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How much does it cost to move a car?
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Price guide
$600 - $2,000
low
$600
median
$1,300
high
$2,000
Last Updated on
Driving a car can be the most efficient way of traveling. However, moving or freighting a car sometimes becomes a necessity when you cannot drive it yourself from one location to another. These days, it can cost you anywhere from $600 to $2,000.
Car transport price list
How much does it cost to relocate a car? Car transport service providers quote differently based on several factors. Here’s a quick guide to auto transport costs per mile:
Distance |
Sedan or Compact Cars |
SUVs or Pickup Trucks |
<500 miles |
$600 |
$700 |
500 - 1,000 miles |
$750 |
$900 |
1,000 miles - 1,500 miles |
$950 |
$1,200 |
1,500 miles to 2,000 miles |
$1,250 |
$1,500 |
2,000 miles to 2,500 miles |
$1,600 |
$1,800 |
>2,500 miles |
>$1,700 |
>$2,000 |
Factors affecting car transport costs
Car shipping services can vary from transport via carrier vehicles to freight cargo or freight cargo via air travel. The type of service you need to avail of will depend on your specific needs.Â
A car that needs to be moved overseas will most likely require air travel and cost more than having a car transported on land. Car transport companies offer different services. The most common factors affecting the cost of relocating a car are the following:
1. Transport distance and location
The longer the distance, the more fuel it consumes for the shipping company. Fuel costs will also affect the cost of transport. It costs an average of $1 per mile but can go from $.80 to $5, especially with the rising prices of gasoline. Moving your car to rural or hard-to-reach places might also cost more than in cities or metropolitan areas.
2. Car size and weight
This will dictate how many vehicles can be loaded in a transport carrier. The fewer the vehicles, the more expensive the service. Heavier vehicles also cost more to ship. This might apply to electric cars, which are heavier than their gas-powered counterparts because their batteries are bulkier.
3. Carrier type
For carrier vehicles, you can choose between an open trailer or an enclosed transport. Open trailers are more popular because they are less costly. Enclosed transports are usually reserved for higher-value vehicles, like luxury, custom, and vintage cars.Â
4. Car condition
If your car is inoperable and needs to be strategically loaded or unloaded by the transport company, they will charge a higher fee. It’s easier to transport a working car that can be driven to a carrier.
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5. Transport route and speed
The road conditions of the route, including closures and anticipated traffic jams, will also affect the price of shipping your car. Expedited car transport will cost higher, much like other delivery services.
6. Transport date
The peak season for car shipping is summer. Car moving during major holidays, like Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, can be difficult and expensive.
Other common factors that affect car transport costs are insurance fees and labor shortages. Luxury or vintage vehicles might have higher transport fees due to the extra care required to handle them. Their insurance fees will also be higher. Â
Getting ready to hire a car transporter
When posting a task, it’s important to communicate all of your needs. Here’s what you can share on the request form:
- Pick-up and drop-off location
- Date of pick-up
- Target drop-off date
- Car make and model
- Car state and condition
- Budget
- Preferred route
- Mode of travel: trailer or driven
Preparing your car for pick-upÂ
It’s a good idea to have your car cleaned or waxed before handing it off to a car transporter. Debris and bugs on the road are less likely to stick on a freshly waxed car. You can also find car cleaning services through Airtasker.
Take pictures of your car before pick-up and take note of its current condition, like existing dents and scratches. Inspection during pick-up and drop-off can ensure accountability during car transport.
Finally, remove your personal belongings from the car. Your car must also be in top running condition if it will be driven, and the fuel tank should be at least 25% full.Â
Post a task for car transport
Ultimately, it might be cheaper to drive your car yourself for shorter distances. However, you need to consider fuel, food, and lodging. These costs rack up the longer you are on the road. And what if you can’t physically drive the car due to logistical challenges? Hiring a car transport service can be easy with Airtasker.Â
Our platform removes the need to talk to different companies who will direct you to third-party carrier services, which may or may not be legitimate. Airtasker ratings and reviews can enable you to find the best car transport service provider with a good reputation.
Find car transport services, fast
Post a taskFAQs
Car transport services can include driving your car from a pick-up location to a destination or transporting it via carrier from one place to another. Car transport via carriers might also vary from door-to-door or depot service.
Cheaper car transport costs often come with a caveat. Some transport providers will quote you low prices in exchange for their lack of experience. Note that quality service sometimes comes with a larger price tag. On Airtasker, you can find a good balance of both based on your needs.
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