Car Shipping, Transport & Delivery Services
Open, enclosed, and specialty car shipping and delivery to and from all 50 states, plus transport for motorcycles, boats, and heavy equipment. Choose the service that fits your vehicle and your move. Your price is locked when you book.
- 50,000+ Vehicles Shipped
- A+ BBB Rating
- Since 2012 Shipping Cars
Instant Transport Quote
Enter your pickup and delivery points. Takes about a minute.
Or talk to a real person: 855.422.4141
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Price Lock Guarantee Your quote is final. Guaranteed.
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Live Agents Standing By Real people from booking to delivery.
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Fully Vetted Carriers FMCSA and DOT compliant.
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Licensed & Bonded Broker Carrier cargo insurance on every shipment.
Read what customers say on our auto transport reviews page.
What Customers Say About Our Car Shipping Services
Rated 4.9 stars from 350+ Google reviews and 1,000+ reviews on Transport Reviews. Tap or click a card to read the full review at the source.
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“My experience with Number 1 was flawless and I highly recommend them. I called with very little advanced notice, but they were able to arrange a driver with a covered trailer at a very reasonable price. They picked up the vehicle exactly when promised.”
Ian C.BBB review · Apr 2024
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“I used Number 1 Auto Transport to transport a 1941 pickup truck that I purchased in Virginia to my home in Illinois. James Ryan handled everything, he had the truck picked up and delivered right to my driveway. The truck driver was very professional and knew what he was doing. I would definitely use them again.”
Bill G.Transport Reviews · Oct 2023
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“We shipped one car and two Vespas. I was so nervous about the whole process, but everything went smoothly. They were delivered a day early. Marc did a fantastic job and the driver Brian was so friendly and really takes pride in his job! I would definitely recommend the company.”
SarahBTransport Reviews · Apr 2024
Read more on our auto transport reviews page.
What Our Car Shipping Services Cover
Number 1 Auto Transport arranges open and enclosed car shipping, transport, and door-to-door car delivery to and from all 50 states, plus transport for classics, exotics, motorcycles, boats, and heavy equipment. Across our 24 most popular routes, a standard sedan typically ships for $450 to $1,850 on an open carrier and $875 to $3,000 enclosed.
Most cars are picked up within a 1 to 5 day window and spend 1 to 10 days on the truck, depending on distance. The price you book is the price you pay.
The Right Carrier for Each Vehicle
We are a licensed broker, not a carrier. MC-796224 and USDOT 2336907. Each service on this page uses a different kind of carrier: two-level open trucks for most cars, covered trailers for classics and exotics, and lowboy or step deck trailers for heavy equipment.
We match your vehicle to a carrier built for it, after confirming the carrier's insurance straight from its insurance agent.
Our Auto Transport and Vehicle Shipping Services
Pick by vehicle or by the kind of move. Each service has its own page with the details for that vehicle or move. Open and enclosed transport, the two ways every car, truck, and SUV ships, are compared in the next section.
Built Around Your Move
After everyday car moves, most of our bookings come from these customers: dealerships trading and restocking inventory, dealerships shipping new cars to their buyers, snowbirds heading south for the winter and back north in the spring, military families on PCS orders, college students at the start and end of the school year, employees on corporate relocations, and people shipping cars they bought at auction.
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Dealership Car Shipping
Trade-ins, inventory restocks, lot-to-lot moves, and new cars shipped straight from the dealership to their new owners. Several cars moving at once get a discounted wholesale rate, and dealers pay by invoice on net terms set before transport is scheduled.
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Snowbird Car Shipping
Seasonal runs like New York and New Jersey to Florida and Michigan to Arizona. Southbound runs October to December and northbound March to June. Book about 2 weeks ahead.
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Military Car Shipping (POV)
Base-to-base PCS moves for service members and their families, plus runs to Vehicle Processing Centers for moves overseas. Active duty, veterans, and their families get $50 off any service.
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College Student Car Shipping
Cars to and from campus, timed around move-in and move-out dates. Every student shipment gets a student discount.
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Auto Auction Transport
Pickup from Manheim, Copart, IAA, ADESA, and local auctions. Send the gate pass or release form, and tell us if the car does not run so a winch truck is booked.
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Corporate Relocation Car Shipping
Employee car moves for HR and relocation teams. Your relocation policy and the car's value set open or enclosed, and one relocation specialist handles the move from quote to delivery.
Specialty Vehicle Transport
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Classic Car Transport
Open or enclosed, matched to the car and the trip. Enclosed keeps restored paint and show finishes out of the weather and road grit. Open costs less.
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Exotic and Luxury Car Transport
Enclosed carriers that load low cars with extended ramps or, on some trucks, a hydraulic liftgate. Soft straps go around the tires, so nothing hooks to the frame.
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Motorcycle Transport
Open on the same two-level trucks that carry cars, or enclosed in a regular enclosed car trailer. Enclosed is the safest way to ship a bike.
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Boat Transport
Boats and yachts shipped on their own trailer. Oversized loads get the state permits and a planned route.
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Heavy Equipment Transport
Loaders, dump trucks, box trucks, and farm equipment on lowboy, step deck, and RGN trailers. Oversized loads get the state permits and a planned route.
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Auto Transport by Brand
Find your make in a directory of 35 brands, from Acura and Ford to Ferrari and Tesla, each with its own shipping page.
Open vs Enclosed Car Shipping
Cars, trucks, and SUVs ship one of two ways. About nine in ten go open, the lowest rate on any route. Enclosed typically costs 40 to 60 percent more and keeps the car out of weather and road debris. Both carry the carrier's cargo insurance, and each page below has the full side-by-side comparison.
Which One Fits Your Car?
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Open Car Shipping
The right call for most cars, SUVs, and trucks. The same two-level carriers that deliver new cars to dealers, at the lowest rate on any route.
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Enclosed Auto Transport
Hard-sided or soft-sided covered trailers for classics, exotics, low cars, and fresh paint. Worth the premium when the car is worth protecting.
Not sure which trailer fits? Get both prices in one quote.
How Our Auto Transport Service Works
Every service on this page runs on the same five steps: quote, carrier match, pickup, transit, and delivery. What changes from one service to the next is the carrier we match you with and what the driver needs to know before pickup, like a low car's clearance, a boat's trailer, or a machine's size and weight.
Our how car shipping works guide walks through each step, and our guide to shipping a car across the country covers the longest moves.
How Much Do Car Shipping Services Cost?
A standard sedan typically ships for $450 to $1,850 on an open carrier and $875 to $3,000 enclosed across our 24 most popular routes. Distance sets the base rate. Trips under 500 miles typically run $450 to $875 open, and trips of 2,500 miles and up typically run $1,450 to $2,500.
The table uses the same distance bands as our car shipping cost guide, which also prices all 24 routes, each car size, and each season.
Vehicle Transport Rates by Distance
| Distance | Open cost | Enclosed cost | Transit |
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| Under 500 miles | $450 to $875 | $950 to $1,275 | 1 to 3 days |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | $575 to $1,200 | $875 to $1,700 | 1 to 4 days |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | $800 to $1,650 | $1,150 to $2,475 | 3 to 5 days |
| 1,500 to 2,500 miles | $1,050 to $1,800 | $1,575 to $3,000 | 4 to 7 days |
| 2,500 miles and up | $1,450 to $2,500 | $2,100 to $3,500 | 6 to 10 days |
Estimated price ranges for standard sedans. Your actual price depends on exact pickup and delivery locations, vehicle size, transport type, and season. Get a free quote for your exact route. Once you book, your price is locked.
What Moves the Price
- Distance. Longer trips cost more in total and less per mile.
- Trailer type. Enclosed usually runs 40 to 60 percent above open, and more on short trips.
- Vehicle size. A full-size SUV or pickup takes more deck space than a sedan and costs more.
- Season. The busy seasons, snowbirds heading south (October to December) and north (March to June) and summer moves (June to August), run 10 to 20 percent above base. January, February, and September cost the least.
- Pickup spot. A wide lot near the highway can cost less than a tight residential street.
- Running condition. A car that does not run needs a winch, which typically adds $100 to $250.
Want the number for your car? A free quote takes about a minute.
How Long Does Car Shipping Take?
Plan on a 1 to 5 day pickup window plus 1 to 10 days on the truck. A trip under 500 miles spends 1 to 3 days in transit. A trip of 2,500 miles or more takes 6 to 10 days.
Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead for open or enclosed. In the busy seasons, aim for 2 weeks: snowbirds heading south (October to December) and north (March to June), summer moves (June to August), and college move-in (August). Most carriers cover about 500 miles a day under federal hours of service rules, so distance sets the time on the truck.
These are typical windows. Weather and road closures can add a day. For trips of 2,500 miles and up, see our coast to coast car shipping guide.
Is It Cheaper to Drive or Ship Your Car?
On a short trip, driving usually costs less. Past about 1,000 miles the math turns, and by 1,500 miles shipping often wins once you count the days you'd spend driving.
Driving vs Shipping on a 1,500-Mile Move
| Factor | Driving yourself | Shipping your car |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $580 to $1,060 for fuel, two nights of lodging, meals, tolls, and wear | $1,000 to $1,400 open, locked at booking |
| Time | 2 to 3 days of driving | 3 to 6 days in transit while you fly, work, or pack |
| Wear | 1,500 miles on the odometer, tires, and brakes | Zero miles added |
| Risk | Weather, fatigue, and a breakdown far from home | The carrier's cargo insurance covers the car from pickup to delivery |
Estimates for Los Angeles to Houston, 1,545 miles. Your actual cost depends on your route, vehicle, and season.
Car Shipping Routes and States We Serve
We arrange car shipping to and from every state. These are the routes we book most, each with its own page for prices, transit times, and the highways the truck runs.
Popular Car Shipping Routes
- New York to Florida
- New York to California
- New York to Texas
- California to Texas
- Texas to California
- New York to Arizona
- New York to North Carolina
- Florida to New Jersey
- New York to Colorado
- New York to Illinois
- Atlanta to Dallas
- San Diego to Portland
See all 24 on our popular car shipping routes page.
Car Shipping by State
Every state has its own guide. Find yours on our ship by state page.
What Every Vehicle Shipment Includes
These terms hold for every car, truck, and SUV we ship, from quote to delivery.
Price Lock Guarantee
The quote includes our fee, the carrier's pay, and cargo insurance. No hidden fees and no fee added at delivery.
Deposit After Pickup
A deposit is charged by card after pickup, once the carrier has your car. The balance is paid to the driver at delivery.
Balance at Delivery
Paid to the driver by cash, certified check, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or money order. Your dispatcher confirms which ones.
Cargo Insurance
Carriers we book keep $1,000,000 in liability and $100,000 to $1,000,000 in cargo coverage. Ask us for the certificate.
Discounts
Active duty, veterans, and their families get $50 off. College students get a student discount. Ask about a pair rate for two cars.
Real People
Our team answers Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm ET and Saturday 9am to 5pm ET, from booking through delivery.
Watch a Car Load onto an Open Carrier
A clip from our YouTube channel shows a Mercedes-Benz loading onto an open car carrier, the same kind of truck most vehicles on this page ride on.
Car Shipping Services Questions
Quick answers before you book. Our auto transport FAQ page covers the rest.
What car shipping services do you offer?
Open and enclosed car shipping and door-to-door car delivery for cars, trucks, and SUVs, plus transport for classics, exotics, motorcycles, boats, and heavy equipment. We also handle military PCS moves, college students, corporate relocations, snowbirds, dealerships, and auction buyers. We arrange car shipping to and from all 50 states.
What is the difference between open and enclosed car shipping?
Open carriers are two-level racks that hold 8 to 10 cars and set the base rate. Enclosed trailers carry fewer cars, seal out weather and road debris, and usually cost 40 to 60 percent more, and more than that on short trips. Most daily drivers ship open.
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Across our 24 most popular routes, a standard sedan typically costs $450 to $1,850 on an open carrier and $875 to $3,000 enclosed. Distance, vehicle size, trailer type, and the month set where your trip lands.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car?
Ship open, give the carrier a flexible pickup window, and meet the truck at a wide lot near the highway. Book one to two weeks out, and ship in January, February, or September if you can. A quote far below the rest is usually a price no carrier will run.
How long does car shipping take?
Most cars are picked up within a 1 to 5 day window. Time on the truck runs 1 to 3 days under 500 miles and 6 to 10 days on trips of 2,500 miles or more. Weather and road closures can add a day.
How far in advance should I book car transport?
Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead for open or enclosed. In the busy seasons, aim for 2 weeks: snowbirds heading south (October to December) and north (March to June), summer moves (June to August), and college move-in (August). We can often dispatch sooner.
How do I know if an auto transport company is legit?
Look the company up by MC number in the FMCSA SAFER system and make sure its authority is active. Read reviews on BBB, Google, and Transport Reviews, not only the ones on the company's own site. Ask for the carrier's cargo insurance certificate before dispatch.
Is my car insured during shipping?
Yes. Every carrier we assign carries active cargo insurance, and we verify it before dispatch. Coverage runs from pickup through delivery. Ask us for the carrier's insurance certificate and we will send it.
Can you ship a car that does not run?
Yes. A car that does not run is loaded by winch, which typically adds $100 to $250. Tell us when you book so the right truck is assigned. Salvage auction cars often need a winch.
Do you offer military or student discounts?
Yes. Active duty, veterans, and their families get $50 off any shipment. College students get a student discount on every shipment as well. Mention it when you book.
Can I ship more than one vehicle?
Yes. Two vehicles going from the same pickup to the same delivery fill two slots on one truck, so ask for the pair rate. Dealers moving several cars at once get a discounted wholesale rate.
Get Your Car Shipping Quote
Enter your pickup and delivery points in the form at the top of this page, or call and talk to a real person. Read what customers say on our auto transport reviews page, then lock your rate.
Number 1 Auto Transport
Phone: 855.422.4141
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm ET, Saturday 9am to 5pm ET
MC-796224 | USDOT 2336907
Number 1 Auto Transport is a licensed and bonded auto transport broker, not a motor carrier. We arrange transportation with vetted, FMCSA-authorized carriers who hold active cargo insurance. Prices and transit times shown are typical ranges. Your price is locked when you book.