Page published October 27, 2026
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Every figure on this page is an average of prices customers actually paid, not a rate sheet estimate and not a quote. A quote for your specific lane and date can land above or below the band average, and one source notes swings of $300 or more on the same kind of move. Use the bands below to judge whether a quote looks realistic, then get the written quote for your own move.
The main table: what customers actually paid, by distance
The primary table below comes from Navi Auto Transport. It covers 12,908 completed open transport orders in the 90 days to October 19, 2026, across all 50 states, all vehicle types. "Average paid" is the final price the customer paid, including approved changes after booking. The per mile figure is the average price divided by the average miles in the band, which is why a short move costs far more per mile than a long one: the fixed work of dispatching, loading, and driving to both ends is spread over fewer miles.
| Distance | Average paid, open | Per mile | Orders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 250 miles | $493 | $3.01 | 662 |
| 250-500 miles | $704 | $1.89 | 1,188 |
| 500-1,000 miles | $1,010 | $1.34 | 2,720 |
| 1,000-1,500 miles | $1,280 | $1.03 | 3,140 |
| 1,500-2,000 miles | $1,539 | $0.88 | 1,757 |
| 2,000-2,500 miles | $1,688 | $0.76 | 1,655 |
| 2,500+ miles | $1,844 | $0.66 | 1,574 |
Compare totals for your actual route, not per mile rates alone. A 2,000 mile move does not cost four times a 500 mile move, because the per mile rate falls with distance. Navi puts the overall typical range at $500 to $1,850 on open transport, the average booked price at about $1,300, and cross country moves of 2,000 miles or more at about $1,765 on average.
Worked examples: three distances, from the bands above
These examples are arithmetic on the stated bands, not quotes for a specific car or route. Enclosed figures are the open band average multiplied by the 40-70% premium range, rounded to the nearest dollar, so they stay a range, never a single figure.
| Example move | Open average | Enclosed range |
|---|---|---|
| Short move, under 250 mile band | $493 | $690 to $838 |
| Middle move, 500-1,000 mile band | $1,010 | $1,414 to $1,717 |
| Cross country sedan, 2,000+ mile vehicle table | $1,647 | $2,306 to $2,800 |
How the enclosed ranges are worked out: $493 times 1.40 is $690.20, shown as $690, and $493 times 1.70 is $838.10, shown as $838. $1,010 times 1.40 is $1,414 and $1,010 times 1.70 is $1,717. $1,647 times 1.40 is $2,305.80, shown as $2,306, and $1,647 times 1.70 is $2,799.90, shown as $2,800. If your car is a luxury, classic, exotic, or low clearance vehicle, enclosed is the usual advice, because the trailer holds fewer cars and fully shields the vehicle. For an everyday car, open transport is the standard way about 90% of cars move.
Formula
The distance table is the base. Navi Auto Transport reports 12,908 completed open transport orders in the 90 days to October 19, 2026, across all 50 states, all vehicle types. Average paid is the final price the customer paid, including approved changes after booking. The bands: under 250 miles $493 at $3.01 a mile; 250 to 500 miles $704 at $1.89 a mile; 500 to 1,000 miles $1,010 at $1.34 a mile; 1,000 to 1,500 miles $1,280 at $1.03 a mile; 1,500 to 2,000 miles $1,539 at $0.88 a mile; 2,000 to 2,500 miles $1,688 at $0.76 a mile; 2,500+ miles $1,844 at $0.66 a mile. The per mile figure is the average price divided by the average miles in the band, which is why a short move costs far more per mile than a long one: the fixed work of dispatching, loading, and driving to both ends is spread over fewer miles. Navi puts the overall typical range at $500 to $1,850 on open transport, the average booked price at about $1,300, and cross country moves of 2,000 miles or more at about $1,765 on average.
Enclosed transport is the open band average multiplied by the 40 to 70 percent premium range, rounded to the nearest dollar, so it stays a range, never a single figure. On the $493 short band: $493 times 1.40 is $690.20, shown as $690, and $493 times 1.70 is $838.10, shown as $838. On the $1,010 middle band: $1,010 times 1.40 is $1,414 and $1,010 times 1.70 is $1,717. On the $1,647 cross country sedan: $1,647 times 1.40 is $2,305.80, shown as $2,306, and $1,647 times 1.70 is $2,799.90, shown as $2,800. One corroborating source puts enclosed lower, at about a third above open, below the Navi 40 to 70 percent band, which is one more reason this page keeps enclosed as a range and never a single figure.
Vehicle size and direction move the price off the band. On moves of 2,000 miles or more on open transport, Navi reports a sedan or coupe at $1,647 as the baseline, an SUV or crossover at $1,775, and a pickup truck at $2,235. The differences are the vehicle cost, not a different distance: $1,647 plus $128 equals $1,775 for an SUV, and $1,647 plus $588 equals $2,235 for a pickup. A vehicle that does not run typically adds $150 to $350, because it needs a winch equipped carrier. Navi reports enclosed orders averaging $2,653 on 2,000+ mile moves, all vehicle types combined. Direction matters too: California to Texas averaged $1,542 and Texas to California averaged $1,135 on open transport, a gap of $407 on the same city pair in opposite directions, and New York to California averaged $1,938 at about 2,820 miles.
What a bigger vehicle adds on a cross country move
On moves of 2,000 miles or more on open transport, Navi reports a sedan or coupe at $1,647 as the baseline, an SUV or crossover at $1,775, and a pickup truck at $2,235. The differences are the vehicle cost, not a different distance: $1,647 plus $128 equals $1,775 for an SUV, and $1,647 plus $588 equals $2,235 for a pickup. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more deck space and weight allowance, so fewer cars fit on the trailer. A vehicle that does not run typically adds $150 to $350, because it needs a winch equipped carrier. Navi reports enclosed orders averaging $2,653 on 2,000+ mile moves, all vehicle types combined.
The same cities can price differently each way
Direction matters, because carriers have more trucks leaving some cities than others. Navi reports California to Texas averaging $1,542 and Texas to California averaging $1,135 on open transport, a gap of $407 on the same city pair in opposite directions ($1,542 minus $1,135 equals $407). New York to California averaged $1,938 at about 2,820 miles. Do not take a quote for one direction and assume the return trip costs the same.
Two more sources point the same way
The shape of the Navi table is corroborated, not blended into a false single average. Ship a Car Inc, from dispatched bookings over the last twelve months, reports short hauls under 300 miles at about $2.00 per mile and about $450 in total, moves around 1,000 miles at about $1.05 per mile and about $1,100 in total, and coast to coast runs of 2,500 miles and up at about $0.60 per mile and about $1,650 in total, with the middle half of all single vehicle moves since 2023 at $900 to $1,550. Move.org, from about 800 quotes analyzed and published October 6, 2026, reports an average of about $1,300, about $2.00 per mile blended. The sources agree on the band and on the distance curve, not on any single route price. One honest difference: Ship a Car puts enclosed at about a third above open, below Navi 40-70% band, which is one more reason this page keeps enclosed as a range and never a single figure.
Four ways to lower the bill without cutting safety
First, stay flexible on pickup and delivery dates, so a carrier can fit your car into a route it is already running. Second, choose open transport for a standard daily driver. Third, avoid the summer rush where you can, since late spring and summer demand pushes many lanes up, while fall and winter are generally cheaper outside snowbird routes into the Sun Belt. Fourth, book 2 to 3 weeks ahead, since last minute and guaranteed dates cost the most. A quote far below the rest is a warning sign, not a bargain: it often means the carrier pay was set too low for any driver to accept the load, followed by days of silence and then a price update. If the car is being shipped as part of buying from another state, add the shipping band to the deal total before comparing it with a local car: the out the door price calculator covers the purchase side, and this page covers the freight side. For the fee lines on the purchase itself, see what dealer fees are real.
Figures: Navi Auto Transport guide to car shipping cost, completed open transport orders in the 90 days to October 19, 2026, re-checked October 27, 2026. Corroboration: Ship a Car Inc average cost to ship a car per mile, 2026 rates, and Move.org vehicle transport costs, October 6, 2026. Worked enclosed ranges and vehicle differences are Driveonomics arithmetic on the Navi bands stated above.
Educational estimates only, not financial, tax, legal or insurance advice. Every figure on this page is a completed order average or our own arithmetic on a stated band, not a quote for a specific car, route, or shipment. Your distance, vehicle, route, season, and dates will move your price. Get a written quote for your own move. See Terms.
Calculation transparency
Scope. What customers actually paid to ship a car, by distance band, from 12,908 completed open transport orders, with the enclosed premium, the vehicle size difference, and the direction difference worked from those bands. Averages of completed orders, not a rate sheet estimate and not a quote.
Rules and time period. Navi Auto Transport guide to car shipping cost, completed open transport orders in the 90 days to October 19, 2026; average paid is the final price the customer paid, including approved changes after booking; per mile is the average price divided by the average miles in the band; enclosed ranges are the open band average multiplied by the 40 to 70 percent premium range, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Scope and limitations. Educational estimate only. Every figure on this page is a completed order average or Driveonomics arithmetic on a stated band, not a quote for a specific car, route, or shipment. A quote for your specific lane and date can land above or below the band average, and one source notes swings of $300 or more on the same kind of move. Distance, vehicle, route, season, and dates will move your price. Get a written quote for your own move. Prices vary by car, shop, and city. Get a written quote for your own car before you decide.
Source links checked November 6, 2026. Figures: Navi Auto Transport guide to car shipping cost, completed open transport orders in the 90 days to October 19, 2026, re-checked October 27, 2026. Ship a Car Inc average cost to ship a car per mile, 2026 rates, and Move.org vehicle transport costs, October 6, 2026, are named only, not linked.
Primary sources: Navi Auto Transport, car shipping cost guide; How much money do you need on day one; What dealer fees are real; Best selling used cars. How the numbers are calculated is written down on the methodology page, and every source is listed on the sources page.
Definitions
Open transport. Shipping the car on an open trailer, the standard way about 90% of cars move. On this page, most cars shipped on an open carrier cost between $500 and $1,850.
Enclosed transport. Shipping the car inside a closed trailer that fully shields the vehicle. It typically adds 40 to 70 percent above open transport, and this page keeps it as a range on purpose.
Average paid. The final price the customer paid, including approved changes after booking, averaged across the completed orders in the band. On this page, from 12,908 completed open transport orders.
Per mile. The average price divided by the average miles in the band. It falls with distance: $3.01 a mile under 250 miles, $0.66 a mile at 2,500+ miles.
Non-running vehicle. A vehicle that does not run. It typically adds $150 to $350, because it needs a winch equipped carrier.
Questions people actually ask
How much does it cost to ship a car on average?
Most cars shipped on an open carrier cost between $500 and $1,850, and the average price customers actually paid on Navi 12,908 completed open transport orders in the 90 days to October 19, 2026 was about $1,300. That is a completed order average, not a quote: your distance, vehicle, route, season, and dates will move your price.
How much does it cost to ship a car cross country?
Cross country moves of 2,000 miles or more averaged about $1,765 on open transport in the Navi data, with 2,000 to 2,500 miles at $1,688 and 2,500+ miles at $1,844. On 2,000+ mile moves, a sedan averaged $1,647, an SUV $1,775, and a pickup $2,235, all on open transport.
How much more does enclosed transport cost than open transport?
Enclosed transport typically adds 40-70% above open transport, depending on the lane, the season, and carrier supply on your route. This page keeps it as a range on purpose: for example, on the $1,010 middle band average the enclosed range is $1,414 to $1,717, and on the $1,647 cross country sedan average it is $2,306 to $2,800. One corroborating source puts enclosed lower, at about a third above open, so treat any single enclosed figure with caution.
Does a bigger vehicle cost more to ship?
Yes. On Navi 2,000+ mile open transport orders, an SUV or crossover averaged $128 more than a sedan or coupe ($1,775 against $1,647), and a pickup truck averaged $588 more ($2,235 against $1,647). A vehicle that does not run typically adds $150 to $350, because it needs a winch equipped carrier.
Why can the same route cost different amounts in each direction?
Because carriers have more trucks leaving some cities than others, so the same two cities can price differently each way. Navi reports California to Texas averaging $1,542 and Texas to California averaging $1,135 on open transport, a gap of $407. Always get the quote for your direction, not the reverse trip.
Related: Bought at auction far from home? See what buying at auction really costs.
Related: Shipping is part of the cash you need on day one. See how much money you need on day one.
Related: Shipping makes sense when the car you want is not local. See the best-selling used cars.