What’s the Cheapest Way to Transport My Car? | Move.org

How do you ship your car cheaply?

Get multiple quotes

One of the best ways to get a low price for auto transport is to get several quotes. We recommend contacting three to five companies and avoiding those with the lowest and highest prices.

Why avoid a company with rock-bottom prices? Because it’s possible those prices are too good to be true.

The carriers that bid on your job sometimes submit unrealistic prices so you’ll choose them and then raise the price after you’ve booked. You may pay a deposit that can’t be refunded and get stuck with an expensive car company you thought had low rates.

Avoid cheats. Don’t go with a transport company that has the lowest or highest price.

Is car shipping safe?

We know you don’t want to hand over your car to just anyone. Check out our tips for keeping your car safe during auto transport.

Make an early reservation

The more time companies have to bid on your job, the more likely you are to get a low price. One company might submit a bid of $950 the first day, while another could come in at $875 the next day. The longer auto transport companies bid against each other, the lower your price goes.

The benefits of making an early reservation max out at about two weeks, so you don’t have to spend months waiting. Just plan ahead.

You could save hundreds of dollars.

Use open transport

Almost all cars are shipped on the big semitrailers you see on the road. The industry term for this kind of shipment is open transport—and it’s a simple way to save hundreds of dollars.

About 10% of vehicles ship inside a fully enclosed container, but this costs a pretty penny and usually isn’t necessary.

Car shipping costs by transport type

Distance

Open transport

Enclosed transport

500 miles
$560$7901,000 miles$790$1,100
1,500 miles
$1,000$1,3202,000 miles$1,370$1,800

Data as of 10/5/22. Average cost calculated by comparing costs for 3 vehicle sizes across 11 distances. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

An enclosed trailer is mainly for customers with specialty cars:

• Classic cars
• Custom cars
• Exotic cars
• Antique cars

Pick the right auto transport company

You can save hundreds of dollars by choosing a company with a strong reputation. We’ve spent countless hours researching the best car shipping companies in the business and found five that stand head and shoulders above the rest:

Let us help you with your car, and everything else

There’s more to moving than getting your belongings from A to B. If setting up insurance, internet, utilities, or home security services while planning your move makes you hyperventilate, we’ve got an answer for you!

Move.org offers a free, all-in-one solution that provides you with a personal concierge who will assist you in setting up all those services (and more!). From finding the best mover in your area, to forwarding your mail to your new address, our moving concierge removes the hassle of self setup and helps you save money.