Ship a Car Across the Country
Moving from one coast to the other, or anywhere a thousand miles or more? Skip the week-long drive. We match you with a vetted, licensed carrier for the long haul, and you fly.
- Coast to coast and everywhere between
- Open and enclosed carriers
- Talk to a real person at (424) 453-1800
Across the Country
Read the full guide
How a Cross-Country Shipment Works
- Quote. Tell us your pickup and delivery ZIP codes, the vehicle and your dates. Your price is based on your exact route, not a national average.
- Carrier match. We find a vetted carrier already running a long-haul route that fits yours.
- Pickup. The driver calls ahead, inspects the car with you, and you both sign the bill of lading.
- On the road. Long-haul carriers stop to load and unload other cars along the way, and drivers must take federally required rest breaks.
- Delivery. The driver calls ahead again. You inspect the car, sign, and you’re done.
The Main Cross-Country Routes
Long-haul carriers stick to the big east–west interstates, and the closer you are to one, the easier it is to schedule:
- I-10 across the South: Los Angeles, Phoenix, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Jacksonville.
- I-40 through the middle: Southern California, Flagstaff, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Nashville, the Carolinas.
- I-80 and I-70 across the north: the Bay Area, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, Ohio and Pennsylvania to New York and New Jersey.
Winter can slow the northern routes over the Rockies and the Sierra. Carriers wait for safe roads, so build a little flexibility into your dates if you ship in winter.
Popular Long-Distance Lanes
Some of the cross-country moves our customers book most are Georgia, Florida and Texas to California. See California car shipping, Los Angeles car shipping and our guide to shipping a car from LA to Miami.
Tips for a Long-Distance Shipment
- Book two to three weeks ahead if you can, especially in summer and snowbird season.
- Be flexible by a few days on pickup. It widens the pool of carriers that can take your car.
- Have someone you trust at each end if you can’t be there yourself.
- Take dated photos of all sides of the car before pickup.
- Read what it costs to ship a car cross-country.
Cross-Country Questions
How long does it take to ship a car across the country?
A coast-to-coast trip is 2,500 to 3,000 miles, and federal rules limit how many hours a truck driver can drive each day, so it’s a trip of many days, not one or two. The pickup window also depends on how busy your route is. You’ll get the pickup window and transit time for your route with your quote.
Is it cheaper to drive my car across the country?
Count the full cost of driving: fuel for 2,500+ miles, four to six nights of hotels, meals, days off work, and the wear on your car. Then compare it with a shipping quote, and remember you skip the week on the road. Get a quote to compare.
What affects the price of a cross-country shipment?
Distance, the specific cities (big metros on main interstates cost less than remote towns), the vehicle’s size and whether it runs, open or enclosed, and the season. Winter routes through the mountains and snowbird season both affect price.
Should I ship cross-country open or enclosed?
Open is the standard and costs less. On a long trip, enclosed is worth considering for a high-value car, since it’s exposed to more miles of weather and road debris. Ask for both prices.
Other Services
Moving Coast to Coast?
Get a price in a couple of minutes, or call and talk it through.