The Cheapest Way to Ship a Car Cross-Country
Fact Checked by: While there are plenty of things to consider when preparing for a cross-country move, you can’t forget about your car! But how are you going to get your car to your new home without breaking the bank?
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The cheapest way to ship a car cross country is by train, but this option isn’t available for most moves. If you can’t ship your car by train, the best alternatives are:
- Open auto transport
- Driving yourself
- Having your professional movers move your car
- Hiring one of the best car shipping companies for the job
In this guide, we’ll look at the pros and cons of several long-distance vehicle shipping options. Only you can decide which option works best for your budget and timeline, but this guide will definitely help you make the best decision in no time.
Shipping your car with your moving company
If your car is small enough and you don’t have a lot of stuff, many movers are fine with transporting your car in the back of the moving truck.
Some of the best long-distance moving companies also offer separate car shipping services. In this case, the moving company acts as a broker between you and a car shipping company. Sometimes they offer the service as part of their own cross-country moving services.
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This is exactly why you need to hire one of the best interstate moving companies. They will ensure you get the best overall experience, including working with dependable car shippers.
- You only have to coordinate your move with one company
- Your moving company will take care of both your car and your belongings
- Can be more expensive than working directly with a car shipping company
- Some moving companies may partner with lower-quality car shippers
6 Ways to ship a car cross-country affordably
Every car transport option has its pros and cons. If you’re looking for the best prices without sacrificing quality or your sanity, check out these cross-country car shipping options.
1. Open carrier transport
This is when you hire an auto transport company to transport your car on the back of an open trailer. It’s the best option for:
- Interstate moves
- Long-distance moves, especially if you’re crossing an ocean
- Door-to-door shipping (although this comes at a premium, so watch out)
Shipping your car in an open car carrier is usually the cheapest hands-off option. It does expose your car to the elements, though, so if you have a classic car or luxury vehicle, you might want to opt for an enclosed trailer instead.
The price of car shipping depends on which type of transport you choose. You’ll pay more for:
- Enclosed car shipping
- Door-to-door service
- Larger or high-value vehicles
Generally speaking, open transport is still consistently one of the cheapest ways to ship a car cross-country. However, car shipping costs tend to vary among transport carriers. It’s best to get a free quote from multiple auto shipping companies to find the best price and shipping options.
- Often one of the cheapest car shipping options
- Flexible service to match your budget, timeline, and shipping preferences
- No wear and tear on your car
- Higher rates for shorter moves
- Many carriers have a weight limit for how much luggage you can store in your car
2. Terminal-to-terminal shipping
Terminal-to-terminal shipping is ideal if:
- You aren’t in a rush to get your car
- You’re making a long-distance move
- You live near a delivery location
Shipping a car with terminal-to-terminal shipping can be less expensive than standard open transport, but it can also take longer to get your vehicle.
With this shipping option, you bring your vehicle to a terminal, where it sits until the carrier has enough vehicles to deliver it to a terminal near your destination city. This helps the carrier reduce the number of trips it takes and is more efficient than doing door-to-door pickups and drop-offs.
However, this means you might have to wait a while for your car to actually arrive at a terminal close to your new home.
As with other forms of open transport, the exact cost will vary based on the total mileage, the size of your vehicle, and its value.
- Can be cheaper than standard open transport
- The company keeps your car at a secure location until it ships
- You can separately hire a driver to pick up your vehicle
- Drop-off and pickup points may be far from your destination
- Takes much longer than standard auto shipping
3. Driving the car yourself
Not a fan of hiring a car transport company? No problem. You can always DIY everything and drive the car yourself.
It’s more expensive to hire a shipper for short-distance moves, so this could be a good option if you’re moving a few hours away. Plenty of people opt to drive themselves because it’s the best way to relocate with their pets, too.
The downside is that driving yourself takes a lot of time. You can’t just fly to your new home — you’ll have to spend days on the road.
Plus, this isn’t necessarily the cheapest option. You should budget for moving-related expenses like:
- Gas
- Food
- Lodging
- Vehicle maintenance
- You’re in total control of your trip
- You can make a trip out of it and stop at interesting sites along your route
- Road trips can be surprisingly expensive
- You’ll add wear and tear to your vehicle
4. Rent a truck and tow
Did you rent a moving truck? Great! Some moving truck rental companies allow towing, which is an easy way to move your belongings and car in one go.
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Now, this does require renting more equipment. To tow a vehicle with your moving truck, you’ll also need to rent either a tow dolly or a trailer. Maximum loads and rental rates vary, too, so you can’t tow all types of vehicles behind a moving truck.
This option is great if you have one vehicle. If you have two or more, you’ll need a friend or family member to drive the other vehicle behind the moving truck.
Larger moving trucks only get roughly 10 miles per gallon to begin with, so you’ll definitely pay more for gas if you choose this option.
- Get everything to your destination in a single trip
- You can store personal belongings in your car, as well as your moving truck
- Safely towing a car with a moving truck takes skill and requires low travel speeds
- Could result in even longer cross-country travels
5. Shipping a car cross-country with driveaway (hiring a driver)
Not a fan of driving? We get it. This option is best for people who don’t want to do the driving themselves, but want a cheaper alternative to car shippers.
Hire a driver to do the move for you. They’re also known as driveaway, or car courier services.
When you hire a driver, you’re trusting someone else to drive the vehicle to your new home on your behalf. But don’t worry — driveaway companies screen their drivers before hiring and some even require references and a deposit from each driver for your peace of mind.
While this shipping option can be cheaper than some car shipping options, it does come with some risks. Just like when you drive the car yourself, driveaway will add miles to your odometer and result in some natural wear and tear on your vehicle. There is always the risk that drivers will get into an accident or have another issue.
- Fast and efficient door-to-door service
- You can usually pack belongings in your vehicle
- Your car gets individualized attention
- Your car will get extra wear and tear from driving a long distance
- Can be challenging to find reputable companies or drivers
6. Shipping a car cross-country by train
That’s right: you can move by train… and ship your car, too — but only if you’re moving from D.C to Florida. This option doesn’t work if you’re moving anywhere else.
Amtrak offers a car transport service, mainly for snowbirds. Passengers put their vehicles on the train and ride along from D.C. to Florida, which takes about 17 hours.
Coach seats start at $115 per passenger, while rooms typically cost over $300. You’ll also pay $225 per standard vehicle, $255 per “extended vehicle,” and $155 per motorcycle.
Shipping a car by train is super cheap and offers an enclosed space for protection, but it isn’t always available and vandalism may be a risk while the train sits at the depot.
- Often the cheapest option for transporting your car
- More environmentally friendly than other transportation options
- You can store personal items inside your vehicle
- Very limited availability (route only runs from Washington D.C. to Orlando)
- Car transport service runs on a fixed schedule without much flexibility
The cost to ship a car cross country
| Distance | Open trailer | Enclosed trailer | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| <500 miles | $600 | $940 | $755 |
| 500–1,000 miles | $920 | $1,150 | $1,001 |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | $1,195 | $1,710 | $1,311 |
| 1,500–2,500 miles | $1,501 | $2,022 | $1,714 |
| 2,500+ miles | $1,695 | $2,310 | $2,001 |
The average cost of shipping a car cross-country ranges from $500 to $2,500, depending on the options you choose and the total distance of your trip. Keep in mind that the cheapest option might not be available in your area.
Factors that affect car shipping costs
But regardless of which transport option you ultimately choose, a few factors will affect your shipping rates.
Shipping option
Some shipping options are just cheaper than others. For example, shipping your car by train is generally much cheaper than hiring a driver.
But if you want to save hassle, maybe you opt to ship your car instead of waiting for a spot on the train. That’s well and good, but keep in mind that the more convenience you get, the more you’ll pay.
Open vs. enclosed transport
There are a few things to consider when weighing open vs. enclosed auto transport. Enclosed transport costs more because shippers can’t fit as many cars on the trailer, which cuts into their profits. If you’re aiming for cheap car shipping, go for open trailers.
But if you have an antique or luxury car (or you just don’t want to risk replacing your windshield once you get to your new home), it might make sense to pay more for enclosed transport.
Delivery window
Expedited service usually costs more because the shippers have to do more for you. Asking for a specific pickup or delivery date will typically result in higher car shipping prices, too.
Car shipping is unpredictable, and shippers can’t always guarantee delivery timelines. The more flexible you are with the delivery window, the more likely they are to cut you a deal.
Door-to-door service
Having your vehicle delivered to your new home costs more than if you pick it up at a terminal or delivery location. That’s because the car shipper has to transport your car on an additional trailer and hire drivers just for the delivery. Door-to-door service increases their costs, which they pass on to you.
Distance
Some shippers charge higher per-mile rates for short moves. But your total cost could still be higher for a cross-country trip just because of the total mileage — even if you score a decent per-mile discount.
Type of vehicle
The type and condition of your car matters. For example, it costs more to ship large vehicles like SUVs and trucks. Luxury vehicles also cost more because of insurance policies and liability.
Additionally, car shipping companies tend to charge more for non-operational vehicles because they have to use specialized equipment to move your car.
Add-ons
Regardless of how you ship your car, signing up for extras costs more. You’ll pay more for:
- Comprehensive insurance coverage
- Expedited shipping
- Guaranteed delivery dates
- Shipping to a remote location
- Custom crating
- Storage fees
Tips for saving money on car shipping
Regardless of how you choose to ship your car, there are a few ways you can save money on your car shipping costs. Depending on how flexible you can be, these tips can go a long way to help you find the cheapest way to ship your car cross-country.
Ship your car during the winter
Winter is the cheapest time of year to ship your car. Fewer people move during the winter, so most shippers offer lower prices to get more business during this slow part of the year.
It doesn’t hurt that gas prices tend to be lower in the winter, too. Whether you’re driving yourself or using a car shipping company, this results in a less expensive trip.
While early spring and late fall tend to be more expensive than winter, they’re still cheaper than summer, which sees the highest demand and, as a result, the highest prices.
Be flexible
We get that you want to know exactly when your vehicle will arrive, but that’s hard to predict. The more flexible you can be with delivery and pickup dates, the lower your rates will be.
Many companies offer discounted rates for more flexible delivery because this makes it easier to fit your delivery with their schedule.
Be mindful of extra fees
Fees add up quickly, so be mindful before agreeing to add-ons. Many car shipping companies charge extra for:
- Vehicles over a certain size or weight
- Collector or antique cars
- Inoperable cars
These vehicles usually require special equipment, extra labor, or comprehensive insurance. That increases the shipper’s costs, which they pass on to you.
Get multiple car shipping quotes
Never go with the first quote you see. We recommend getting at least three quotes before you make a decision. Fortunately, most vehicle transport companies offer instant quotes online.
With multiple quotes in hand, you can better understand shipping prices and see where to get the best possible deal. We show you how to compare car shipping quotes here!
Ask about discounts
There are plenty of car shipping discounts available — you just have to know to ask for them.
Many car shippers offer discounts for:
- Veterans
- Seniors
- Students
- First-time customers
- Repeat customers
The worst thing they can say is no, so always ask your shipper for discounts when you request a quote.
FAQs about car shipping discounts
What is the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country?
Shipping your car via train is the cheapest way to do cross-country car shipping, although this is limited only to certain areas.
The next-best options are:
- Open auto transport services
- having your professional movers handle transporting your car
- Driving the car cross-country yourself
- Hiring a driver to transport the car
How much does it cost to ship a car to Hawaii?
The cost for shipping a car to Hawaii ranges from $1,000 to $1,500, but varies based on factors like:
- Departure port
- Vehicle size
- Shipping method (open car transport versus enclosed carrier)
What documents do I need to ship my car cross-country?
This depends on where you’re traveling to and from, as well as your car shipping company’s requirements.
Generally speaking, you’ll need:
- Vehicle title and registration
- Photo ID
- Proof of insurance
- Shipping agreement
Are certain times of the year cheaper for car shipping?
Yes. Winter is the cheapest time of the year to ship your car because fewer people move in the winter. Fall and spring are also cheaper than shipping in the summer.
Car shipping demand peaks in the summer, so try to avoid shipping in the summer if possible.
For extra help getting your vehicle ready for cross country shipping, check out our car shipping checklist.
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