What’s the Real Cost to Ship Your Car Now? A 2025 Pricing Guide

When relocating to a new city, purchasing a car from another state, or sending a vehicle to a family member, you probably find yourself pondering this at least once: What’s the real cost of shipping your car these days? With everything changing so rapidly — fuel prices, availability of carriers, and seasonal demand— understanding how much shipping a vehicle truly costs in 2025 is even more critical than before.

At Rapid Auto Shipping, we are here to explain the latest pricing trends, factors that influence your car shipping prices the most, as well as how to get the best deal today.

The Average Cost to Ship Your Car Now in 2025

As of mid-2025, the average cost to ship your car now sits at roughly $700to$1,500 for a standard sedan shipped domestically within the United States. However, this pricing range has some highly variable factors, such as:

-The distance traveled
-The vehicle’s make, model, and year (along with its condition)
-The shipping method (open or enclosed)
-The pickup and drop-off locations
-Current fuel prices
-Time of year

Now, let’s break down each of these factors one at a time, starting with…

1. Distance: The Most Important Pricing Factor

In terms of general consensus, the farther you ship, the higher the cost. However, this does not always follow a straightforward path. For longer distances, shipping costs tend to drop per mile.

Distance (Miles) Average Cost Cost Per Mile

0 – 500 miles $500–$800 $1.00–$1.60

500 – 1,000 miles $800–$1,100 $0.90–$1.30

1,000 – 2,000 miles $1,000–$1,400 $0.75–$1.10

2,000+ miles $1,200–$1,500+ $0.60–$1.00

At Rapid Auto Shipping, we offer real-time quotes which are tailored to your specific route, reflecting the dynamic market situation.

2. Vehicle Classification: Weight and Dimensions are Important

The cost of transporting a vehicle depends on its dimensions and overall weight. Larger vehicles such as SUVs, trucks or vans take up more space within the platform and require extra care if they are lifted and/or modified.

Vehicle Type Estimated Cost

Compact Car $700–$1,000

Sedan $800–$1,200

SUV $1,000–$1,400

Pickup Truck $1,100–$1,500

Inoperable or nonmoving cars usually has a winch or forklift in-place to load and hence will come out at high cost.

3. Open versus Enclosed transport

You have two primary selections for moving a car: open carrier and enclosed carrier.

90 percent of cars which are open transported are traditionally lower priced hence open transport is less expensive.

Enclosed transport provides 30-60% higher cost premium for protecting classic, luxury, or high-value vehicles from road debris and weather.

Transport Type Estimated Cost (Cross-Country)

Open Carrier $1,000–$1,300 Enclosed Carrier $1,400–$2,000+

At Rapid Auto Shipping, we suggest using enclosed transport when shipping luxury cars or in cases when you want maximum protection for your investment.

4. Pickup and Drop Off Locations

Your selection of door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal shipping options can also slash costs.

Preferred by most customers, door-to-door options provide greater ease, but may increase fees in remote areas.

Terminal-to-terminal options can be less expensive but add additional time and distance to your journey.

Metropolitan areas are less expensive due to greater carrier availability, while rural areas have higher costs due to added travel.

5. Seasonal Demand & Fuel Prices

Shipping cars comes with seasonal limitations. For example:

In winter, snow can cause delays and increased costs.

In spring and summer, there is greater demand, increasing rates.

In the fall, prices become more competitive with better availability.

Fuel prices also affect the cost of shipping, as carriers have fluctuating fuel prices.

How Rapid Auto Shipping Can Help You Save

To Reliable Vehicle Transport Rapid Auto Shipping fulfills its aim by serving what clients actually need. This is how we help customers lower their cost to ship your car now.

Real time online quotes- No hidden fees. Flexible Scheduling: Booking in advance gets you lower rate. Price Matching:Whenever possible we offer to beat or match competitor quotes. Customer Support: Our Rapid Auto Shipping has dedicated 24/7 assistance ready for you.