How to Ship a Car: A Step-by-Step Guide with Real Prices

Know your car and what you need

Before you ask for a quote, settle the four things that change the price the most. They are the same four questions every carrier will ask.

• Does it run and drive? A car that does not run needs a winch and extra loading time. In our quotes that adds about 25%, a median of roughly $190 on a sedan. Say so up front or the price will change later.
• Open or enclosed? Most cars ship on an open trailer, the standard and cheapest option. An enclosed trailer protects the car from weather and road debris and costs about 75% more on our platform. See open vs. enclosed.
• What vehicle is it? On our lanes an SUV costs about 6% more than a sedan, while a pickup costs about 43% more and a van about 41% more, because they take more space on the trailer.
• One car or more? Shipping two cars on one order came out about 10% cheaper per car in our test.

Have the year, make and model, both ZIP codes or addresses, and a rough pickup date ready. The more exact you are, the closer the first quote is to the final price.

Get quotes and compare them like for like

Get more than one quote, and compare the same things in each: the price, the pickup window, the expected transit time and who the carrier will be. A quote that looks cheaper often differs on one of those.

• Compare on the same day. A quote is a snapshot. When we re-quoted lanes after a few weeks, a typical price moved about 4% for a sedan and a few moved by 40% or more.
• Check the price against the real range. A quote far below the typical range for your distance (see the chart below) is a warning sign: a broker who posts your car too low may struggle to find a driver, and the price often rises later.
• Ask what is included. Confirm that the price is door to door, whether it assumes a running car, and what happens if the pickup date changes.
• Look at both directions. The same lane can cost more one way than the other: the typical gap in our data is 14%, and nearly a third of lanes differ by 25% or more.

On Transportli you enter your route once and compare quotes from vetted carriers, so you do not repeat the same form on five websites. Get your quotes, or try the calculator at the top of this page for an instant range.

Check the company before you book

Most car shipping companies you find online are brokers: they arrange the shipment and an independent carrier moves the car. That is normal, but it means you should check two things: the company you book with, and the carrier who will pick up your car.

The three checks

1. Ask for the USDOT and MC numbers and look them up on FMCSA, or use our free company checker. It shows the authority status, whether the company is a broker or a carrier, and the bond on file.
2. Confirm the carrier. Ask who will carry the car and ask for the carrier’s USDOT number and insurance certificate.
3. Read the history, not only the status. A company can be active today and still have had gaps in its authority.

A single revocation notice in a company’s history is not a reason to walk away: 35% of active brokers had at least one revocation event in the last five years, and nearly all were cured within weeks. Repeated notices, long gaps or a company that will not give you its numbers are different. Our broker authority study has the full data, and our ranking of car shipping companies shows how the most-searched names compare.

Book the shipment and pay the deposit

When you choose a quote, you book the shipment. On Transportli you pay a deposit to the platform when you book, and the remaining balance goes to the carrier. Make sure you understand what each part covers before you confirm.

• Get the terms in writing: the price, the pickup window, the delivery address and what is included.
• Know what is due and to whom: the deposit you pay when you book, and the balance you pay to the carrier.
• Ask about changes: what happens if you need to move the pickup date or the address, and keep the answer in your booking details.
• Keep a record: save the booking confirmation, the carrier’s name and phone number, and your order number.

Be careful with any company that asks for a large payment before a driver is assigned, or that will not put the terms in writing.

Prepare the car

A few minutes of preparation protects you if anything is disputed later. Do it the day before pickup, in daylight.

• Wash the car so existing marks are easy to see.
• Photograph every side, the roof, the wheels, the interior and the odometer, with the date on the photos.
• Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Less is risky and more adds weight.
• Remove personal items and toll tags. Carriers generally do not insure belongings left in the car, and loose items can shift in transit.
• Fold mirrors, retract antennas and secure or remove anything loose, such as racks.
• Check for leaks and note any problem with the battery, brakes or tires. A leaking car can be refused at pickup.
• Turn off or disable the alarm and give the driver a key, plus any special instructions.
• Tell the company about modifications such as a lift kit, a lowered car or oversized wheels, because they affect how it loads.

Pickup day: inspect together and sign the bill of lading

The driver will contact you to arrange a time, because carriers work in windows, not exact hours. At pickup, go around the car with the driver and agree what you both see.

• Walk the car together. Every existing scratch or dent should be marked on the condition diagram before the car is loaded.
• Compare it with your photos and add any mark the driver missed.
• Read the bill of lading (the BOL) before you sign. It is the condition report and your receipt. See the example below.
• Keep your copy and note the driver’s name and phone number.
• Hand over one key and keep a spare, if you have one.

If the truck cannot reach your street, expect to meet the driver at a large open lot nearby. This is common with big trucks. Our door-to-door guide explains what to do.

Delivery day: inspect before you sign, then pay the balance

This is the most important moment, so do not rush it. Inspect the car before you sign anything, in good light.

• Walk around the car and compare it with the pickup photos and the bill of lading.
• Check under the car and the roof, and look at the wheels and the glass. Use your phone light if it is dark.
• If you find new damage, write it on the bill of lading before you sign and take dated photos. Do not sign a clean report if the car is not clean.
• Pay the remaining balance to the carrier as set out in your booking.
• Keep your copy of the bill of lading and the photos.

If there is a problem, tell the carrier and the company right away, in writing, and keep every record. The sooner you report it, the better your position.