How accurate is this car shipping calculator?

The estimate uses real Google Maps driving distance between your locations, combined with our actual rate schedule: $1.00/mile under 500 miles, $0.80/mile for 500–999 miles, and $0.65/mile for 1,000+ miles. The result is an ±10% range around the calculated base. Actual final quotes depend on current carrier availability, fuel surcharges, and vehicle-specific factors — but most shipments fall within this range.

Do I need to enter my contact information to see the estimate?

No. The calculator shows your estimated price range instantly with no email, phone, or name required. Contact information is only needed when you proceed to the full quote request so a coordinator can confirm carrier availability and lock in your rate.

Why does price per mile decrease with longer distances?

Carriers price per mile based on load efficiency. Short hauls are less efficient for carriers because loading, securing, and transit overhead takes the same time regardless of distance. Longer hauls spread those fixed costs over more miles, resulting in a lower per-mile rate. This is why coast-to-coast shipping often costs less per mile than a 200-mile regional move.

What is the difference between open and enclosed transport?

Open transport is the most common method — your vehicle rides on an open multi-car trailer, exposed to the elements but fully insured. It's 30–40% cheaper than enclosed. Enclosed transport uses a covered trailer that protects against weather, road debris, and temperature changes. It's recommended for classic cars, exotic vehicles, luxury vehicles, or any vehicle where cosmetic condition is a priority.

What counts as a non-running vehicle?

A non-running vehicle is one that cannot be driven onto the transport trailer under its own power — it won't start, won't roll, or is otherwise inoperable. Carriers charge a flat $150 surcharge because they need a winch or forklift to load it. Vehicles that drive but have minor mechanical issues (e.g., a broken A/C) are generally still classified as running.

What does expedited shipping mean?

Expedited shipping (also called priority dispatch) moves your vehicle to the top of the carrier dispatch queue for a faster pickup window. Standard shipments typically have a 2–5 day pickup window from your first available date. Expedited shipments target pickup within 1–2 days. The additional cost is 20% above the base rate.

Does the estimate include insurance?

Yes. All ShipMyCar US shipments include cargo insurance through the carrier as required by FMCSA regulations. The estimate you see already accounts for this — there are no hidden insurance add-ons in the final price.

How do I get an exact price after seeing my estimate?

Click 'Get Your Free Quote' after calculating your estimate, or use the quote form at the bottom of this page. A ShipMyCar US coordinator will review your route, confirm carrier availability, and provide a guaranteed price within hours — no obligation to book.

Free Instant Estimate — No Contact Info Required

Free Car Shipping Cost Calculator

Name: ShipMyCar US
Address: Coral Springs, Coral Springs, FL, 33071, US
Telephone: 1-888-706-8784
Price range: $350 - $2,500
Rating: 4.9

Get an instant cost estimate for shipping your car anywhere in the U.S. Enter your route and vehicle type — takes less than 60 seconds.

Quick Answer

Short answer: most car shipments cost $600–$2,000, driven mainly by distance, vehicle size, and open vs. enclosed transport. This calculator is built for anyone comparing car shipping quotes — it gives an instant, no-contact-info-required estimate using real Google Maps driving distance and our published per-mile rate tiers.

Last updated: September 11, 2026

$0.65–$1.00

Per mile

Real Distance

Google Maps API

±10%

Estimate range

Instant

No wait, no form

Get Your Free Quote

127 customers got quotes in the last 24 hours

Route

Vehicle

Contact

4.9/5

Customer Rating

240+

Verified Reviews

7+ Years

In Business

FMCSA

Licensed & Insured

Upfront Deposit

Shipping Cost Calculator Online

Step 1 of 1 — Enter Your Details

Pickup Location *

Delivery Location *

Transport Type

Vehicle Condition

No contact info required · Instant result

Your Estimate Appears Here

Enter your pickup and delivery locations, choose your options, and click Calculate My Estimate.

$0.65–$1.00

Per mile

+30%

Enclosed

+$150

Non-running

Estimates are based on driving distance via Google Maps, current carrier rate tiers, and selected options. Final quoted prices may vary based on carrier availability, fuel surcharges, and seasonal demand.

Why Use Our Free Car Shipping Calculator?

Short answer: it gives you a real price range in under 60 seconds with zero contact info required. Most auto transport websites make you fill out a long form, wait for a phone call, and sit through a sales pitch before you get a single number. We built this car shipping calculator to work differently.

When you submit your details above, our system instantly calculates a realistic estimate using real-time fuel prices, Google Maps driving distance, and current industry rate benchmarks. You also get connected directly with our verified transport partner — a licensed broker with active FMCSA authority and documented insurance — so you're never sold to a random lead aggregator.

No cold calls from five different companies. No bait-and-switch pricing. Just a transparent quote from a single, verified partner.

How the Auto Transport Quote Process Works

Here's exactly what happens when you use our free car shipping quote form — no surprises, no fine print.

Step 1

Enter Your Route

Type your pickup and delivery locations — city, ZIP code, or full address. Our integration with Google Places autocomplete ensures we capture the exact coordinates so we can calculate the actual driving distance your carrier will travel.

Step 2

Select Your Vehicle

Choose your vehicle type (sedan, SUV, truck, van, motorcycle, classic, or EV), then optionally select the year, make, and model from our database of 15,000+ vehicles. Vehicle size and weight directly affect shipping cost because larger vehicles take up more space on the carrier trailer.

Step 3

Choose Transport Options

Pick your preferred transport type — open carrier (most affordable, 90% of shipments) or enclosed carrier (premium protection for luxury and classic vehicles). Then tell us your preferred timeline: ASAP, flexible, or a specific date.

Step 4

Get Your Personalized Quote

Enter your name, email, and phone number, and submit. Our verified partner reviews your shipment details and responds with a guaranteed, all-inclusive price — usually within minutes during business hours. The quote you receive includes pickup, transport, delivery, and standard cargo insurance. No hidden fees.

What Makes Our Auto Transport Pricing Transparent?

In short: one verified partner, live distance and fuel data, no deposit to get a quote, and all-inclusive pricing. Here's what sets our approach apart from the typical quote-mill websites.

Single verified partner

We don't auction your lead to the highest bidder. Your information goes to one FMCSA-authorized broker with a proven track record.

Live distance + fuel data

The distance preview you see on this page uses the same Google Maps data our partner uses to price your shipment. The fuel component reflects this week's national diesel average from the U.S. EIA — not a stale number from last quarter.

No deposit required for a quote

You'll never be asked to pay a deposit just to get a price. The quote is free. If you decide to book, deposits and payment terms are clearly explained upfront.

All-inclusive pricing

The quote you receive covers door-to-door pickup and delivery, standard cargo insurance, and all transport fees. No fuel surcharges tacked on after the fact.

Average Car Shipping Costs by Vehicle Type

Pricing depends on multiple factors, but here are the typical auto transport cost ranges based on vehicle type for a standard 1,000-mile open-carrier shipment.

Vehicle Type	Avg. Cost (1,000 mi)	Key Factor
Motorcycle	$300 – $700	Smallest footprint, lowest weight
Sedan / Coupe	$600 – $1,000	Standard size, highest carrier capacity
SUV / Crossover	$750 – $1,200	Taller height reduces vehicles per load
Pickup Truck	$800 – $1,300	Length + weight increase cost
Van / Minivan	$750 – $1,150	Similar footprint to midsize SUVs
Classic / Exotic	$900 – $2,000+	Usually enclosed, handling premium
EV (Electric)	$700 – $1,400	Heavier battery weight, special handling

These ranges are for open transport. Enclosed transport typically adds 30–40% to the base cost.

How Your Per-Mile Rate Is Calculated

Distance is the single biggest driver of your quote. Here's the exact rate schedule the calculator above runs on, and how open transport compares to enclosed.

$1.00/mi

$0.80/mi

$0.65/mi

Under 500 mi

500–999 mi

1,000+ mi

Longer hauls cost less per mile because loading, securing, and dispatch overhead is fixed — it gets spread across more distance.

90%

of shipments move by open transport — the standard, fully-insured option and the most affordable way to ship.

+30–40%

is the typical enclosed transport premium — full weather and road-debris protection for classic, luxury, and exotic vehicles.

Real Route Examples

A few common corridors, estimated with the same rate formula and driving distance the calculator above uses.

New York, NY

→ Miami, FL

$749 – $915

~1,280 mi · open transport

Los Angeles, CA

→ Dallas, TX

$839 – $1,025

~1,435 mi · open transport

Chicago, IL

→ Denver, CO

$662 – $810

~920 mi · open transport

Estimates only. Use the calculator above for a price on your exact route and vehicle.

When Is the Cheapest Time to Ship a Car?

Short answer: September through November, when demand drops and carriers discount rates 10–20% to keep trucks full. Here's the full seasonal breakdown that industry insiders know.

Season	Demand Level	Price Impact	Why
Jan – Mar	High (Snowbird)	+15–30% on southern routes	Seasonal residents migrate south
Apr – May	Moderate	Baseline	Spring balance before summer rush
Jun – Aug	High (Summer)	+15–25% overall	Relocations, military PCS, college moves
Sep – Nov	Low	−10–20% (Best rates)	Demand drops, carriers discount to fill loads
December	Mixed	Variable	Holidays reduce carrier availability

How Pickup Timing Affects Your Price

Beyond the season, how fast you need pickup changes your rate. Choose the option that fits your timeline in the calculator above.

Standard Dispatch

Base rate

2–5 day pickup window

The default option for most shipments. Your carrier is matched from the normal dispatch queue at the standard rate.

Expedited Dispatch

+20%

1–2 day pickup window

Moves your vehicle to the top of the carrier queue for a faster pickup. Best for time-sensitive moves.

7 Things to Check Before Booking a Car Shipping Company

Before you pay a deposit to any auto transport company, run through this quick checklist.

1
Verify FMCSA authority
Every legitimate broker and carrier must have active operating authority registered with the federal government. Use the free FMCSA SAFER lookup (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) to check any company instantly.
2
Confirm insurance coverage
Ask for a copy of the cargo insurance certificate. Legitimate companies carry $100,000+ in cargo coverage. If they dodge this question, walk away.
3
Read the contract before signing
Pay attention to cancellation policies, payment terms, pickup windows, and what happens if delivery is late. Never sign a blank or vague agreement.
4
Beware of unusually low quotes
If a quote is 30%+ below the competition, it's almost certainly a lowball tactic. The company will either raise the price later or subcontract to a questionable carrier.
5
Ask about the payment structure
Reputable companies typically collect a small deposit at booking and the balance upon delivery. Be wary of companies demanding full payment upfront.
6
Check online reviews — carefully
Look for patterns in reviews, not just star ratings. Multiple complaints about hidden fees, communication problems, or delayed pickups are red flags.
7
Get everything in writing
Your quote, pickup date, delivery estimate, total cost, and insurance details should all be documented in a formal order agreement before any money changes hands.

How to Spot and Avoid Auto Transport Scams

Some companies try to take advantage of people who are trying to ship a car for the first time. Here are the tricks to watch out for.

The "deposit grab" scam

A company quotes an unrealistically low price, collects a large deposit, then either cancels the shipment or demands more money. Always verify FMCSA credentials first.

The "hostage load" scam

The carrier picks up your vehicle, then demands additional payment before releasing it. Only work with companies that put total cost in writing before pickup.

The lead-mill trap

Some websites sell your contact info to 5–10 companies who all compete to call you first. You end up with a flooded inbox and aggressive salespeople. That's why we connect you with one verified partner — not a bidding war.

If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts. You can verify any broker or carrier's operating authority and safety record for free at the FMCSA's official SAFER database.

Pricing Disclaimer

Quotes provided through this form are prepared by our verified transport partner based on current market conditions. Final pricing is subject to change based on carrier availability, exact vehicle dimensions, pickup/delivery accessibility, seasonal demand fluctuations, and any special requirements (non-running vehicles, oversized vehicles, inoperable conditions, etc.).

ShipMyCar US is a consumer education platform and does not directly provide auto transport services. We connect consumers with licensed, FMCSA-authorized brokers and carriers. All transport services are provided by independently operated, federally licensed companies.