Auto Shipping Cost: What You Need to Know to Get the Best Rates

Determining auto shipping costs may seem as simple as choosing your destination, picking a delivery date, and generating a quote, but the reality is the logistics behind vehicle transportation are anything but A + B = C. 

Long route? You’re paying for more driver hours and fuel. Crossing borders? Factor in customs paperwork, duties, and broker fees. Luxury vehicle? A standard trailer won’t do. Even a freak snowstorm can drive up the price. 

And while minimizing costs and maximizing profitability are important, you also need to factor in the cost-benefit of service quality, protection, reliability, ease of use, and your peace of mind. 

When it comes to car shipping estimates, there’s a lot to map out. This article breaks down the factors you should consider when determining fair auto shipping costs. 

Average Auto Shipping Rates: A National Overview

Auto shipping rates are not one-size-fits-all. They’re shaped by many conditional factors, including length, carrier capacity, and regional demand. But there are predictable national price bands based on distance that you can count on to establish your baseline costs. 

Here are some shipping rate examples, based on data from the shippers using Auto Hauler Exchange to move their vehicles in 2025:

• 100-miles → $152
• 300-miles → $345
• 600-miles → $540
• 1,000-miles → $700

On average, price per mile across the Auto Hauler Exchange marketplace is $0.93/mile. 

Remember: These are just baseline costs. Think your standard Honda Civic moving from New York to Los Angeles with no mechanical issues, no enclosed protection, and no seasonal curveballs. Those prices don’t account for the special factors required to ship a 1967 Ford Mustang, like an enclosed carrier and special handling.

For a more detailed and precise cost calculation, use the Auto Hauler Exchange (AHX) Market Estimate Tool. It’s designed to give shippers a pricing estimate based on real-time market data. While it doesn’t provide a binding quote, the Market Estimate Tool provides an average market estimate for similar shipments to help guide your decision.

Key Factors That Drive Auto Shipping Costs

SUV or sedan? Gas or electric? Across the state or across the country? Summer or winter? Each factor plays a role in determining the final cost of auto shipping. Understanding how they influence pricing can help you make informed decisions about timing, transport type, and carrier selection, giving you a realistic picture of the budget you’ll need for your shipment.

Distance and route

Distance has the most direct impact on auto-shipping costs. The longer the haul, the more fuel, driver hours, and equipment maintenance are needed to get a vehicle from point A to point B. 

Routes also impact costs. High traffic corridors between major cities tend to be cheaper. Established shipping lanes allow carriers to fill trailers easily, make use of return loads, and thus, squeeze more ROI out of every trip. 

More rural routes cost more due to the risk of deadhead miles and limited carrier availability. Certain routes are also subject to seasonal demand spikes and weather disruptions that can inflate costs.  

Routes that favor return loads are also a factor. Some regions ship out more cars than they receive. In these cases, return loads are harder for the carrier to secure, which may influence their pricing.  

Vehicle type, size, and condition

Auto shipping costs are impacted by how much space, equipment, and handling a car requires. Generally speaking, more special needs equate to higher costs.
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A few examples: 

• Electric vehicles often cost more to ship because of battery safety protocols and weight. 
• Large pick-up trucks take up more space on a trailer and are heavier, so carrier costs are higher because of the fuel required to haul a heavier load and because large vehicles eat up trailer capacity. 
• Damaged cars that require special handling, such as winching or manual positioning for loading and offloading, will be more expensive than a car that can drive on and off the trailer. 
• SUVs with aftermarket lift kits cost more to ship because of the vehicle height clearance requirements on carriers. 
• Commercial vans may require specialized loading angles and extra vertical space.
• Cars with low ground clearance may be more expensive if the carrier needs to use a longer ramp or spacer board to avoid undercarriage damage.
• Classic cars are more fragile and sensitive to loading vibrations and low-risk hazards.

Transport type: Open vs. enclosed trailers

As the industry standard, open transport is the cheapest way to ship a vehicle. Even though cars are exposed to weather and debris, open transport is the widely accepted standard for everyday cars. Open transport typically has a lower handling time and fits more vehicles per load. 

With enclosed transport, you pay a premium for protection. Enclosed transport shields vehicles from the elements and uncontrolled hazards of auto shipping. Vehicles are also transported in smaller loads. Enclosed transport is typically reserved for luxury cars and can cost 50-100% more. 

Fuel costs and market demand

Fuel and demand are the most volatile and unpredictable variables impacting auto shipping costs. 

While fuel costs generally correlate to distance, prices fluctuate daily. Sometimes dramatically. To hedge against unpredictability, carriers will add a fuel surcharge, so they’re not left holding the bag if fuel costs spike mid-transport.

Demand swings also influence pricing in real-time. When demand rises, either seasonally or due to a route becoming hot, carrier space becomes limited. The reduced supply allows carriers to charge a premium for available spots. On the flip side, shipping during low-demand periods is typically less expensive because carriers are incentivized to fill trailers and avoid running at partial capacity. 

Seasonality and weather

Seasonality and weather impact auto shipping costs by influencing demand, carrier safety, and delivery timelines.

Peak seasons, typically spring and summer, bring higher moving activity and increased vehicle purchases, which drives up demand and, in turn, pricing. During off-peak months, such as fall and winter, demand softens, and rates are usually lower as carriers prioritize filling trailer space.

The weather also affects costs due to elevated risks. Shipping in severe winter conditions, like snowstorms, can slow transit, increase safety hazards, push drivers into overtime, and put added strain on the vehicle load, often resulting in higher carrier pricing compared to clear, dry conditions. Carriers may also reroute or pause pick-ups during severe weather events, which can reduce the number of trucks and cause a price spike. 

Carrier availability

In general, carrier scarcity drives prices up, while carrier abundance drives prices down. Ultimately, shipping rates are shaped by how easily and efficiently a vehicle moves from point A to point B.

When carrier capacity is high (e.g., the route is popular and there is competition for carriers), rates trend lower because carriers are motivated to fill trailers and reduce deadhead miles.

On the other hand, when carrier supply is limited, prices rise. This can occur during peak moving or buying seasons, in unbalanced shipping corridors where vehicles flow mainly in one direction, or on remote/less-traveled routes serviced by fewer trucks. In these cases, carriers can charge a premium due to reduced capacity and limited back-haul opportunities.

Beyond carrier availability, stringent shipping requirements can create supply shortages of their own. Last-minute bookings or rigid pickup windows, for example, reduce carrier matching options and typically result in higher pricing. 

Flexibility around timing helps carriers plan more efficient loads, which lowers pricing.

💡 What are deadhead miles?

Deadhead miles, or deadheading, refers to instances where trailers have to travel empty to pick up a vehicle before delivering it to its final destination. Typically, these costs are passed onto the customer.

Deadheading often occurs in instances of:

• Imbalanced shipping lanes, where auto shipping traffic flows heavier in one direction
• Low traffic routes, where auto shipping is uncommon
• Last-minute bookings, where there are fewer load-matching options

An example of deadhead miles: 

An example of deadheading: Let’s say you want to ship a pickup truck to a rural drop-off. With no vehicle to load at the delivery destination, the carrier may then need to drive 100+ miles empty to reach their next pickup in a busier, urban area. Those non-revenue miles are deadhead miles, and they’re one of the reasons that the route can cost more than others.

How to Get an Accurate Vehicle Shipping Quote

Shippers can obtain quotes in several ways: by requesting them from brokers, exploring options on load boards, contracting carriers directly, or using a marketplace. Each method comes with its own set of pros and cons.

Getting Shipping Quotes From Brokers

Brokers are intermediaries who connect vehicle shippers with auto carriers. They collect shipment details, such as vehicle specs, pickup and delivery locations, and timing requirements. Brokers present the shipper with quotes and then leverage their carrier network to try to find the cheapest truck to move the vehicle.

A word of caution: Brokers do not provide their services for free. They earn an undisclosed margin between what the shipper pays and what the carrier is contracted for. This is reflected in the quotes brokers provide.

It’s also important to note that brokers differ widely in the standards they use for carrier vetting, pricing transparency, and service quality. A low quote may initially reflect matching assumptions and is not a guaranteed carrier commitment.

Getting Shipping Quotes Through Load Boards

Load boards function like a live, online directory of carrier availability. Shippers post the vehicles they need to move and carriers bid on those loads.  

In theory, load boards offer more direct pricing visibility by removing the broker from the process, but they also require shippers to do more legwork and due diligence. 

In practice, many load boards are overrun with brokers who post loads at a lower rate than what they’re getting paid by the shipper. Loads found on load boards may be “ghost loads” posted by brokers to attract more carriers to their network. 

Getting Shipping Quote Through Direct Carrier Contact

Some shippers choose to book auto transport by contacting a carrier directly through their company’s channels. This approach can work well for frequent, high-volume shippers managing large commercial fleets, where routes, timing, and service needs are consistent and predictable.

However, for shippers requiring ad hoc deliveries or one-off shipments, working directly with a single carrier can sometimes mean less flexibility, especially if the carrier has limited route coverage or lacks back-haul options. In these cases, shippers may face tighter pickup windows and higher pricing.

Getting Shipping Quotes Through Auto Hauler Exchange

Auto Hauler Exchange is a marketplace that combines the best of all worlds: the support of a broker with the transparency of a load board. On AHX, shippers connect directly with over 5,500 vetted carriers — with no brokers in the process. 

As a shipper using AHX, there are two prices you set. One is the list price, which is your offer for the vehicle shipment and is visible to everyone. The second is the max price, which is only visible to you as the shipper and reflects the highest amount you’re willing to pay. Carriers can either book your load directly at the price you set or bid on your load at a higher price, but nothing will be automatically accepted over your max price.

For a quote to help guide your list price, you can leverage AHX’s Market Estimate Tool, which helps make informed decisions about pricing based on real-time market data. 

You can see a detailed breakdown of the differences between load boards, like Central Dispatch, vs. Auto Hauler Exchange.

Tips for Reducing Your Auto Shipping Costs 

The bottom line is always top of mind, especially in a climate where pricing can change drastically from day to day and scenario to scenario. That said, it’s important to remember that going with the cheapest auto transport option isn’t always a good idea. 

There are non-monetary costs to consider, like getting your load to its destination, undamaged and on time. 

Here are a few ways to reduce your costs without sacrificing speed, quality, or location. 

Plan ahead

Sending a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing through Snoqualmie Pass’s 20-foot snowdrifts in February on the only available trailer is not a recipe for cost savings. When possible, give yourself the gift of time so you can optimize seasonality, route selection, and carrier choice for both cost efficiency and safety. The earlier you start planning, the more options you’ll have to select cost-effective carriers without compromising your vehicle’s protection or your delivery timeline.

Planning ahead also allows you to consider alternative routes, flexible pickup or delivery windows, and carriers with the right equipment or insurance coverage for high-value or specialty vehicles, all of which can significantly reduce risk and expense.

Be flexible on pickup/delivery dates

Carriers give breaks to shippers that help them run efficiently. Providing a multi-day pick-up and delivery window allows carriers to bundle loads, reduce deadhead miles, and maximize use of their trailers. 

Use an alternative to a broker

Brokers take a commission on top of the carrier’s rate, which immediately ups your costs. As we discuss in The Real Cost of Vehicle Transportation for Dealerships, brokers typically auction the load to the lowest-bidding carrier and pocket the rest. They present you with an inflated quote after grinding carriers down until one bites at a significantly lower price. 

What’s more, during peak seasons and other periods of high demand, brokers may adjust quote demand pricing. The results? Higher costs.

By connecting with carriers directly via marketplaces like AHX, you can stop paying the broker markup, without compromising what the carrier takes home. Take Cable Dahmer for example. When they switched from brokers to Auto Hauler Exchange, they started seeing a 25% cost savings per vehicle. 25% is no joke. It added up to over $500,000 in savings in one year alone. 

Hidden Costs: Other Considerations When Choosing Your Carrier

As we’ve covered throughout this article, determining your costs requires navigating a complex web of explicit factors such as distance, timing, and carrier availability. But there are also several hidden costs that can quietly eat into your profit margins.

Dwell time

Dwell time is any period a soon-to-be shipped vehicle spends waiting at a terminal, port, or storage facility before a carrier picks it up and hits the dusty road. Every day a car spends on dwell time chips away at its margins. An idle car doesn’t stop depreciating or accruing interest if it’s financed. And storing an idle car definitely isn’t free. 

Dwell time can also be caused by scheduling delays, paperwork issues, or congestion at terminals. Working with reliable vehicle transportation companies helps limit dwell time by reducing delays caused by poorly managed logistics.

Transit time

When cars take too long to arrive at a dealership after purchase, it eats into the revenue a dealership (the receiver) can generate from the vehicle. Transit delays not only reduce the time a car spends on the showroom floor but, like dwell time, floor plan interest begins accruing the moment a dealership buys the car, not when it arrives. The faster vehicles reach the lot, the sooner dealers can turn inventory and minimize interest costs. 

Transit delays also have invisible costs. It’s hard to quantify the money lost to missed sales opportunities or the price of empty lot space at the dealership. 

Missed arbitration windows

Late deliveries can also cause receiving dealerships to miss refund or claim deadlines. Auctions typically give the car buyer 7-10 calendar days to report problems like engine or frame damage. After that window closes, the buyer is on the hook for repairs, even if the car arrives damaged. Of course, reconditioning can’t begin until the vehicle arrives on the lot, making transport speed critical. 

As we lay out in The Real Cost of Vehicle Transportation, one slow truck can easily wipe out a month of profit.

How Auto Hauler Exchange’s Marketplace Makes Pricing More Transparent 

Using traditional auto shipping methods, precise pricing is often difficult to forecast, and hard to control. Auto Hauler Exchange flips the script by directly connecting shippers with over 5,500 highly vetted carriers across the country.

Unlike brokers, where pricing can be nebulous and inflated, or load boards, which require time and elbow grease to use, Auto Hauler Exchange removes the middleman and simplifies the process. Shippers know exactly what they’re paying for and can make quick, informed decisions about which carrier to use.

Auto Hauler Exchange pulls back the curtain on pricing by:

• Lowering dwell time: Faster delivery reduces depreciation and interest costs. 
• Providing supply: Fast, efficient delivery hinges on a healthy supply of trusted carriers to do the hauling. On Auto Hauler Exchange, shippers have over 5,500 pre-vetted carriers to choose from. With a large network at your disposal, you’ll find a reliable carrier faster.
• Explicit pricing: Unlike brokers’ “black box” pricing, we use a transparent, “glass box” approach. When booking a shipment, you see a detailed cost breakdown, including how much the carrier earns and any associated fees.

The True Cost of Vehicle Shipping

From fuel and distance to trailer capacity and handling needs to interest and depreciation, there’s a lot to consider when you’re pricing out an auto shipment. Insidious factors like delays and missed arbitration can quietly chew away at your profits before your vehicle even makes it to the lot.  

Auto Hauler Exchange exists to give shippers clarity and control over that entire equation. By connecting shippers directly with thousands of vetted carriers, the marketplace eliminates the commission layer typically introduced by brokers, ensuring the price you pay is the carrier’s real rate, without the markup. 

So, if you’re after efficient carrier connections and competitive pricing, without sacrificing reliability, peace of mind, or your profit margins, the best thing you can do is try Auto Hauler Exchange.

Learn more about how Auto Hauler Exchange helps shippers reduce costs and move vehicles faster. Talk to an expert.