How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car Across the Country?
Shipping a car coast to coast, roughly 2,000 to 3,000 miles, costs $1,025 to $1,650 as a reference range on open transport. A 2,000-to-2,500-mile move runs $1,025 to $1,550. A true coast-to-coast move of 2,500 to 3,000 miles runs $1,175 to $1,650.
How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?
A cross-country shipment costs $1,025 to $1,650 as a reference range on open transport, depending on how far your move falls within the 2,000-to-3,000-mile span.
These two bands cover essentially every true coast-to-coast pair in the continental United States. Our longest published route, New York to California, is 2,794 miles and falls in the 2,500-3,000-mile band. See how much it costs to ship a car per mile for the full table, including shorter routes.
| Distance band | Open reference range |
|---|---|
| 2,000-2,500 miles | $1,025-$1,550 |
| 2,500-3,000 miles | $1,175-$1,650 |
Real cross-country routes
Two of our longest published routes sit inside the cross-country distance bands above: New York to California at 2,794 miles, and California to Florida at 2,732 miles.
For a figure specific to either route, go to that route's page. Each carries its own reference price range and corridor detail.
| Route | Distance | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| New York to California | 2,794 miles | 7-9 days |
| California to Florida | 2,732 miles | 6-8 days |
What drives the cost of a cross-country shipment?
Your exact distance within the cross-country range is the biggest factor, followed by your vehicle's size and type, whether it runs, and whether it ships open or enclosed.
Your per-mile rate is lower on a cross-country move than on a short in-state one, because a carrier's fixed pickup and dispatch cost is spread across far more miles. See the full per-mile table for the figures by band. A larger vehicle such as an SUV or pickup truck typically costs more than a sedan on the same route. A non-running vehicle may cost more than a running vehicle because it needs a winch-equipped carrier. Enclosed transport typically runs 40% to 50% more than open transport on the same cross-country route.
How long does a cross-country car shipment take?
Your cross-country shipment typically takes 6 to 9 days in transit, based on our two longest published routes, plus a pickup window of 1 to 15 days depending on the service level you choose.
See how long does it take to ship a car for pickup windows, transit time and the total from booking to delivery.
How do I get an exact price for my cross-country shipment?
To get an exact price for your cross-country shipment, request a live quote based on your vehicle, exact addresses and pickup date. The figures on this page are a reference range, not your quote.
See how we price car shipping for how a live quote differs from these reference ranges.
Frequently asked questions about cross-country car shipping cost
- How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?
A coast-to-coast move of 2,000 to 3,000 miles costs $1,025 to $1,650 as a reference range on open transport. That is not your quote; request a live quote for the current price on your vehicle and route.
- How long does cross-country car shipping take?
Our two longest published routes take 6 to 8 days (California to Florida) and 7 to 9 days (New York to California) in transit, plus a pickup window of 1 to 15 days depending on the service level you choose.
- Does the cost differ for enclosed cross-country shipping?
Yes. Enclosed transport typically runs 40% to 50% more than open transport on the same route, including cross-country routes.
- Does vehicle type change the cross-country price?
Yes. A standard sedan is the baseline; larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks typically cost more because they take up more deck space and add weight.
- What's the longest route Wave Auto Transport arranges?
Our longest published route is New York to California at 2,794 miles. We cover the continental United States only. We don't ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Canada or internationally.
- Is a cross-country move cheaper per mile than a short move?
Yes, on a per-mile basis. A carrier's fixed pickup and dispatch cost is spread across far more miles on a cross-country move, so your per-mile rate is lower even though the total price is higher. See the full per-mile table for exact figures.
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