Home Pricing
How Car Shipping Pricing Works
Your transport quote depends on your route, vehicle, transport type and current carrier availability. Booking is $0: your card is authorized and saved. Nothing is charged until you approve the assigned carrier and final price.
How pricing works
Distance is the biggest factor — cost per mile typically drops as the trip gets longer. Vehicle type, open versus enclosed equipment, whether the vehicle runs, service level, and current carrier availability on your lane also change the number you see.
Your calculator shows an instant quote based on the shipment details you enter. When you submit a booking, Bigfella reviews the shipment and current carrier availability. You review the final carrier and price before payment. Once you approve the final price, Bigfella Price Lock protects that approved price for 30 days.
For a factor-by-factor walkthrough, see car shipping cost. For the search-intent page without a guessed national average, see how much it costs to ship a car.
Route and mileage ranges
Most customers pay between $440 and $1,490 for an operable sedan on Standard open transport. These are typical ranges, not a promise for every ZIP pair.
| Distance | Open transport | Enclosed transport | Transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $440 – $590 | $535 – $685 | 1 – 3 days |
| 500 – 1,000 miles | $730 – $880 | $925 – $1,075 | 2 – 4 days |
| 1,000 – 1,500 miles | $1,070 – $1,220 | $1,420 – $1,570 | 3 – 6 days |
| 1,500 – 2,000 miles | $1,095 – $1,245 | $1,445 – $1,595 | 4 – 7 days |
| 2,000+ miles (coast to coast) | $1,340 – $1,490 | $1,785 – $1,935 | 5 – 10 days |
Ranges assume Standard service for an operable sedan on open transport. SUVs, trucks, inoperable vehicles, and enclosed transport cost more.
What changes your estimated price
Vehicle type
Sedans are the baseline. SUVs, trucks, and oversized vehicles take more space on the trailer and usually quote higher.
Open or enclosed
Open transport is the standard method for most daily drivers. Enclosed transport is recommended for classic, exotic, luxury, and high-value vehicles. Enclosed transport adds $380 to your transport quote. See open and enclosed.
Express
Express is an optional +$150 fee for priority pickup window, priority carrier matching, text and phone support, and on-demand status updates. It is not a guaranteed exact pickup time.
White Glove
White Glove is optional and usually $60 to $150 more than Standard (your quote shows the exact price). It covers specific-date scheduling priority, dedicated carrier search, a dedicated coordinator, and pickup and delivery coordination.
Inoperable vehicles
Non-running vehicles ship on a winch-equipped carrier. Inoperable vehicles add $200 to your transport quote. See inoperable vehicle transport.
Military discount
Active duty, veterans, National Guard, and reservists receive $75 off nationwide vehicle shipping when eligibility is verified. See military car shipping.
Example published lanes
These are typical Standard open-transport examples already published on Bigfella route pages — not a quote for every ZIP pair.
- Los Angeles → Houston from $1,215
- Houston → Las Vegas from $1,070
- Houston → New York from $1,060
Most California to Texas car shipping quotes run $1,215 to $1,365 for an operable sedan on open transport. Texas to California on the return lane is often $1,015 to $1,165.
Quote validity and changes
Your calculator shows an instant quote based on the shipment details you enter. When you submit a booking, Bigfella reviews the shipment and current carrier availability. You review the final carrier and price before payment. Once you approve the final price, Bigfella Price Lock protects that approved price for 30 days. The calculator price itself is not locked for 30 days. Booking is $0: your card is authorized and saved. Your payment method is securely saved. Nothing is charged until you approve the assigned carrier and final price. If no carrier is secured, you are not charged.
If a later change is needed, the price does not increase unless you approve it.
Ready to see your price?
Enter your route and vehicle. No payment required to request a quote.