Common Car Shipping Questions

If you’re shipping your car, you probably have a few questions. The auto transport industry is complicated even if you use one of the best car shipping companies. But you can get a quick handle on things—and even save money—by understanding the answers to some of the most common car shipping questions:

1. How do I get a car shipping quote?
2. How much does it cost to ship a car?
3. What affects my car shipping price?
4. How can I save money on car shipping?
5. What are the best car shipping companies?
6. What should I look for in a car shipping company?
7. How does car shipping work?
8. How do you ship a car across the country?
9. How long does it take to ship your car?
10. What is the difference between open and enclosed transport?
11. Can you ship a car by plane?
12. Can you ship a car by train?
13. How much do you tip a car transport driver?
14. Is there car shipping insurance?
15. Can I ship more than one vehicle at the same time?
16. Is shipping a car safe?
17. What documents do I need to ship a car overseas?
18. Can you put stuff in a car when shipping it?
19. Can I ship a car with a full tank of gas?
20. Do car shipping companies have GPS?

You get a car shipping quote by providing an auto transport company with specific details about your shipment.

Here’s what car shipping companies will need to know:

• Your car’s year
• Your car’s make
• Your car’s model
• Your vehicle shipping dates
• Travel distance (pick up and drop off locations)

All car shipping companies can provide quotes over the phone. However, a few (like AmeriFreight and Easy Auto Ship) can save you time with instant online estimates.

You’ll likely make two separate payments for your vehicle shipment: (1) an initial payment to the broker when you make a reservation and (2) a payment to the driver at the time of delivery. Every car shipping company accepts different forms of payment. In general, you need a credit card or debit card for your initial payment and cash or a check at the time of delivery.

It costs approximately $1,195 to ship a car. Move.org’s analysis of nearly 1,000 car shipping quotes suggests that costs range from about $300–$3,500 depending on factors such as car size and total distance.

The average cost to ship a car 1,000 miles is about $1,186, according to Move.org. Prices vary based on your transport type, vehicle size, and time of year.

Hundreds of real-time variables like route demand, weather, and road conditions affect your car shipping price. This messy reality can result in car shipping prices that often change day by day—and even hour by hour. However, there are a few things that affect your auto transport price more than others:

• Transport type. Your car may get dirtier on open transport than it would in an enclosed carrier, but it will save you more than $400 on average. Some companies like Sherpa Auto Transport will give you a free car wash.
• Vehicle size. Bigger vehicles cost more than smaller ones. While the average cost to ship a car is about $1,150, it costs about $1,280 to transport an SUV—and $1,450 for a large truck.
• Distance. It costs more the farther you ship your vehicle. You can ship a car less than 300 miles for about $600, while a cross-country trip on open transport will set you back around $1,240.
• Timeframe. Expect to pay an arm and a leg if you need your car shipped on short notice. It’s not unlikely that you’ll pay upwards of $1,000 extra if you provide only 24 hours notice.

You can save money on car shipping by following a few simple tips:

• Reserve in advance. You can often knock a couple of hundred bucks off your price by placing your reservation about two weeks before you need your car picked up. This gives carriers time to bid against each other and drive down the cost of your car shipment.
• Use open transport. You can save about $420 on the average shipment by using open transport. Expensive enclosed transport is typically reserved for high-priced automobiles like classic cars and luxury vehicles.
• Don’t fall for scams. Car shipping scams are expensive—but avoidable. Save hundreds of bucks by refusing to pay deposits (most reputable companies don’t charge deposits), double-checking your broker’s credentials, and reading online reviews.

Move.org conducted thorough research to identify the best auto transport companies. Our analysis of hundreds of quotes and thousands of reviews reveals five car transport companies at the forefront of the industry: Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, American Auto Shipping, Sherpa Auto Transport, and uShip.

There are several things that you should look for in a car shipping company. If you pay attention to the right details, you can often save yourself tons of money and stress:

• Reasonable prices. Get quotes from a few companies and choose the lowest one that seems reasonable (super low prices almost always go up by the time you pay your bill). In our experience, many auto transporters set their rates based on Montway Auto Transport’s low prices.
• Guaranteed rates. Almost no companies have binding quotes, so it’s a big deal when you find one. American Auto Shipping and Sherpa Auto Transport are the only companies we’ve discovered with fully guaranteed quotes.
• Positive customer reviews. Look for a car transporter that scores at least as high as the industry average (4.6 out of 5 stars) in customer reviews. Pay extra attention to companies that receive praise for low prices, friendly customer service, professional carriers, and timely delivery.
• Long company age. The longer a company has been around, the better. It dramatically lowers your chances of working with a scam artist. Nearly all of the best vehicle transport companies have been in business for at least 10 years.
• Extra insurance. Keep an eye on transport companies that offer additional insurance. Some of our favorites include AmeriFreight ($2,000 gap coverage) and Ship a Car Direct ($500 damage-free guarantee).

Car shipping companies transport your car from one location to another. In most cases, the driver loads the vehicle at your home and then delivers it to your new address. There are two kinds of companies you work with: brokers that place your reservation and carriers that ship your vehicle.

There are five basic car shipping steps:

1. Research. Get several transport quotes, compare prices, and read up on customer reviews.
2. Verify. Make sure the auto shipping company has insurance.
3. Load. Your driver puts your vehicle on the truck. Prepare your car for transport by doing things like removing personal belongings and washing your vehicle.
4. Transport. Your driver transports your car to your new location, which typically takes around 6–12 days.
5. Unload. Check for damage and thank the driver when your car is delivered. Document any damage on the bill of lading (a document that compares your vehicle’s condition before and after delivery)

The auto transport process works pretty much the same way whether you need to transport to a nearby state—or the other side of the country. The differences mainly boil down to how much it costs and how long it takes: cross-country transports cost more and take longer.

It takes anywhere from about one to two weeks to ship your car within the continental United States (Hawaii transport can take up to seven weeks). Car shipping transit times vary based on everything from bad traffic to how many vehicles are on a transport truck. Plus, some transport companies are more efficient than others.

Since it’s so hard to predict accurate timelines, companies typically give estimates with big buffers to account for delays. Our research suggests most vehicles arrive in about 7–16 days.

Open transport means your car is on the back of an open carrier exposed to the elements. Enclosed auto transport means your vehicle is inside a totally enclosed trailer (basically a box on wheels).

Each option has its benefits and drawbacks. About 90% of customers use open transport because it’s (a lot) cheaper—but your motor vehicle is also more likely to get dirty or damaged. Enclosed transport protects your vehicle better but costs about 40% more.

Yes, you can ship a car by plane—but it’s expensive. In most cases, the cost of shipping via air freight is several times more than the vehicle’s value. Think a 1955 Jaguar, a 1964 Ferrari, or your great-great-grandfather’s Model A Ford in mint condition.

Yes, you can ship a car by train. However, this can be a misleading question. While auto dealerships can often find brokers to ship their vehicles by rail, the sole option for regular customers is Amtrak. And it’s available in only two cities: Washington, DC, and Sanford, Florida. For everyone else, shipping a car by train isn’t an option.

The amount you tip a transport driver is up to you. We’ve seen reports of tips ranging from $5 to $300. Here are some things worth tipping for:

• The driver delivers your car ahead of schedule.
• The driver communicates with you before delivery.
• The driver is polite and professional.
• The driver delivers your vehicle as clean as it was when it was loaded onto the car carrier.

Yes. Auto transport carriers must have liability insurance that covers damage due to negligence that occurs in transit. The best car shipping companies typically have extra insurance perks like gap coverage and damage-free guarantees.

Yes, you can ship more than one vehicle at a time. Most auto transport companies offer discounts if you book two or more cars for the same trip.

Yes, car shipping is generally safe, but you should carefully vet potential auto transport. Take some time to read online reviews and make sure you’re not handing the keys over to an auto shipper with a history of damaging vehicles.

The documents you need to ship a car overseas depend on where you’re shipping to and from. So, you’ll want to check with your car shipper to see what documents you need.

Some auto transport companies allow you to transport a limited amount of personal belongings in your vehicle. However, many brokers prohibit the practice—and we don’t recommend it. Your auto carrier’s insurance typically won’t cover damages to your household goods during transit. Plus, your stuff can be a temptation for thieves.

No, you can’t ship a car with a full tank of gas. The heavier your vehicle is, the more your carrier must pay for fuel. Since gas is expensive, most car shipping companies require your tank to be no more than one-quarter full. You can use your car for errands until the gas tank is low enough for transport.

Some car shipping companies have GPS tracking—but most of them don’t. It depends on whether your truck driver is willing to be tracked for the duration of your shipment. Unfortunately, most drivers aren’t willing to enable GPS tracking.

That’s what makes companies like Montway Auto Transport so special. In Montway’s case, the vehicle transportation broker formed partnerships with hundreds of GPS trucking companies to increase your odds of finding a driver willing to be tracked.

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