How to Ship a Car to Another State

Car Carrier Transport Types

Below are the common auto transport types:

• Open carrier car shipping: This is the most common and most affordable method to ship a car. This car shipping method transports your vehicle on a truck trailer that leaves your vehicle exposed to the elements and common road hazards. However, it is more affordable because the carrier is able to transport up to 10 cars at a time, which lowers individual costs. 
• Enclosed car shipping: Enclosed auto transport services typically cost 33% more than an open-air carrier, yet your car is protected during transit by walls and a roof. The higher cost is due to the fact that the carrier transports fewer vehicles.
• Shipping a car by train: The best way to ship a vehicle using a rail freight company is Amtrak’s Auto Train. This method is generally cheaper than truck carriers, however, it is only available on one line that runs between Washington, D.C. and Orlando, Florida. The train will not offload vehicles in between the two cities, so unless you need your vehicle shipped close to one of those destinations, this option is not for you.

Choose Your Drop-Off and Pick-Up Locations

There are multiple ways to plan for where your vehicle will be picked up and dropped off. Below are the options for where you can have your car shipped from and to:

• Door-to-door shipping: This service ships your vehicles as close as possible from your preferred pick-up location to your desired drop-off location, such as your home or workplace. 
• Terminal-to-terminal shipping: If you want to save money, this option is generally cheaper because you must deliver your car to a terminal and pick it up from a shipping terminal. Typically, terminal-to-terminal shipping is slower than door-to-door shipping.
• Port-to-port shipping: If you are moving outside of the contagious 48 states, this option allows you to drop your vehicle off at your pre-selected port and your vehicle will be shipped overseas to the port of delivery.

How to Find Good Car Shipping Options

You’ll want to get shipping quotes from several providers to be able to compare rates. Still, it helps narrow down your options before getting quotes. Here are a few of the best ways to do this:

• Read round-ups: Shipping company round-ups are useful because experts in the field have done a lot of the research for you. These often include ratings based on the most important considerations for shipping companies and can give you a better idea of which companies may be best suited for your needs.
• Ask friends: If you have a friend or family member that has shipped a car before, ask for their opinion. Not only can they give you an honest opinion about the company they used, they can also give you some tips and tricks based on their experience.
• Post on forums: Internet discussion boards such as Reddit can be a good place to ask for advice on car shipping. Just remember that companies may pose as “regular” commenters, so take the responses you get with a grain of salt and compare them to what you learn on your own.

Advice for Getting Auto Transport Quotes

Getting quotes from car shippers is about as simple and straightforward as it gets. Many companies offer instant quotes, but most of those that don’t should get back to you within a few hours. Still, there are some best practices worth mentioning, including:

• Remember that prices can increase: While some auto transporters guarantee their quotes, it is also very common for the final price to increase from the original quote. So while one company’s initial offer to ship your car across state lines may be lower, if another’s is guaranteed, it may actually be cheaper in the end.
• Use alternate contact information if possible: One thing we learned in our research is that many shipping companies are very persistent once you request a quote. While you can usually opt out of communications, we recommend giving alternate contact details if possible to keep your primary methods free of spam. It’s easy to set up a second email account if you don’t already have one, and there are many voice over internet protocol (VoIP) providers that can provide an alternate phone number for free.
• Understand that your choices matter: Most providers offer at least a few options on how to ship your car and will ask for your preferences at quote time. These options can make a big difference in price and service. For example, you can save money by choosing open instead of enclosed shipping, but you’ll also be at a much greater risk for damage during transit. We’ll go into more detail about those options later in the article.
• Quotes may be adjustable: There may be some wiggle room in the quote you receive. For starters, some companies offer discounts for people in certain groups or categories or for paying in cash. Others may offer price-matching policies. And even if they don’t, some providers may be willing to negotiate, given how competitive the car shipping industry can be. It never hurts to ask for a lower price.

What You Need To Get Car Shipping Quotes

While you don’t need a huge amount of information to start getting quotes, it’s never a bad idea to have everything you need in one place beforehand. Different providers ask for slightly different information, but in general, you may need the following:

• Vehicle make, model, year, and operability
• Pickup and delivery locations
• Ideal shipping time frame
• Desired shipping options, such as open vs. enclosed transport and door-to-door vs. terminal-to-terminal transport
• Contact information such as your phone number and email address
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)

• Hidden fees: Your quote may not include all of the fees and surcharges that come with shipping a car to another state, but they should be mentioned in any contract a provider sends your way. Make sure to read the fine print carefully and follow up with a representative to get an accurate idea of the final price before signing anything.
• Company reputation: Reading customer reviews online can help you evaluate a provider. While it’s normal for car shippers to receive a few complaints here and there, patterns of behavior like price increases, delays, or poor communications are major red flags.
• Carrier vetting: Most auto transport companies serve as brokers that line customers up with individual carriers that can best serve their needs. Some companies have thorough vetting processes to ensure they only use professional drivers with a good track record, but others aren’t so careful. A moving company that offers you the lowest price may only be able to do so because they work with carriers that other companies won’t.

Once you’ve found the auto shipper you want, double-check the details of the contract before signing. You may also need to put down a deposit to finalize the agreement.

How to Prepare Your Car to Ship to Another State: A Checklist

There are several things you’ll want to do before your car carrier arrives. These include:

• Leave some gas in it: You don’t need to fill your gas tank before shipping your car, nor do you need to drain it. However, you’ll want to make sure your tank is 1/4 full when the moving truck arrives. This is because the carrier may need to drive it around a little bit when unloading and loading it off and on the tow dolly.
• Remove personal items: Auto transporters ask you to remove all personal belongings from your car before shipping it. Loose items inside the vehicle can bounce around during transit and damage your car. Some car shipping companies allow you to ship your car with stuff in it, but they typically have weight restrictions and packing instructions you’ll need to follow.
• Inspect your vehicle thoroughly: No matter how careful a truck driver is, cars can easily be damaged during shipping – especially over long-distance shipments to other states. Carefully inspect your car inside and out, and consider taking photos to document any existing damage. This will allow you to easily identify any new damage when you receive your vehicle and provide proof if you need to file a claim against a driver’s insurance policy.
• Fasten all seatbelts: Vehicles vibrate and shake a lot while in transit. As a result, it’s possible for the metal connectors on your seatbelts to fly around and break a window or cause other damage. Fastening your safety belts before shipping can prevent this.

• Inspect the vehicle: You should do this ahead of time, but the carrier will also likely want to go over the car and note existing damage. This protects both of you in the event your vehicle is damaged during transit. If you’ve documented your existing damage, you can provide the driver with this information to speed up the process.
• Sign the bill of lading: A bill of lading is a standard legal form used in most logistics services. It outlines your shipping agreement and notes existing damages, among other things. You’ll need to sign it again when you receive your vehicle.

During the shipment, you should be able to check on your vehicle’s location. Some companies offer live GPS tracking via an app or through their website. If they don’t, they can usually provide you with a location over the phone.

Your shipment taking a little longer than expected shouldn’t be cause for concern. But if there are major delays, the shipping company should be able to offer some kind of concession to help make things right. You’ve paid for their service, so you shouldn’t hesitate to call and ask for an explanation or assistance.

• Reinspect your vehicle: After the driver unloads your car, look over it carefully for signs of new damage. Take notes and photos of any dents, scratches, or other damages you see. Your driver won’t be able to help you with claims on the spot, so there’s no need to discuss these damages with them at this time.
• Ask to drive your car: Your driver may be in a hurry, but it’s a good idea to start your car up and drive it – even just for a few feet – to check for immediate signs of mechanical damage. It’s not unheard of for wheel and axle components to incur some damage in transit and this damage should be immediately apparent if it exists.
• Pay the remaining balance: With most auto transport companies, you’ll pay the balance of your fee to the driver directly. Some drivers may require cash or a cashier’s check and may not be able to take a credit card. Even if they do, you may be able to get a discount by paying in cash.
• Sign the bill of lading again: Signing the bill of lading a second time represents the end of your transaction. It is here that you can note new damages if you spot any.

Below are some of the follow-up actions you can take:

• Filing an insurance claim: If your car was damaged in transit, you’ll need to file a claim with the driver’s insurer. This is where having detailed notes and photo evidence makes things much easier. The insurance company you need to contact should be listed in the contract or bill of lading. But if you can’t find it, the auto transport company should be able to provide it to you.
• Making a complaint to your provider: If something went wrong with your shipment, it’s never a bad idea to let your shipping provider know – even if the issue is strictly with the individual carrier. This could help them remove the driver from their pool, and it may even end in the company compensating you in some way.
• Making a complaint online: You can also make a public complaint about your issues online for other potential customers to see. Leaving a negative review or complaint on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other sites may also inspire the company to take action and try to rectify the situation.
• Leaving a positive review online: Positive reviews are just as helpful as negative reviews, since both provide firsthand information about the customer experience. In our research, we found that reviews tend to skew negative, since people are generally more inspired to leave negative reviews when looking for a solution than they are to report a positive experience. Highlighting a good experience with a company can help steer future customers in the right direction.

• Shipping distance: Car shippers charge by the mile. So shipping a car to another state cross-country will obviously cost more than to the next state over. However, per-mile rates do tend to decrease as the moving distance increases.
• Shipping options: Which options you choose also impacts the cost of your shipment. Premium options, such as using an enclosed carrier instead of open transport, can cost significantly more than standard services.
• Vehicle type: Shipping costs usually go up the larger and more expensive a car is. Auto transport companies may charge additional fees to transport high-value vehicles like exotic or classic cars or alternative vehicles like RVs, ATVs, and motorcycles.
• Time of year: Car shipping is a seasonal industry. Rates tend to be at their highest during January and the summer months.
• Vehicle condition: Most car shippers charge more to move a vehicle if it’s inoperable and can’t be driven.
• Shipping speed: Some companies offer services like expedited shipping and guaranteed pickup dates if you’re in a rush. These options often cost substantially more than standard vehicle transport rates.
• Pickup and delivery locations: Companies may also charge more if they need to travel away from major transit routes or to rural destinations to pick up or drop off your vehicle.
• Car shipping company: Finally, rates simply vary between companies – even for the same service for the same vehicle. That’s why we always recommend getting quotes from multiple providers.

• Choose open transport: Open carrier shipping comes with a little more risk than enclosed shipping, but it also tends to cost much less.
• Be flexible: Similar to buying airline tickets, being flexible about your shipping dates can help you get a cheaper price.
• Opt for terminal-to-terminal shipping: Not every company offers it as an option, but shipping your car between two central locations is often far less expensive than door-to-door service. Just make sure to consider the cost of your time to drop off and pick up your vehicle from the terminals.
• Compare quotes: Shopping around is a good way to find the best rates in almost any industry, car shipping included. Companies will almost certainly quote you different rates for your car shipment, so getting estimates from multiple shippers can potentially save you a significant amount of money.
• Pay in cash: Many auto transporters offer a discount for paying in cash. Make sure to ask if this is an option when discussing your quote with a provider.
• Look for discounts: Car transport discounts aren’t very common, but some companies do offer them. You may be able to get lower rates for belonging to organizations like the military, or for certain statuses like being a student or a senior citizen.