Key points
- Shipping your car to another state can be more manageable and cost-effective than driving it.
- Before shipping your car, remove personal belongings, inspect it for damage and document its condition with photos.
- Shipping a car to Hawaii or Alaska will typically require additional paperwork.
Auto transport services are a dependable way to get your vehicle across state lines. By working with a reputable company and choosing the right shipping and delivery services, you can coordinate movers, moving trucks and vehicle delivery for a seamless long-distance move.
However, you’ll need to get quotes from the best companies in the auto transport industry and prep your car for the journey. Below, we break down the steps you’ll need to take.
How can you ship your car to another state?
If you’re planning a big move and wondering how to ship your car, you have the choice of moving it yourself or having a company move it for you. In either case, you have a few options to help you get the most out of the process.
Move it yourself
Moving your vehicle yourself might be the most budget-friendly option. By driving it yourself, you may save hundreds of dollars in shipping fees and can use your car to move some of your belongings. If you want to move your car yourself, you can do the following:
- Drive it: With proper planning, you can drive your vehicle to your destination and use it to pack and move your belongings. However, driving involves extra expenses, including fuel, lodging and meals. You’ll also put more miles on your engine and wear on your tires and brakes.
- Use a tow dolly: If you’re using a moving truck, the company may also offer tow dollies you can use to transport your vehicle during the move. Tow dollies are not made for all-wheel drive vehicles. By using a tow dolly, you assume all responsibility for any damages to your vehicle during transit.
Pros
Saves money on shipping costs
Allows you to move your belongings in your vehicle
Gives uninterrupted use of your vehicle
Cons
Entails paying out of pocket for travel fees such as gas, meals and lodging
Requires investing more of your personal time
Assumes responsibility for all damages done to your vehicle during transport
Have it shipped
Depending on which state you’re moving to, you can move your car by road, freight train, boat or airplane. Most people ship their vehicles by road by connecting with shipping carriers through reputable shipping brokers or companies.
The most common type of over-road car shipping is open transport, but enclosed shipping is also available through most brokers and offers increased protection for your vehicle.
Pros
Allows you to drive a moving truck
Reduces wear and tear on your vehicle during a long move
Limits responsibility for damages that occur during transport
Cons
Costs more than driving or towing your vehicle yourself
Potentially exposes your vehicle to the weather and other types of damage
Removes access to your vehicle during shipment
Open shipping
You may have seen long trailers stacked with multiple vehicles when traveling by interstate or highway. When you choose open shipping, your car will be moved using this transport vehicle. The high capacity of these specialized trailers makes them the most affordable shipping option for carriers and car owners.
Enclosed shipping
Enclosed transport uses walled trailers to move vehicles. This auto shipping type transports fewer vehicles at a time than open shipping and costs more per mile, but your vehicle won’t be exposed to the weather or road debris. It’s a better option for luxury or antique vehicles.
What are the steps for shipping your car to another state?
Shipping your vehicle is a straightforward process that starts with assessing your shipping needs.
1. Decide your shipping needs
If you’re considering shipping your vehicle, first determine how you’d like it moved.
- Open transport: Open transport uses a specialized, open-air trailer to move multiple vehicles simultaneously. This is the most cost-effective car shipping method for carriers and drivers, but it exposes vehicles to the elements and road debris.
- Enclosed auto transport: Enclosed carriers offer more protection for vehicles but cost more per mile and may take longer to deliver your vehicle.
- Terminal-to-terminal delivery: Having your vehicle shipped to and from a carrier’s designated shipping terminals is often faster and more affordable than door-to-door car shipment.
- Door-to-door delivery: With door-to-door delivery, shipping carriers pick up and deliver your vehicle as close to your chosen location as possible. This method costs more than terminal-to-terminal delivery and may take longer.
Regardless of your choice, we also recommend setting a hard limit for how much you want to spend on shipping services at this stage. Anticipating shipping costs before getting quotes can be tricky. However, as a rule of thumb, you can expect to pay an average of 89 cents per mile for car shipping, according to quotes we received from leading shipping companies.
2. Request quotes and compare shipping services
Next, you’ll need to reach out to shipping companies for quotes. Most shipping companies you’ll work with are shipping brokers. These companies network with shipping carriers to give customers access to national and international vehicle shipping.
Carriers are the drivers with trucks that move your vehicle, while brokers are the companies that find carriers for your shipments.
Be prepared to provide information about your vehicle and shipping needs, including the following:
- Your preferred shipping dates
- Pickup and delivery locations
- The operable condition of your vehicle
- Your vehicle’s make, model and age
- Your shipping and delivery preferences
When requesting quotes, contact several shipping brokers around the same time and ask for quotes for different shipping services. Some carriers may offer lower prices for your job than others, and you may find that door-to-door and enclosed shipping are within your budget from select carriers.
3. Choose an auto shipping company
Once you receive quotes, compare offers and choose the company you’d like to work with. Your carrier of choice will work with you to establish a pickup date, and you can use this opportunity to clarify any details about vehicle tracking and delivery at this time. You’ll also discuss acceptable payment methods and make any applicable down payments.
4. Gather necessary documents
In most situations, the only documents you’ll need to ship your car are a photo ID and the bill of lading. The bill of lading works like a contract between you and the shipping carrier. It documents the condition of your vehicle and the shipment details and serves as a legal document in case of any issues during transit. Some carriers may also require a valid title, but this is rare.
If you’re shipping your vehicle to Hawaii or Alaska, you’ll most likely use port-to-port shipping. In this case, you may need an absent owner authorization form, which permits the carrier to pick up your vehicle in your absence.
5. Prepare your vehicle
Next, you’ll need to prep your vehicle for transport. Regardless of where you’re shipping your vehicle, make sure you remove all personal belongings or identifying documents from the vehicle. Shipping carriers don’t insure personal items stored in your vehicle and are not responsible if these items are lost or stolen during transit.
You can also clean and photograph your vehicle’s interior and exterior for added peace of mind. Cleaning your vehicle makes existing damages easier to spot for both you and the carrier, and photographing your car in its best state provides proof of its condition before shipping, should you need it.
Finally, before shipping your vehicle — especially when using port-to-port shipping — leave no more than a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle. This helps reduce the weight of your vehicle during transport.
6. Inspect your car and sign the bill of lading
When you meet your shipping carrier on your pickup date, you’ll do so either at your specified pickup location or the carrier’s shipping terminal. The carrier will inspect your vehicle during pickup and document its condition on the bill of lading, which you both sign before the carrier takes it.
Vehicle tracking varies by carrier. Some carriers offer online tracking, while others provide the service via phone or email. Verify this information with your carrier again when you hand your vehicle over for shipping.
7. Meet your carrier for delivery
When it’s time, you’ll meet your shipping carrier at the delivery location or a terminal for your vehicle. You’ll need to perform a final inspection and note any dents, damages or other changes in your car’s condition with the shipping carrier. If everything checks out, you can pay any remaining balance you’ve been billed, and the carrier will hand over your keys.
You’ll also sign the bill of lading again to confirm you received your vehicle and it’s in good condition.
How much does it cost to ship my car to another state?
Car shipping rates vary based on several factors. To help you understand what it might cost, we got car shipping quotes from some of the industry’s best-known companies for a 2019 Toyota Camry. Below, you can find the average of these quotes for different distances.
| Shipping Distance | Type of Shipping | Average Overall Cost | Average Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 571 miles | Open | $665 | $1.16 |
| 1,530 miles | Open | $1,113 | 73 cents |
| 1,530 miles | Enclosed | $1,725 | $1.13 |
| 2,363 miles | Open | $1,236 | 52 cents |
To give you an idea of how much the type of shipping you choose impacts your overall costs, compare the price of open shipping over 1,530 miles above against the cost of enclosed shipping over the same distance. Based on our quotes, using enclosed shipping to move a Toyota Camry 1,530 miles costs 40 cents more per mile or $612 more overall.
Factors that affect car shipping prices
Beyond the type of shipping you choose, other factors that impact your car shipping costs include the following:
- Type of vehicle: SUVs, trucks and heavier vehicles cost more to ship than smaller vehicles, such as sedans or motorcycles.
- Shipping company or car carrier: Different car transport services will offer varying rates for the same job, so always shop around.
- Distance: Shipping your vehicle over longer distances will cost less per mile, but you’ll pay more overall.
- Gas prices: When gas prices increase, so does the cost of shipping your vehicle.
- Delivery method: Door-to-door car delivery is convenient, but you may pay a higher overall price. Terminal-to-terminal is more cost-effective for the car transport company and is typically the cheapest way to deliver your car.
- Time of year: January and summer are peak seasons for moving, meaning car shipping may cost more during these times.
How long does it take to ship a car to another state?
How long it will take to ship your car depends on which carrier you choose, how far you need to ship it, and which shipping and delivery methods you want. Generally, open carrier shipping with terminal-to-terminal delivery over short distances of 600 miles or less will be the fastest.
However, you can expect many shipping jobs to take between one and 14 days. If you’re shipping your vehicle to Hawaii or Alaska, transit times can extend up to six weeks.
Should I ship my car or drive it?
You have many transport options for your vehicle during a move. If you’re weighing your options, you may be considering renting a tow dolly from your moving company or driving your vehicle yourself. However, the shipping process is simple and, depending on your transport method and other factors, you may find it more cost-effective to use dependable vehicle transport.
Depending on how far you need to transport your vehicle, deciding between shipping your car and driving it may be difficult. In general, if it’s a short distance and you have the means, driving it is the less expensive option. However, if it’s a farther distance, paying to ship your car may be worth it — it’s one less thing to move and you won’t add mileage or wear to your vehicle.
Final take: Car shipping companies offer an affordable and flexible way to move your vehicle long-distance
If you plan to move cross-country or to another state, car shipping services are a convenient and often cost-effective option. By choosing the right auto transport company, you’ll get peace of mind knowing your vehicle is safe and secure and will be ready for you at your chosen destination.
If you’re looking for the best auto shippers, see our picks for the top car shipping companies below. You can reach out to any of these companies for a no-obligation quote:
