Car shipping service
Pros and Cons of State-to-State Car Shipping
The advantages and disadvantages of State-to-State Car Shipping, and how to decide whether it fits your vehicle and budget.
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
State-to-State Car Shipping at a glance
- Cost per mile
- $0.70–$1.89 per mile
- Typical total
- $875 – $2,365
- Transit time
- 3–5 days
- Best for
- Relocations
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a state-to-state car shipping quote
Advantages of state-to-state car shipping
- Door-to-door service between any two states
- Lower price per mile as distance grows
- Carriers licensed and insured at the federal level
- Saves long drives, hotel nights and wear
- Plenty of trucks on busy interstate routes
Disadvantages
- Longer routes take several days
- Remote or one-way routes can cost more
- Summer and snowbird seasons raise prices
- You'll need to register the car in your new state
- Personal items usually can't ship inside
Side-by-side comparison
State-to-State vs. In-State Car Shipping
Feature | State-to-state | In-state |
|---|---|---|
| Typical distance | 200 to 3,000+ miles | Under about 500 miles |
| Price per mile | Lower on longer trips | Higher, because fixed costs dominate |
| Transit time | 1–12 days | Often 1–2 days |
| Carrier licensing | USDOT number and FMCSA authority | State rules apply; many still have a USDOT number |
| Truck type | Multi-car long-haul carriers | Often smaller wedge or flatbed trucks |
| After delivery | Register the car in the new state | Nothing new to register |
Which option is right for you?
Choose state-to-state if
- Your pickup and delivery are in different states
- You're relocating or buying out of state
- You want door-to-door service across a long distance
Choose in-state if
- Both addresses are in the same state
- The trip is short enough to drive in a day
- You need same-day or next-day delivery
Recommendations by vehicle
Sedans and compact cars
State-to-stateSUVs and crossovers
State-to-statePickup trucks
State-to-stateElectric vehicles
State-to-stateVans and minivans
State-to-stateLuxury cars
Either optionClassic cars
In-stateNon-running vehicles
Either option
Ready to ship your car with state-to-state car shipping?
Enter your route to compare estimated prices, pickup dates and transport companies.