Antique Vehicle Shipping
Gentle, enclosed transport for pre-war cars, vintage trucks, and other early vehicles. Winch loading, careful securing, and no deposit.
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Moving a Piece of Motoring History
An antique vehicle is older than most of the rules that modern transport is built around. It may have wooden-spoke wheels, mechanical brakes, a six-volt electrical system, and a starting procedure that takes practice. It may not have run in decades. Whether it is a Model A that still tours on summer weekends or a brass-era car that has spent fifty years in a museum, it cannot be handled like an ordinary used car.
The usual occasions for shipping an antique are different too. A family inherits a grandfather's car and wants it brought home. A collector buys from an estate or an auction. A museum lends a vehicle for an exhibition. A club member sends a car ahead to a national tour. In each case the vehicle is irreplaceable, and often its owner has never shipped one before.
We recommend enclosed transport for antiques, and in most cases loading by winch or lift gate instead of under the car's own power. Early brakes and steering were never designed for a trailer ramp. Inside the trailer, the vehicle is secured at points that can take the strain, with attention to narrow tires, delicate fenders, and exposed fittings.
Heartland Auto Transport is an FMCSA licensed broker serving Alabama and all 50 states. We assign an enclosed carrier with the equipment and patience that an antique requires, and we confirm its insurance before pickup. There is no deposit, and the price we quote is the price you pay. Please call, so a dispatcher can ask the right questions about your vehicle.
What Antique Vehicle Shipping Includes
Care suited to vehicles that were built a lifetime ago.
Enclosed transport
Complete protection for brass, nickel, wood, leather, and paint that cannot be replaced.
Winch or lift-gate loading
The vehicle is pulled or lifted aboard, so its engine, clutch, and brakes are not put to the test.
Careful securing
Tied down at sound points on the frame or axles, with nothing bearing on fenders or running boards.
Insurance confirmed
We verify the carrier's cargo coverage and can supply the certificate for your records or your insurer.
Guidance for first-time shippers
Many owners have inherited the vehicle. We explain every step in plain terms.
Coordination with others
We work with estate executors, auction houses, museums, and club organizers.
What Antique Vehicle Shipping Costs
Because antiques travel enclosed, the table shows estimated enclosed prices, based on our open-carrier ranges plus 60 to 80 percent.
Most antiques do not run reliably enough to be driven aboard, and winch loading typically adds $100 to $200. A vehicle that does not roll or steer, or one that is unusually tall, long, or heavy, needs additional equipment and is quoted individually.
| Route | Distance | Enclosed price | Transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short regional | Under 500 mi | $560 – $1,260 | 1–3 days |
| Mid-distance | 500–1,500 mi | $1,120 – $2,340 | 3–5 days |
| Cross-country | 1,500+ mi | $1,760 – $3,240 | 7–10 days |
Estimated enclosed prices for a standard-size vehicle on a shared trailer. Non-running and oversize vehicles are quoted individually.
How Antique Vehicle Shipping Works
It begins with a conversation.
Tell us about the vehicle
Year, make, and model, whether it rolls and steers, and anything you know about its condition.
We arrange the carrier
We assign an enclosed carrier with a winch or lift gate and confirm its insurance. No deposit is due.
Pickup
The driver photographs and inspects the vehicle with you, then loads it slowly and secures it.
Delivery
At the destination, the vehicle is unloaded with the same care. Inspect it, sign, and pay.
Antique Vehicles We Ship
Running, resting, or anywhere in between.
Pre-war automobiles
Model T and Model A Fords, and cars from the 1910s through the 1940s, restored or original.
Vintage trucks and commercial vehicles
Early pickups, delivery trucks, and fire apparatus, measured carefully for height and weight.
Inherited and estate vehicles
Family cars that have been stored for years, often with no recent history of running.
Museum and exhibition pieces
Vehicles on loan or in transit between collections, moved with full documentation.
Running or Not: How It Changes the Shipment
Either way, the vehicle can be moved. The plan simply differs.
| Runs and stops reliably | Rolls and steers, does not run | Does not roll or steer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading | May be driven, though a winch is safer | Winched aboard | Skates, dollies, or a forklift |
| Equipment | Enclosed trailer with ramps or lift gate | Enclosed trailer with a winch | Specialized carrier |
| Effect on price | None | Typically $100 to $200 more | Quoted individually |
| What to tell us | How it starts and how well it brakes | Whether the tires hold air | Why it will not move, and where it sits |
Preparing an Antique Vehicle for Transport
An antique rewards careful preparation. If the vehicle is new to you, as an inherited car often is, do not worry about what you do not know. Tell us what you can, and we will work from there.
Find out whether it rolls. Put air in the tires and see whether they hold it. Push the vehicle a few feet if you safely can. A car that rolls and steers can be winched aboard. One that does not needs different equipment, and we must know in advance.
Do not try to start a long-stored engine just for the shipment. Running an engine on old fuel and dry seals can do real harm. It is perfectly normal to ship an antique as a non-runner.
Look at where it is parked. A barn with a narrow door, a soft dirt floor, or a low beam may require the vehicle to be brought out before the truck arrives. Describe the location, and send photos if you can.
Remove or protect the fragile parts. Take off radiator mascots, loose lamps, side-mounted spares that are not secure, and anything else that could work free. Wrap them and send them separately or inside the trunk.
Secure the rest. Latch the hood and doors. Fasten a folding top, or lower it and tie it. Remove any loose items from the interior.
Check for fluids. Old cars seep. Tell us if the vehicle leaks oil, fuel, or coolant.
Photograph it thoroughly, including the wheels, the brightwork, the wood, and the upholstery. Record any serial numbers.
Gather the paperwork. A title or bill of sale is not needed by the carrier, though an estate or an auction house may require documents before releasing the vehicle. Keep the originals with you.
Finally, tell us the value, or your best estimate, and speak to your insurer about transit coverage.
Antique Vehicle Shipping Questions
What counts as an antique vehicle?
Definitions vary by club and by state. In general the term covers vehicles several decades old, and especially those built before the Second World War. For shipping purposes, what matters is the condition and construction of the vehicle, not the label.
Does an antique have to be shipped enclosed?
We recommend it. Early paint, brass, wood, and fabric are vulnerable to weather and road debris, and many of these vehicles cannot be repaired with new parts.
Can you ship a vehicle that has not run in years?
Yes. If it rolls and steers, it is winched aboard, which typically adds $100 to $200. If it does not roll, we arrange a carrier with the equipment to move it.
I inherited an old car and know very little about it. Where do I start?
Call us. Tell us where it is, what it is if you know, and whether the tires hold air. Photos help. We will explain the options and what it is likely to cost.
How is an antique secured in the trailer?
At solid points on the frame or the axles, or over the tires where they are sturdy enough. Straps are kept away from fenders, running boards, and wooden wheels.
How much does it cost?
As a guide, enclosed transport runs about $560 to $1,260 under 500 miles, $1,120 to $2,340 up to 1,500 miles, and $1,760 to $3,240 cross-country, plus any charge for winch loading.
Can you pick up from an estate, an auction, or a museum?
Yes. Give us the contact there and any release requirements. We coordinate directly with them.
Is the vehicle insured in transit?
Yes. The carrier's cargo insurance applies. For a valuable antique, tell us its worth, ask for the certificate, and check your own collector policy for transit coverage.
How long does it take to ship an antique vehicle?
Transit times match other shipments: 1 to 3 days under 500 miles, 3 to 5 days up to 1,500 miles, and 7 to 10 days cross-country. Allow extra time beforehand to schedule a suitable enclosed carrier.
Can you move an antique tractor or other old equipment?
Yes. Tell us what it is, along with its dimensions and weight. Depending on its size it may travel in an enclosed trailer or on a flatbed.
Is there a deposit?
No. You pay on delivery, and the price matches your quote.
Tell Us About Your Antique
Call and describe the vehicle to a dispatcher, or start with a quote online.