Car Shipping Quote and Cost Calculator | Direct Express Auto Transport

The Original Car Shipping Cost Calculator

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No Payment Required to Book Your Vehicle Shipment.

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Open Enclosed

Operational Condition:

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One (1) Multiple (2-5)

Number of Vehicles?

Vehicle #1

Vehicle #2

Vehicle #3

Vehicle #4

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How much does car shipping cost? The Direct Express Auto Transport quote calculator has been the best since 2004. No personal information required. It’s hassle free! Find out why we are the most reliable car shipping company!

How much does it cost to ship a car?

Car shipping quotes vary greatly depending on distance, size of the vehicle, locations, and seasonality. There is no easy answer whether to drive or ship a car. For the most part, it is less expensive to drive your vehicle… unless one thing goes wrong. Then you will have wished that you had shipped the car and saved yourself the stress and aggravation. All in all, car shipping cost is remarkably affordable and easier than you ever imagined. Curious about what it will cost to ship your car anywhere? Our customer service staff can give you great advice when you call 800-600-3750.

Car transport brokers and carriers explained

The auto transport industry can be best separated into Brokers and Carriers. The car transport brokers book the vast majority of customer orders and rely heavily on auto transport carriers to move the vehicles. It is a very efficient system, which allows brokers and carriers, usually on load boards such as CentralDispatch, to collaborate and get vehicles shipped. The brokers absolutely need carriers. The reverse is also true, as the carriers are too busy on the road, and must depend on the brokers to fill their truck space.

When Do You Need Auto Transport Services?

People turn to auto transport services when they are buying a vehicle hundreds or thousands of miles away, and they need it shipped to their home. Or they are moving to another city or state and don’t want to drive their vehicle themselves. So they ship it instead. College students and military personnel commonly use car shipping services for the same reason. Retirees, often called snowbirds, will use car transport companies to save the hassle of driving. Auto transport services are usually very affordable because carriers use the same trucks that also deliver new vehicles to dealerships.

How To Order A Car Shipment

1. Get Your Car Shipping Quote

Simply enter your origination and destination zip codes. The city, town or area will usually auto-populate. Then choose the year, make and model of the vehicle(s) you are shipping. Select whether it is running or non-running? And then finally, choose whether you wish to go Open or Enclosed transport? That’s it. You should see your car shipping cost in 5 seconds or less! Direct Express does not ask for any personal information before providing you with a car shipping quote. We are one of the only auto transport brokers in the business to do this! Your name, phone number and email address are not required to get a quote.

2. Select From Three Auto Transport Quote Rate

At Direct Express Auto Transport, we offer three tiers of pricing based upon how much of a hurry you are in? Most customers don’t realize it, but they are actually competing against other customers for space on a car transport trailer. Obviously, a carrier will want to select the best paying orders. We are very good at figuring that out. Our car shipping cost calculator determines the most basic rate (Standard Tier), that works well on popular routes with little competition. But in remote locations at either end, or in stiff competition on popular routes, we recommend selecting the Expedited Tier. If in an even bigger hurry, choose the Rush Tier, a very good idea during extreme seasonal fluctuations.

3. Order Your Auto Shipment

Once you’ve decided the best car shipping cost tier for you, please proceed online to easily place your vehicle shipment order in just minutes. Or call a Direct Express Auto Transport customer service representative during normal business hours at 800-600-3750. Either the online form or customer service representative will ask you to provide pertinent information such as your pickup and destination contacts, and the first date that your vehicle is available for pickup. Upon checkout, please enter your credit or debit card information so that your order is officially entered. Your credit card will only be charged upon assignment. Isn’t that nice? No deposit is required to place an order.

4. Assignment To A Car Transport Carrier

Upon booking, you will instantly receive an Order Confirmation email. Look for that in your email inbox or drag it over from another folder. Direct Express Auto Transport will notify you via email regarding your carrier assignment, which will contain the name of the driver, his phone number, and the estimated dates for pickup and delivery. The earliest you may see the Carrier Assignment email is a few days prior to your first available date to ship.

But it may also be a number of days after your first date available before a carrier calls to lay claim to your order. It is generally not every day that a carrier is leaving one town for another with a full load. The first available date is simply the starting date. Talk to our customer service team about how to hasten the car shipping process?

5. Your Shipping Contact Is Notified And Vehicle Picked Up

At the same time that Direct Express notifies you via email of the Carrier Assignment, we also send the carrier your pickup and destination information, including contacts. Please be sure your contacts make themselves available to speak with the carrier. Your pickup contact needs to be vigilant and react quickly. You don’t want to miss the car transport carrier because it might be awhile before another is ready to go.

The carrier driver will not just show up unannounced. He or she will call your pickup contact first to coordinate time and place to meet, and also verify information. Most times it is necessary to meet the carrier close by your neighborhood at a place the driver can safely maneuver his or her big truck. That is still in the spirit of door-to-door service. Keep in mind no money changes hands at pickup. Simply fill out a vehicle condition report authorizing the car shipment and hand over the keys. No other paperwork is necessary. It’s actually very easy.

6. The Auto Transporter Delivers Your Vehicle

The auto transporter, or carrier, is once again not supposed to just show up unannounced. The driver ideally should call the day before to alert your destination contact of his pending arrival, and will give a rough estimation of what time of day to expect. They almost always miss the target time, so please be patient and understanding. Other customers may delay him. Traffic conditions might slow him. Mechanical difficulties or inclement weather might throw a monkey-wrench into his plans. He wants to deliver your car as fast and as badly as you do. Time is money and delays frustrate him too.

When the car transport carrier does arrive, you should thoroughly inspect your vehicle for any damage, which rarely happens. That is your opportunity to speak up, make proper notes on the vehicle condition report and even take digital photos. Any issues will be addressed later. Regardless of the condition, industry rules state that you are to pay the carrier the balance owed with Cash or Money Order before receiving your vehicle. There you have it. Direct Express Auto Transport usually makes this six-step process a breeze and you can drive off with your vehicle.

Direct Express Auto Transport’s Three Tiered Pricing

Standard Rate

Usually Assigned to a carrier 1-8 days from the first date available. And then typically picked up one or two days after assigned.

There is such a thing as a basic auto transport quote and this is it. You are competing against other customers for car transport trailer space. Standard tier, or rate, works well when there is little competition and the route is popular. Otherwise, go to a higher tier to avoid being frustrated.

Expedited Rate

Usually Assigned to a carrier 1-4 days from the first date available. And then typically picked up one or two days after assigned.

If there is a logjam of similar vehicles priced at or near the Standard pricing, just a little bit more can go a long way. With the Expedited tier, or rate, all of a sudden your vehicle is more appealing to car carriers than other vehicles waiting for a lower price. The Expedited car shipping quote might also be used to lure a transport service to a remote location. Take our good advice and just do it. The Expedited car shipping quote is very popular with our customers ...

Rush Rate

Usually Assigned to a carrier 1-2 days from the first date available. And then typically picked up one or two days after assigned.

Some people are in a big hurry. The higher paying Rush tier, or rate, orders tend to get assigned to a car carrier quicker. Since most orders get picked up within one or two days of assignment, the customer also receives his vehicle faster. Of course, there still needs to be a car delivery service making that run and one vehicle alone cannot make that happen. But those situations are the exception and not the rule. Don’t want to mess around? Go with the Rush car shipping quote.

The Main Factors That Determine Car Shipping Cost

Car Shipping Quote Distance

The distance between origination and destination is probably the number one factor determining how much it costs to ship a car. The farther the car moving distance, the higher the expense for car shipping services in terms of fuel, wear and tear on the truck, and time. The price per mile goes down with longer distance, but the overall car shipping quote is higher. The rule of thumb is that the average solo driver (no team), will travel roughly 500 miles per day. Our auto transport quotes calculator was not only the first in the industry, it is still the best at determining the right car shipping price for distances short and long.

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Vehicle Length

A great question is whether the length of the vehicle affects the car delivery service cost? The average sedan or shipping car is about 189 inches long. Any vehicle less than 189 inches becomes more desirable to a professional car shipping service, because it may allow car movers to also ship a longer vehicle for more money. In that vein, longer vehicles over 196 inches start to squeeze a car shipping trailer and he needs to carefully consider how to fit it. Vehicles over 200 inches should certainly have higher pricing to help compensate for the presumed loss in any of the auto transport companies trailer space to accommodate other cars, trucks, vans and SUV’s. Our original first in the industry instant car shipping quotes calculator adjusts for length.

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Vehicle Height

Height matters. Most sedans are about 57 inches high, midsize SUV’s 67 inches and larger SUV’s 73 inches on average. SUV’s are typically have higher pricing to transport than sedans. And special, taller SUV’s are still more than the regular SUV’s because it forces a lower paying sedan to fit over or under it. To compensate for the loss in revenue, we recommend that car shipping companies need more money from the pricing of the much taller SUV’s. And that’s why height matters in car shipping quotes. You can count on our free instant car transport quote calculator to factor height of the vehicle.

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Vehicle Ground Clearance

Direct Express makes sure all vehicles are insured while on the transport carrier. Not everybody is as diligent. The last thing an auto transporter wants is a damage claim. The lower the vehicle ground clearance, the more prone to damage, especially when shipping Open transport. A good rule of thumb would be that any vehicle with 4 inches ground clearance and lower should ship Enclosed, where it can be treated with kid gloves. Any vehicle over 5 inches ground clearance should be safe to go Open. It is that middle inch between four and five that vexes brokers and car transportation services. It can go Open, or to be safe Enclosed. The latter is more expensive by about 40-50%, sometimes more.

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Vehicle Curb Weight

All car shipping services are cognizant of the weight scale stations they must pass through. Nobody wants to be told to remove freight, in this case a vehicle, because he is overweight. Heavier vehicles are also a drag on fuel consumption. That is why vehicles that approach 4,500 pounds and heavier start commanding higher and higher car shipping quotes.

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Vehicle Condition

Is your car operational? Does it run at least well enough to drive it on and off the auto transport carrier? Good. You just saved $200 and maybe more on the non-running fee. It matters to car movers because it is hard to wrestle non-operational vehicles on and off. Car shipping companies prefer to have the option of repositioning a truckload of transport cars, and non-runners put a damper on that flexibility. Finally, there are a limited number of vehicle transport services with a wench to handle the non-runners, and that means they don’t ship nearly as fast as running cars.

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Ship A Car Open or Enclosed

Almost 97% of all car shipments go Open transport. That means they are exposed to the elements. It is the same type of auto transport services that you often see new cars being delivered to dealerships. Open transport is the most cost effective way to ship a car.

The alternative is Enclosed transport. It is the luxury way to ship a vehicle, but costs significantly more. The average Enclosed transport price is roughly 40-50% higher. Part of the reason is that an Enclosed auto hauler can fit only six vehicles, whereas an Open car mover can accommodate nine or ten. Both types of auto transport companies (Open & Enclosed) travel the same distance and have similar expenses. The six vehicles on an Enclosed transport, therefore, must make up the difference in revenue from the Open car moving carrier’s nine or ten.

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Auto Transport’s Seasonal Fluctuations

There are seasonal fluctuations that may affect the car shipment cost, sometimes dramatically. The “snowbirds” from the colder northern states flock to the warmer southern states in the Winter, driving up the price to places like Florida, Texas, California, Arizona and Florida. They return home by the tens of thousands in the Spring, and then car shipping quotes in that direction start to escalate. Our best in class car shipping quotes calculator reflects market conditions during seasonal fluctuations.

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Car Shipping Locations

Location has a big effect on faster shipping service. According to the 2020 United States Census, 80% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas. That concentration of people makes it easier on car shippers to amalgamate full loads of several vehicles and get on the road. Even still, it is not every day a full load is leaving any city for another. But the chances of it happening sooner rather than later are higher for routes that have higher populations. No personal information is required to use our car shipping quote calculator.

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Finding the Right Car Transport Service

Car Shipping Service To The New England States

New England consists of six states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont…

Auto Transport Service To The Atlantic Seaboard States

The Eastern Seaboard states are generally considered to be New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Washington D.C., Maryland…

Car Transport Service To Florida

Florida is probably the biggest car shipping state in the country during “snowbird season”….

Auto Transport Service To The Midwest States

The Midwest is generally considered to be Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota…

Auto Transport Service To Texas & The Southwest States

The southwestern states are Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Texas sure…

Car Shipping Service To California & The Western States

California is home to nearly one out of every eight Americans. If it were its own country,…

Auto Transport Service To The Pacific Northwest States

The Pacific Northwest includes Washington, Oregon and Idaho. It is a huge…

Car Shipping Service To Colorado

Colorado is synonymous with the Rocky Mountains, which actually…

Car Shipping Service To The Southern States

We already discussed Virginia, the Carolinas and Florida as part of the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard…

Car Transport Service To The Great Plains States

The Great Plain states are mainly Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, North ….

Reviews From Our Customers

My Auto Transport Experience

I am so pleased with my decision to use Direct Express Auto Transport! Ashley was a knowledgeable and confidence inspiring representative and my driver was on time and my car was in perfect shape!

Car Shipping Service Well Done

Tanille E. - Englewood, NJ

Direct Express Auto Transport did an amazing job delivering my car. They were fast, professional and my car was delivered in excellent condition. They let me know ahead of time around what time the person would be there. They were very easy to use. I would use them again.

Excellent California Car Shipping Service

Humberto P. - San Leandro, CA

Jessica provided all the necessary information regarding pricing and schedules available to pick up and deliver my car, no issues, everything worked out great.

Great Auto Transport Service To Texas

Steve S. - New Braunfels, TX

Talked to Jessica on Wednesday to have 65 El Camino shipped from Calif to Texas. Was picked up on Thursday the 16th and delivered on Monday the 20th. Beautiful truck and great driver. Sebastian was the driver's name. Also it was awesome to see all the other great cars.

Enclosed Auto Transport

Derek K. - Oradell, NJ

Fantastic experience all around, from the office people calling me back on a Sunday when a question popped up, to getting the car delivered very quickly, the whole process went perfectly. Will use them again for sure.

Great Service to Chicago

Mike T. - Chicago, IL

This is the third time I have used Direct Express Auto Transport. Each time moving a vehicle from or to the Midwest from the West Coast. Prompt at getting the arrangements made. Carrier was timely at making pick up and hitting the target day when delivering. Carrier also communicated well with me leading up to delivery.

Car Shipped Again From Florida

Deborah L. - Tequesta, FL

This is the second time that we used Direct Express Auto Transport and again, not a problem. We will use this company again next year or sooner. Both drivers were courteous and cars arrived exactly on time. Thank you!

My Car Arrived Sooner Than Expected!

Charlie R. - Mt Clemons, MI

Driver was very efficient and accommodating! Once he picked up the vehicle he stayed in contact with us all the way to delivery. Thank you very much for hauling this vehicle for us because we have no way of doing it ourselves.

Great Car Shipping Service To New York!

Anthony M. - Brooklyn, NY

Direct Express Auto Transport exceeded my expectations. They were quick to schedule and very accommodating. I even made a mistake with my arrangements on my end and they rescheduled for me - no problem. My vehicle is brand new, shipped from out of state to me with perfection. Thank you very kindly, Direct Express! Highly recommended.

Vehicle Transport To Florida

Michele S. - Tampa, FL

My husband and I were very happy we chose this company to transport our son’s car. They were very professional and quick to pick up the car. They communicated well, arrived on time and the delivery driver was very courteous and polite. The car arrived just as we left it.. No damage, scratches, dings or dents. The price was extremely reasonable considering the high level of service they provide. All around 5 star service, will definitely use again and highly recommend to everyone we know in need of this service.

Satisfied Customer In Las Vegas

Frank M. - North Las Vegas, NV

I had a great experience with this company, the driver was very professional and also very prompt. My car was transports very upstate New York to Las Vegas and the driver called to tell me I would be getting my car 2 days earlier than expected.The car was in great condition and I was very please sign yes I would use this company again and I will recommend this company to all my family and friends.

Excellent Car Transport Service

John L. - Aurora, CO

These guys were fantastic. I went with them after my first auto transport provider (that was even fully paid for in advance) gave me the worst service I've ever had. These guys were quick, straightforward, and most importantly, professional. Thanks for your service. I will highly recommend in the future. I'm happy I found them.

Auto Transport From Florida

Alicia L. - Bradenton, FL

My car was picked up on a Friday morning and arrived at my destination two days later. The driver made sure that I was on time delivering my car and he made sure my car was delivered to me in a timely manner also. Great customer service from beginning to end. No complaints at all and will definitely use this company again. Great job!

Auto Transport Service To Arizona

Jeff B. - Mesa, AZ

Another excellent job by Direct Express Auto Transport! This is the 3rd time we've shipped with this Direct Express Auto Transport. They're courteous, professional, and on time. I highly recommend this company and their services!

Excellent Car Shipping Service!

John B. - Sea Ranch, CA

The process was easy and simple. It was so nice to know my vehicle was transported safely, so I could have peace of mind and focus on other things related to my cross country move.

Car Transport From Oregon

Kirk M. - Lake Oswego, OR

I am very pleased with the Direct Express Auto Transport. Their website and calculator was straightforward and easy to use. The idea of giving me 3 options to choose from was great. The prices were even better. But the best part was, unlike their competitors, I didn't receive one unwanted email or phone call, 5 minutes after I ran the quote. They let their prices and reviews speak for them. The trucking company was on time picking up and a day early on delivery. The driver was very polite, thorough with all the photos of the car's previous damage and refreshingly surprised when I gave him a tip. This is now my go to Auto transport company referral.

Car Shipping A Jeep From Texas

Joe G. - Dallas, TX

I shipped a Jeep from Dallas to Northern Michigan. What I thought would be several weeks getting on a carrier because of the remote location happened within 3 days and the jeep was delivered 3 days after pickup.

Car Transport From Ohio

Krystiana C. - North Olmsted, OH

Amazing experience with this company. I have no complaints. A carrier was found for me the same day I contacted them and I received my vehicle the following day! Absolutely amazing and inexpensive.

Auto Transport Florida To Atlanta

David B. - Sandy Springs, GA

Process was very smooth. I got the quote online and booked with Ashley because I had a question. She was both very helpful and professional. The car was picked up the next day and delivered two days afterward. Price quoted was price paid, no up-selling, no hassle.

San Diego To Seattle In 5 Days

Matt H. - Kent, WA

Very pleased with the car transport. I found the web site informative, and Jessie was helpful to speak with. I offered $100 over the quoted rate from San Diego to Seattle, as an enticement to expedite pickup, and a carrier picked up the car first thing the next morning. Did that help? I'll never know if that was necessary on a straight shot up I-5, but it worked out just how I wished. My car arrived fine without drama about 5 days later.

Enclosed Car Transport

Phil L. - Madison Heights, MI

Never used a Car transport before and knew what to expect, pickup happened exactly when promised and delivered one day EARLY, Thank you for a Great Service!

Texas To California Car Shipping

Jon C. - Gold River, CA

Driver made great time getting the vehicle delivered and had no issues throughout the process. Price for a trip from Texas to California was very reasonable.

Excellent Service St. Louis to Denver

Lisa W. - St Louis, MO

I arranged for transport of a Honda Fit from St Louis to north of Denver. Driver was cordial, organized, informative and competent. The driver arrived when he said he would in St Louis and the car arrived at the destination on time.

Car Transport to New Jersey

Todd S. - Montclair, NJ

Great job in car delivery faster than promised and in great shape. The drivers provided great communication. I would recommend these guys. The price was better than others.

Car Transported California to Texas

Bill A. - Ft. Worth, TX

I used the expedited shipping option and they told me it will be picked up within 3-4days. Luckily my car was picked up on the very first day. It was assigned to one of their transport companies and I received my car within 10days. They are very professional.

Great Car Transport Company To Use

Michelle G. - Austin, TX

From initial contact to finish, the customer service was great. When I had a question, I contacted them via email and they responded back right away. My car arrived in a timely manner, safe and sound.

Hassle Free Auto Transport In CA

Reza B. - Mountain View, CA

Booking was easy. The price was lower than competitors. The pick up was within the period mentioned on the website for the selected choice. Delivery was relatively quick and easy.

Vehicle Shipping To Florida

Diane B. - Panama City, FL

Scheduling shipping was quick and easy. I really liked the fact that I could see my shipping options and pricing without giving personal information. My vehicle was scheduled for pickup sooner than anticipated! Vehicle was delivered quickly!

The Original Car Shipping Cost Calculator

Get An Instant Quote Now!

How much does it cost to ship a car?

Car transport brokers and carriers explained

When Do You Need Auto Transport Services?

How To Order A Car Shipment

1. Get Your Car Shipping Quote

2. Select From Three Auto Transport Quote Rate

3. Order Your Auto Shipment

4. Assignment To A Car Transport Carrier

5. Your Shipping Contact Is Notified And Vehicle Picked Up

6. The Auto Transporter Delivers Your Vehicle

Direct Express Auto Transport’s Three Tiered Pricing

The Main Factors That Determine Car Shipping Cost

Car Shipping Quote Distance

Vehicle Length

Vehicle Height

Vehicle Ground Clearance

Vehicle Curb Weight

Vehicle Condition

Ship A Car Open or Enclosed

Auto Transport’s Seasonal Fluctuations

Car Shipping Locations

Finding the Right Car Transport Service

Car Shipping Service To The New England States

Auto Transport Service To The Atlantic Seaboard States

Car Transport Service To Florida

Auto Transport Service To The Midwest States

Auto Transport Service To Texas & The Southwest States

Car Shipping Service To California & The Western States

Auto Transport Service To The Pacific Northwest States

Car Shipping Service To Colorado

Car Shipping Service To The Southern States

Car Transport Service To The Great Plains States

Reviews From Our Customers

A RELIABLE CAR SHIPPING COMPANY

SERVICES

CONTACT INFORMATION

Car Shipping Service PWS landing page home 2 To The New England States

Auto Transport Service PWS landing page home 2 To The Atlantic Seaboard States

Car Transport Service PWS landing page home 2 To Florida

Auto Transport Service PWS landing page home 2 To The Midwest States

Auto Transport Service PWS landing page home 2 To Texas & The Southwest States

Car Transport Service PWS landing page home 2 To California & The Western States

Car Shipping Service To The Pacific Northwest States

Car Shipping Service PWS landing page home 2 To Colorado

Car Shipping Service PWS landing page home 2 To The Southern States

Car Transport Service PWS landing page home 2 To The Great Plains States