When shipping your vehicle, you have many options. These options include open and enclosed carriers, door to door shipments, terminal to terminal shipments, and even expedited options.
Regular Shipping versus Expedited Shipping
When shipping a car, the shipment window begins when the car is first picked up to when the car is marked delivered. So, how long does it take to ship a car across the country? There are variables involved which can cause the transport time to vary. Typically, the vehicle will be picked up and transported within 2-7 days and the delivery time will be estimated based upon normal driving time and the distance that will be traveled.
| Distance in Miles | Calendar Days |
| 0 – 200 | 1 – 2 |
| 200 – 600 | 2 – 4 |
| 600 – 1000 | 3 – 5 |
| 1000 – 1500 | 4 – 6 |
| 1500 – 2000 | 5 – 7 |
| 2000 – 2400 | 6 – 8 |
| 2400 and up | 7 – 9 |
Please note: there are some variables that can affect the transport time:
- Distance
- Season
- Road Conditions
- Traffic
- Other Vehicle stops
- Difficult Pick-up and drop-off locations
When selecting “Expedited Shipping” this means we find a carrier that is willing to transport your vehicle immediately. This also means you may need to increase your budget. Expedited Shippers hire extra drivers to help cut the shift in half. Drivers are required to take a 30 minute break every 8 hours, so, if your trip is across the US, you’re looking at a trip that’s going to need to be broken up into shifts. That trip, if expedited could be broken down into 3, maybe even 4 drivers, so the truck can be driven non-stop. While this is doable, you’re going to be paying for the extra drivers and can get very costly. If you can avoid expedited shipping, it’s more cost-effective to do so.
Naturally, we understand there are times when needing a rush shipment is required, here at MotorCarTrans, we can help you arrange any shipment you need. Click here to receive your free, no obligation quote.