Cheapest Way to Ship a Car

What is the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car?

The cheapest way to ship a car is with an open transport carrier; however, anyone who has shipped a car can attest that there is no such thing as the cheapest way to ship a vehicle. For one, the trucks used to transport them are large and expensive to maintain and operate. Two, they take a lot of fuel to transport the vehicles, and with fuel prices constantly fluctuating, drivers spend hundreds of dollars to refuel their trucks. Not to mention the time drivers spend driving their trucks, which is anywhere from 8-10 hours a day, and you have a formula far from a cheap car shipping option. But the question is, “is it worth it”? We think so, and our customers do, too!

Is it Cheaper To Ship On an Open or Enclosed Carrier?

Open transport is usually the cheaper method; however, there are two ways to ship a vehicle:  open or enclosed transport. One reason for the price difference is that there are different insurance policies for open and enclosed transport. A car on an open trailer usually covers up to around $50,000, while an enclosed trailer is about $500,000 to $1,000,000 with a zero deductible for any damage caused by the driver’s negligence. Therefore, your car will still be fully insured if damage occurs on open transport.

Also, many more open transporters are on the road throughout the country than enclosed transporters. This ample supply of open-air carriers enables you to receive a better rate and competitive pricing when choosing this option.

Does The Type of Car Affect Cost?

The vehicle’s size will affect how the car shipping cost is determined. One of the ways the transport is calculated is by the vehicle’s total weight. Therefore, sedans will always cost less than SUVs or Pickup trucks. If a car has to be lifted, it will increase the truck’s total height space. This would, in turn, make the car lose a spot it would otherwise use to add another vehicle. This instance would add to the shipping cost of the car you want to transport. As mentioned earlier, a car’s weight, including electric vehicles, is usually cheaper to ship, but this is not always true. Many older sedans, such as Lincolns, are longer and heavier, which take up more space/weight on the trailer, increasing the transport cost as opposed to normal-sized sedans.

Another example of getting a cheap car shipping price is keeping your items under 100 lbs. Trucks go through weigh stations during transit and will have to pay extra if their truck is overweight, so avoiding packing out your car will allow you to find cheaper car transport. At Number 1 Auto Transport, we offer a multi-vehicle discount for cars traveling simultaneously to and from the exact location. This also benefits drivers because they can pick up a few cars in one place and deliver them to the same delivery address without driving out of the way as much.

Is Terminal-to-Terminal Transport A Cheaper Option?

Although a terminal-to-terminal shipment can benefit car carriers by picking up multiple vehicles from a specific location, loading vehicles at these facilities can cause issues. Some examples are that it becomes inconvenient for the drivers based on the amount of loading room, congestion, and the wait time to load vehicles at these facilities. Even though this option is a cheaper way to ship a car, we don’t usually recommend terminal to the terminal; because transfers between multiple parties make damage to the vehicles more likely. We also don’t recommend this type of transport because it increases transit time with all checkpoints.

Is Door-to-Door Transport A Cheaper Shipping Option?

Door-to-Door transport is the standard method of cheap car shipping we offer. The vehicle is picked up close to the address provided and delivered to the address or the closest point a truck can reach. By using this approach to open transport, not only will you have the most peace of mind, but it will ultimately allow you to find cheap car transport.

Be on the Lookout for Red Flags in Cheaper Car Shipping Costs

Companies claiming to have the cheapest way to ship a vehicle should not be allowed to transport your car. At Number 1 Auto Transport, we understand hiring the wrong company can become costly when moving your car cross country.

This is why we advise our customers of two things: 1. do a lot of research before choosing an auto shipping company, 2. just because you believe you’ve found a “cheap car transport company” does not mean you are getting a good deal.

In the auto transport industry, it helps to check out any company you consider using’s reviews. Read the reviews for the company you consider and carefully weigh the positive vs. the negative of companies that offer cheap car shipping. When shipping your automobile, understand that you get what you pay for. You may compromise quality if you receive a far cheaper quote than the competition. Furthermore, obtaining various quotes can alert you to companies that charge exorbitant prices.

Have Questions or Need A Car Shipping Quote?

Please call 855-422-4141 or fill out the form on this page for a free car shipping quote on any of our nationwide auto transport services. We look forward to giving you quick answers to any questions you may have!

Car Shipping Cost Price Chart – These are rough estimates and not final.

RouteAmountMilesSeattle, WA, to Charlotte, NC$1,3002,795New York, NY to Los Angeles, CA$1,3502,789Miami, FL, to San Francisco, CA$1,2503,113Jersey City, NJ to Dallas, TX$9751,545New York, NY to Dallas, TX$1,1751,547New York, NY to Miami, Fl$9501,285Baltimore, MD to Phoenix, AZ$1,1002,277Atlanta, GA, to Tucson, AZ$9751,733Portland, OR to Washington, DC$1,3502,806Nashville, TN to Albuquerque, NM$1,0751,220Austin, TX to Miami, FL$7001,350Memphis, TN to Denver, CO$9251,047Orlando, FL to Chicago, IL$9751,154Boise, ID to Houston, TX$1,2751,814Philadelphia, PA to Sacramento, CA$1,2752,784Saint Louis, MO to Trenton, NJ$750906Saint Louis, MO to New York, NY$975953Boston, MA, to Salt Lake City, UT$1,3502,364Las Vegas, NV to Detroit, MI$1,1502,012Milwaukee, WI to New Orleans, LA$1,0751,015Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ$9751,754Chicago, IL to Houston, TX$8001,082Austin, TX, to San Jose, CA$8751,716San Antonio, TX to San Diego, CA$8251,717Boston, MA to Baltimore, MD$550404