A straight breakdown of what you should expect to pay by distance, vehicle type, and season — and the seven factors that actually move the number.
Every car shipping quote is built from the same handful of inputs. Once you understand them, you can tell in about thirty seconds whether a quote is realistic or bait.
The short answer
Cross-country moves generally run $900–$1,500. Regional moves of 500–1,000 miles run $500–$800. Short hops under 300 miles usually land between $350 and $550, because there is a floor below which no driver will take the load at all.
The seven factors that move your price
- Distance — cost per mile falls as distance rises. A 2,500-mile move might cost $0.45/mile while a 300-mile move costs $1.40/mile.
- Vehicle size and weight — a Miata and an Escalade do not occupy the same space or burn the same fuel.
- Open vs enclosed — enclosed typically adds 35–60% because the trailer carries fewer cars and costs more to run.
- Running condition — a non-running vehicle needs a winch and adds roughly $150–$250.
- Route popularity — busy interstate corridors are cheaper than rural routes where a driver must detour 90 miles for one car.
- Season — January snowbird traffic to Florida and the summer moving peak both tighten capacity and raise rates.
- Date flexibility — a 5–7 day pickup window can save $100–$200 versus demanding one specific day.
Why the cheapest quote is usually the most expensive
Brokers do not set what carriers accept — the market does. A quote well below market gets your order posted at a rate no driver takes. Your car sits for a week, then comes the call: "we need another $300 to get it moving." You have already turned down other companies and your dates are burning. Paying the real rate on day one is almost always cheaper and always less stressful.
