Moving a vehicle hundreds or even thousands of miles can be stressful, especially when driving it yourself isn’t practical. Long distance car transport gives you an easier way to move your vehicle from one state to another without adding unnecessary mileage, spending days on the road, or dealing with the expenses of a long road trip.
At LISCA Auto Transport, we help customers ship vehicles nationwide with reliable door-to-door auto transport services. Whether you’re relocating, buying a vehicle from another state, sending a car to a family member, or moving multiple vehicles, professional auto transport can make the process much easier.
What Is Long Distance Car Transport?
Long distance car transport is a service that moves your vehicle between cities or states using a professional auto carrier. Instead of driving the vehicle yourself, your car is loaded onto a transport truck and delivered as close as safely and legally possible to your requested destination.
Long distance shipping can include routes of a few hundred miles or cross-country transportation covering thousands of miles.
For example, customers may need to ship a car from California to Florida, New York to Texas, or anywhere else across the United States.
Why Ship Your Car Instead of Driving?
Driving across the country may sound simple, but the costs and time can add up quickly. Gas, hotels, meals, tolls, vehicle maintenance, and time away from work can make a long road trip expensive.
Long distance auto transport also helps prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. A 2,500-mile road trip means adding 2,500 miles to your odometer, along with additional use of your tires, brakes, engine, and other components.
With professional vehicle shipping, you can travel separately while your vehicle is transported for you.
Door-to-Door Long Distance Car Shipping
One of the most convenient options is door-to-door auto transport.
With door-to-door service, the carrier picks up your vehicle as close as possible to your requested pickup address and delivers it as close as possible to your destination.
In some locations, large auto transport trucks may not be able to safely enter residential streets because of narrow roads, low-hanging trees, weight restrictions, or local regulations. When this happens, the driver can arrange a nearby safe location to meet you.
Open vs. Enclosed Auto Transport
Customers shipping vehicles long distance generally have two main carrier options.
Open auto transport is the most common and affordable choice. Vehicles are transported on an open carrier similar to the trucks commonly seen transporting vehicles to dealerships. This option works well for most everyday cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
Enclosed auto transport provides additional protection by transporting the vehicle inside an enclosed trailer. It is often preferred for luxury, exotic, classic, collectible, customized, and high-value vehicles.
Enclosed transportation typically costs more than open transportation because fewer vehicles can be carried at once and the vehicle receives additional protection during transit.
How Much Does Long Distance Car Transport Cost?
There isn’t one fixed price for long distance vehicle shipping. The cost depends on several factors, including:
- Pickup and delivery locations
- Total transportation distance
- Vehicle year, make, and model
- Vehicle size and weight
- Open or enclosed transportation
- Vehicle condition
- Current carrier availability
- Fuel prices and seasonal demand
- Requested pickup timeframe
Shipping between major cities and popular transportation routes may cost less than transporting a vehicle to or from a remote area.
The best way to determine the price is to request a quote based on your exact vehicle and transportation route.
How Long Does Long Distance Car Shipping Take?
Transit time depends primarily on the distance, route, weather, traffic, carrier schedule, and other transportation conditions.
A long distance shipment covering approximately 1,700–2,300 miles may take around 5–8 days in transit, while routes exceeding 2,700 miles may take approximately 7–10 days or longer.
Cross-country vehicle transportation can sometimes take 5–12 days, depending on the route and carrier.
These are estimated transit times rather than guaranteed delivery dates because drivers can encounter traffic, weather, mechanical issues, and other unexpected delays.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Long Distance Transport
Preparing your vehicle before pickup can help make the transportation process smoother.
Remove valuable personal belongings, check for leaks, make sure the battery is charged, and confirm that the tires are properly inflated. You should also leave approximately a quarter tank of fuel in the vehicle.
Before loading, inspect the exterior of your vehicle and take clear photos showing its current condition. Your carrier will also complete an inspection during pickup.
Keep your keys available for the driver because the vehicle may need to be moved during loading and unloading.
Can You Ship a Non-Running Vehicle Long Distance?
Yes. Many non-running vehicles can still be transported.
However, the carrier needs to know in advance that the vehicle is inoperable. Special equipment, such as a winch, may be required to safely load and unload the vehicle.
Providing accurate information about the vehicle’s condition when requesting your quote helps ensure that the correct carrier and equipment are arranged.
Long Distance Car Transport for Different Situations
Professional auto transport can be useful for many different situations, including relocating to another state, purchasing a vehicle online, moving for college, military relocation, seasonal moves, dealership transportation, auction purchases, and sending vehicles to family members.
LISCA Auto Transport can assist with transportation for cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, motorcycles, classic vehicles, luxury vehicles, and other types of vehicles.
Is Long Distance Car Transport Safe?
Using an experienced and properly licensed auto transport company can provide a safe and convenient way to move your vehicle across the country.
Professional carriers are required to maintain appropriate operating authority and insurance coverage. Before your vehicle is transported, the carrier’s information and insurance should be verified.
Vehicle inspections at pickup and delivery are also important. Photos and the Bill of Lading document the vehicle’s condition before and after transportation.
Nationwide Long Distance Auto Transport With LISCA
Whether your vehicle needs to travel 500 miles or across the entire country, LISCA Auto Transport can help coordinate your shipment from pickup through delivery.
We provide nationwide vehicle shipping with options including:
- Door-to-door auto transport
- Open vehicle transportation
- Enclosed vehicle transportation
- Expedited pickup options
- Inoperable vehicle transportation
- Motorcycle and specialty vehicle shipping
Our goal is to make long distance car transport quick, safe, convenient, and affordable.
Get a Long Distance Car Shipping Quote
Planning to move your vehicle to another city or state?
Contact LISCA Auto Transport for a long distance car shipping quote. Provide your pickup location, delivery location, vehicle information, and preferred transportation dates, and our team can help you find the right transportation option for your shipment.
LISCA Auto Transport — Nationwide Car Shipping Made Simple.