Table of contents
Quick answer
There is no single per-mile rate. Across the published studies Haulwide tracks, short moves under about 500 miles run roughly $1.40 to $2.20 a mile, while long cross-country routes fall well under $1 a mile — often around $0.40 to $0.60, and as low as about $0.35 on the longest hauls. The rate drops as distance grows because a carrier's fixed costs spread over more miles. Treat per-mile as a rule of thumb for sizing up a route, not a price you can book: carriers charge a minimum on short trips, and your real cost depends on the vehicle, the lane, the season and your dates.
What car shipping costs per mile
Carriers and brokers think in dollars per mile because fuel, a driver's hours and wear on the truck all scale with distance. But the per-mile rate is not a constant. The published studies disagree on the exact level and every one of them shows the same shape: the longer the trip, the lower the rate per mile.
The spread is wide. On short hauls under about 500 miles, Direct Connect's published figures run roughly $1.40 to $2.20 a mile. On long routes the rate collapses: RoadRunner puts a 2,500-mile move near $0.35 a mile, and SGT's longest band is about $0.55. Move.org publishes a single nationwide average of about $1.89 a mile, which mostly reflects that the typical move is short rather than cross-country. Figures checked Sep 16, 2026.
Car shipping cost per mile by distance
One study, SGT, publishes a per-mile rate for each distance band, which shows the decline cleanly. The total rises with distance, but far more slowly than the miles do — a 2,500-mile move is not five times the price of a 500-mile one.
| Distance | Per mile | Typical open transport |
|---|---|---|
| 100–499 miles | $2.04 | $623 |
| 500–749 miles | $1.30 | $824 |
| 750–999 miles | $1.11 | $964 |
| 1,000–1,499 miles | $0.89 | $1,112 |
| 1,500–1,999 miles | $0.75 | $1,289 |
| 2,000–2,499 miles | $0.63 | $1,414 |
| 2,500+ miles | $0.55 | $1,534 |
100–499 miles
- Per mile
- $2.04
- Typical open transport
- $623
500–749 miles
- Per mile
- $1.30
- Typical open transport
- $824
750–999 miles
- Per mile
- $1.11
- Typical open transport
- $964
1,000–1,499 miles
- Per mile
- $0.89
- Typical open transport
- $1,112
1,500–1,999 miles
- Per mile
- $0.75
- Typical open transport
- $1,289
2,000–2,499 miles
- Per mile
- $0.63
- Typical open transport
- $1,414
2,500+ miles
- Per mile
- $0.55
- Typical open transport
- $1,534
These are one study's figures for a standard car on open transport, shown to illustrate the curve. Haulwide reports prices as a range across several sources because they disagree on the level, so use this as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Why the per-mile rate falls on longer routes
A car carrier's costs are mostly fixed per trip, not per mile. Loading and unloading, the driver's time at each stop, insurance and the empty miles to reach your car cost roughly the same whether the haul is 300 miles or 2,000. Spread those fixed costs over more miles and the cost per mile drops.
- Fixed costs per trip (loading, paperwork, deadhead miles) shrink as a share of a longer haul.
- Long lanes run along major interstates where carriers move efficiently and keep trucks full.
- Short trips earn a carrier little total revenue, so the per-mile rate has to be higher to be worth the stop.
Where per-mile pricing misleads
Per-mile is useful for comparing routes of similar length, but multiplying a single rate by your distance can be well off the real price. Watch for these:
| Trap | What actually happens |
|---|---|
| Short-haul minimums | Under about 300 miles, carriers charge a minimum, so the effective per-mile rate climbs steeply |
| One flat rate | A nationwide average applied to a cross-country trip overstates it; the rate should fall with distance |
| Vehicle size | A pickup or large SUV takes more deck space and weight, so it prices above a sedan on the same miles |
| Open vs. enclosed | Enclosed transport runs roughly 30% to 60% more, so the per-mile rate is not comparable |
| Lane and season | A one-way imbalance or a busy snowbird corridor moves the rate regardless of distance |
Short-haul minimums
- What actually happens
- Under about 300 miles, carriers charge a minimum, so the effective per-mile rate climbs steeply
One flat rate
- What actually happens
- A nationwide average applied to a cross-country trip overstates it; the rate should fall with distance
Vehicle size
- What actually happens
- A pickup or large SUV takes more deck space and weight, so it prices above a sedan on the same miles
Open vs. enclosed
- What actually happens
- Enclosed transport runs roughly 30% to 60% more, so the per-mile rate is not comparable
Lane and season
- What actually happens
- A one-way imbalance or a busy snowbird corridor moves the rate regardless of distance
What moves your per-mile cost up or down
Two cars on the same route can land at different per-mile rates. These are the levers:
- Distance — the single biggest factor; longer is cheaper per mile
- Vehicle size and weight — larger vehicles cost more per mile
- Transport type — enclosed costs more per mile than open
- Season and lane — summer, snowbird routes and one-way imbalances raise the rate
- Flexibility — a wide pickup window and a major-highway meeting point lower it
- Condition — a non-running car adds a flat fee that raises the effective per-mile on short trips most
From a per-mile estimate to a real price
Per-mile gets you in the ballpark. To turn it into a number you can act on, do three things:
- Estimate your routeHaulwide's calculator applies the published per-mile figures to your distance, vehicle and transport type and shows a range, clearly labeled as an estimate rather than a quote.
- Request written quotesSend the same details to a few companies you have checked for a valid FMCSA license and solid reviews, and get each total in writing.
- Compare against the estimateA quote near your estimate is realistic; one far below it may never attract a carrier. Flexible dates and a major-city pickup usually lower the rate.
Haulwide does not pull live carrier rates or book the move — the calculator is an in-browser estimate off published figures, and booking happens with the company you choose on a written quote for your exact shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car per mile?
There is no single rate. Short moves under about 500 miles run roughly $1.40 to $2.20 a mile in the published studies, while cross-country routes fall well under $1 a mile — often around $0.40 to $0.60, and as low as about $0.35 on the longest hauls.
Cost calculatorWhy is short-distance car shipping more per mile?
A carrier's fixed costs — loading, the driver's time, the empty miles to reach your car — are nearly the same on a short trip as a long one. Spread over fewer miles, they make the per-mile rate higher, and most carriers also charge a minimum on short hauls.
Does the per-mile rate include fuel?
Yes. Published per-mile figures are what the customer pays, which already covers the carrier's fuel, driver and overhead. A separate fuel surcharge sometimes appears on a quote when diesel prices spike, so check the written total.
What is the cheapest per-mile rate for long distance?
The longest hauls are the cheapest per mile. Published figures put cross-country moves near $0.35 to $0.55 a mile, which is why shipping competes with driving coast to coast once you add fuel, hotels and time.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship?Can I estimate my cost with a per-mile rate?
For a rough check, yes: use a lower rate for a long trip and a higher one for a short trip. But distance times one rate misses minimums, vehicle size, transport type and your lane, so confirm with an estimate and written quotes.
Estimate your routeWhy is my quote higher than distance times the per-mile rate?
A short-haul minimum, a larger vehicle, enclosed transport, a remote pickup, a busy season or a one-way lane imbalance can all push the real price above a flat per-mile calculation.
Why quotes differIs per-mile or a flat rate better for car shipping?
They describe the same price two ways. Companies quote a flat total for your route; per-mile is just that total divided by the distance. Compare the flat total in writing, and use per-mile only to sanity-check whether it is reasonable for the distance.
About this article
Written and reviewed by the Haulwide editorial team. Editorial policy
