How Much Do Vehicle Transportation Services Charge Per Mile?

If you’ve landed on this blog post, you must’ve searched for ‘vehicle transportation services near me’ at least once in the past few days. If so, this guide is just for you. Let’s see how much car shipping companies charge per mile for different distances, vehicle types, and seasons.

Average Vehicle Transportation Services Cost Per Mile

When you’re working with a transport vehicle service, expect to pay between $0.50 and $1.50 per mile. The average of these two is $1, which is close to the $0.91/mile that Kelley Blue Book suggested for 2024. The cool thing is—the longer the distance, the cheaper it gets per mile.

Cost to Transport Car 200 Miles

Short-distance moves through a best vehicle transport service typically run you $1.30-$1.50 per mile. Let’s break it down with some real examples:

Cost to Transport Car 500 Miles

For medium-distance hauls, cheap vehicle transport services usually charge $1.00-$1.20 per mile. Check out these popular routes:

Cost to Transport Car 1,000 Miles

When you need vehicle transportation services for longer trips, prices drop to $0.60-$0.80 per mile. Here’s what it looks like state-to-state:

Cost to Transport Car 2,000 to 3,000 Miles

An auto transport company will charge $0.50-$0.70 per mile for cross country vehicle transport services. Want to ship a car coast to coast? Here’s what you’re looking at:

Costs Auto Transport Company Charges for Different Vehicle Types

Not all vehicles cost the same to ship – the bigger they are, the more you’ll pay. Let’s break down what you can expect to shell out for different types of rides.

Cars and Bigger Vehicles

Your typical sedan is the baseline for shipping costs. If you move up to an SUV, you’ll need to add about $150 more to that base rate.

Got a truck? Tack on another $150. The math is pretty straightforward: the heavier and bigger your ride, the more it’ll cost to move it.

Motorcycle Transport

Motorcycles are usually the cheapest to ship. They take up less space and weigh less than cars. Most carriers use specialized equipment to keep your bike secure during transit.

Boat Transport

Boats are a whole different ball game. Their costs don’t follow the same rules as other vehicles. Instead, shipping companies look at your boat’s beam (width).

Here’s how its price to ship typically breaks down:

• Boats up to 8 feet wide: Base rate
• 8-10 feet wide: 20% above base rate
• Over 10 feet wide: 40% above base rate plus permits

Boat transport often requires special permits and equipment. Some wider boats might even need escort vehicles, which can really raise the price.

Special Considerations

Modified vehicles might cost extra to ship. Tell the shipping company upfront if your truck or car is lifted or lowered. They’ll need special equipment to load these safely.

Open vs. Enclosed Carrier Cost to Ship a Car per Mile

Enclosed carriers cost about 30% more than open carriers, but they shield your vehicle from the elements. Here’s what auto transport services typically charge for both options:

Luxury and classic vehicle transport services almost always recommend enclosed shipping. It’s worth the extra cost to protect those valuable vintage rides.

How do you calculate transport vehicle service cost per mile?

Let’s see 5 main factors behind per-mile rates for car shipping.

Basic Distance and Vehicle Factors

Car shipping distance is the main factor impacting the costs. Larger vehicles also add to the cost.

Route Direction Impact

Heading south? You might score better rates than going north. Why? More people move south (46% move to the south compared to 11% to the north), so carriers often need to fill spots heading back north.

Special Services and Add-ons

Expedited shipping costs $100-200 extra. Got a non-running car? They’ll need a forklift – that’s another fee of at least $140 per day. Auction house pickups require extra paperwork and coordination, too.

Urban vs Rural Locations

City pickups and drops can jack up the price. Think about it – more traffic means more fuel burned while idling. Plus, all that stop-and-go driving is tough on the trucks.

Fuel Price Variations

Fuel prices change constantly, and carriers adjust their rates accordingly. When gas prices spike, shipping costs follow suit.

Car Shipping Costs Per Mile in Different Seasons

Weather conditions and popular moving times can really shake up those prices.

Spring and Fall:

Spring and fall give you the most predictable rates. These seasons set the baseline for what you’ll pay. The weather’s generally nice, and fewer people are moving around.

Winter:

Winter hits northern routes hard – we’re talking about a 10-30% bump in price. Those snowy mountain passes aren’t messing around. Western routes see a 25% increase, too.

Summer:

Summer brings its own challenges. Hurricane season adds 10-15% to southern routes. Out west, wildfire season pushes prices up 15-20%. Carriers need extra fuel and time to navigate around these weather events.

Parting Words:

If possible, book your shipment during spring or fall. This will help you avoid seasonal price hikes and ensure more reliable delivery times.