Cost
Car shipping cost by distance
Compare estimated costs for the same sedan at an example distance within each group. Distances are approximate.
Key facts
- Price basis
- Estimated shipping costs
- Historical prices used
- 3588
- Enclosed versus open transport
- 1.5 times the open estimate (a planning assumption)
- U.S. diesel
- $6.13 per gallon, week of 2026-11-09
As of 2026-11-09. Source: RideShipper estimate v1 for a running Sedan or compact car. Each row uses an example distance within that group. The per-mile figure uses the estimated midpoint. Distances are approximate. Based on prices reported in MoveAdvisor reviews. This is not a quote.
| Approximate distance | Open transport | Enclosed transport | Estimated open cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 250 miles | $376–$573 | $564–$859 | $3.11 |
| 250–499 miles | $404–$616 | $606–$924 | $1.34 |
| 500–999 miles | $556–$848 | $834–$1,271 | $0.92 |
| 1,000–1,499 miles | $704–$1,072 | $1,056–$1,609 | $0.70 |
| 1,500–1,999 miles | $822–$1,252 | $1,233–$1,878 | $0.58 |
| 2,000–2,499 miles | $923–$1,406 | $1,384–$2,109 | $0.51 |
| 2,500 miles and over | $1,053–$1,605 | $1,580–$2,408 | $0.44 |
The historical calculation starts at $499 before adjustments for the vehicle, month and fuel. Short trips have limited supporting data, so ask companies for quotes. Distances are approximate. The place directory uses straight-line distance increased by 20%, while the historical state-center calculation uses a factor of 1.22.
What changes the price
- Longer trips usually cost more in total and less per mile. The calculation starts at $499 before other adjustments.
- Vehicle size changes the estimate: Sedan or compact car: 1.00 times the sedan estimate (from reported prices); SUV or crossover: 1.06 times the sedan estimate (from reported prices); Pickup or large SUV: 1.20 times the sedan estimate (from reported prices); Van or minivan: 1.07 times the sedan estimate (from reported prices); Heavy-duty or oversized vehicle: 1.12 times the sedan estimate (from reported prices); Motorcycle: 0.95 times the sedan estimate (from reported prices).
- A vehicle that does not run adds $150 (assumption).
- Fuel prices change the estimate. A 10% diesel price rise changes the estimate by about 0.2%. The historical comparison price is $3.67 a gallon, from the sample whose middle date is 2021-09-23.
- Seasonal travel to and from Florida and Arizona can change the price in each direction. The adjustment ranges from 0.88 to 1.12 times the base estimate.
- The pickup month changes the estimate based on historical reported prices: January: 0.98 times the base price, February: 0.99 times the base price, March: 0.94 times the base price, April: 1.05 times the base price, May: 1.00 times the base price, June: 1.03 times the base price, July: 1.05 times the base price, August: 1.05 times the base price, September: 1.00 times the base price, October: 1.03 times the base price, November: 0.93 times the base price, December: 0.95 times the base price.
Prices used to build the estimate: 3588 from 2009-03-26 to 2026-11-06. These prices come from MoveAdvisor reviews and were used to calculate the distance adjustment. This is not a quote.
Open the calculator for a route. Price index.
Sources
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