Car Shipping Rates & Cost Guide
Distance drives most of the price, and the per-mile rate falls as the run gets longer. A 1,000-mile open-carrier move is about $1,030; coast to coast is near $1,964.
Price Your Lane
Real estimate on screen. No phone tag.
- Distance
- —
- Transit
- —
- Carrier
- Open
Questions now? Call or text (855) 500-7447.
By distance
What a Move Costs
Sedan pricing straight from the estimator. Estimates reflect open-carrier, door-to-door service. Enclosed transport adds a flat $500. Final rate confirmed before dispatch.
| Distance | Example lane | Transit | Open | Enclosed | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 mi | Chicago → Indianapolis | 1 to 2 days | $458 | $958 | $1.83 |
| 500 mi | Chicago → Nashville | 1 to 2 days | $720 | $1,220 | $1.44 |
| 750 mi | Chicago → Atlanta | 2 to 3 days | $875 | $1,375 | $1.17 |
| 1,000 mi | Chicago → Dallas | 2 to 3 days | $1,030 | $1,530 | $1.03 |
| 1,250 mi | Chicago → Orlando | 3 to 5 days | $1,185 | $1,685 | $0.95 |
| 1,500 mi | Chicago → Denver | 3 to 5 days | $1,340 | $1,840 | $0.89 |
| 2,000 mi | Chicago → Los Angeles | 5 to 7 days | $1,580 | $2,080 | $0.79 |
| 2,500 mi | Boston → Phoenix | 6 to 8 days | $1,820 | $2,320 | $0.73 |
| 2,800 mi | Seattle → Miami | 7 to 10 days | $1,964 | $2,464 | $0.70 |
How the Rate Is Built
Every estimate starts with a $195 base, then mileage in three tiers: $1.05 a mile for the first 500, $0.62 up to 1,500, and $0.48 beyond that. Larger vehicles add a class adjustment. Enclosed transport adds a flat $500, whatever the distance.
What Moves the Number
Distance
The largest factor, but not a straight line. The per-mile column in the table above shows why: a 2,000-mile move costs far less than eight 250-mile moves because dispatch, loading and the first and last mile are paid once.
Open or enclosed
Open carriers share the trip across eight to ten vehicles. Enclosed trailers carry two to six behind hard walls with a lift gate. Fewer vehicles per trip and fewer trailers on the road is where the premium comes from.
Vehicle class
Deck space and gross weight are both limited. A three-row SUV takes roughly a sedan and a half of deck; a dually pickup more. Lifts, oversized tires, racks and caps shrink the list of trailers that can take the vehicle, and a shorter list means a higher bid.
Running condition
If the vehicle will not start, the carrier needs a winch. If it will not roll or steer, it needs more specialised equipment still. Tell us the honest condition at booking; a driver who arrives to an immovable car has lost the slot for everyone on the load.
Season
October through December runs heavy toward Florida, Arizona and Texas as seasonal residents head south, and March through May runs heavy the other way. Summer is busy on every lane with relocations. January and February are usually the softest months.
Where the ends are
Metro to metro prices best because trucks already run those corridors. A pickup ninety minutes from the interstate means the carrier has to leave its route, and the rate reflects that detour.
Lead time
Two to three weeks of notice costs noticeably less than needing a truck tomorrow. A firm pickup date through expedited service carries a premium that is worth it when a flight or a closing cannot move.
Ways to Pay Less
- Book early. Two to three weeks ahead is the single biggest lever you control.
- Offer a window. "Any day that week" dispatches faster and cheaper than "Tuesday".
- Be flexible at the ends. Meeting the driver at a nearby lot beats insisting on a tight cul-de-sac.
- Ship open unless the vehicle needs enclosed. Most do not.
- Avoid the peaks if your dates allow it.
- Empty the vehicle. Weight costs money and belongings are not insured.
A Low Quote Is a Warning
A figure well under market usually means a broker has posted your vehicle to the load board at a rate no carrier will accept. The car sits, then the phone rings with a higher number. Ask any company what happens if no carrier takes the load at the quoted price, and ask whether the deposit comes back if nobody is ever assigned. With ExecuShip nothing is charged until a carrier is assigned, and the figure your advisor confirms is the figure you pay.
Real lanes
Current Lane Estimates
| Lane | Distance | Transit | Open | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL → Los Angeles, CA | 2,056 mi | 5 to 7 days | $1,607 | $2,107 |
| Los Angeles, CA → Chicago, IL | 2,056 mi | 5 to 7 days | $1,607 | $2,107 |
| Chicago, IL → Miami, FL | 1,403 mi | 3 to 5 days | $1,280 | $1,780 |
| Miami, FL → Chicago, IL | 1,403 mi | 3 to 5 days | $1,280 | $1,780 |
| Chicago, IL → Phoenix, AZ | 1,709 mi | 5 to 7 days | $1,440 | $1,940 |
| Phoenix, AZ → Chicago, IL | 1,709 mi | 5 to 7 days | $1,440 | $1,940 |
| Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX | 945 mi | 2 to 3 days | $996 | $1,496 |
| Dallas, TX → Chicago, IL | 945 mi | 2 to 3 days | $996 | $1,496 |
| Chicago, IL → Houston, TX | 1,107 mi | 3 to 5 days | $1,096 | $1,596 |
| Houston, TX → Chicago, IL | 1,107 mi | 3 to 5 days | $1,096 | $1,596 |
| Chicago, IL → Atlanta, GA | 688 mi | 2 to 3 days | $837 | $1,337 |
| Atlanta, GA → Chicago, IL | 688 mi | 2 to 3 days | $837 | $1,337 |
| Chicago, IL → Denver, CO | 1,078 mi | 2 to 3 days | $1,078 | $1,578 |
| Denver, CO → Chicago, IL | 1,078 mi | 2 to 3 days | $1,078 | $1,578 |
| Chicago, IL → Seattle, WA | 2,041 mi | 5 to 7 days | $1,600 | $2,100 |
FAQ
Questions, Answered
How much does it cost to ship a car with ExecuShip?
Price is driven by distance, carrier type and vehicle size. Our estimator applies a $195 base plus a per-mile rate that steps down the further the vehicle travels: $1.05 per mile for the first 500 miles, $0.62 per mile up to 1,500, and $0.48 per mile beyond that. A 1,000-mile open-carrier move lands near $1,030; Chicago to Los Angeles is around $1,599. Enclosed adds a flat $500.
Is the estimate the price I will pay?
It is a close estimate based on current lane pricing. A transportation advisor confirms the final rate with you before a carrier is dispatched, and that confirmed figure is what you pay. No money changes hands until a carrier has accepted the vehicle.
What is "Dispatch Without a Scratch"?
Our guarantee. If your vehicle is damaged in transit, the damage is documented on the Bill of Lading at delivery, and the carrier's insurer denies the claim, ExecuShip reimburses your service fee or the repair cost, whichever is less. Full conditions are in our terms.
How many days will the shipment take?
Carriers cover roughly 400 to 500 miles a day under federal hours-of-service rules. Chicago to Florida is usually three to four days once loaded; coast to coast runs seven to ten. Add a pickup window of one to five days on top.
Ready to move your vehicle?
See your rate on screen in thirty seconds, or call and a transportation advisor will price it while you are on the line.