How to Ship a Car Across the Country: Step by Step

• To ship a car across the country, pick open or enclosed transport, compare at least three quotes, book a licensed carrier, prep the vehicle, and inspect it at pickup and delivery.
• Open transport is the cheaper, standard choice for most vehicles; enclosed costs noticeably more and suits classic, luxury, or low-clearance cars.
• Nearly 580,000 active motor carriers are registered in the US, and most run small fleets, so verifying a carrier's safety record matters before you book.
• Per-mile rates fall sharply on long hauls, so coast-to-coast moves cost far less per mile than short runs even though the total is higher.
• A written condition report with photos at pickup and delivery is your main protection if damage occurs in transit.

For most cross-country moves, open transport is the right call. It is the standard method, the cheaper option, and the same way new cars reach dealerships. Enclosed transport costs more and makes sense mainly for vehicles that need extra protection.

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  Open transport

  Open carriers haul several cars on a two-level trailer with no walls or roof. Your vehicle rides exposed to weather and road debris, which is fine for everyday sedans, trucks, and SUVs.

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• 

  Enclosed transport

  Enclosed carriers seal the cars inside a covered trailer, shielding them from the elements and from view.

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The enclosed premium is significant, generally running well above an open-transport quote for the same route. That extra cost buys protection and, often, higher insurance limits.

Choose enclosed transport when you are shipping a classic, exotic, luxury, or low-clearance car, or any vehicle whose value or sentiment justifies the price. For a replaceable daily driver, open transport is the practical choice. When you compare options on Haulwide, you can see both side by side and decide based on your vehicle and budget.

Gather at least three quotes before booking, and compare them on more than price alone. The cheapest number is not always the real cost, because low quotes sometimes signal a listing that carriers will not accept at that rate.

Per-mile pricing drops steeply as distance grows, so a coast-to-coast move costs far less per mile than a short regional run even though the total bill is larger. That is why quoting the full route, rather than guessing from a short-trip rate, gives you an accurate picture.

When you request quotes, give each company the same details so the numbers are comparable:

• Exact pickup and delivery locations, including ZIP codes
• Year, make, model, and whether the car runs and rolls
• Open or enclosed transport
• Your earliest available pickup date and any flexibility
• Any modifications, oversized tires, or low ground clearance

Flexible dates are one of the biggest levers on price. Carriers fill trailers along existing routes, so a pickup window of several days almost always beats a fixed single day. Haulwide is built around this: it compares rates across carriers and surfaces cheaper pickup dates so you are not overpaying for a rigid schedule.

Read recent reviews for each company, and separate brokers from carriers. A broker arranges the move with a carrier that owns the truck; both can be legitimate, but you want to know which one you are dealing with and who actually transports the car.

Once you pick a company, confirm the price, pickup window, and insurance coverage in writing before you pay anything. A clear written agreement is your reference point if anything differs from what was promised.

Verifying the carrier is the step people skip, and it matters. Nearly 580,000 active motor carriers are registered with federal regulators, and the large majority operate 10 or fewer trucks, so quality and safety records vary widely (American Trucking Associations, 2025). Confirm the company has an active US DOT or MC number and a clean record through the federal FMCSA SAFER system before you hand over your keys.

After booking, prepare the vehicle so pickup goes smoothly and the inspection is accurate:

• Wash the car so existing scratches and dents are easy to see and photograph
• Remove personal items, toll tags, and parking passes
• Leave about a quarter tank of fuel, enough to load and unload but not heavy
• Check for fluid leaks and note any mechanical quirks for the driver
• Disable aftermarket alarms and fold in mirrors and antennas
• Document existing damage with clear, dated photos from every angle

Keep roughly a quarter tank of gas. A full tank adds unnecessary weight across thousands of miles, and an empty one makes the car hard to move on and off the trailer.

Once you ship a car across the country, expect the move to take roughly one to two weeks from pickup to delivery after a carrier is assigned. The truck covers long daily distances but also makes stops to load and unload other vehicles along the route, which shapes the timeline.

Transit time depends on the route, weather, traffic, and how many other cars share the trailer. Northern routes in winter and mountain passes can add days, while direct interstate corridors move faster. A door-to-door service brings the car as close to your address as the truck can safely reach, though tight streets may require meeting at a nearby lot.

Communication during transit is reasonable to expect. Ask upfront how the carrier provides updates, whether by text, phone, or a tracking link, and get the driver's direct contact. Many delays are simple weather or routing issues, and a quick call usually clears up questions about timing.

Payment terms vary, so confirm them at booking. Some carriers take a deposit and the balance on delivery, often by cash or certified funds, so you are not caught off guard at the door.

Your most important task on delivery day is a careful inspection against the pickup condition report. This written document, often called a Bill of Lading, records the car's condition when it left and is your main protection if damage occurred in transit.

Do not rush this step, even in bad light or rain. If the car arrives after dark, use a flashlight and your pickup photos, and note on the paperwork that conditions made inspection difficult.

Work through this checklist at delivery before you sign:

• Compare the car to your dated pickup photos, panel by panel
• Walk the full exterior for new scratches, dents, or chips
• Check the roof, hood, bumpers, and lower rocker panels
• Inspect tires, wheels, mirrors, and glass
• Start the engine and confirm electronics and lights work
• Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before signing
• Take dated delivery photos regardless of condition

If you find new damage, write it on the Bill of Lading and photograph it before the driver leaves. Signing a clean report can waive your ability to file a claim, so the paperwork matters as much as the inspection itself. Confirmed carrier insurance, verified back at the booking stage, is what backs any claim you need to file.

For a broader, independent overview of the process, Consumer Reports maintains a helpful guide to shipping a car.

Start by pulling at least three quotes for your exact route and comparing them on price, carrier safety record, and pickup flexibility rather than the lowest number alone. Run your route through Haulwide to compare rates and spot cheaper pickup dates, then book a verified carrier and keep this checklist handy for pickup and delivery day.