Car shipping service
Coast-to-Coast Car Shipping
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$0.35–$1.89 per mile
Average cost per mile
Published figures, about 2,800 miles
$980 – $5,290
Typical total cost
Standard car, about 2,800 miles
6–12 days
Transit time
Depends on distance
Coast-to-coast moves
Best for
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What is coast-to-coast car shipping?
Trucks follow the southern (I-10), central (I-40 or I-70) or northern (I-80 or I-90) corridors between metro areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle and New York, Boston, Washington and Miami. Your car is loaded with others heading the same way.
- Routes of roughly 2,500–3,000 miles or more
- About 6–12 days in transit on most routes
- High truck availability between major coastal metros
- Open for most cars, enclosed for high-value ones
- Door-to-door pickup and delivery
Is coast-to-coast car shipping right for you?
- You're moving between the East and West Coasts
- You're taking a job or school placement across the country
- You're buying a car from a seller on the other coast
- You'd rather fly than spend a week driving
- You want to keep miles off a newer or leased car
Coast-to-Coast Car Shipping pricing
Price per mile by distance, from published industry studies.
| Distance | Sedan | SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $0.80–$2.20 per mile | $0.85–$2.35 per mile |
| 500–999 miles | $0.73–$1.89 per mile | $0.78–$2.02 per mile |
| 1,000–1,499 miles | $0.70–$1.89 per mile | $0.75–$2.02 per mile |
| 1,500–1,999 miles | $0.40–$1.89 per mile | $0.43–$2.02 per mile |
| 2,000+ miles | $0.35–$1.89 per mile | $0.37–$2.02 per mile |
Prices move with the season
No source publishes monthly prices for this service, 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.
What affects the price
How it works
- Enter your routeAdd your coastal pickup and delivery locations, your vehicle and your pickup window.
- Compare companiesCompare prices, transit estimates, reviews and licensing for companies that run your corridor.
- Book and confirm termsGet the price, pickup window, transit estimate, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
- Carrier assignedThe broker or carrier confirms a long-haul truck on your route.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Low price per mile on busy long-haul routes
- Pro: Plenty of carriers between major coastal metros
- Pro: Saves about a week of driving
- Pro: No miles or wear added to your car
- Con: About 6–12 days in transit
- Con: You'll likely need a ride or rental on arrival
- Con: Summer and snowbird seasons raise prices
- Con: Winter storms can delay northern routes
Vehicles it suits
- Sedans and compact carsGood fit
- SUVs and crossoversGood fit
- Pickup trucksGood fit
- TeslaGood fit
- Electric vehiclesGood fit
- Luxury carsEither
- Exotic carsConsider alternative
- Classic carsConsider alternative
Coast-to-Coast Open vs. Enclosed
- Typical sedan price
- About $980–$5,290
- About $1,275–$8,465
- Protection
- Exposed to weather and debris
- Fully covered trailer
- Availability
- High on coastal metro routes
- Limited, book 2–3 weeks ahead
- Transit time
- About 6–12 days
- About 6–12 days
- Best for
- Everyday cars, SUVs, trucks
- Luxury, exotic, classic cars
Columns: Open transport · Enclosed transport
Full comparisonCompanies that list coast-to-coast car shipping
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count.
Related services
- Open Car TransportThe most common and affordable way to ship a car, on a multi-car carrier open to the air (also called open-air transport).
- Enclosed Car TransportA covered trailer that shields the car from weather, road debris and view.
- Door-to-Door Car ShippingThe driver picks up and delivers as close to your addresses as a large truck can safely reach.
- Expedited Car ShippingPriority dispatch that shortens the wait for pickup when you have a firm deadline.
- Inoperable Car ShippingTransport for cars that don't start, steer or brake, loaded with a winch or forklift.
Insurance and safety
Carriers must carry liability insurance
Most for-hire interstate carriers must file at least $750,000 in liability coverage with the FMCSA. Cargo coverage for the cars on the truck is set by the carrier, so ask for the certificate.
Source: 49 CFR 387.9Authority can be checked for free
Any broker or carrier's USDOT number, operating status and insurance on file can be looked up in the FMCSA database.
Source: FMCSA company snapshotThe Bill of Lading is signed twice
You and the driver inspect the car at pickup and again at delivery. Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign, and photograph it before the driver leaves.
Source: FMCSA: Protect your move
Frequently asked questions
What is coast-to-coast car shipping?
Shipping a car between the East and West Coasts, typically 2,500 to 3,000 miles, on a long-haul carrier.
Which routes do coast-to-coast carriers take?
Mainly I-10 across the South, I-40 and I-70 through the middle and I-80 and I-90 across the North, depending on the cities and the season.
How much does it cost to ship a car coast to coast?
Published studies put a standard car on an open truck at about $980–$5,290 for a 2,800-mile trip. Enclosed transport runs about $1,275–$8,465.
Average car shipping cost
Is enclosed worth it for coast-to-coast shipping?
For luxury, classic, exotic or freshly painted cars, often yes, because the car spends a week on the road. For everyday cars, open is usually fine.
Open vs. enclosed car shippingHow can I save on coast-to-coast shipping?
Pick open transport, be flexible with dates, avoid peak summer weeks and meet the truck near a major metro if you live far from one.
Nearby pickup savingsHow long does it take to ship a car coast to coast?
Usually about 6–12 days in transit, plus the pickup window. Weather and remote addresses can add a few days.
How long car shipping takes
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
Ready to ship your car with coast-to-coast car shipping?
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