Car shipping service
Door-to-Door Car Shipping
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$0.70–$1.89 per mile
Average cost per mile
Published open figures, about 1,250 miles
$875 – $2,365
Typical total cost
Standard car, about 1,250 miles
3–5 days
Transit time
Depends on distance
Most home moves
Best for
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a door-to-door car shipping quote
What is door-to-door car shipping?
The driver calls ahead, meets you or someone you choose at the pickup address, inspects and loads the car, then does the same at delivery. If a large truck can't safely reach the street, you meet at a nearby open lot instead.
- No drop-off or pickup at a terminal, and no terminal storage fees
- Works with open and enclosed transport
- Homes, apartments, offices, dealerships and auction lots
- Nearby meeting points for narrow, gated or restricted streets
- The inspection happens in person at both addresses
Is door-to-door car shipping right for you?
- You're moving home and want the car delivered to you
- You don't live near a car shipping terminal
- You or a trusted person can meet the driver
- You want to avoid storage fees and extra trips
- You're buying a car from a private seller or dealer
Door-to-Door 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 both addressesAdd the pickup and delivery addresses or ZIP codes, your vehicle and your pickup window.
- Compare companiesCompare estimates, reviews, licensing and how each company handles hard-to-reach addresses.
- Book and confirm termsGet the price, pickup window, deposit, cancellation terms and a backup meeting point in writing.
- Driver calls aheadMost drivers call when they are close, often the day before, to confirm a time and the exact spot.
Pros and cons
- Pro: No trips to a terminal at either end
- Pro: Usually no extra cost over terminal shipping
- Pro: No storage fees or cars waiting in lots
- Pro: You inspect the car with the driver in person
- Con: Someone must meet the driver at both ends
- Con: Large trucks may not reach narrow or gated streets
- Con: Pickup happens within a window, not at an exact time
- Con: Rural addresses can add to the price
Vehicles it suits
- Sedans and compact carsGood fit
- SUVs and crossoversGood fit
- Pickup trucksGood fit
- Electric vehiclesGood fit
- Luxury carsGood fit
- Classic carsGood fit
- Vans and minivansGood fit
- Non-running vehiclesEither
Door-to-Door vs. Terminal Car Shipping
- Price
- Standard price
- Sometimes slightly lower
- Convenience
- Driver comes to you
- You travel to the terminal twice
- Storage
- None needed
- Car may wait days in a lot
- Storage fees
- None
- Common after a few free days
- Availability
- Almost everywhere
- Mainly large metro areas
Columns: Door-to-door · Terminal-to-terminal
Full comparisonCompanies that list door-to-door 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.
- 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.
- Multi-Car ShippingShip two or more vehicles on the same truck, often for a lower price per car.
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 door-to-door car shipping?
The driver picks up your car at the address you choose and delivers it to your destination address, without a terminal in between.
Will the truck come right to my door?
Whenever it can safely do so. If your street is narrow, gated or has low trees or wires, the driver will ask to meet at a nearby open lot.
Is door-to-door shipping standard?
Yes. Most car shipping companies quote door-to-door service by default. Ask if you're unsure.
Does door-to-door shipping cost more?
Usually not. Most quotes already include it. Very rural addresses far from main highways can cost more because the driver travels further off route.
What affects the costIs terminal-to-terminal shipping cheaper?
Sometimes slightly, but storage fees and two trips to the terminal often cancel out the savings, and terminals are less common than they used to be.
Can I get an exact pickup time?
Most shipments use a pickup window of a few days. The driver calls ahead to agree a time once they are close. Expedited service can narrow the window.
Expedited car shipping
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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