Moving with a Car: Auto Transport Guide

How to get your car to your new state. Side-by-side comparison of driving, open carrier, enclosed carrier, rail, and tow dolly options with costs, timelines, and insurance details.

Updated 2026-09-20

Transport Options Compared

Five ways to move your car. Cost ranges assume a standard sedan on a 1,000-mile route unless noted.

Option	Cost	Transit Time	Risk	Best For
Drive yourself	$200 to $800 (gas, hotels, meals)	1 to 4 days	Low (you control the car)	Moves under 1,000 miles, flexible schedules
Open carrier	$500 to $1,500	3 to 14 days	Low (less than 1% damage rate)	Most vehicles, best value
Enclosed carrier	$800 to $2,500	4 to 16 days	Very low	Luxury, classic, or high-value cars
Rail (Amtrak Auto Train)	$400 to $700 (Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL only)	17 hours	Very low	East Coast snowbirds (limited route)
Tow dolly behind rental truck	$200 to $500 (add-on to truck rental)	Same as your drive	Medium (towing experience needed)	Front-wheel-drive cars, when renting a truck anyway

Open Carrier Costs by Distance and Vehicle Type

Prices reflect open carrier transport. Enclosed transport adds 30 to 40% on top of these figures. Peak season (June through August) adds 15 to 25%.

Distance	Sedan	SUV	Pickup Truck
500 miles	$400 to $600	$500 to $750	$550 to $850
1,000 miles	$600 to $900	$750 to $1,100	$850 to $1,250
1,500 miles	$800 to $1,100	$950 to $1,350	$1,050 to $1,500
2,000 miles	$900 to $1,300	$1,100 to $1,600	$1,250 to $1,800
Coast-to-coast (2,500+ miles)	$1,000 to $1,500	$1,300 to $1,900	$1,450 to $2,200

Insurance Coverage Comparison

What the carrier's insurance covers versus what your personal auto policy covers during transport.

Scenario	Carrier Insurance	Your Auto Policy
Damage during loading/unloading	Covered	Usually not covered
Damage during transit	Covered	Covered under comprehensive (verify)
Personal items inside car	Not covered	Not covered (use renter's/homeowner's)
Pre-existing damage	Not covered	Not covered
Mechanical failure	Not covered	Not covered
Weather/road debris damage	Covered (enclosed only)	Covered under comprehensive
Total loss (theft, fire)	Covered up to policy limit	Covered under comprehensive

Auto Transport Timeline

Step	When	Notes
Research and get quotes	4 to 6 weeks before move	Get 3 to 5 quotes from licensed carriers or brokers
Book transport	3 to 4 weeks before move	Confirm USDOT number, insurance, and cancellation policy
Prepare vehicle	2 to 3 days before pickup	Wash car, document condition with photos, remove personal items
Pickup window	1 to 5 day window	Carrier schedules exact pickup within this range
Transit (500 miles)	2 to 4 days	Track via carrier's online portal or phone updates
Transit (1,000 miles)	4 to 7 days	Carrier may make multiple stops along the route
Transit (2,000+ miles)	7 to 14 days	Cross-country loads often switch drivers at hub cities
Delivery and inspection	At delivery	Inspect car against your pre-shipment photos before signing

Red Flags When Hiring Auto Transport

Large upfront deposit

Reputable carriers charge 10 to 20% at booking or collect payment on delivery. Any company demanding 50%+ upfront is a risk. If they disappear or fail to pick up, recovering a large deposit is difficult.

Price far below market rate

Brokers sometimes quote $300 to $400 for a 1,500-mile shipment to win your booking. No carrier will accept that rate. The broker then calls to increase the price or your car sits unscheduled for weeks.

No USDOT or MC number

Every legitimate auto transporter must have a USDOT number and, if operating as a broker, an MC (Motor Carrier) number. Verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before sending any payment.

Refuses to show insurance certificate

Ask for a copy of the carrier's insurance certificate. Confirm the policy is active and the coverage amount. If a company refuses or stalls, find another provider. You can also verify insurance on the FMCSA website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?+

Shipping a sedan coast-to-coast (roughly 2,500 miles) on an open carrier costs $1,000 to $1,500. Enclosed transport for the same distance costs $1,500 to $2,500. SUVs and trucks cost 20 to 40% more due to weight and size. Prices peak from June through August and around January when snowbirds ship south. Booking 3 to 4 weeks in advance typically saves 10 to 15% compared to last-minute orders.

Is it cheaper to drive my car or ship it when moving?+

For moves under 1,000 miles, driving is almost always cheaper. Gas, food, and one hotel night will run $200 to $500 total. For moves over 1,500 miles, shipping becomes competitive when you factor in 2 to 3 hotel nights ($150 to $250 per night), meals, gas ($0.15 to $0.25 per mile), vehicle wear, and 2 to 3 days of lost work or travel time. The break-even point for most people is around 1,200 to 1,500 miles.

How long does it take to ship a car?+

Open carrier transit times: 500 miles takes 2 to 4 days, 1,000 miles takes 4 to 7 days, 2,000+ miles takes 7 to 14 days. Add 1 to 5 days for pickup window flexibility (the carrier needs to route your pickup into an existing load). Enclosed carriers may take 1 to 3 days longer because fewer trucks run those routes. Door-to-door service adds 1 to 2 days compared to terminal-to-terminal.

What does auto transport insurance cover?+

Federal law requires all licensed auto carriers to carry cargo insurance. Standard carrier policies cover $100,000 to $250,000 per load, not per vehicle. Coverage typically includes damage during loading, transit, and unloading. It does not cover pre-existing damage, personal items left inside the vehicle, mechanical failure, or acts of nature. Document your car's condition with 30 to 40 timestamped photos before handing it over.

Should I use open or enclosed auto transport?+

Open transport is the standard option and costs 30 to 40% less than enclosed. It exposes your car to weather and road debris, but damage is rare (less than 1% of shipments). Use enclosed transport for vehicles worth over $50,000, classic cars, luxury vehicles, or cars with custom paint. Enclosed carriers hold 2 to 4 vehicles compared to 7 to 10 on open carriers, which means less scheduling flexibility.

Can I put personal belongings in my car during auto transport?+

Most carriers allow up to 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk, below the window line. However, carrier insurance does not cover personal belongings, and many companies charge $50 to $150 extra for the added weight. Some carriers prohibit it entirely. Never put valuables, electronics, or documents in a shipped car. If your carrier allows items, use soft bags (no hard suitcases) and keep weight under the stated limit.

What are the red flags when hiring an auto transport company?+

Requiring a large upfront deposit (legitimate companies collect on delivery or charge 10 to 20% at booking). Prices significantly below the market rate (brokers lowball to win your business, then struggle to find a carrier at that price). No USDOT or MC number. No physical address. Refusing to provide proof of insurance. A pattern of complaints on FMCSA, BBB, or Transportreviews.com. Pressuring you to book immediately.