Door-to-Door Car Shipping: How It Works, Costs, and What to Verify (2026)
The Auto Transport Handbook · Consumer Guide Door-to-Door Car Shipping: The Complete 2026 Guide Door-to-door car shipping means the carrier collects your vehicle at your origin address and delivers it to your destination address, with no terminal drop-off, no storage lot, and no second trip. It is now the default method for the large majority of vehicle shipments in the United States, and most brokers price it as standard rather than as an upgrade. Key facts Typical cost: $700 to $1,500 for most routes Typical transit: 1 to 3 days under 500 miles; 7 to 10 days coast to coast Standard inclusion: most brokers quote door-to-door by default The one caveat: a car hauler is 75 to 80 feet long, so "door" means as close as is legal and safe An open car hauler in service. Most vehicle shipments in the United States move on equipment like this. On this page How door-to-door car shipping works Door-to-door vs terminal-to-terminal What "door" act...