Car Shipping
Ship your car anywhere in the country without driving it. Door-to-door service for sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and wagons, fully insured, with no deposit.
Get Your Instant Quote
Fast, secure pricing in 30 seconds.
- Fully insuredYour vehicle is covered from pickup to delivery.
- No upfront depositPay when your vehicle is delivered.
- Real people, 24/7Call (205) 578-6129, day or night.
The Simplest Vehicle to Ship
A standard passenger car is the easiest and least expensive vehicle to transport. Sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and wagons fit any position on a carrier, weigh less than trucks and SUVs, and need no special equipment. The prices you see quoted across the auto transport industry, including ours, are based on a car like yours.
People ship cars for all sorts of reasons. They are moving to another state and would prefer to fly. They bought a car online and need it brought home. They are sending a vehicle to a son or daughter at college, or to a parent who has relocated. They spend the winter somewhere warm. In each case the alternative is a long drive, and shipping is usually easier, often comparable in cost, and kinder to the car.
The process is short. You request a quote, choose a pickup window, and meet the driver at your address. The car is inspected, loaded, and delivered to the address you gave us, where you inspect it again and pay. Most customers spend less than an hour on the whole thing.
Heartland Auto Transport is an Alabama-based, FMCSA licensed broker that ships cars to and from all 50 states. We assign a vetted carrier with active cargo insurance, we do not take a deposit, and the price we quote is the price you pay. Enter your ZIP codes above for an exact figure in about a minute, or call and a dispatcher will price it with you over the phone.
What Is Included When You Ship a Car
One price covers all of it.
Pickup and delivery at your address
The carrier comes to you at both ends, or meets you nearby if your street cannot fit the truck.
Cargo insurance
Your car is covered by the carrier's insurance from the moment it is loaded until it is delivered.
All-in pricing
No fuel surcharges and no fees added at delivery. The quote is the total.
A realistic schedule
We give you an honest pickup window and transit time, not a best-case guess.
A dispatcher on call
Questions before pickup or during transit are answered by a person, at any hour.
Your choice of trailer
Open transport for everyday cars, or enclosed for anything you want fully protected.
What It Costs to Ship a Car
Distance is the main factor. The table shows typical prices for a standard sedan on an open carrier, which is how most cars travel. A compact car and a full-size sedan are usually priced the same or very close.
Enclosed transport adds roughly 60 to 80 percent. A car that does not run adds $100 to $200 for winch loading. Summer dates cost more than fall or winter dates, and a flexible pickup window lowers the price in any season.
| Route | Distance | Typical price | Transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short regional | Under 500 mi | $350 – $700 | 1–3 days |
| Mid-distance | 500–1,500 mi | $700 – $1,300 | 3–5 days |
| Cross-country | 1,500+ mi | $1,100 – $1,800 | 7–10 days |
Typical open-carrier prices for a standard, running sedan. Use the quote tool for your exact route.
How Car Shipping Works
Four steps, and most of them take minutes.
Get your quote
Enter both ZIP codes and your car's year, make, and model. The all-in price appears in about a minute.
Book a pickup window
Choose your dates and give us the addresses. We assign a vetted, insured carrier. No deposit is due.
Hand over the keys
The driver calls ahead, inspects the car with you, records its condition, and loads it.
Take delivery
At the destination, check the car against the pickup report, sign, and pay.
Cars We Ship Every Day
If it has four wheels and a trunk, we can move it.
Sedans and hatchbacks
Compact, midsize, and full-size cars are the standard load and get the standard price.
Coupes and sports cars
Two-door cars ship like any other. Tell us if yours sits low, and we will arrange suitable ramps.
Convertibles
Soft tops travel latched and closed. For long trips or valuable cars, consider enclosed transport.
Wagons and minivans
A little longer or taller than a sedan, and still an easy fit on any carrier.
What Raises or Lowers the Price
Six factors account for almost all of the difference between one quote and another.
| Factor | Costs less | Costs more |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | Short regional trips | Cross-country routes |
| Route | Between large cities on major interstates | To or from remote areas |
| Trailer | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
| Season | Fall and winter, outside Florida routes | Late May through August |
| Timing | A pickup window of several days | One fixed date or a rush |
| Condition | Runs and drives | Does not start, roll, or steer |
Should You Ship Your Car or Drive It?
It is a fair question, and the answer depends mostly on distance.
For a trip you can finish in a day, driving usually makes sense. You pay for fuel and a meal or two, and you have the car with you when you arrive.
Beyond about five hundred miles, the costs of driving start to stack up. Fuel is only the beginning. A long trip means at least one hotel night, meals on the road, and often a one-way flight for the return or for a second driver. The car takes on mileage, tire wear, and the chance of a chip or a breakdown far from home. Then there is your time: two or three days that could have been spent working, packing, or settling in.
Shipping replaces all of that with one known cost. On a mid-distance route, that is typically $700 to $1,300. On a cross-country route, $1,100 to $1,800. When you add up what the drive would really cost, the two figures are often close, and shipping asks nothing of you beyond a short meeting at each end.
There are other good reasons to ship. If you are moving a household with more cars than drivers, someone has to bring the extras. If the car is being sold, the buyer may be a thousand miles away. If the driver would be a new student or an elderly parent, a long solo trip may not be wise.
A simple rule of thumb: if the drive would take more than one day, get a shipping quote before you decide. It costs nothing and takes a minute.
Car Shipping Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car?
On an open carrier, typically $350 to $700 under 500 miles, $700 to $1,300 from 500 to 1,500 miles, and $1,100 to $1,800 for longer routes. The quote tool gives you an exact price for your car and your route.
How long does car shipping take?
After pickup, 1 to 3 days for trips under 500 miles, 3 to 5 days for up to 1,500 miles, and 7 to 10 days for cross-country routes.
Do I need to be there when the car is picked up?
You or an adult you trust needs to hand over the keys and sign the inspection report. The same applies at delivery, and it can be a different person.
Is my car insured during shipping?
Yes. Every carrier we assign carries active cargo insurance, and the car is inspected and documented at both ends of the trip.
Can I leave things in the trunk?
We recommend shipping the car empty. Carrier insurance covers the vehicle, not items inside it. If you need to send a few things, ask your dispatcher first.
Should I choose open or enclosed transport?
Open transport is right for most cars and costs the least. Choose enclosed for classic, luxury, or exotic cars, or for any vehicle with a finish you want fully protected.
How do I get my car ready?
Wash it, photograph it, remove personal items and toll tags, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Make sure it starts and the tires hold air, and have one set of keys ready.
Can you ship a car that does not run?
Yes. It is loaded with a winch, which typically adds $100 to $200. Tell us when you book whether it rolls, steers, and brakes.
Does a small car cost less to ship than a large one?
Slightly, in some cases. Compact and midsize cars are generally priced the same. Very long or heavy sedans can cost a little more, because they use more of the carrier's space and weight allowance.
Can I ship a car to someone else?
Yes. You can send a car to a buyer, a relative, or a student. You release it at your address, and the other person receives it and signs at theirs. Give us contact details for both ends when you book.
When do I pay?
On delivery. There is no deposit, and the amount due is the amount you were quoted.
Ready to Ship Your Car?
Get your price in under 60 seconds, or call and let a dispatcher answer your questions first.