How are auto transport prices calculated?
People call me every day asking for a flat rate. They want a number they can circle on a calendar. The truth is. The roads don't work that way. Most people think shipping a car is like mailing a letter. It is not. You are dealing with heavy equipment. Real people. Diesel fuel. And a lot of risk.
At AMG Transport Co. we see both sides. Our parent company. AMG Endeavors. They are the ones actually driving the trucks. We know the math because we live it. If you want to know how much does it cost to ship a car cross country. You have to understand the levers that move the price.
The Engine of the Quote: Distance and Fuel
The biggest factor is simple. Miles. But it is not just the total distance. It is what affects car shipping cost per mile. Short hauls often cost more per mile than long ones. Why? Because the carrier has the same amount of work to load and unload regardless of the distance.
Then there is diesel. It fluctuates. When fuel goes up. Prices go up. A truck getting 5 miles to the gallon cannot eat those costs. You should also consider the route. Shipping a car from Houston to Los Angeles is a straight shot on I-10. That is easy for a driver. Sending a car into the middle of the woods in Maine? That costs more. Carriers want to stay on the main lines.
The Weight on the Trailer
What kind of car are you moving? There is a huge shipping an SUV vs sedan cost difference. Size matters. An SUV takes up more physical space on a trailer. It also weighs more.
Every truck has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. They cannot exceed it. If a driver loads ten heavy SUVs. He might be over his legal limit. That means he has to leave a spot empty. To make up for that lost spot. You pay more. A small sedan is easy. A dually truck with a lift kit is a headache.
Open vs Enclosed Transport
You have two main choices. Open car carrier transport cost is the baseline. These are the big trailers you see on the highway. Your car is exposed to the wind and rain. For most daily drivers. This is fine. It is the most affordable way to move a vehicle.
If you have something special. You want enclosed auto transport for luxury cars. This protects the vehicle from road debris. It also costs about 40% to 60% more. This is due to the lower capacity of enclosed trailers and the higher insurance requirements. We recommend enclosed carrier benefits for exotic cars and high-value classics every time.
| Factor | Open Transport | Enclosed Transport |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Average Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Protection | Standard Road Exposure | Fully Protected |
| Availability | High | Limited |
| Best For | Daily Drivers | Luxury/Exotic/Classic |
Why You Can't Just Hire a Carrier Directly
Most people think they can save money by cutting out the broker. Good luck. Most carriers are small operations. They have one or two trucks. They don't have a sales team. They don't have a customer service desk. They certainly don't want to chase you for payment.
Carriers like working with an experienced car shipping broker you can trust. Why? Because we handle the paperwork. We handle the 10 PM phone calls when a customer is worried. We handle the Stripe deposits so the carrier knows they will actually get paid. When a carrier sees a job coming from AMG Transport Co. they know the VIN scan is done and the details are right. They take our jobs first.
The Seasonality Factor
Prices change with the weather. Relocating to Florida ship car from Texas? Everyone else is doing that in the winter. We call them Snowbirds. When everyone wants to go to the same place at the same time. Prices spike.
If you need vehicle transport Texas to California expert broker services. You need to look at the time of year. Summer is busy. Families are moving. Dealerships are moving inventory. If the demand is high. The price goes up. It is basic economics. We do our best to act as a buffer to keep rates reasonable. But we won't lie to you just to get your business. Cheap quotes usually end with a car sitting in a driveway for weeks because no carrier will take the job for that price.
The AMG Difference: No Gimmicks
The industry is full of fraud. You will see low-ball quotes online. Be careful. Those guys aren't looking for a carrier. They are just looking for your phone number. They will call you thirty times a day.
At AMG Transport Co. we give honest quotes. We use vetted insured carriers. We aim for 72-hour pickup windows. We don't play games with your money. Our job is to make the road less dangerous for you. We coordinate the frontend sales. The backend systems. And all the logistics. The carriers do the driving. We do everything else.
Choosing Your Partner
You need a nationwide vehicle shipping door to door service that understands the nuances. Whether it is multi-car transport for families or single-car transport vs multi-car load cost questions. We have the answers.
Don't get stuck with a broker who doesn't know what a trailer looks like. We are a Texas based auto transport broker nationwide. We have the fleet experience from our parent company to know what is fair and what is a scam.
If you want a door-to-door car shipping how it works experience that doesn't leave you stressed. You need a pro. We stay on top of the logistics so you can focus on your move.
Ready for a real number? No fluff. No hidden fees. Just a solid price to move your machine.
Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.