Auto transport field desk · 2026
Ship the car without letting it drive the move.
Plan the vehicle as a chain of custody: company, equipment, pickup window, inspection, transit contact, and delivery record. Keep it coordinated with—but separate from—the household move.
Coast-to-coast planning band
$1,100–$2,000
Standard sedan · open carrier · informational range, not a quote.
Price map
Distance sets the baseline. Capacity writes the quote.
Longer routes cost more in total and often less per mile. The short-route midpoint works out near $1.20 per mile; the coast band is closer to $0.52. Route density, vehicle size, operability, equipment, access, and timing still decide whether a truck has the right open position.
| Route band | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short interstate (~500 mi) | $450 | $600 | $850 |
| Mid-haul (~1,000 mi) | $700 | $900 | $1,250 |
| Long-haul (~1,500 mi) | $850 | $1,150 | $1,600 |
| Coast-to-coast (~2,800 mi) | $1,100 | $1,450 | $2,000 |
Custody route library
Four decisions, four field notes
PRICE 11
The car-shipping price map: what changes the quote
Understand how distance, route density, vehicle size and condition, open or enclosed equipment, season, access, and timing shape a car-shipping quote.
Open field note →EQUIPMENT 12
Open or enclosed auto transport: choose by consequence
Compare open and enclosed auto transport by road exposure, loading clearance, equipment availability, vehicle value, condition sensitivity, timing, and cost.
Open field note →ACCESS 13
Door-to-door or terminal car shipping: map the handoffs
Compare door-to-door and terminal auto transport by legal truck access, scheduling, storage, extra handling, inspection responsibility, and total travel time.
Open field note →ROUTE 14
How to ship a car cross-country: the custody route plan
Plan a cross-country vehicle shipment from quote scope and company verification through preparation, pickup inspection, transit communication, delivery, and claims records.
Open field note →Questions from the loading point
Car-shipping FAQ
A standard sedan on an open carrier can run from about $450 on a shorter interstate route to $2,000 on a coast-to-coast route in the published bands used here. Vehicle size, operability, equipment, route access, timing, and demand can change an actual quote.
Put both routes on one budget
Model the household move first. Keep the car quote separate, then combine the schedules with a realistic backup plan.
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