Average Time to Ship A Car
When you ship your car, the time it takes to transport a car varies based on the distance of your shipment: 0-500 miles takes 1-2 days on average, 501-1000 miles -- 2-3 days, 1000-1500 miles -- 3-4 days, 1500-2000 miles -- 5-6 days, and so on.
| Mileage | Transit Time |
| 0-500 miles | 1-2 days |
| 500-1000 miles | 2-3 days |
| 1000-1500 miles | 3-4 days |
| 1500-2000 miles | 5-6 days |
| 2000-2500 miles | 6-7 days |
| 2500-3000 miles | 7-8 days |
| 3000+ miles | 10-12 days |
Shipping a car from Northern Florida to the southern tip will likely take 1-3 days. However, a cross-country shipment from New York to California could take an average of 8-12 days in transit.
Remember, these are average car shipping times. An actual shipping car estimate depends on several factors, and this guide is going to help you learn exactly that. While most carriers can give you delivery time estimates, the following factors will play a role in the actual time it takes to transport your car:
1. Pickup and Drop-off Locations
Location plays a major role in shipping time because some areas may be harder to reach than most and will naturally take longer. On the other hand, some places may be easily accessible and heavily traveled, which will significantly shorten the time it takes to pick up and deliver your car.
For the most part, pickup and drop-off locations in metropolitan areas are much easier to access for the carrier. Since they only need to travel along main highways and interstates, they can pick up and deliver your car much faster. If the location is in a rural or hard-to-reach area that deviates from the carrier’s usual route, prepare for a longer pickup and delivery time.
2. Distance
Another obvious factor affecting car shipping delivery time is the distance between the pickup location and the destination. The longer the distance, the longer the transit, and the longer it’ll take to have your car delivered.
While many car transport services offer expedited delivery, remember the shipping duration still has to be realistic based on the distance. For instance, you can’t expect a speedy two-day delivery if you want to ship your car between New York and California as it’ll take several days to cover the 3000+ miles distance between the two locations.
3. Season
Peak car shipping seasons may bring up the cost to transport your car, but the good thing is they shorten transit time. Between late spring and early fall, there’s a huge demand for car transport services because it’s peak moving season. This means your car could get picked up sooner since there’s a huge amount of trucks traveling back and forth across the country.
On the other hand, it may take longer to arrange pickup and delivery during the winter months because the demand for car shipping services is lower. Factoring in the holidays when some carriers and drivers may want to take a break to spend time with family, there’s also a smaller amount of carriers that can accommodate your schedule.
4. Weather Conditions
Just as it takes longer to get home from work on a rainy day, bad weather will result in a longer shipping duration. If there’s any severe weather conditions in the shipping route such as rain, snow, hail, or thunderstorms, there’s a chance it could delay delivery.
These conditions can result in slippery roads and may affect visibility, creating unsafe driving conditions. The Driver will have to prioritize their safety (and that of your car) and drive slower or even make a stop until the weather clears up.
5. Road Conditions
Another unforeseen factor that affects car shipping time is the condition of the road. There may be road construction along the way or some unexpected detours that can delay transit time. Sometimes, drivers may also come across temporary road blocks due to driving accidents, which also affect the time it takes to get your car to its destination.
6. Driver’s Hours
If there’s a single driver operating the truck, the driver’s hours will also play a role in how long it takes to get your car delivered. Truck drivers can legally be on the road for a certain amount of hours each week according to the United States Department of Transportation regulations, and are required to rest for a certain amount of time to ensure safety.
You’re in luck if you have a team of drivers operating the truck, as they can take turns driving to ensure that your car reaches its destination quickly.
7. Type of Transportation Method
Your choice of transportation method is also going to play a major role in the time taken to ship your car. There are three main ways to transport your car to another city or state, and each of these options will have some variations in delivery time.
Open car carriers can transport more vehicles at a time, which means they’ll have to make several stops to pick up other cars along the way. This could increase the overall transit time but generally is one of the fastest ways to ship your car.
Enclosed car carriers can transport fewer vehicles but may take longer to coordinate since there aren’t as many enclosed car carriers as open car carriers. One of the benefits is that it protects cars from weather elements since the car is an enclosed space. Generally, around 10% of car shipping is done via enclosed carriers.
Of course, you can also try transporting the car yourself using a tow dolly but that won’t necessarily guarantee shorter transit time. You still have to ensure safety when using one, as you could risk damaging your car or getting into an accident. This means you can’t drive faster than 55 mph, which significantly increases your travel duration.
In case you have to ship the car overseas, the most common options are roll-on/roll-off (RORO) and container shipping. RORO provides a more reliable schedule with more accurate departure and arrival dates. On the other hand, container shipping is unpredictable and typically takes more time because the container has to be full before it departs.
Air freight is the fastest option to transport your car overseas. With that said, it’s expensive and unrealistic for most people, and would be best for shipping expensive, classic cars that need special care.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car From One State to Another?
Your estimated shipping time from one state to another depends on the total distance of your vehicle relocation service. How long does it take to deliver a car? When transporting a car to another state, it varies.
For example, vehicle transporting just across the border from Washington to Oregon will likely take just 1-2 days of transit on average. On the other hand, car relocation services from the southern tip of Texas to northern Oklahoma might take 3-5 days or so. And to ship a car across the country, it could take anywhere from 8-12 days on average.
The best car shipping companies will be transparent about your car shipping estimate. Work with a top provider like Nexus and ship your car with peace of mind.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car From One Country to Another Country?
Transporting a car to another state is one thing. Shipping a car to another country is something else entirely. When moving a car cross-country, especially with a door-to-door auto transport company, your transit time depends solely on the time it takes for the trucker to get from Point A to Point B.
An international shipping car estimate is much more complex. You have to factor in your pickup window, transit time from your domestic pickup location to your port of choice, shipping time to your destination country, and any ground transport needed to move it to its final drop-off locations. International vehicle transporting could take a couple of weeks or over a month, depending on the complexity of your particular move.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car on Open Transport?
All things considered, open auto transport is often the fastest way to ship your car domestically. Whether moving a car cross-country or just across state lines, shipping a car on an open hauler is the most efficient way to go about things. Depending on the total distance of your vehicle relocation service, open car transport can take anywhere from a single day to 10-12 days on average.
For more information on the length and cost of open transport, head over to our instant car shipping cost estimator right away.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car on Enclosed Transport?
On average, auto transport enclosed takes longer to pick up, execute, and deliver than open vehicle transport. Plus, the average cost of moving a car with an enclosed hauler is significantly higher than shipping a car open. Depending on the auto transport company and the time of year, please allow a few more days on average for enclosed auto transport. It’s not always the case, but it’s always good to be prepared just in case.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car to/from California?
Looking to do some California dreaming with a new vehicle? Moving away from Los Angeles for work and need to ship a vehicle alongside you? It will take anywhere from a day to just under two weeks to ship a car to/from California to another state in the Continental U.S. For more info on your particular California car shipping adventure, contact us. We’ll be happy to help.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car to/from New York?
Shipping a vehicle to/from New York is much more efficient that you might think. For example, a car shipment from New York City to Boston will take just 1-2 days on average. Head over to our instant car shipping cost estimator for more info on your New York car shipping cost and duration. Cross-country shipments to/from New York will take longer than short interstate moves. Times and prices will vary.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car to/from Alaska?
Because of Alaska’s location at the very northwestern tip of Canada, it takes much longer to execute a car shipment to/from state lines. Some shipments to northern Washington make take just a few days or so. Other shipments to/from states like Florida or Georgia may take a couple of weeks or more. It just depends on your particular order.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car to/from Florida?
Transporting a car to/from Florida comes with one major added consideration -- weather. When tropical storm fronts hit the state, it makes ground transport much harder for truckers. Thus, be mindful that car shipping time windows might increase in the middle of Florida’s storm season. Normal vehicle shipping estimates usually apply, otherwise.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car to/from Hawaii?
Hawaii is a very unique case when it comes to vehicle transport in the United States. The only island state within the Union, shipping to Hawaii is similar to international vehicle shipping because of its multiple-step transport process. To execute a Hawaii car shipment, you must consider ground transport in Hawaii, shipping time on a boat or via plane, and ground transport in your destination area. This can up the average shipment time to/from Hawaii to multiple weeks or even a month in rare cases.
Best Practices for Faster Shipping Time
With all of these factors in mind, you might want to find the best way to get your car delivered as quickly as possible. Perhaps you’re selling your car and the buyer expects delivery by a specific date or maybe you’re moving and you will need your car as soon as you get settled. It could even be that you’re buying a new car online and you’re excited to get it as soon as possible.
Regardless of your situation, here are a few best practices to follow if you want a faster car shipping delivery time:
- Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your car for transport as it requires a lot of planning and coordination to ensure that your car gets delivered on time. The transport company will have to find a driver who can accommodate your schedule and coordinate the pickup accordingly. Ideally, you should book your car shipping order at least 2-3 weeks before the expected pickup date.
- Do thorough research on a car shipping company before entrusting them with your vehicle. See customer reviews and third-party review sites to understand their quality of service. Have there been multiple delays? If so, there’s a good chance your delivery could be delayed as well.
- In addition, make sure you review their safety and delivery records on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) site. This will help you assess whether the company is capable of transporting your car safely and delivering it on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to transport a car?
The time it takes to transport a car differs between car shipping companies, and it’s contingent on the total distance of your particular shipment. Shorter moves can take as little as a day or two in transit. Longer, cross-country moves can take 10-12 days or more on average.
How long does it take to get a car delivered?
Car delivery times vary. Cross-country shipments can take anywhere from 8-12 days on average. Short, interstate car deliveries can take as little as a day or two. Contact us for more information on your particular car shipping route.
How long does it take to ship a car 500 miles?
The average duration of a 500-mile car shipment is 2-3 days, depending on the time of year you ship and other extenuating factors.
How long does it take to ship a car 1,000 miles?
The average transit time for a 1000-mile car shipment is 3-4 days, depending on extenuating factors such as inclement weather and road conditions.
Why does it take so long to ship a car?
Shipping cars is hard work. Truckers have to find your pickup spot, load the car safely onto their trucks, drive countless hours to its destination, and unload it. This doesn’t take into account basic needs like eating, sleeping, and rest. Thus, relocating cars takes a bit of time to execute. If you have questions or concerns about the length of your car shipment, call us at (224) 218-2949. We’ll be happy to help.
How long does it take for an auto shipping company to pick up my car?
Please allow an average pick-up window of anywhere from 1-5 days or so. There are expedited shipping options available at an extra charge for those in need of quicker service. However, your pick-up window will vary based on trucker location, accessibility, and other extenuating circumstances.
Bottom Line
There are a lot of factors that can affect your car shipping delivery time, and a lot of unforeseen circumstances that could further delay it. Make sure you consider all of these factors before you decide to ship your car, especially if you’re going to need it by a certain time frame. This will help you choose the right type of transportation method to ensure timely delivery.
