How Cross Country Car Shipping Works
Shipping a car across the country with J&S Transportation is pretty straightforward. Start by getting an instant quote so you know what your transport will cost and about how long it should take. Once you’re ready to move forward, we’ll schedule your pickup and keep you updated as we get closer to the day your vehicle is picked up.
When the carrier arrives, your vehicle is inspected and loaded onto the truck for transport. From there, it’s shipped to your destination and we’ll stay in communication with you along the way. Before delivery, we’ll give you a heads-up so you know when to expect the driver. That’s really all there is to it. We handle the transportation so you don’t have to worry about getting your car from one side of the country to the other yourself.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car Across the Country?
The cost to ship a car across the country depends on several things, including the distance, your pickup and delivery locations, the size and weight of your vehicle, fuel prices, how quickly you need it shipped, and whether you choose open or enclosed transport. In general, the farther your car has to travel, the more the total cost will be, but the cost per mile usually goes down as the distance increases. Shipping to or from a remote area can also cost more than shipping between larger cities or locations near major highways because the carrier may have to travel farther off its normal route.
Based on our current pricing, you can expect to pay roughly $1,400–$1,500 to ship a car around 1,200 miles, or about $1.20 per mile. For a coast-to-coast shipment of around 2,800 miles, the cost is currently closer to $2,000–$2,100, or about $0.75 per mile. Even longer cross-country routes of 3,000 miles or more are currently around $2,100, or roughly $0.70 per mile. These are just ballpark figures because every transport is different, so the best way to find out what your specific shipment will cost is to use our instant quote calculator and enter your vehicle and route information.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car Across the Country?
Once your vehicle is picked up, a cross country transport will typically take about 5–7 days. A good rule of thumb when determining how long it takes to ship a car is that a driver can cover around 500 miles per day. A 2,000-mile transport will usually take about four days of driving time. It’s a good idea to allow an extra day or two for things such as weather, traffic, construction, truck issues, or delays picking up and delivering other vehicles along the route.
Keep in mind that the actual driving time is only part of the process. We also need time to schedule a driver to pick up your vehicle, which typically takes 2–7 days depending on the route, vehicle, location, and time of year. Vehicles being shipped between major cities or along busy interstate routes are usually easier to schedule than vehicles being picked up or delivered in remote areas. Once we have your transport assigned to a driver, we’ll let you know the pickup and delivery schedule and keep you updated if anything changes along the way.
Shipping Your Car vs. Driving Across the Country
Driving your car across the country might seem like the cheaper option at first, but there’s more to consider than just the cost of gas. A long road trip can also mean hotel stays, meals, time away from work, and thousands of extra miles on your vehicle. You’re also putting additional wear and tear on your tires, brakes, and other parts of the car, not to mention spending several long days behind the wheel.
Shipping your car lets you avoid all of that and can make a cross-country move a lot easier. Instead of planning your move around a multi-day drive, you can fly to your destination and let us handle getting your vehicle there. Shipping may not always be the least expensive option, but when you factor in your time, travel expenses, added mileage, and the stress of a long drive, it can make a lot of sense.
Cost to Ship Your Car Across the Country: About $1,400–$2,100
Cost to Drive Your Car Across the Country: About $1,400–$1,700 in fuel, hotels, and meals
*This driving estimate doesn’t include the cost of adding 2,800–3,000 miles to your vehicle, wear and tear, or spending four or five stressful days on the road!
As you can see, the cash expense can be surprisingly close when comparing your options, but the real advantage of shipping over driving is the time, mileage, convenience, and wear-and-tear savings.
When Does It Make Sense to Ship Your Car?
Shipping your car across the country makes the most sense when driving it yourself would be a major hassle. That includes situations like:
- Moving to a new state
- Buying a vehicle from across the country
- Sending a car to a family member
- Heading south for the winter (snowbird shipping)
- Moving multiple vehicles at the same time.
It may not always be the cheapest option, especially for shorter trips, but for longer cross-country moves the convenience is easily worth it. Shipping lets you avoid hotel stays, meals on the road, lost time, extra mileage, and the wear and tear on your vehicle.
How to Choose a Cross Country Auto Transport Company
When you’re trusting a company to move your car across the country, price shouldn’t be the only thing you look at. Make sure the company is properly licensed, has a good reputation, communicates clearly, and explains how your vehicle will be transported. It’s also worth checking customer reviews and the company’s record with the FMCSA and BBB so you know who you’re dealing with.
You should also know whether you’re working with a carrier, a broker, or a company that does both. A carrier owns and operates their own fleet of trucks, while a broker arranges transportation through other carriers. J&S Transportation does both. We operate our own fleet of trucks and we’re also a licensed broker, which gives us more options when arranging cross-country transports for our customers.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Cross Country Shipping
You don’t need to do anything complicated to get your car ready for a cross-country transport, but a little preparation can make pickup go much smoother. Give the vehicle a quick wash so any existing scratches, dents, or other damage are easy to see during the condition report, and take a few photos for your own records. Remove loose items from inside the vehicle, secure or remove accessories such as bike racks or luggage racks, and make sure the tires are properly inflated, the battery is charged, and there aren’t any major fluid leaks.
You’ll also want to leave as little gas as possible in the tank. It’s not required to drain your tank but the ideal amount of gas is about 1/8 to 1/4 tank of gas. Disable any alarms, remove or deactivate toll tags, and have a set of keys ready for the driver. Those are the main things most customers need to worry about. For the complete checklist, see our 14 Tips on How to Prepare a Car for Transport.
Popular Cross Country Car Shipping Routes
Some cross-country routes are much more popular than others. Right now, many of the busiest routes involve California, Florida, New York, and Texas. Cities in these states generate a lot of cross-country car shipping demand, especially on routes between the West Coast, East Coast, Southeast, and Texas.
Some cross-country routes are much more popular than others. Right now, many of the busiest routes involve California, Florida, New York, and Texas. Cities in these states generate a lot of cross-country car shipping demand, especially on routes between the West Coast, East Coast, Southeast, and Texas.
Some of our most popular state-to-state routes include California to Florida, California to New York, California to Texas, Florida to California, Florida to New York, and Texas to California. If you’re looking for information about a specific route, including pricing and transit details, you can browse our complete car shipping routes directory.
Why Choose J&S Transportation for Cross Country Car Shipping?
We’ve been shipping vehicles for more than 25 years, and over that time we’ve built our business around honest pricing, reliable service, and keeping customers informed throughout the transport process.
- More than 1 million vehicles shipped
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
- 4.8-star rating on Google with more than 425 reviews
- Our own fleet of trucks plus a nationwide network of trusted carriers
- Licensed as both a motor carrier and auto transport broker
- Direct communication and regular shipment updates
- Experienced dispatchers who understand cross-country auto transport
- Proper insurance coverage is verified before your vehicle is transported
Whether your vehicle is being shipped 1,200 miles or 3,000 miles across the country, our goal is simple: give you a fair price, keep you informed, and get your vehicle delivered safely and smoothly.
Cross Country Car Shipping FAQs
How far in advance should I book cross country car shipping?
The ideal time to book is about two weeks before the earliest date your vehicle will be available for pickup, but you can book anytime. However, if you book too close to your earliest pickup date, we may not be able to get your transport scheduled that quickly.
Can I choose specific pickup and delivery dates to coordinate with my flight or moving schedule?
Yes and no. We’ll always do our best to work around your schedule, but we can’t guarantee exact pickup or delivery dates. There are simply too many things that can affect a driver’s schedule, including weather, traffic, construction, truck breakdowns, and delays at other pickup and delivery stops along the route.
If you’re coordinating your transport with a flight, move, or other important date, it’s best to give yourself some flexibility whenever possible. You can learn more about how scheduling works in our guides to pickup dates for auto transports and delivery dates for auto transports.
Can I put personal items in my car when it’s being shipped?
Yes, but we only allow ONE suitcase, duffle bag, tote, or box of personal belongings up to 100 lbs. It must be secured in the vehicle and below the window line.
Is cross country car shipping door-to-door?
Yes, in most cases. The driver will pick up and deliver your vehicle as close to the requested addresses as safely and legally possible.
Will my car be insured during transport?
Yes. The carrier transporting your vehicle is required to have cargo insurance, and we verify coverage before assigning the shipment.
Can I track my car while it’s being shipped?
No, but we’ll keep you updated throughout the transport and let you know immediately if there are any changes to the pickup or delivery schedule.