Cost breakdown for auto shipping
There are many fees that are involved when shipping your vehicle across the state, but what exactly are auto transport companies charging for?
Are there different options to make the costs cheaper, or are they basic costs that all transport companies charge?
To make things easier, here is a detailed breakdown list of fees and added fees that auto shipping companies charge when transporting your car across the state.
Average car transport costs around $1000 USD. There are many factors to consider when determining fees for auto transport, but the basic breakdown of fees are listed below.
1. Distance
The first factor of auto transport costs is the distance from pickup to drop off of the car you will be shipping.
The costs vary, but on average, the transport companies charge around $0.75 per mile for 1,000 miles, and $0.50 per mile for 2,000 miles.
The cost per mile will drop if shipping more than 1,000 miles. Usually, shipping a car will range from $700 to $1000 based on distance.
2. Car type and size
The car type and size will determine another factor for added fees on top of distance.
The heavier your car is, the pricier it will be, because it will take up more space on a carrier or in an enclosed truck.
Heavier cars such as SUVs and trucks will cost around $300-$500 more than sedans.
For example, a sedan will cost around $1,000 to ship from LA to NYC, whereas a Ford F-150 may cost around $1,400 for the same route.
3. Transport method
The transport method is another important factor when it comes to added fees for auto transport. The transport method is the method the customer chooses to ship a car.
Typically, there is door-to-door shipping, which involves the carrier picking up the car from your location, and dropping off the car straight to your door. Door to door can add up to $200 more compared to terminal-to-terminal shipping.
This method is more expensive than terminal-to-terminal shipping, which is a transport method where the carrier picks up your vehicle in a designated terminal location and drops it off at another designated drop-off point.
This method is cheaper, but since there may be a lot of people picking up the car in that specific location, there may be delays or traffic in those areas.
Type of transport
Usually, there are four types of transport when shipping a vehicle. Some vehicles are shipped by a train, airplane, boat, and truck.
These are very different modes of transportation, and the price range varies heavily based on the different modes. Airplane shipping is the most expensive, and can cost as much as a car.
Expedited airplane shipping can cost as much as $100,000, so this method is not recommended.
Train, boat, and truck shipping have similar fees, costing between $1,000 and $1,500. Boat shipping can also cost up to $5,000 depending on other factors.
Other factors
Some other factors include enclosed shipping and open air shipping. Open air shipping can cut costs up to around $250 compared to enclosed shipping.
There are seasonal factors that add around $200 if shipping a vehicle in the summer, because there is much more demand for auto transport during these months.