Car shipping across the United States, coordinated door to door

What actually happens when you ship a car

You give us the pickup and delivery areas, the vehicle, its condition and your earliest workable date. We post the shipment to the carrier market at a rate drivers on that lane will realistically accept, match a vetted carrier, and coordinate pickup and delivery at the closest legal, safe access to your addresses. One point of contact stays with the shipment from quote to delivery. The full walkthrough is on how auto transport works.

Broker and carrier: who does what

A brokerage arranges transport; a motor carrier physically hauls the vehicle. That split is normal in this industry and it works in your favour, because a brokerage can reach many carriers on a lane instead of waiting for one company's truck to head your way. What matters is honest pricing, a carrier that actually shows up, and paperwork you can rely on if something goes wrong. We never claim to own the truck carrying your vehicle.

Open or enclosed

Open transport moves the large majority of vehicles in the country and has the widest carrier availability on nearly every lane. Enclosed transport is worth the premium for exotics, freshly restored or show vehicles, very low cars, and anything where weather and road film are unacceptable.

How pricing is determined

There is no honest flat rate. Distance and corridor density, vehicle size and weight, whether it runs, open versus enclosed equipment, seasonality, fuel, and how flexible your dates are all move the number carriers will accept. Anyone quoting a suspiciously low figure sight-unseen is usually planning to raise it later. Our car shipping costs guide breaks down every input, and how quotes are calculated explains the mechanics behind the number.

Timing, realistically

Pickup happens inside a window, not at an appointed minute, because a carrier is routing several vehicles at once. Transit is an estimate shaped by distance, traffic, weather, road closures and mandatory driver rest. We tell you what is realistic for your lane in writing and we do not promise dates a truck cannot keep.

Preparing the vehicle

Wash it so its condition is visible, remove toll transponders and personal items, leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel, and photograph every panel before pickup. At delivery, compare the vehicle to your photos and note anything on the bill of lading before you sign — that document is what any claim is judged against. The preparation checklist covers it step by step.