Open vs enclosed auto transport, priced by distance, vehicle, and season
| Distance | Per Mile | Open Total | Enclosed Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 mi | $2.20–$3.20 | $330–$480 | $594–$936 |
| 500 mi | $1.30–$1.85 | $650–$925 | $1,170–$1,804 |
| 1,000 mi | $0.90–$1.30 | $900–$1,300 | $1,620–$2,535 |
| 1,250 mi | $0.72–$1.05 | $900–$1,313 | $1,620–$2,559 |
| 1,500 mi | $0.72–$1.05 | $1,080–$1,575 | $1,944–$3,071 |
| 2,000 mi | $0.55–$0.80 | $1,100–$1,600 | $1,980–$3,120 |
| 2,800 mi | $0.46–$0.66 | $1,288–$1,848 | $2,318–$3,604 |
Per-mile rates fall with distance because fixed costs (dispatch, pickup, delivery, deadhead) spread across more miles. Note 1,250 mi prices out like 1,000 mi: you're paying for tier boundaries, not a straight line.
| Route | Miles | Open Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New York → Los Angeles | 2,790 | $1,283–$1,841 |
| Los Angeles → Miami | 2,730 | $1,256–$1,802 |
| Chicago → Los Angeles | 2,015 | $1,108–$1,612 |
| New York → Miami | 1,280 | $922–$1,344 |
| Phoenix → Dallas | 1,070 | $770–$1,124 |
| Seattle → Los Angeles | 1,135 | $817–$1,192 |
| Dallas → Atlanta | 780 | $702–$1,014 |
| Chicago → Atlanta | 715 | $644–$930 |
Snowbird lanes (Northeast → Florida, October through December, back in spring) price best because carriers reposition in volume. Lone routes off the interstates pay a premium for the detour.
Auto transport is priced per mile on a falling curve: short hauls carry truck minimums, long hauls amortize them. This calculator applies published national per-mile tiers to your distance, adjusts for how much trailer your vehicle occupies, adds the winch fee if it doesn't roll, and moves the whole number for season. Enclosed transport multiplies the open rate by roughly 1.8 to 2, because those trailers carry fewer cars with costlier equipment.
Cost = miles × tier rate × vehicle factor, plus $150–$300 if inoperable, all × seasonal factor. Tier rates per mile (open, standard sedan): $2.20–$3.20 up to 150 miles, $1.30–$1.85 to 500, $0.90–$1.30 to 1,000, $0.72–$1.05 to 1,500, $0.55–$0.80 to 2,500, and $0.46–$0.66 beyond. Vehicle factors run from 0.95 for a compact to 1.35 for a lifted dually.
Put in the driving miles between pickup and delivery (map programs are close enough). Pick your vehicle class honestly; carriers measure weight and length, and misstated loads get rebid. Toggle enclosed if the car deserves it, and set the season you'll actually move. The per-mile readout tells you what to expect when brokers quote by the mile.
New York to Miami, 1,280 miles of open trailer under a standard sedan. Tier rate $0.72 to $1.05 per mile gives a base of $922 to $1,344. The car runs and drives, so no winch fee, and it's October, so no seasonal bump: the estimate stands at $922 to $1,344. Switch to enclosed and the same move runs $1,659 to $2,621. Make the vehicle a full-size pickup (×1.18) and open becomes $1,088 to $1,586. Move the same job to July and everything rises 15 percent, $1,060 to $1,546 for the original sedan.
Two habits save real money here. First, collect three to five quotes; broker spreads on identical loads routinely run $200 apart. Second, stay flexible on pickup dates, since carriers build routes and pay less for loads that fit. These are national planning ranges, not a dispatch commitment; fuel prices and lane balance move them week to week.
Open transport runs roughly $0.55-$0.80 per mile at 1,500-2,500 miles, $0.46-$0.66 beyond 2,500, $0.72-$1.05 at around 1,250 miles, and $1.30-$1.85 per mile in the 150-500 mile range where short-haul minimums dominate. A typical 1,250-mile move runs $900-$1,315 open; enclosed transport runs about 1.8 to 2 times that. Published 2025-26 national broker ranges.
Enclosed costs roughly 80 to 100 percent more than open transport, $1,620 to $2,559 on the typical 1,250-mile move. It earns its price for cars worth protecting from road grime, stone chips, and weather: classics, exotics, low bodywork, and anything you'd hesitate to park outside. For a daily driver, open transport moves 90-plus percent of vehicles and arrives fine.
One to two weeks for flexible dates on popular routes, two to four weeks if you need a specific pickup day, a specific carrier type, or you're moving in the June-August peak. Last-minute dispatch on a hard route means the broker posts your load at a higher price until a carrier bites, which is exactly how $300 surprises happen.
Most quotes are broker estimates, not carrier commitments. The carrier that accepts your load sets the real price on central dispatch boards, so a lowball quote can rise $100-$300 by pickup week. Ask whether the quote is guaranteed, whether it's a broker or carrier, and get the total including fuel and insurance in writing.
Not required, but common for good service: $20-$50 per vehicle is the usual range, more for difficult loads like low cars on steep driveways. What matters more is being reachable and having the pickup spot truck-accessible; delays strand a driver who's paid by the load.
Yes, but by the carrier's cargo policy, not yours, and coverage quality varies from $50,000 to $250,000 per load on open trailers. Ask for the carrier's MC number and certificate of insurance before pickup, and do a photo walkthrough at loading and delivery. Your own comprehensive coverage often sits secondary.