Car Transport: How Much It Costs and the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car
Quick Answer: Open transport is the cheapest way to ship a car, typically costing less than enclosed transport for the same route. A cross-country shipment on an open carrier commonly runs in the neighborhood of $0.60–$1.00 per mile, with shorter routes costing more per mile than longer ones.
Neon Auto Transport is a licensed and insured car shipping broker (USDOT 4355879, MC 1703787) based in Woodbridge, Virginia, arranging both open and enclosed transport nationwide.
Cheapest Transport Methods Compared
When transporting a vehicle across states, total costs depend primarily on the carrier type you select, total route distance, and seasonal demand. Below is a realistic breakdown of the primary vehicle transport methods available today.
1. Open Transport (Cheapest Option)
Open transport means your vehicle rides on a double-decker trailer alongside several other cars — the same type of carrier you see hauling new vehicles to dealerships. It's the industry standard for a reason: carriers can move more vehicles per trip, which keeps the per-car price down. Your vehicle is exposed to weather and road debris during transit, which is a non-issue for most daily-driven vehicles and a real consideration for classic, exotic, or brand-new cars.
2. Enclosed Transport (More Expensive, More Protection)
Enclosed transport uses a fully covered trailer, shielding the vehicle from weather and debris. It typically costs 30–60% more than open transport because enclosed trailers carry fewer vehicles per trip and require more specialized equipment.
This is the right call for classic cars, exotics, and any vehicle where cosmetic condition on arrival matters more than saving money.
3. Driving It Yourself
For distances under a few hundred miles, driving is often genuinely cheaper than shipping once you factor in fuel and time — but it adds mileage, wear, and your own time to the cost side of the ledger. For longer moves, shipping usually wins once you price in gas, food, lodging, and the wear on a vehicle that's about to sit in a new driveway anyway.
Can You Ship a Car on a Train?
Direct Answer: Yes, but only on one specific route: Amtrak's Auto Train runs between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, and nowhere else.
If your route is anywhere along that corridor, the Auto Train is a genuine, often cost-competitive option — expect to pay roughly $500–$900 total (vehicle fee plus required passenger fare), with a fast ~17-hour transit.
If your route is anywhere else in the country, including Florida-to-Michigan, train shipping simply isn't available, and truck-based open or enclosed transport is your only real option. This is worth stating plainly, because it's easy to find generic "ship your car by train" content online that fails to clarify this strict route restriction.
Florida to Michigan Car Shipping Cost (Worked Example)
Shipping a standard sedan from Florida to Michigan — a major interstate corridor of roughly 1,300–1,400 miles — typically costs between $900 and $1,600 on open transport, with delivery completed in 3 to 6 days.
Enclosed transport on the same route runs higher, reflecting the 30–60% enclosed premium described above. Because this route falls entirely outside the Amtrak Auto Train corridor, truck-based transport is the only shipping method available for it — driving it yourself remains the only non-shipping alternative for this distance.
Florida to Michigan Shipping Summary
When to Book for the Lowest Price
Booking 2 to 4 weeks ahead and giving carriers a flexible 3 to 5 day pickup window — rather than demanding an exact date — is the single biggest lever for securing a lower quote. Flexibility lets a licensed broker slot your vehicle onto a car carrier trailer that is already scheduled to pass through your location.
Shoulder-season months (spring and autumn, outside of peak summer relocation surges) tend to offer more competitive pricing than peak summer, when household moves and seasonal snowbird traffic drive carrier demand along major interstate highways.
How the Car Shipping Process Works (Shipping to Another State)
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Get a Quote: Request an instant route quote based on your pickup/delivery ZIP codes, vehicle size, and preferred transport type (open vs enclosed).
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Book & Confirm Pickup: Confirm your flexible pickup window with zero upfront deposit required.
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Vehicle Pickup & Inspection: A licensed, insured carrier arrives at your door to inspect and document your car's condition on the official Bill of Lading (BOL).
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Transit & Driver Updates: Your vehicle travels safely across the interstate network with direct driver communication available.
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Door-to-Door Delivery: Inspect your vehicle upon arrival against the Bill of Lading and sign off.
What to Look For in a Car Shipping Company
Rather than making unverified "we are #1" claims, what actually matters when choosing an auto transport company is verifiable licensing and operational transparency:
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