Knoxville, TN car shipping
Car Shipping in Knoxville, TN
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
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$240 – $1,795
Typical price
Sedan, open transport
1–3 days
Transit time
Most major cities
Los Angeles, Louisville
Top destinations
$240 – $660
Trips within Tennessee
Published range for an in-state trip
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a Knoxville car shipping quote
About car shipping in Knoxville
Knoxville is where I-40 and I-75 run together, and the 17 miles they share west of the city is the busiest stretch of interstate in Tennessee. That volume means carriers pass through constantly in every direction. The catch is to the east: I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge toward Asheville has been rebuilt piece by piece since Hurricane Helene, and trips that way can be slower than the map suggests.
- I-40 and I-75 share one road for 17 miles west of downtown
- I-640 carries through traffic and hazardous loads around the center
- I-40 east toward Asheville has run with restrictions since Hurricane Helene
- I-75 heads north to Kentucky, and I-81 toward Virginia begins just east of the city
- Main highways
- I-40, I-75, I-640
- Typical transit
- 1–3 days
- In-state trips
- $240 – $660
Car shipping rates from Knoxville
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 | 2,320 mi | $860 – $4,385 | $1,115 – $7,015 | 5–10 days | Tennessee to California |
| Louisville, KY | 230 mi | $240 – $660 | $290 – $1,055 | 1–2 days | Tennessee to Kentucky |
| Houston, TX | 950 mi | $695 – $1,795 | $890 – $2,875 | 2–4 days | Tennessee to Texas |
| Jacksonville, FL | 490 mi | $390 – $1,080 | $475 – $1,725 | 1–2 days | Tennessee to Florida |
| Birmingham, AL | 280 mi | $240 – $660 | $290 – $1,055 | 1–2 days | Tennessee to Alabama |
| New York City, NY | 750 mi | $550 – $1,420 | $700 – $2,270 | 2–3 days | Tennessee to New York |
Prices move with the season
No source publishes monthly prices by city, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Summer moving season and the holidays tighten truck space, while mid-January to February is usually the quietest stretch of the year.
Direct Connect Auto Transport reports 2026 versus 2025 running 3% to 8% higher.
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 Knoxville
Typical days on the road after pickup.
- Atlanta, GA · 190 mi1–2 days
- Louisville, KY · 230 mi1–2 days
- Birmingham, AL · 280 mi1–2 days
- Indianapolis, IN · 350 mi1–2 days
- Jacksonville, FL · 490 mi1–2 days
- Chicago, IL · 550 mi2–3 days
- New York City, NY · 750 mi2–3 days
Popular routes from Knoxville
Car shipping companies serving Knoxville
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count. Not ranked by city data.
Pickup areas around Knoxville
Where trucks reach easily, and where a meeting point helps.
- West Knoxville and FarragutWide roads and big commercial lots near I-40. Door pickup usually works.
- Fountain City and HallsResidential streets off I-640 and I-75. A nearby lot is often simpler.
- Downtown and the Old CityTight streets and one-ways. Meet the truck on a main road.
- South KnoxvilleHilly in places. Drivers may ask to meet near Chapman Highway.
Good to know in Knoxville
- The busiest mile in the stateTDOT has called the shared I-40/I-75 stretch between the split west of town and I-640 the busiest interstate in Tennessee. Carriers plan pickups around its morning and evening peaks, which is why a west Knoxville driver may ask for an early start.
- Check the gorge before an eastbound tripHurricane Helene washed out I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge in September 2024. It reopened in March 2025 as a restricted two-lane section with a width limit and a low speed limit, and a June 2025 rockslide closed it again with a detour via I-81 and I-26. Ask how a carrier plans to reach North Carolina.
- I-640 keeps big trucks out of downtownI-640 loops north of the city center and is the designated route for hazardous loads, and most carriers use it rather than threading I-40 past downtown. A pickup close to the loop is quicker for a driver than one tucked into the center.
- The Smokies traffic runs through hereGatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains, sit southeast of Knoxville and draw heavy visitor traffic in summer and during fall color. It rarely affects a city pickup, but a delivery into Sevier County on a busy weekend takes longer than the distance implies.
- Moving to KnoxvilleIf you're moving from another state, you'll generally need to register your vehicle in Tennessee. Check Tennessee's motor vehicle agency for deadlines and inspection rules.
Sources: WVLT: TDOT on the busiest stretch of interstate in Tennessee, TDOT: I-40 reopens to restricted traffic after Hurricane Helene, WLOS: I-40 rockslide closure and detour, June 2025, Interstate 640 (Wikipedia)
Other Tennessee cities
Starting prices on popular routes.
Helpful guides for Knoxville
Why ship from Knoxville?
- Carriers already serving Tennessee
- 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 Knoxville?
Published figures put a standard car on an open carrier at about $240 – $1,795 from Knoxville to other major cities, depending on distance, season and vehicle. Shorter trips, such as to Atlanta, run about $240 – $660.
Car shipping cost calculatorHow long does it take to ship a car from Knoxville?
About 1–2 days to Atlanta and 5–10 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 Knoxville?
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 Knoxville?
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 Knoxville?
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 Knoxville?
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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