Shipping a car cross country means a carrier loads it on a multi-car truck, drives it 2,000 miles or more, and delivers it to your new address in about 7 to 10 days once it is picked up. On Freedom Auto Transport’s published 2026 pricing, open transport for a 2,000-plus-mile route runs about $1,000–$1,800, and enclosed runs about $1,400–$2,800. Those numbers sound high until you price the drive. This guide covers what a coast-to-coast shipment costs, how long it takes, which transport type fits, and how to prepare so the trip goes smoothly.
Shipping a Car Cross Country: Quick Answers
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | Open: about $1,000–$1,800. Enclosed: about $1,400–$2,800. Both for routes over 2,000 miles. |
| How long does it take? | Typically 7 to 10 days in transit after pickup, plus a pickup window before that. |
| When should I book? | Two to four weeks ahead. Earlier from November through February. |
| Open or enclosed? | Open for most daily drivers. Enclosed for classic, exotic, luxury, and low-clearance cars. |
| Do I need to be there? | You or a trusted representative signs the bill of lading at pickup and again at delivery. |
Prices are Freedom Auto Transport’s published 2026 ranges and are planning numbers, not quotes. Transit time comes from our transit time guide, linked below.
What It Costs to Ship a Car Across the Country
Distance is the biggest price driver, but cost per mile falls as the route gets longer. A 500-mile trip can cost $500–$900 by open carrier, while a full coast-to-coast run stays in the $1,000–$1,800 range. The truck’s driver, fuel, and time are spread over a longer haul. Here are our published ranges by distance:
| Distance | Open Transport | Enclosed Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $500–$900 | $800–$1,400 |
| 500–1,000 miles | $700–$1,200 | $1,000–$1,800 |
| 1,000–2,000 miles | $900–$1,500 | $1,300–$2,200 |
| 2,000+ miles (cross country) | $1,000–$1,800 | $1,400–$2,800 |
Where your car lands inside the range depends on seven factors: distance, vehicle size and weight, open or enclosed transport, pickup and delivery flexibility, season, vehicle condition, and extras like expedited pickup. The pricing guide linked in the introduction explains each one in detail.
How Long Cross-Country Car Shipping Takes
A coast-to-coast trip typically takes 7 to 10 days in transit once the car is on the truck, for example New York to Los Angeles. That clock starts at pickup. Before it, there is a pickup window, the time between booking and the driver reaching you. Carriers run multi-car loads with several stops, so your timeline depends on the truck’s route as well as the distance.
Enclosed transport can add a few extra days, and busy corridors usually move faster than rural routes. Our full guide to how long it takes to ship a car shows the timeline for shorter distances and what slows a shipment down. If your date is fixed, say so when you book. Guaranteed dates and expedited pickup cost extra.
Is Shipping Cheaper Than Driving Cross Country?
Often it comes out close, and shipping wins once you count everything. Driving a car 2,500 miles means fuel, several nights in hotels, meals, four or five days away from work, and the miles and wear on the car. If you fly home afterward, add that airfare. Shipping replaces all of it with one price, and the car arrives without the mileage.
Run your own numbers: add fuel, lodging, meals, time off, and any return flight, then compare the total to a quote. Driving still makes sense if the road trip is the point. For everyone else, getting a quote takes a few minutes. Sending several cars, or a moving household with two vehicles, tips the math further toward shipping one or both.
Open or Enclosed for a Long Haul?
Most cross-country shipments go by open carrier, the multi-car trailer also used to deliver new cars to dealerships. Open auto transport is the lowest-cost option and has the widest availability. A long route means more hours of weather and road dust, so the decision comes down to the car. Our open car shipping guide covers how safe it is in practice.
Enclosed transport costs about 40–60% more and shields the car from weather and debris for the whole trip. Over 2,000 miles, that protection matters more for classic, exotic, luxury, and low-clearance cars. If you are undecided, our comparison of open vs. enclosed car shipping lays out the tradeoffs.
Door-to-Door or Terminal Service
For a cross-country move, door-to-door service is usually worth it. Terminal service can save roughly $50–$150, but it means getting the car to a depot at one end and collecting it from another at the other. After a 3,000-mile move, few people want that errand. A large truck cannot always reach a narrow street, so the driver may ask to meet you at a nearby large lot, and that still counts as door-to-door. See door-to-door vs. terminal car shipping for when terminal pays off.
When to Book a Cross-Country Shipment
Book two to four weeks before your preferred pickup date. November through February is peak season, driven by snowbird traffic, and rates run about 20–30% higher than in summer, so book earlier and budget more for a winter move. Flexible dates are the easiest way to lower your price: the more room the dispatcher has, the easier it is to fit your car onto a truck already headed your way. Our guide to the cheapest way to ship a car covers the other levers. If you are a seasonal traveler, see our snowbird car shipping guide.
How to Prepare Your Car for a Cross-Country Trip
- Wash the car so existing scratches and dings are easy to see.
- Take dated photos of every side, the roof, the wheels, and the odometer.
- Remove personal items and toll tags. Ask your carrier what, if anything, may stay in the car.
- Keep the tank about a quarter full.
- Note leaks or mechanical issues. A non-running car can still ship, but a winch adds roughly $100–$300.
- Confirm your contact details and who will meet the driver at each end.
Our car shipping preparation checklist covers every item. At pickup, walk around the car with the driver and do not sign until the condition report matches what you see. That document is the bill of lading, and you use it again at delivery. If it is new to you, read what a bill of lading is. For how cargo coverage works if something goes wrong, see car shipping insurance explained. For the full booking sequence from first quote to final inspection, see how to ship a car to another state.
How to Choose a Company for a Long-Distance Shipment
On a 2,000-plus-mile route, a bad choice costs more. Get two or three quotes for the same service: open or enclosed, door-to-door or terminal, same pickup window. A quote far below the rest usually means the price rises later or no driver accepts the job. Our guide on how to choose an auto transport company covers what to compare, and how to spot auto transport scams covers red flags.
Also check registration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says brokers only arrange the transportation of your car, that interstate brokers and carriers must register and receive an MC Docket number, and that you should avoid any transporter that does not prominently display it. Its consumer advisory on automobile transporters explains how. (The page shows a last-updated date of February 2015, so use it for registration basics and verify anything time-sensitive.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car cross country?
On Freedom Auto Transport’s published 2026 ranges, shipping a car 2,000 miles or more costs about $1,000–$1,800 by open carrier and $1,400–$2,800 by enclosed carrier. Your exact price depends on the route, vehicle, season, and how flexible your dates are.
How long does it take to ship a car cross country?
Coast-to-coast shipments typically take 7 to 10 days in transit after pickup. The pickup window before that is separate and depends on the route and season.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car cross country?
Open transport with flexible dates is usually the lowest-cost option. Terminal service can save roughly $50–$150 against door-to-door, and booking outside November through February avoids the 20–30% peak-season premium.
Is it cheaper to ship a car or drive it across the country?
It depends on your trip. Add fuel, hotels, meals, days off work, wear on the car, and any return travel, then compare the total to a quote. Shipping often comes out close or ahead on long routes.
Should I ship my car open or enclosed across the country?
Open transport suits most daily drivers and costs less. Enclosed costs roughly 40–60% more and is worth considering for classic, exotic, luxury, or low-clearance cars on a long route.
Can I ship a car cross country if it does not run?
Usually yes. A non-running car needs a winch to load, which adds roughly $100–$300. Tell the company at booking so the right truck is sent.
Have a question this didn’t cover? Check our full auto transport FAQ or call 888-509-1102.
Get a Quote to Ship Your Car Cross Country
Tell us where the car is and where it needs to go, and we will price open and enclosed options for your dates. Get a free estimate or call 888-509-1102.