Cross-Country Car Shipping Guide

Shipping a vehicle coast to coast is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — auto transport services. Here's everything you need to know about cross-country car shipping.

How Long Does Cross-Country Shipping Take?

Most coast-to-coast shipments take 7–10 business days from pickup to delivery. Pickup itself usually happens 1–5 days after booking. Carriers cover 400–500 miles per day on average, with mandatory rest stops, weather delays and traffic factored in.

Typical Transit Times from San Francisco

SF to Los Angeles — 1–2 days
SF to Seattle — 2–3 days
SF to Denver — 3–4 days
SF to Dallas — 4–5 days
SF to Chicago — 5–7 days
SF to Atlanta — 6–8 days
SF to New York or Boston — 7–10 days
SF to Miami — 8–10 days

Cross-Country Pricing

Per-mile rates on cross-country routes typically fall between $0.40 and $0.80, meaning a 3,000-mile SF-to-NYC ship costs roughly $1,200–$2,400 for open transport. Enclosed transport runs 30–60% more.

Things to Know

Pickup windows are not appointment times. Drivers operate on tight schedules and may need to adjust by a few hours.
Tracking is approximate. Most carriers update their dispatcher daily, not in real time. Your agent passes those updates along.
Weather matters. Winter shipments through the Rockies or Northern Plains can experience multi-day weather delays.
Inspect at delivery. The bill of lading at delivery is your legal protection. Note any new damage before signing.

Preparing for a Long-Haul Shipment

Follow our standard vehicle preparation checklist. For cross-country trips specifically, make sure tire pressure is correct and the parking brake works smoothly.