Average Cost to Ship a Car
The average cost to ship a car in the US in 2026 is roughly $1,050 to $1,250 for a typical move: a running sedan, traveling 1,000 to 1,500 miles, on an open carrier. That is the center of the market, where most shipments land.
Averages hide a wide range, though. Short local moves average $400 to $700, while coast to coast shipments average $1,300 to $1,700. Vehicle type swings the number by hundreds of dollars in either direction.
Below are the 2026 averages broken down by distance and vehicle type, what pushes your price above or below them, and five proven ways to beat the average on your own shipment.
The National Average in 2026
The national average is a starting point, not a quote. It blends short hops and cross country hauls, sedans and lifted trucks, January discounts and August peaks. Your move will differ, and the sections below show you by how much.
For the most common shipment in America, a sedan going 1,000 to 1,500 miles on an open trailer, the average sits around $950 to $1,150. Industry data and broker rate sheets cluster tightly here because this lane profile is the most competitive in the business. Current auto transport costs in 2026 track closely with these figures.
Averages have crept up modestly since 2023, mostly on fuel and insurance costs rather than carrier profits. Diesel volatility remains the main reason the average moves quarter to quarter.
Regional differences sit underneath the national number. Shipments touching the Northeast and California trend 5 to 10 percent above average because operating costs are higher there. Shipments through Texas and the Southeast often land a little below it, thanks to dense carrier networks and flat, easy highway miles.
The average also blends open and enclosed shipments, though open carriers handle roughly nine out of ten vehicles. Enclosed moves pull the average up slightly. If you are shipping a standard car on an open trailer, your realistic benchmark sits a touch below the headline average, not right on it.
Average Cost by Distance
Under 500 miles, the average is $450 to $700. These trips look pricey per mile because fixed loading and dispatch costs dominate, but the totals stay low. City to city moves within a state usually land here.
From 500 to 1,000 miles, the average runs $750 to $1,050. This covers regional moves like Chicago to Dallas or Atlanta to New York, some of the most quoted lanes in the country.
From 1,000 to 2,000 miles, expect $950 to $1,350 on average. Coast adjacent moves and long regional hauls live in this band. Over 2,000 miles, the average is $1,300 to $1,700, with true coast to coast runs at the top end. Our car shipping cost guide breaks these bands down with more route examples.
Notice how the average does not double when the distance doubles. A 500 mile move averaging $575 and a 1,000 mile move averaging $900 shows the pattern clearly. Fixed costs for dispatch, loading, and scheduling are baked into every shipment, so short moves carry a higher average per mile even though the total stays lower.
Average Cost by Vehicle Type
Sedans and small coupes are the baseline: cheapest to move, with the most carrier competition. Everything else is measured against them. A compact car on a 1,200 mile lane averages $900 to $1,050.
Midsize SUVs and crossovers add $75 to $150 over the sedan average on the same route. Full size SUVs and pickup trucks add $150 to $300. They take more deck space and weight, and there are fewer open slots that fit them, so carriers charge for the privilege.
EVs usually price $50 to $150 above their gas equivalents because battery packs make them heavy. Classics and exotics shipped enclosed run 40 to 60 percent above open rates, which puts a 1,200 mile enclosed shipment around $1,500 to $1,900. Per mile rates show the same pattern: bigger and heavier always costs more per mile.
Modified vehicles sit outside the averages entirely. Lift kits, oversized tires, and roof racks change the trailer footprint, and some builds need a dedicated slot or a specialized carrier. If your vehicle is modified, expect quotes 15 to 40 percent above the averages here, and always disclose the modifications when requesting quotes so the numbers are real.
Why Your Quote May Differ From the Average
Timing is the biggest lever. Ship in July and you will pay 10 to 25 percent over the annual average. Ship in February and you will likely pay under it. The average blends all twelve months, but you only ship in one of them.
Route popularity matters just as much. Major city pairs beat the average because carriers compete for the freight. Rural endpoints miss it by $50 to $200 because of detour time. An inoperable vehicle adds $100 to $200 anywhere.
Fuel prices nudge the whole average up and down. When diesel spikes, every quote rises a little, and the EIA petroleum data shows you exactly when that is happening. A quote that looks high during a fuel spike is usually just honest.
Speed is the last big lever. Standard service gives the broker a three to five day pickup window and prices at the average. Expedited service, with pickup in one to two days, typically adds 20 to 40 percent. Guaranteed date pickups cost the most of all. Unless the car has to move tomorrow, standard timing keeps you at or under the average.
Five Ways to Pay Less Than Average
First, get three to five quotes and book near the middle. The average of real quotes is more useful than any national figure, and it is specific to your route and dates. Before booking, verify the broker’s credentials on the FMCSA site and check the company’s BBB profile.
Second, stay flexible on pickup dates. A three to five day window lets brokers match you with trucks already running your lane, which routinely beats rigid scheduling by $75 to $150.
Third, ship open carrier unless the car’s value demands enclosed. Fourth, meet the driver near a highway if your pickup is rural. Fifth, ask about every discount: military, student, senior, and multi-vehicle. Each one is small, but they stack. Our walkthrough of the cheapest way to ship a car puts real dollar figures on all five.
One more habit that beats the average over time: book the same way every time. Shippers who reuse a broker they trust, keep their dates flexible, and never pay expedited fees consistently land 10 to 15 percent under the national average. The average is set by everyone, including the people overpaying. You do not have to be one of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost to ship a car across the country?
Coast to coast, expect $1,300 to $1,700 for a running sedan on an open carrier. That covers roughly 2,500 to 3,000 miles. Enclosed transport pushes the average to $1,900 to $2,600.
How much does it cost to ship an SUV versus a sedan?
Plan on $75 to $300 more than the sedan price for the same route, depending on the SUV’s size. Midsize crossovers sit at the low end of that range, and full size SUVs and trucks at the high end.
Why is my quote higher than the national average?
Usually timing, route, or vehicle. Summer shipping, rural endpoints, enclosed trailers, and inoperable vehicles all push quotes above average. Check which of those apply to your move before assuming the quote is padded.
Do prices drop if I wait a month?
Sometimes. Moving from August to September or from June to October often helps, since you leave peak season. But waiting from February into March rarely changes much. Season direction matters more than waiting itself.
Is the average price what I should budget?
Budget 10 percent above the average for your distance band and vehicle type, and you will rarely be surprised. Quotes cluster near the average, but your specific dates and route can nudge the final number either way.
The average tells you where the market sits. Your quotes tell you where your move sits. Get both, and the gap between them is usually negotiable with nothing more than flexible dates.
Start with the averages above, collect your quotes, verify the company behind the one you like, and book with confidence. That is how you beat the average instead of just reading about it.
