If you are shipping a car to another state for the first time, the process is fairly straightforward: get quotes from several licensed auto transport companies, verify the carrier’s FMCSA authority and insurance, prepare your vehicle, document its condition at pickup, and inspect it again before delivery. Start comparing quotes about two to three weeks before your preferred pickup date so you have more flexibility if your first choice is unavailable.
Most interstate shipments are arranged for moves, job relocations, vehicle purchases, or other situations where driving the car yourself is inconvenient. Because many people only ship a car once or twice, it can be difficult to know which steps matter and what paperwork you actually need.
This checklist follows the process in order, from getting your first quote and choosing a company to pickup, delivery, and registering the vehicle in your new state.
Key Takeaways
Most interstate car shipments cost between $800 and $1,400 for long routes and 550 for trips under 500 miles on open transport.
Start collecting quotes two to three weeks before your pickup date, and compare at least three licensed companies.
You usually need only your registration, proof of insurance, and a photo ID. The title stays with you.
Check the company’s MC number in the FMCSA SAFER database and ask for its cargo insurance certificate before paying anything.
The Bill of Lading is your main record. Note every scratch at pickup and inspect the car again before signing at delivery.
Most states expect new residents to re-register a car within 10 to 30 days of moving.
Step 1: Decide What Kind of Transport You Need
Two choices shape almost every quote you will receive.
Open or enclosed. Open trailers, the double-deck trucks you see on the highway, move most cars and cost the least. Enclosed trailers protect the car from weather and road debris and typically add 30–50% to the price. They are usually recommended for vehicles worth more than about $50,000, classics, and cars with low ground clearance.
Door-to-door or terminal. Door-to-door pickup and delivery usually adds 150 compared with dropping the car at a terminal. If you live on a narrow street or in a gated community, the driver may still ask to meet at a nearby parking lot.
Also tell every company whether the car runs. A vehicle that won’t start or steer has to be winched onto the trailer, which changes both the price and the type of truck that can take it.
Step 2: Understand What It Will Cost
Distance sets the baseline, but route demand matters almost as much. Busy corridors between major cities cost less per mile than rural routes because trucks run them constantly. Published averages for state to state car shipping show the range clearly:
Route
Average price (open transport)
Per mile
Los Angeles to Dallas
$850
$0.60
Phoenix to Houston
$811
$0.69
Houston to Richmond
$1,074
$0.92
Portland to New York
$1,484
$0.51
Longer routes cost more in total but less per mile. Season matters too: summer and the fall snowbird months are the busiest, while mid-winter outside the southern routes is often quieter.
Step 3: Collect and Compare Quotes
Request quotes from at least three companies, and make sure each one is quoting the same thing: the same vehicle, transport type, pickup window, and service level. Two quotes that look $200 apart are often for different services.
Be careful with the lowest number. In auto transport, a quote priced below what drivers will accept on that route often leads to a car that sits unassigned until the price goes up. A quote close to the middle of the range is usually the one that gets picked up on time.
Ask each company three questions: Is this price binding or an estimate? Is a deposit required, and is it refundable? What happens if the car is not picked up within the window?
Step 4: Vet the Company Before You Book
Look up the MC or USDOT number in the FMCSA SAFER database. The authority should be listed as active.
Know whether you are dealing with a broker or a transport company. Brokers arrange the shipment with a trucking company and must hold $75,000 in financial security with the FMCSA. Both models are legal; the key is a valid license.
Ask for the insurance certificate. Cargo coverage of $100,000 to $250,000 per vehicle is common for open transport among vetted companies. Check the deductible and what is excluded.
Read recent reviews and look for how the company handled delays and damage claims, not just star ratings.
Step 5: Prepare the Paperwork
First-timers are often surprised by how little is needed. In most cases, you will be asked for:
Current vehicle registration
Proof of your own auto insurance
A photo ID for whoever releases and receives the car
You normally do not hand over the title. If someone else will be at pickup or delivery, give the company their name and phone number ahead of time.
Step 6: Get the Car Ready
Wash it and take time-stamped photos of all sides, the roof, and the odometer.
Leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
Remove toll transponders, parking passes and garage openers.
Take out personal belongings. They are usually not covered by cargo insurance.
Fold in mirrors, remove loose roof racks, and turn off the alarm.
Note any fluid leaks or mechanical issues and tell the driver.
Step 7: Pickup and the Bill of Lading
At pickup, the driver inspects the car with you and records its condition on the Bill of Lading. Walk around the car together and make sure every existing scratch and dent is marked. Keep your copy. If you ever need to file a damage claim, this document and your photos will be the basis of it.
Transit times depend mostly on distance: routes under 800 miles usually take 1–4 days, 800–1,499 miles take 4–7 days, and coast-to-coast shipments of 2,400 miles or more take 10–15 days.
Step 8: Delivery and Final Inspection
Before signing at delivery, inspect the car in good light, compare it with the pickup notes and your photos, and write any new damage on the delivery copy of the Bill of Lading. Signing a clean receipt and reporting damage later makes a claim much harder. Pay any remaining balance in the form agreed at booking; many drivers expect cash, a cashier’s check, or a money order on delivery.
Step 9: Register the Car in Your New State
If you are moving rather than shipping a car temporarily, the clock starts once you become a resident. Deadlines vary: California asks new residents to register within 20 days, Texas within 30 days, and Florida within 10 days. Check your new state’s DMV website for the exact rules on inspections, emissions testing, and driver’s license transfer.
FAQ
How far in advance should I book interstate car shipping?
Two to three weeks before your preferred pickup date works for most routes. During summer and the fall snowbird season, add a few extra days.
Do I need to be present at pickup and delivery?
Not necessarily. Any adult you authorize can release or receive the car, as long as they can sign the Bill of Lading and show ID.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship a car to another state?
On routes over about 1,000 miles, shipping is often close to the real cost of driving once you add fuel, hotels, meals, and wear on the car.
What happens if my car is damaged in transit?
Note the damage on the Bill of Lading at delivery, take photos, and file a claim with the transport company. Its cargo insurance covers damage that occurs during transport, subject to the deductible.
