The trucking industry uses 53.9 billion gallons of fuel each year. Many of these gallons get used in vehicle shipping trucks. Instead of logging thousands of miles on the car, owners opt to have their vehicles shipped from coast to coast instead.
Not only does this save on mileage, but it also saves on cost. The average price to ship a car is cheaper than the cost of a cross country road trip. Find out what it would cost to ship your vehicle from coast to coast.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car Coast to Coast?
If you want a rough estimate of the cost to ship a car, look at the mileage. Coast to coast transport requires driving thousands of miles.
Typically, the more miles you need to ship the vehicle, the lower the average price per mile. Think of this as a volume discount.
The average cost to transport a car takes the price per mile and multiplies it by the number of miles traveled. Of course, this isn't an exact science, but it will give you a rough estimate as a starting point.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car From East Coast to West Coast?
Car shipping coast to coast can vary significantly in cost. On average, it costs about $1,100 to ship a vehicle on an open carrier. In comparison, enclosed trucks are about $1,700.
However, the American coastline is extensive. Auto transport carriers will factor mileage into the quote. So, a car shipped from New York City to Seattle will cost significantly different than one shipped from New York City to San Diego.
Carriers like to reduce the time and distance traveled. So shipping from and to a major city will be more economical than to a random small town.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car From West Coast to East Coast?
Typically coast to coast transport from west to east will take seven to ten days. However, the time frame can vary greatly between car shipping companies.
Some could take as little as five days. While others could take two weeks or longer.
How Long Does Coast to Coast Vehicle Shipping Take?
The time coast to coast car shipping takes depends on several factors. This is the reason cross country car shipping has a time frame and not an exact number of days.
Depending on the time of year, weather can influence transport time. For example, a hurricane, winter snowstorms, high winds, or ice could delay shipment.
Demand can also influence state to state car shipping timelines. For example, people tend to move across the country seasonally in a similar way that they move north and south during summer and winter.
The demand rises, but the number of available trucks does not magically increase. You end up waiting longer for an available spot on a truck.
Factors That Influence Estimated Car Shipping Costs
How much a car courier charges will depend on an algorithm of factors. While each carrier uses its own rubric, several factors that get used throughout the industry.
Vehicle Size
The carrier vehicle price changes based on the size and weight of the vehicle. Larger and heavier vehicles require more fuel to move, so the carrier charges more.
Fuel Costs
If fuel costs are high, the carrier raises its rates to compensate. If a particular shipping route is in high demand, auto transport carriers increase their rates to adjust to the demand.
Enclosed vs. Open
Finally, the enclosed car transport cost per mile is more than an open trailer. Enclosed car shipping trucks can carry fewer vehicles, thereby increasing the cost per vehicle.
Alternatively, open car shipping trailers can carry more vehicles on a single truck. They are also lighter, reducing the weight hauled. This reduces the shipping cost.
Time of Year
Coast to coast car shipping demand rises during the summer. This means prices will be at their highest during this time. In contrast, carriers may offer discounted rates during their off-season.
Services Offered
The more specialized services you request, the more expensive the final shipping cost becomes. Expedited shipping will get your car there faster but also cost more for priority placement. Door to door shipping increases the price because it requires the carrier to go out of its way to pick up and deliver your vehicle.
Shipping Distance
The further you need to ship your vehicle, the more expensive the overall price will be. This is because more miles driven means more wear and tear on the truck and trailer. In addition, each mile driven requires fuel, which gets accounted for in the cost charged.
Pickup and Delivery Location
Carriers like to reduce overhead by optimizing routes. Because of this, they charge more when a customer wants the carrier to go out of their way to pick up or drop off a vehicle in a rural area.
Instead, choose a major city for pickup and drop-off. However, for maximum savings, use the carrier's terminal centers for pickup and drop off.
Does the Vehicle Run?
Some carriers will not ship a vehicle that doesn't run. Others will ship it but will charge more for the service. It requires more effort to put the vehicle on and off the trailer when it doesn't run.
Estimate Your Price to Ship a Car
There are several reasons you may need to find out the cost to ship a car. Perhaps you secured a job and need to move. Maybe you bought a new vehicle from a car dealership across the country.
Whatever your reason, your first step to coast to coast car shipping is requesting a quote. Then you can compare rates and services to find a transport solution that best fits your needs.
Use our car shipping calculator to determine your estimated car shipping costs.
