Vehicle shipping costs 2024: How much does it really cost to ship a car or truck?
Here's everything you need to know about how much it costs to ship a car.
Whether you’re relocating to the other side of the country or buying a truck from an auction out of state, there are plenty of reasons you might consider shipping a vehicle. But how much does it cost to ship a car? And what factors influence that cost? This comprehensive guide walks you through all the important questions to ask to determine if shipping your car or truck is your best option.
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What is the cost per mile to ship a car in 2024?
Three fundamental factors come into play when shipping your car:
Open versus enclosed transport
Size of the vehicle
Distance
Open-air carriers expose your vehicle to the elements, debris and potential accidents or damage during the trip. They’re the most common way to ship a car and are significantly cheaper than enclosed carriers, which place your vehicle inside a shipping container for added protection.
We contacted two auto shipping companies, Mercury Auto Transport and American Auto Shipping, to examine the price differences for moving a 2018 Volkswagen Jetta, which has an average weight of 3,069 pounds.
Company | Distance | Transportation type | Price | Price per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mercury Auto Transport | 543 miles (New York, N.Y. to Fayetteville, N.C.) | Open | $525 | $0.97 |
Enclosed | $675 | $1.24 | ||
1,018 miles (New York, N.Y. to Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) | Open | $835 | $0.82 | |
Enclosed | $1,045 | $1.03 | ||
American Auto Shipping | 543 miles | Open | $599 | $1.10 |
Enclosed | $1,159 | $2.13 | ||
1,018 miles | Open | $969 | $0.95 | |
Enclosed | $1,619 | $1.59 |
The farther you need to travel, the lower the cost to ship a car per mile will generally be. There’s also a significant increase in price between open and enclosed transportation. Depending on the service provider, the difference can be $500 or more.
Size is also an essential factor affecting the quote for the cost to ship a car. To examine the impact, we requested quotes for shipping a 2018 Ford F-150 the same distances. On average, this truck weighs 4,883 pounds, or nearly 60% more than the Volkswagen Jetta.
Company | Distance | Transportation type | Price | Price per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mercury Auto Transport | 543 miles (New York, N.Y. to Fayetteville, N.C.) | Open | $615 | $1.13 |
Enclosed | $755 | $1.39 | ||
1,018 miles (New York, N.Y. to Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) | Open | $985 | $0.97 | |
Enclosed | $1,185 | $1.16 | ||
American Auto Shipping | 543 miles | Open | $639 | $1.18 |
Enclosed | $1,209 | $2.23 | ||
1,018 miles | Open | $1,099 | $1.08 | |
Enclosed | $1,779 | $1.75 |
A truck might cost between $40 to $90 more for the same journey. However, the price jump between open and enclosed services is quite similar, with only about a $10 difference between the Volkswagen and the Ford truck.
Shipping 1,000 miles or more seems to be the average point where the per-mile rate decreases significantly. If you're traveling less than 500 miles, you may want to consider the cost of gasoline and any other expenses associated with driving your vehicle yourself.
What other factors affect car or truck shipping costs?
While it's not as directly impactful, you may also want to consider the time of year you plan to ship your car. Just like moving your possessions, there’s a peak season during the summer, when demand is at its highest. Prices may be discounted during the winter or slower months.
Gas prices also affect the cost of your move. Professional vehicle shippers raise their rates accordingly when they have to pay more for fuel. You'll also very likely incur further expenses associated with loading and unloading a car or truck that won't start, so keep that in mind if your vehicle is inoperable.
The less notice you give, the higher your quote will be for what could be considered expedited shipping. If you set your vehicle’s ship date ahead of time, you can avoid extra fees. To maximize savings you could, for example, book a winter shipping date weeks or months in advance, lock in a quote when gasoline prices are declining, and make sure your car is in good condition to drive.
Can you ship your car by train in the United States?
Although Amtrak might not be your first consideration for car shipping, the company offers a limited-service route that lets you travel with your car. Amtrak Auto Train runs a return, nonstop service from Washington, D.C., to Orlando, Fla., and it costs $540 for a standard vehicle, $620 for larger trucks, and $310 for motorcycles. While these prices don’t include the cost of your own train ticket, taking advantage of the Auto Train could still be a net saving if the route works in your favor.
Reasons to ship your car via Amtrak Auto Train | Reasons not to |
|---|---|
1. More affordable for long-distance transport than traditional shipping 2. Convenient, can stay with vehicle in transit 3. Relatively quick transport on nonstop route 4. Storage inside train can protect your vehicle 5. Train ride can be less stressful for vehicle owner than a lengthy roadtrip | 1. Extremely limited regional availability 2. Must buy train tickets for all passengers 3. Limited availability during peak seasons (holidays and summer, for example) 4. Can potentially take longer than driving the route nonstop 5. Size restrictions and extra fees for larger vehicles |
If you’re looking to move to or from Florida or D.C., using the Auto Train to slingshot to the Virginia area or Florida and then shipping or driving your vehicle to your final destination could save you money. Similarly, bringing your car to the D.C. area and using the Auto Train to get to Florida could be cheaper than paying for a complete long-distance shipping haul. However, while the service goes both ways, the train does not stop along its route.
