Car shipping service
Seasonal Car Shipping
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$0.70–$1.89 per mile
Average cost per mile
Before any peak-season increase
$875 – $2,365
Typical total cost
Standard car, off-peak, about 1,250 miles
3–5 days
Transit time
Depends on distance
Snowbirds and students
Best for
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a seasonal car shipping quote
What is seasonal car shipping?
Seasonal shipping isn't a different kind of truck. It's standard open or enclosed transport booked around demand peaks. When thousands of people ship cars the same direction in the same weeks, trucks fill up and prices rise, while the opposite direction can get cheaper.
- Snowbird routes south from about October to December
- Return trips north from about March to May
- Summer relocation and military moving season
- College move-in in August and move-out in May
- Round trips booked months ahead
Is seasonal car shipping right for you?
- You spend winters in a warmer state
- You're moving a car to or from a college campus
- You're relocating during summer
- You want a car at a seasonal or vacation home
- You can plan your dates weeks or months ahead
Seasonal 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
- Pick your season and datesCheck when demand peaks on your route and choose a pickup window around it.
- Compare companies earlyCompare prices, reviews and licensing a few weeks before the peak.
- Book and confirm termsGet the price, pickup window, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
- Carrier assignedThe broker or carrier confirms a truck. In peak weeks this can take longer.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Predictable timing you can plan around
- Pro: Savings from booking ahead of peaks
- Pro: Round trips can be arranged together
- Pro: No long drives between seasonal homes
- Con: Peak weeks cost more on popular routes
- Con: Trucks, especially enclosed ones, sell out
- Con: Winter weather can delay northern pickups
- Con: Last-minute bookings are expensive
Vehicles it suits
- Sedans and compact carsGood fit
- SUVs and crossoversGood fit
- Pickup trucksGood fit
- Electric vehiclesGood fit
- Luxury carsEither
- Classic carsEither
- Sports and convertible carsEither
- Two cars for one householdEither
Peak vs. Off-Peak Car Shipping
- Price
- Higher
- Lower
- Pickup wait
- Longer, trucks fill up
- Shorter
- Booking lead time
- 2–4 weeks recommended
- 1–2 weeks is usually enough
- Enclosed availability
- Limited
- Better
- Weather
- Depends on the season
- Winter can slow northern routes
Columns: Peak-season shipping · Off-peak shipping
Full comparisonCompanies that list seasonal 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 seasonal car shipping?
Car shipping timed around yearly patterns, like snowbird trips, college moves and summer relocations. It uses the same trucks as any other shipment.
When is peak season for car shipping?
Summer is the busiest time nationally. Snowbird routes also peak heading south in late fall and heading north in spring.
Car shipping seasonalityHow much more does it cost to ship in peak season?
It varies by route, but busy weeks can cost noticeably more than quieter months. Compare dates on the price calendar before you book.
Price calendar
What's the cheapest time of year to ship a car?
January and February are often the cheapest nationally, except on routes into warm states during snowbird season.
Best time to ship a carIs it cheaper to ship against the seasonal flow?
Often, yes. Trucks returning in the opposite direction of the rush have empty space to fill.
When should snowbirds book car shipping?
Book two to four weeks before you plan to travel, and earlier for November, December, March and April dates.
Snowbird 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
Ready to ship your car with seasonal car shipping?
Enter your route to compare estimated prices, pickup dates and transport companies.