Car shipping questions, answered

Most car shipments cost between $800 and $1,800. Distance is the biggest factor; vehicle size, transport type (open or enclosed), season, and how busy the route is move the price from there.

Quotes that come in far below market are usually too good to be true. Some companies post low numbers to attract clicks and capture deposits, then push the price up later when no driver accepts the load. A quote that is 30% below the rest is a warning sign, not a deal.

No. Anyone quoting $300 for a real car shipment is using the lowball-and-revise tactic: they post a fake low number to capture your deposit, then come back saying they cannot find a driver at that price and ask for $800 or more. The honest floor for any shipment over 500 miles is about $500 to $700 for a sedan.

February is usually the cheapest month industry-wide: carriers are available, demand is low, and most non-snowbird routes hit their yearly low. October is another low month. Florida and Arizona corridors are the exception in winter; they spike from snowbird traffic.

On cross-country moves, shipping is usually cheaper than driving once you count fuel, lodging, food, and vehicle wear. A 2,000-mile drive in a sedan runs roughly $400 in fuel, two nights of hotels, three days of meals, plus the depreciation and risk of driving. Shipping starts around $1,000 for the same distance, with no time off work.

Open transport is the standard choice for most vehicles. Enclosed transport costs 30 to 45% more and is appropriate for high-value vehicles, classics, low-clearance sports cars, and any car where weather exposure or road debris is a real concern.

To ship a car, request a quote with your origin, destination, and vehicle details. Sequoia matches you with a driver according to your pickup window, the driver picks up your vehicle, and delivers it at your destination.

Yes. Car shipping and auto transport mean the same thing. Both terms refer to moving a vehicle on a carrier truck between two addresses, with a driver, insured, door to door.

Yes. Most shipments run door to door, with the driver picking up and delivering at the addresses you give. If a street is too narrow or low for a car hauler, we arrange a nearby meeting point such as a large parking lot, usually within a few miles.

Yes, or someone you designate. The driver inspects the car with you at pickup, logs its condition on a bill of lading, and does the same walk at delivery. If you cannot be there, name someone who can and share their contact info in advance.

Most car shipments take 2 to 8 days, depending on distance. A trip under 500 miles takes 2 to 3 days, a 1,500-mile move takes 3 to 5 days, and coast to coast takes 5 to 8 days.

Book one to two weeks before your ideal pickup window when you can. That gives us room to match a carrier already running your route, which keeps the price down. Last-minute shipments are possible, sometimes within a day or two, but the shorter the notice, the fewer carriers there are to choose from.

Tell us as early as you can. Your quote is locked for 28 days, so most date shifts inside that window are no problem. If a delivery address has to change mid-transit, that is usually workable too. We will tell you the same day if it is not.

You can leave up to 100 pounds of personal items in one piece of luggage, placed in the trunk or cargo area. Some carriers will accept additional weight for an added fee; we can arrange this for you after booking.

Yes. An inoperable car still ships; it needs a carrier with a winch to load it, which we arrange when you tell us the car does not roll, steer, or brake. There is a surcharge because the loading takes longer and not every trailer is equipped for it.

You'll have your driver's direct phone number from pickup through delivery. Routine updates come from them directly.

Every shipment is insured by the carrier under federal cargo liability requirements.

If you find damage at delivery, note it on the bill of lading before signing. We will manage the claim with the carrier from there.

Nothing is charged at booking. The deposit is charged 7 days before your pickup window opens, and the remaining balance is paid to the driver at delivery.

You pay the driver the balance at delivery by cash, Zelle, cashier's check, certified check, or money order. Cash App and Venmo work too if you confirm with the driver in advance. Personal checks are not accepted.

You can cancel for free up to 7 days before pickup. After that, the deposit is non-refundable.

The shipping itself is standard: vetted carriers, open or enclosed, insured, door to door. What is different is how Sequoia runs it. Your price is locked for 28 days and does not change after you book, carriers are paid a fair rate on the day they deliver, and one percent of every booking funds Clean Air Task Force.

One percent of every booking funds Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit working on the policy and technology to cut transport and energy emissions. It is a contribution to climate work on every order, not a per-shipment carbon offset, and 1% for the Planet verifies it each year. You pay nothing extra; Sequoia covers it.