2,478 | 6–10 days |
Diesel jumped from $3.72 in February 2026 to a weekly high of $6.53 in September after the Strait of Hormuz closed. Sedan, open carrier, typical month.
| Diesel / gal | Fuel factor | 500 mi | 1,000 mi | 2,800 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3.50 | ×0.950 | $714 | $959 | $1,486 |
| $4.20 (baseline) | ×1.000 | $752 | $1,010 | $1,564 |
| $5.00 | ×1.057 | $795 | $1,067 | $1,653 |
| $5.50 | ×1.093 | $822 | $1,103 | $1,709 |
| $6.38 (EIA, Sept 28, 2026) | ×1.156 | $869 | $1,167 | $1,807 |
| $7.00 | ×1.200 | $902 | $1,212 | $1,877 |
Federal hours-of-service rules allow 11 driving hours a day, and carriers stop to load and unload other cars, so trucks average roughly 300–500 miles a day.
| Distance | On the truck | Pickup window | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | 1–2 days | 1–5 days | 2–7 days |
| 500–1,000 miles | 1–4 days | 1–5 days | 2–9 days |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | 3–6 days | 1–5 days | 4–11 days |
| 1,500–2,000 miles | 4–7 days | 1–5 days | 5–12 days |
| Coast to coast (2,500–3,000 mi) | 5–10 days | 1–5 days | 6–15 days |
| Hawaii (by ship from California) | 9–33 days at sea | port drop-off | about 2–6 weeks |
| Alaska (by ship from Tacoma) | 3–7 days at sea | port drop-off | about 1–2 weeks |
Matson published port-to-port rates for a standard vehicle (effective June 7, 2026). Add the truck leg to the port — or drive it there — plus any fuel surcharge.
| Route | Rate | At sea |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach or Oakland → Honolulu | $1,790.00 | 9–33 days |
| Long Beach or Oakland → Hilo, Kahului, Nawiliwili | $2,600.00 | 9–33 days |
| Honolulu → Long Beach or Oakland | $1,020.00 | 9–33 days |
| Hilo, Kahului, Nawiliwili → Long Beach or Oakland | $1,990.01 | 9–33 days |
| Tacoma → Anchorage (up to 5′6″ tall) | $2,670.91 | 3–7 days |
| Tacoma → Anchorage (5′6″–6′6″ tall) | $3,339.01 | 3–7 days |
| Anchorage → Tacoma (up to 7′ tall) | $2,025.08 | 3–7 days |
| Tacoma → Kodiak | $4,277.81 | — |
Driving: 28 mpg, gas $4.41, 60 mph, 8 h/day, AAA wear 11.04¢/mi, GSA hotel $110 and meals $68. The last three columns add your time at $25/h and a $250 ticket if you ship.
| Miles | Days / nights | Drive | Ship | Cheaper | Drive + time | Ship + ticket | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 1 d / 0 n | $148 | $700 | Drive ($551 less) | $273 | $950 | Drive |
| 500 | 2 d / 1 n | $380 | $869 | Drive ($489 less) | $588 | $1,119 | Drive |
| 1,000 | 3 d / 2 n | $692 | $1,167 | Drive ($475 less) | $1,109 | $1,417 | Drive |
| 1,500 | 4 d / 3 n | $1,004 | $1,386 | Drive ($382 less) | $1,629 | $1,636 | Even |
| 2,000 | 5 d / 4 n | $1,316 | $1,567 | Drive ($251 less) | $2,149 | $1,817 | Ship |
| 2,800 | 6 d / 5 n | $1,708 | $1,807 | Drive ($99 less) | $2,875 | $2,057 | Ship |
The base price curve is fitted to SGT Auto Transport’s published 2025–26 consumer prices by distance and checked against Sherpa, Montway, Ship A Car and Forbes. The enclosed premium uses SGT’s distance bands, seasonal factors follow Ship A Car’s price calendar and snowbird route guides, and fuel uses EIA’s weekly diesel price. Ocean rates are Matson’s published tariffs; driving costs use AAA, GSA and IRS figures; and compliance details come from FMCSA, the eCFR and CBP. Every table on this page comes from the same code as the calculator. Vehicle-size factors and flat fees are planning values within the ranges brokers publish.
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