Philadelphia, PA car shipping
Car Shipping in Philadelphia, PA
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- Independent company rankings
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$240 – $3,045
Typical price
Sedan, open transport
1–4 days
Transit time
Most major cities
Los Angeles, Baltimore
Top destinations
$250 – $680
Trips within Pennsylvania
Published range for an in-state trip
Free · No obligation · About a minute
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About car shipping in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has something most cities on this list do not: a working vehicle port inside the city limits, which makes it a place cars arrive rather than only pass through. For domestic moves it sits on I-95 between New York and Baltimore, so lanes are frequent and short-haul pricing is tight. The local obstacle is the rowhouse street, which is narrower than a car carrier is wide once both curbs are parked.
- A dedicated auto terminal in the city handles ocean-going vehicles
- On I-95 between New York and Baltimore, so lanes run constantly
- Rowhouse streets in South Philly and Fishtown need a meeting point
- I-476 lets through traffic bypass the city entirely
- Main highways
- I-95, I-76, I-476
- Typical transit
- 1–4 days
- In-state trips
- $250 – $680
Car shipping rates from Philadelphia
Estimated from published industry figures for a standard car. Your quote depends on season, vehicle and exact addresses.
| Destination | Distance | Open transport | Enclosed transport | Transit time | Route page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 2,870 mi | $1,005 – $5,425 | $1,305 – $8,680 | 6–12 days | Pennsylvania to California |
| Baltimore, MD | 110 mi | $240 – $660 | $290 – $1,055 | 1–2 days | Pennsylvania to Maryland |
| Houston, TX | 1,610 mi | $645 – $3,045 | $835 – $4,870 | 4–7 days | Pennsylvania to Texas |
| Jacksonville, FL | 910 mi | $665 – $1,720 | $850 – $2,750 | 2–4 days | Pennsylvania to Florida |
| Newark, NJ | 90 mi | $240 – $660 | $310 – $1,055 | 1–2 days | Pennsylvania to New Jersey |
| New York City, NY | 100 mi | $240 – $660 | $290 – $1,055 | 1–2 days | Pennsylvania to New York |
Winter weather affects pickup, not just price
No source publishes monthly prices by city, 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
Transit times from Philadelphia
Typical days on the road after pickup.
- Wilmington, DE · 50 mi1–2 days
- Newark, NJ · 90 mi1–2 days
- New York City, NY · 100 mi1–2 days
- Baltimore, MD · 110 mi1–2 days
- Chicago, IL · 800 mi2–4 days
- Atlanta, GA · 800 mi2–4 days
- Jacksonville, FL · 910 mi2–4 days
Popular routes from Philadelphia
Car shipping companies serving Philadelphia
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by city data.
Pickup areas around Philadelphia
Where trucks reach easily, and where a meeting point helps.
- Main Line, King of Prussia, Bucks CountyOff I-476 and I-276 with space to load. The easiest pickups in the region.
- South Philly, Fishtown, KensingtonMeet on an avenue or in a lot; the streets themselves will not take a carrier.
- Port and Navy Yard areaBuilt for trucks, and the staging area for anything shipping overseas.
Good to know in Philadelphia
- The auto terminal is in the city, not a state awayPhilaPort operates a 155-acre SouthPort Auto Terminal with its own vehicle processing center, alongside auto berths at Pier 122 and Pier 98. If your car is arriving from or leaving for overseas, the ocean leg genuinely ends here, and the trucking leg is short.
- Rowhouse blocks are narrower than the truckMuch of South Philadelphia, Fishtown and Kensington has streets with parking on both sides and barely a lane between. A carrier cannot enter, let alone turn. Drivers use the larger avenues or a supermarket lot, which is a few minutes' walk and saves an hour of maneuvering.
- The Schuylkill is the timing riskI-76 through the city is narrow, old and congested well outside rush hour. Carriers plan around it and often prefer I-476 to reach the suburbs, which is why a Main Line pickup can be quicker to arrange than a Center City one.
- Moving to PhiladelphiaIf you're moving from another state, you'll generally need to register your vehicle in Pennsylvania. Check Pennsylvania's motor vehicle agency for deadlines and inspection rules.
Sources: PhilaPort: SouthPort Auto Terminal
Other Pennsylvania cities
Starting prices on popular routes.
Helpful guides for Philadelphia
Why ship from Philadelphia?
- Carriers already serving Pennsylvania
- Door-to-door pickup where trucks can reach
- Open and enclosed transport options
- Published price ranges you can compare before booking
- Common for relocations, students, military moves and car purchases
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car from Philadelphia?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $240 – $3,045 from Philadelphia to other major cities, depending on distance, season and vehicle. Shorter trips, such as to Wilmington, run about $240 – $660.
Car shipping cost calculatorHow long does it take to ship a car from Philadelphia?
About 1–2 days to Wilmington and 6–12 days to Los Angeles, plus the pickup window before the car is loaded.
How long car shipping takesCan the truck pick up at my home in Philadelphia?
Often, yes. On narrow, busy or restricted streets, the driver may ask to meet at a nearby open lot where a full-size carrier can load safely.
Door-to-door car shipping
Should I ship open or enclosed from Philadelphia?
Open transport suits most everyday cars and costs less. Consider enclosed for luxury, classic or exotic cars, or anything with fresh paint.
Open vs. enclosed shippingIs my car insured when shipping from Philadelphia?
Licensed carriers must carry liability insurance, and most carry cargo coverage for the cars they haul. Ask for the certificate of insurance before pickup.
Car shipping insuranceWhat's the cheapest way to ship a car from Philadelphia?
Choose open transport, be flexible with dates, book one to three weeks ahead and meet the truck near a main highway if your street is hard to reach.
Cheapest way to ship a car
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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