Can You Ship a Car to Another State?

If you ever need to move to another state, you may find the whole experience very stressful. You’ve got to box up all your belongings safely and securely, disconnect and then rearrange your utilities, look for a trustworthy moving company, and a whole lot more. To top it off, you’ve also got your car or possibly cars to worry about. How are you going to move your car to another state?

Getting your car to another state doesn’t have to be a headache. There are several options to choose from, one of which is car relocation services such as those offered by SGT Auto Transport.    

To help you out with your dilemma, this post is going to look at some of your options in more detail. With the right information, you’ll have no trouble picking the one that’s right for you. 

Option #1: Drive yourself

For most people, this is the option that pops into their head first. That being said, it’s not always as cheap, safe, fun, or convenient as many people assume. 

If you’ve only got to ship a car a few hundred miles away, driving your car may well be the most convenient and cheapest way to ship your car to another state. 

If the distance of your move is nearer the 500 miles or more mark, the cost of driving yourself is not quite so likely to add up in your favor.

Consider the following:

• How much gas you’ll need to buy
• The number of hours you can safely drive in one day
• Whether the drive is likely to take one day, five days, or possibly even longer
• The cost of staying in hotels
• The cost of meals
• Whether you have the money and time to handle an unexpected breakdown
• Where you’re moving to and what time of year you plan to move
• How many miles and wear and tear the trip will put on your car

By the time you’ve answered all these questions, you’re almost certain to realize you’ll be better off delegating the task of moving your car to someone else.   

Option #2: Hire a driver

That someone else could be a driver you hire. It might be a professional driver but could just as easily be a friend or family member. 

The sticking point with this option is that it requires a great deal of trust. You must trust the person you’re putting behind the wheel because your car is a treasured possession. How much driving experience have they got and is it enough to safely drive your car to another state? Will they show your car the respect it deserves, or will they put the pedal to the metal and drive it hard? Hopefully, they won’t smoke in your car or spill anything, but you need to be certain this won’t happen. 

Whoever you hire, keep in mind that this option still puts extra miles and wear and tear on your car. There’s also the risk of them being involved in an accident on the highway. 

Before you make a firm commitment, confirm what the total cost is going to be. How much are they going to charge you for the job? Is the driver going to cover the cost of gas, food, and lodgings? Or will you have to cover those costs as well?

Option #3: Tow or trailer your car

If you’re hiring a moving truck, you can often hitch your car to it using a car trailer or tow dolly. You might be able to kill two birds with one stone if you happen to own a car and truck. 

This option is only viable for someone with experience and who is comfortable towing trailers and vehicles. If you don’t have the experience or skill, towing a vehicle or trailer can be extremely dangerous and stressful. 

Option #4: Ship your car to another state by train

This is an option for anyone on the East Coast. Amtrak Auto Train is the only car shipping train service. You transport your car with a passenger train through the direct-to-consumer freight train option. However, you do need to be on the train with your car and it can take quite a considerable length of time. 

Option #5: Hire an auto transport company

Instead of racking up miles on your car and exposing it to unnecessary wear and tear, consider hiring an auto transport company such as SGT Auto Transport. It is a very safe, convenient, and affordable option. 

Work with an auto transport company like us and we’ll take care of everything for you. The service is door-to-door. Your car is picked up from your home and delivered to your new home in the state you’re moving to. 

If you like the sound of this option, let’s fill you in on the important details. 

What are your auto transport options?

Let’s start by looking at your options because auto transport is a service that can be tailored to meet your needs. 

Open car transport

Open auto transport is the most common type of car shipping service. It’s quick and easy to arrange, convenient, and excellent value for money. 

A car shipping company transports your car, together with other vehicles, using open trailer transport. They pick up and load your vehicle from a location of your choice and deliver it to your chosen location. 

With open car transport, your car is exposed to the elements, but it’s still the safest and most secure option if your budget is tight. It’s also a good alternative if you want to ship multiple cars to another state. 

Enclosed auto transport

Enclosed auto transport is a way of shipping a vehicle that provides extra protection. If you’re the proud owner of any high-end or custom car, enclosed car transport is the perfect choice. Your car is transported in a trailer that’s fully enclosed on all four sides. It’s completely protected from the weather and traffic debris, so you don’t have to worry about anything. 

Guaranteed pick-up service

A guaranteed pick-up service is an option you can rely on if you’re pushed for time and need to make specific arrangements for transporting your car. You can make your booking with a 24-hour window. 

Express auto transport

Express auto transport is an option that might suit you if you’re making arrangements at the last minute. Your vehicle is picked up in one to two business days which makes the shipping service super quick. 

How much does it cost to ship a car to another state?

The best place to start is to give you a rough idea of how much it might cost on an average price-per-mile basis. 

The average prices per mile shown above reflect market conditions as of April 2022. These rates are subject to change due to seasonal fluctuations, cost of gas, pick-up/delivery locations, etc.

If you want to know the exact cost, get an instant quote for shipping your car to another state today!

The figures given in the table above are only given as a rough estimate. Several factors can affect the final price you pay for your auto transport service. Let’s take a quick look at what these are:

• Distance: The further the distance, the higher the auto transport cost, although the auto transport cost per mile is lower.
• The make, model, and year of your vehicle: Carriers are bound by weight restrictions, so they do their best to maximize each load. The heavier and bigger your vehicle, the more it will cost to transport. 
• The route: Some locations are more popular than others when it comes to car shipping. If you want to ship your car on a popular route, the cost will be lower. 
• Whether your car is running or not: When a car isn’t running, the carrier must use special equipment to load and unload the car. A non-running car also takes more time and effort. Both these things are going to impact the overall cost of shipping a car to another state. 
• The time of year: At certain times of the year, there is a higher demand for car shipping services which leads to higher prices. Holidays, such as Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving, are good examples of when it might cost more. The weather at different times of the year also affects the availability of auto transport services, and ultimately the price. Snowbird season is another example of when demand for car shipments is much higher and therefore more expensive.  
• Type of auto transport service: Enclosed auto transport typically costs 30% to 40% more than open transport.  
• Additional features: You can expect to pay more for auto transport services that feature express shipping, top-loading, and guaranteed pick-up. 
• Price of fuel: Higher fuel prices increase the operating costs for shippers, and these increases tend to be passed on to the consumer.    

How long does it take to ship a car to another state?

This is a very difficult question to answer exactly as many variables can affect the timeframe. Let’s start by giving you some approximate times:

Now let’s take a quick look at some of the things that can affect your car shipping delivery time.

• Distance: How long it takes to ship a car depends on the distance between the pick-up location and the delivery location. The longer the distance, the more time it will take an auto transport carrier to deliver your car. 
• Pick-up and drop-off locations: Locations in metropolitan areas are easier to access by car shipping companies, compared to more rural locations. It will take less time for the carrier if they only have to drive along main highways and interstates. Deviating from the main route increases the car shipping time frame. 
• Season: Peak auto transport season is May to September. During this time, transit times are shorter because there are more car transport trucks traveling around the country. 
• Weather: Bad weather can seriously hamper the progress of a car shipping company. Transit times will increase and there may be delivery delays if there is snow, rain, hail, thunderstorms, or strong winds. 
• Road conditions: Road conditions can be very unpredictable. Road closures, construction work, traffic jams, temporary detours, or driving accidents can increase transit times. 
• Extra stops: When the driver must make several stops along the way, the total car shipping time increases. 
• Driver’s hours: For safety reasons, the Department of Transport mandates that truck drivers rest for a certain amount of time before continuing their car shipping journey.  

Get an instant quote for shipping your car to another state!

If you’d prefer to speak with a representative, simply call (864) 546-5038 or use our Live Chat option.

If you like the price you’re given, click to make your booking or confirm the details with the SGT Auto Transport representative.