Car shipping service
Inoperable Car Shipping
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$0.70–$1.89 per mile
Average cost per mile
Open rate; the non-running fee is added to the total
$1,025 – $2,665
Typical total cost
About 1,250 miles, with the published non-running fee
3–5 days
Transit time
Depends on distance
Non-running vehicles
Best for
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a inoperable car shipping quote
What is inoperable car shipping?
If the car rolls and steers, a winch pulls it onto the trailer. If it can't roll, the carrier needs a forklift at both ends or wheel dollies. Either way, the extra equipment and loading time are why non-running cars usually cost about $150–$300 more to ship.
- Winch-equipped open and enclosed carriers
- Cars that don't start, have no battery or have engine or transmission failure
- Auction, salvage, insurance and project vehicles
- Forklift loading where the car can't roll or steer
- Condition recorded in detail at pickup
Is inoperable car shipping right for you?
- The car doesn't start or can't be driven safely
- You bought a car at a salvage or insurance auction
- You're moving a project or restoration car
- The car was damaged in an accident or flood
- You're sending a car to a repair shop or buyer
Inoperable 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
- Describe the car's conditionAdd your route and vehicle, and say whether the car starts, rolls, steers and brakes.
- Compare companiesCompare prices, reviews and whether each company confirms a winch-equipped truck.
- Book and confirm termsGet the price, including the inoperable surcharge, pickup window and cancellation terms in writing.
- Arrange release and accessFor auction or salvage cars, the yard needs a release or gate pass before the driver can collect the car.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Ships cars that can't be driven
- Pro: Pickup from auction, salvage and repair yards
- Pro: No need to tow the car yourself
- Pro: Available on open and enclosed trucks
- Con: Typically $150–$300 more than a running car
- Con: Fewer winch-equipped trucks, so pickup can take longer
- Con: Cars that don't roll need a forklift at both ends
- Con: Existing damage must be documented carefully
Vehicles it suits
- Non-running sedansGood fit
- SUVs and crossoversGood fit
- Pickup trucksGood fit
- Classic project carsGood fit
- Barn finds and antique carsGood fit
- Electric vehiclesEither
- Modified carsEither
- Cars that run and driveConsider alternative
Inoperable vs. Running Car Shipping
- Price
- About $150–$300 more
- Standard price
- Loading
- Winch, forklift or dollies
- Driven up the ramps
- Truck availability
- Winch-equipped trucks only
- Almost any carrier
- Pickup scheduling
- Can take longer
- Usually faster
- Requirements
- Rolls and steers, or forklift
- Starts, drives and brakes
Columns: Inoperable shipping · Running car shipping
Full comparisonCompanies that list inoperable 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.
- 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 inoperable car shipping?
Transport for a vehicle that can't be driven onto the trailer. The carrier uses a winch, forklift or dollies to load it.
What counts as an inoperable car?
Any car that won't start, can't be driven safely or has unreliable brakes or steering, including cars with dead batteries, engine or transmission failure, or accident damage.
Does the car need to roll and steer?
For winch loading, yes. The wheels must turn and the car must steer. If it can't roll, the carrier needs a forklift at pickup and delivery, or wheel dollies.
How much more does it cost to ship a non-running car?
Usually about $150–$300 more than a running car, and more if a forklift or special loading is needed.
Ship a non-running carShould I fix the car before shipping it?
If a new battery, a tire or a jump start would get it driving, fixing it first usually saves more than it costs. Don't attempt major repairs just to ship it.
Can you pick up a car from an auction yard?
Yes. You'll need to send the yard's release or gate pass to the shipping company, and pickups must usually happen within the yard's storage deadline.
Auction 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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