Washington car shipping
Car Shipping in Washington
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- Independent company rankings
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$0.35–$1.89 per mile
Open transport rate
1–5 days
Avg. transit time
$240 – $660
Within Washington
$0.45–$3.02 per mile
Enclosed transport rate
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a Washington car shipping quote
Washington shipping rates
Published figures for a standard car, by estimated distance.
- Open transport
- $0.35–$1.89 per mile
- Enclosed transport
- $0.45–$3.02 per mile
- Within Washington
- $240 – $660
- Washington to California
- $620 – $1,605
- Washington to Oregon
- $240 – $660
- Washington to Texas
- $750 – $3,555
Prices move with the season
No source publishes monthly prices by state, 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
Why ship your car in Washington?
If a car is going to Alaska, it almost certainly goes through Washington. More than 80% of all trade between Alaska and the lower 48 moves through the Seattle and Tacoma harbors, and those terminals handle automobiles among their cargo. So a Washington quote is sometimes not a Washington job at all: it is the road leg of an ocean trip, and it is priced and scheduled against a sailing rather than a driver's route.
- Over 80% of Alaska trade with the lower 48 moves through Seattle and Tacoma
- Those harbors handle automobiles and trucks as well as containers
- An Alaska shipment is a road leg plus a sailing, booked to the sailing
- I-5 runs the populated west; I-90 crosses the Cascades to Spokane
- Mountain passes on I-90 are the winter variable, not Seattle's weather
Flexible pickup dates and a nearby meeting point usually get you a lower price.
Good to know in Washington
The things that actually move a pickup date here.
Washington is the front door to Alaska
The Northwest Seaport Alliance says more than 80% of the total trade volume between Alaska and the lower 48 moves through its North and South harbors at Seattle and Tacoma, and its facilities handle automobiles and trucks. If your shipment is bound for Anchorage or Fairbanks, the Washington part is a short road leg feeding a scheduled sailing. Ask which sailing the quote assumes: missing it costs days, not hours, and no amount of driver goodwill recovers it.
The mountains decide a Washington winter, not Seattle
Most of the state's population sits west of the Cascades on I-5, where winter is wet rather than closed. The crossing to Spokane and the east runs over passes on I-90, and those are what shut in a storm. A December delivery from Seattle to Spokane is a mountain job with a pass forecast attached, while one from Seattle to Portland is not. If your route crosses the range, the pass conditions matter more than either city's weather.
Two populated corners with a long gap between
Carriers run I-5 between Vancouver, Seattle, Tacoma and Portland constantly, so pickups along that corridor are easy to schedule. East of the Cascades the towns are farther apart and the traffic is thinner, so a pickup in the Tri-Cities or the Palouse waits longer than the mileage suggests. Meeting a carrier on the I-90 corridor is often quicker than holding out for a door collection well off it.
Sources: Northwest Seaport Alliance: who we are, Alaska trade share, WSDOT: marine ports and navigation plan
Popular routes from Washington
Popular routes to Washington
Major cities in Washington
Starting prices on popular routes.
Shipping services in Washington
Car shipping companies serving Washington
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 Washington?
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 Washington?
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 Washington?
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 Washington?
Published figures put open transport from Washington at about $240 – $660 to Oregon and $1,010 – $5,460 to Florida. 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 Washington?
Published figures for longer Washington routes run about $0.35–$1.89 per mile for open transport and $0.45–$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 Washington?
Published figures put an in-state move of about 270 miles, such as Seattle to Spokane, at $240 – $660 on an open carrier.
Washington car shipping guide
Everything to know about shipping a car to or from Washington: 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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