Not all deliveries are the same, and while the car shipping calculator can offer an accurate cost in many cases, there are times when the final price you pay is different from what the calculator says. In addition to the make and model of the vehicle and the distances involved in the delivery, there are a number of other things that will affect the final price. These include:

• Time of year. February is the generally the lowest cost month, as it’s the least busy time for us. The high summer months of June to August are the busiest time for us, so it will cost you more per mile.
• The service you choose. A high-value classic delivered in a closed carrier can cost double that of a family SUV delivery in an open carrier.
• Delivery speed. As with any delivery, big or small, the faster you want the delivery, the more it will cost.
• Door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal delivery. Having us pick it up will cost more than dropping it off at our terminal.
• International deliveries. These may have other costs involved, and you will have to arrange vehicle collection at the destination port. 
• Air or sea. Did you know we can fly your car, too? For car shipments to Hawaii, we generally send vehicles by roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ship, but you can have it sent in a container instead.
• Insurance costs for the delivery. These can vary depending on the value of the vehicle.
• Any special requests. Your car may have very low ground clearance and may need to be lifted onto the truck. Or, you may have a barn find car that’s impossible to drive, so it may need special handling.

When you call our team, feel free to discuss any of these issues as well as any other special requests you may have to get an accurate idea of the price of delivering your vehicle to its destination.

Time of Year

If you’re in Oklahoma in April during peak tornado season, Florida in early fall hurricane season, or dealing with the winter Nor’easters of New England, you will appreciate that the time of year is important in deciding when to move your vehicle. While it can cost less to move your vehicle in the low season, it can take more time thanks to the weather. Our peak season is June to August when the weather is best for moving cars long distances, and our network is busier, so rates are higher.

There are other factors to consider including customs, tariffs, and more. That’s why an online car shipping calculator may give you an estimate, but not an accurate quote with these extra details.

Hawaii or Alaska Transport

AutoTransport.com’s car shipping calculator can offer an accurate idea of shipping rates for a typical car delivery to or from Alaska and Hawaii. A car delivery to or from Alaska is done overland, but it will cover more distance than a standard Lower 48 delivery.

For a trip to Hawaii, however, you need to consider certain extra costs:

• The most common and affordable way is by Ro-Ro ship, where it is driven aboard and driven off at the other end.
• Vehicles of higher value, perhaps already in enclosed transport, can be sent by container.
• For the highest value vehicles, these can be sent by air (though the costs are much higher than by sea).

As with other deliveries, call us to discuss the finer details of the delivery to get an exact price.

Open or Closed Carrier?

The most common option is by open carrier, where we load the vehicle into a vehicle transporter with others and send it to its destination. Open carrier transport costs less than enclosed. With open carrier transport, vehicles are exposed to the natural wear and tear of the road, such as small debris, and rough weather.

Our closed carrier service is often more expensive that of an open carrier delivery, as fewer vehicles can be loaded onto the truck. This is for high-value vehicles that require special treatment, including classics like an E Type Jaguar or supercars like an SSC Tuatara. Such special vehicles might need to be lifted into the truck and treated with extra care throughout the delivery. The car shipping calculator can offer an accurate delivery estimate even for these, and you can discuss any special requests with us when you call.

Terminal to Terminal or Door to Door?

We are able to take your vehicle from door to door or from terminal to terminal. Depending on your need (and budget), we can either collect it from you or you can drive it to our terminal yourself.

Long Distance Shipping

The further you want your vehicle to be transported, generally speaking, the less you pay per mile. A trip from Alaska to Texas will cost a lot less per mile than perhaps a delivery between Maine and New York. International deliveries will cost more, and when it is sent outside of North America, the logistics can be more complicated and expensive.