Car shipping questions, answered.

Short in-state trips usually start around $450. Mid-distance trips like California to Arizona or Oregon are typically $700 to $1,000, and coast-to-coast shipping for a sedan usually runs $1,450 to $1,850 on an open carrier. Enclosed transport costs about 30 to 45 percent more. See our pricing guide.

The price on your written quote is the price you pay for transport. It doesn’t change at pickup because of fuel, a busy week or a carrier asking for more. If you change the route, vehicle or dates, we’ll requote before anything is booked.

Open transport on a popular route, with a flexible pickup window, booked one to two weeks ahead and outside peak season. Terminal-to-terminal shipping is sometimes cheaper on paper, but the extra driving and storage fees often erase the savings.

For trips over about 1,000 miles, shipping is often close to the real cost of driving once you add fuel, motels, meals, time off work and wear on the car. Under 500 miles, driving is usually cheaper if you have the time.

Yes. SUVs, pickups and vans take more space and weight on the trailer, typically adding 10 to 20 percent. Lifted or modified trucks can cost more, so share the dimensions when you book.

Diesel is one of a carrier’s biggest costs, so when it rises, market rates rise too. Your locked-in quote already accounts for it. You won’t see a fuel surcharge after booking.

Inoperable vehicles need a carrier with a winch and extra handling time, which usually adds around $150 or more. Let us know when you book so we send the right truck.

Roughly 1 to 3 days for trips under 500 miles, 3 to 5 days for 1,000 to 1,500 miles, and 7 to 10 days coast to coast, counted from pickup. Pickup itself usually happens within 1 to 3 days of your first available date.

Late fall (outside snowbird routes) and mid-winter on southern routes are often the most affordable. Demand dips after the summer moving season and before the holidays.

Summer, from June to August, is peak moving season. Snowbird routes into Florida and Arizona also spike from October to December, and back north from March to May.

Car shipping works like airline seats. When more people move, trucks fill faster and rates climb. When demand drops or weather limits carriers on certain routes, prices shift with it.

One to two weeks is ideal most of the year. In summer and snowbird season, two to three weeks gets you the best pickup windows and rates.

On northern routes and anything crossing the Rockies or the Sierra, sometimes, because fewer carriers run them and weather slows trips. Southern routes like I-10 often stay steady or even get cheaper.

Drivers follow road closures and chain controls for safety, which can add a day or two. We keep you updated and never push a carrier to drive in unsafe conditions.

Fall usually has a slight edge, with steady availability before the holidays. Spring is busy with snowbirds heading north and early-summer movers.

Yes. A wider window lets us match your car with a carrier already heading your way, which often means a better price and a faster confirmation.

Book early, avoid pickups in the days right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, and keep a couple of buffer days on the delivery end.

Fill out the quote form or call (925) 488-0995. A specialist confirms your details, locks in the price and schedules your pickup window.

You or any adult you trust needs to hand over the keys and sign the inspection report (Bill of Lading). It takes about 15 to 20 minutes at each end.

The driver picks up at your address and delivers to the destination address, or the nearest safe, legal spot if a 75-foot truck can’t fit on your street. It’s included in every quote.

Call or text our team any time, 24/7, for an update from dispatch. Many carriers also share live updates as they get close to delivery.

We’ll tell you as soon as we know, explain why, and give you a new estimate. Weather and road closures are the usual causes.

Yes. We’ll take your details and lock in the plan, then confirm the exact pickup window closer to the date.

We’re a licensed broker (USDOT 4347175, MC 1699248). We match your shipment with licensed, insured carriers already running your route, and we stay your point of contact from quote to delivery.

Yes. Every carrier we use is FMCSA-licensed and carries cargo insurance: up to $250,000 on open loads and up to $1,000,000 on enclosed loads.

Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading at delivery, before you sign, and take photos. We’ll help you file the claim with the carrier’s insurer.

Check the company’s USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA SAFER, get the price in writing, be wary of quotes far below everyone else’s, and never pay in full by wire before pickup.

It’s worth it. Compare written quotes, licenses, reviews and what’s actually included. The cheapest quote often isn’t the price you end up paying.

Most carriers allow a small amount, roughly 100 lbs, in the trunk or below the window line. It isn’t covered by cargo insurance, so leave valuables and documents out.

Check antifreeze and battery health, make sure the tires are properly inflated, and plan for a wash after delivery if the car crosses salted roads.

Around half. It’s enough for loading and short moves without unnecessary weight. Turn off Sentry or alarm modes and provide a key card or fob.