Classic Car Transport
Careful shipping for muscle cars, restored classics, and collector vehicles. Enclosed transport for show cars, open for drivers and projects, and 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.
Shipping a Car With a History
Classic cars are bought, sold, shown, and restored across great distances. The right 1969 Camaro might be in Arizona. The best shop for your Mustang's bodywork might be three states away. The show you have waited all year for might be a thousand miles from your garage. A good transport arrangement makes all of that possible without putting a single mile on the car.
Older vehicles ask more of a carrier than modern ones do. They start differently, stop less eagerly, and occasionally leave a spot of oil where they have been parked. Their paint and chrome may represent years of work, and their parts may be impossible to replace. A driver who understands this will load slowly, secure the car at the correct points, and treat it as the owner would.
How a classic should travel depends on the car. A freshly restored or original-condition vehicle belongs in an enclosed trailer, protected from weather, road debris, and attention. A solid driver-quality car or an unfinished project is often perfectly well served by an open carrier, at a much lower price. We will tell you which we would choose and why.
Heartland Auto Transport is an Alabama-based, FMCSA licensed broker shipping collector cars to and from all 50 states. We assign a vetted carrier with the right equipment, confirm its cargo insurance, and stay in touch until your car is delivered. There is no deposit, and the price we quote is the price you pay.
What You Get With Classic Car Transport
Handling that respects the work that has gone into the car.
Enclosed transport
Full protection for restored paint, chrome, and interiors that should arrive exactly as they left.
Open transport when it makes sense
An economical choice for driver-quality cars and projects that are not yet finished.
Correct tie-down points
Secured by the tires or at the frame, never by bumpers, axles, or suspension parts not meant for it.
Winch loading
Cars that do not run, or should not be driven, are pulled on with a winch.
Insurance confirmed
We verify the carrier's cargo coverage and can provide the certificate before pickup.
Timed for shows and sales
Delivery planned around event dates, auction check-in, or a shop's schedule.
What Classic Car Transport Costs
The table shows typical open prices alongside estimated enclosed prices for a standard-size car. Enclosed transport runs about 60 to 80 percent above open.
A car that does not run adds $100 to $200 for winch loading. Long, wide, or very heavy vehicles, such as full-size cars from the 1950s and 1960s, may cost somewhat more because of the space they take. Tell us the year and model and we will price it accurately.
| Route | Distance | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short regional | Under 500 mi | $350 – $700 | $560 – $1,260 |
| Mid-distance | 500–1,500 mi | $700 – $1,300 | $1,120 – $2,340 |
| Cross-country | 1,500+ mi | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,760 – $3,240 |
Typical prices for a standard-size car. Enclosed figures are estimates based on open-carrier ranges plus 60 to 80 percent.
How Classic Car Transport Works
Four steps, with a few extra questions about the car.
Describe the car
Tell us the year, make, and model, whether it runs and stops, and how valuable or fragile it is.
Choose open or enclosed
We recommend a trailer type and assign a vetted carrier. No deposit is due.
Pickup
The driver inspects the car with you, notes its condition carefully, and loads it by driving or by winch.
Delivery
At the destination, inspect the car closely, compare it with your photos, sign, and pay.
Classic Vehicles We Ship
Whatever era and whatever condition.
Muscle cars
Camaros, Mustangs, Chevelles, Chargers, GTOs, and their rivals, stock or modified.
Restored and original classics
Show-quality cars from the 1950s through the 1980s, shipped enclosed and handled with care.
Hot rods and customs
Lowered, chopped, or widened cars need the right ramps and an accurate description.
Vintage trucks and projects
Old pickups, barn finds, and unfinished builds, running or not.
Open or Enclosed for Your Classic?
Our usual recommendation, by the condition of the car.
| Condition of the car | We suggest | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Concours or freshly restored | Enclosed, with a lift gate if it sits low | The finish is worth far more than the price difference |
| Original, unrestored survivor | Enclosed | Original paint and trim cannot be replaced |
| Solid driver-quality car | Open, ideally on the top rack | It already sees the road, and open costs much less |
| Project or barn find | Open with a winch | Protection matters less than getting it moved affordably |
| Bought sight unseen | Enclosed, or open after an inspection | You do not yet know what condition it is really in |
Preparing a Classic Car for Transport
Older cars have their own habits, and the driver will not know yours unless you explain them. A little preparation and a few notes go a long way.
Write down how the car works. Does it need the choke? Two pumps of the pedal before cranking? Is there a hidden battery cutoff or a fuel pump switch? Does the shifter have an unusual pattern? Put it on a sheet of paper and tape it to the dash.
Be honest about the brakes and the steering. If the car stops poorly or wanders, the driver should winch it on instead of driving it. That is safer for the car and for everything around it.
Fix or report leaks. A car that drips on the vehicle below it on an open carrier can cause damage that you may be held responsible for. If it leaks, say so. The driver will place it on the lower deck or put a drip pan under it.
Check the battery, the tires, and the fuel. Old batteries fail at the worst moment, and dry-rotted tires can go flat in transit. Leave about a quarter tank.
Secure what is loose. Remove or tape down trim that is not firmly attached. Take off car covers, which flap and scuff paint. Stow or remove hubcaps that might work free. Lower the antenna. Latch the hood, the trunk, and any convertible top.
Document everything. Photograph each panel, the chrome, the glass, the interior, the engine bay, and the underside if possible. With a classic, detail matters.
If you are buying the car, ask the seller to do all of this, and consider an independent inspection before it ships. If you are selling, keep a copy of the pickup report for your records.
Finally, tell us the car's value. It helps us choose a carrier with suitable coverage.
Classic Car Transport Questions
Should a classic car be shipped enclosed?
If it is restored, original, or valuable, yes. Enclosed transport keeps weather and road debris away from the finish. For a driver-quality car or a project, open transport is usually sufficient and costs considerably less.
How much does it cost to ship a classic car?
On an open carrier, typically $350 to $700 under 500 miles, $700 to $1,300 up to 1,500 miles, and $1,100 to $1,800 cross-country. Enclosed transport costs about 60 to 80 percent more.
Can you ship a classic that does not run?
Yes. It is loaded with a winch, which typically adds $100 to $200. The car needs to roll and steer. If it does not, tell us, because it will need special equipment.
How is an old car tied down?
By the tires with wheel straps wherever possible, or at solid points on the frame. A careful driver does not hook to bumpers, tie rods, or other parts that were never meant to take the load.
My car leaks a little oil. Is that a problem?
Not if we know about it. The driver will position the car where it cannot drip on another vehicle, or place a pan beneath it. Unreported leaks can lead to a damage claim against you.
I am buying a classic in another state. Can you pick it up?
Yes. Give us the seller's details. We schedule with the seller, and the driver completes a condition report at pickup that you can compare with the listing.
Can you deliver to a car show or an auction?
Yes. Tell us the venue and the check-in times. We plan delivery with a margin, and can arrange the return trip as well.
Is the car insured during transport?
Yes. The carrier's cargo insurance applies. For a valuable classic, tell us its worth, ask to see the certificate, and check how your own collector policy treats transit.
How far ahead should I book for a show?
Two to three weeks, and longer for major national events, when enclosed carriers are in heavy demand. Aim to have the car delivered a day or two before check-in.
Is there a deposit?
No. You pay on delivery, and the price matches your quote.
Ready to Ship Your Classic?
Get a quote in under 60 seconds, or call and tell a dispatcher about the car.