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Average Car Shipping Cost: Understanding the Fees Involved and Low Rate Tips
There are many factors that can affect car shipping cost. Rates vary by company, distance shipped, as well as other factors. Understanding these costs, and rate factors can help you make the best decision possible when deciding on a company to help move your vehicle across the country, or half way around the world. This article should help you answer the question, how much does car shipping cost?
Typical Costs – Here are a few price estimates for shipping a car:
- Small-Med Cars – Transporting a small to medium size car coast to coast will cost between $600-$1100. On the lower end of that scale is the winter price. Expect to pay closer to $1100 during the summer.
- Vans-SUV – A normal price range for moving a mini-van, or SUV from New York to California will range from $800-$1200. Again, the higher part of that range would be for the summer season. If you are transporting a vehicle from New York to Florida, the cost should be in the $600-850 for a sedan, and $900-1100 for a bigger vehicle.
- Hawaii and Alaska – Shipping from the west coast to Hawaii should run somewhere in the range of $900-1500 depending on the vehicle size and time of year. A car going Seattle to Juneau should cost around $1200.
- International Car Shipping Rate – The cost of shipping a car internationally will vary greatly depending on the country the car is being sent to. Covering these costs is beyond the scope of this article. Check with a shipper for rates and time frames. Expect to spend at least $2,000. Shipping by container will be more expensive then a roll-on/roll off.
The costs listed above are for standard, run of the mill vehicles. If you are transporting an expensive sports car or exotic vehicle expect to pay much more, to make sure your car is well taken care of during transport. The costs can skyrocket by up to $3,000.
Tips to Lower Costs
Season – Shipping your car will cost less during winter than it will in the summer peak months. You can count on a rate hike of between $200-300 during the summer. The additional cost will vary depending on distance.
Multiple Cars – Expect discounts for shipping more than one vehicle.
Terminal to Terminal – The prices listed above are door to door shipping rates. This means the shipping company will pick up your vehicle and take it to the terminal for shipping. If you live in a city with a shipping terminal, driving the vehicle to the terminal yourself can reduce your costs. The same is true if you can pick it up from the terminal on the other end. Shipping terminals are normally located in large cities.
Open Carrier – Shipping via an open carrier is cheaper than shipping by container. While an open carrier carries a bigger risk of damage than a container, significant damage to a vehicle is rare.
Shipping a car across the country or internationally can be expensive, but knowing typical rates, and discounts available can be helpful when searching for the perfect transporter to handle your car.
