Colorado car shipping
Car Shipping in Colorado
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$0.40–$1.89 per mile
Open transport rate
1–3 days
Avg. transit time
$240 – $660
Within Colorado
$0.52–$3.02 per mile
Enclosed transport rate
Free · No obligation · About a minute
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Colorado shipping rates
Published figures for a standard car, by estimated distance.
- Open transport
- $0.40–$1.89 per mile
- Enclosed transport
- $0.52–$3.02 per mile
- Within Colorado
- $240 – $660
- Colorado to California
- $670 – $1,740
- Colorado to Wyoming
- $290 – $790
- Colorado to Texas
- $550 – $1,420
Winter weather affects pickup, not just price
No source publishes monthly prices by state, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Storms and mountain passes can delay a truck that is already on the road, so a wider pickup window matters more here than a slightly lower quote.
Published price adjustments
- Pickup truckPickups cost about 38% more to ship than standard cars.Source: Move.org
- SUVAt 500 miles, an SUV averaged $743 against $696 for a car.Source: Move.org
- Non-running vehicleAdd $150 to $300 for a vehicle that does not run.Source: Direct Connect Auto Transport
Why ship your car in Colorado?
Colorado is the state that legislates what a carrier must have on board before it is allowed to cross. From 1 September to 31 May, every commercial vehicle over 16,000 pounds must carry chains or approved traction devices on more than 1,400 miles of highway including I-70 — regardless of the weather that day. A driver in shirtsleeves on a dry September road is still required to have them in the truck.
- Chains must be carried from 1 September to 31 May, whatever the weather
- It applies to commercial vehicles over 16,000 pounds combined weight
- More than 1,400 centerline miles are covered, including I-70
- Fines run to $500, or up to $1,000 plus surcharge for blocking the road
- Only 3 of the state's 76 billion-dollar disasters were winter storms
Flexible pickup dates and a nearby meeting point usually get you a lower price.
Good to know in Colorado
The things that actually move a pickup date here.
Chains have to be in the truck from September, not just in a blizzard
CDOT's rule requires commercial vehicles with a combined weight over 16,000 pounds to carry chains or alternate traction devices from 1 September to 31 May across more than 1,400 centerline miles, including I-70 and stretches of US 40, 50, 160, 285 and 550. It applies regardless of conditions on the day. Failing to carry them is a $500 fine, and blocking the road because you did not is up to $1,000 plus a surcharge. It is worth knowing because it explains a September quote that prices Colorado like winter.
The chain law is about the passes, not about the state's worst weather
NOAA counts 76 billion-dollar weather disasters in Colorado between 1980 and 2024, and just 3 of them were winter storms — against 42 severe storms, 16 droughts and 12 wildfires. The mountain rules exist because a single stuck truck closes a pass with no detour, not because Colorado winters are the costliest in the country. On the Front Range the likelier disruption to your shipment is a summer hailstorm.
Almost everyone lives on one line, and the rest is mountains
Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Pueblo sit along I-25, where carriers run regularly and a pickup is easy to arrange. West of Denver the road climbs into the corridor the chain law governs, and mountain towns are served by drivers making a deliberate trip rather than passing through. A pickup in Aspen, Durango or Steamboat waits longer and costs more than the mileage from Denver suggests.
Sources: CDOT: Colorado's must-carry chain law, CDOT: Colorado's chain law, NOAA NCEI: billion-dollar disasters, Colorado summary
Popular routes from Colorado
Popular routes to Colorado
Major cities in Colorado
Starting prices on popular routes.
Shipping services in Colorado
Car shipping companies serving Colorado
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by state data.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to ship a car to or from Colorado?
Car shipping is routine when you use a licensed, insured company. Check the company's USDOT or MC number, confirm its insurance, and record your car's condition at pickup.
How to ship a carHow do I choose a trustworthy car shipping company in Colorado?
Look up the company's USDOT or MC number, compare several quotes, read recent reviews, and avoid companies that ask for a large deposit before a carrier is assigned.
Avoid car shipping scamsShould I choose open or enclosed transport in Colorado?
Open transport suits most cars and is the cheapest option. Enclosed transport is worth considering for luxury, classic or exotic cars, or when the car will travel through harsh weather.
Open vs. enclosed shipping
How much does it cost to ship a car from Colorado?
Published figures put open transport from Colorado at about $290 – $790 to Wyoming and $760 – $3,590 to New York. Enclosed transport runs 30–60% higher in the same studies. Distance, vehicle size, season and pickup location change the price.
Car shipping cost guideHow much does car shipping cost per mile in Colorado?
Published figures for longer Colorado routes run about $0.40–$1.89 per mile for open transport and $0.52–$3.02 per mile for enclosed. Short trips cost more per mile than long ones.
Car shipping cost per mileHow much does it cost to ship a car within Colorado?
Published figures put an in-state move of about 100 miles, such as Denver to Colorado Springs, at $240 – $660 on an open carrier.
Colorado car shipping guide
Everything to know about shipping a car to or from Colorado: costs, routes, preparation and what to expect.
- How prices are set and how to compare quotes
- Choosing open or enclosed transport
- Getting your car ready for pickup
Where these figures come from
Published industry studies, not Haulwide shipments. Checked Sep 16, 2026.
- SGT Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 9, 2026. 30 months of the company's own shipping data (January 2024 to June 2026) across all 50 states and 1,581 state-to-state lanes, limited to completed single-vehicle open transport deliveries and mix-adjusted for distance.
- Move.org(opens in a new tab)
Published Mar 4, 2026. Nearly 800 broker quotes analyzed, priced for a running 2025 Toyota Camry with a one-week lead time using October 2025 quotes.
- Kelley Blue Book(opens in a new tab)
Published Jan 12, 2026. Quotes requested from eight transport companies for a 2025 Honda Accord on three routes from Orlando, on standard open carriers.
- Direct Connect Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
No publication date given. The company's own carrier data for an operable sedan on open transport; the page states no publication date.
- RoadRunner Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 1, 2026. The company's completed shipment history, which it describes as over 1 million vehicles delivered across 30+ years, updated September 2026. Its nationwide average is $1,215 at a median distance of 987 miles and a median $1.23 per mile.
The sources disagree, so figures are shown as the span across them rather than a single price. Pricing methodology
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