Full State-To-State Car Towing Guide

Planning a long-distance move and wondering how to get your beloved car across state lines safely and securely? You’re not alone.

Forget the stress of endless searches and haggling with different companies. Here, we’ll break down the two most common methods – car carrier shipping and state-to-state car towing – to help you decide which best fits your budget, vehicle type, and peace of mind. Plus, we’ll shed light on factors like vehicle shipping costs and the pros and cons of each method. Buckle up, because we’re about to take you on a smooth ride through the world of long-distance car shipping!

At Compare The Carrier, we’re not just about connecting you with car transport quotes. We’re here to empower you with the knowledge to make informed decisions. So, let’s get started and find the perfect way to transport your precious wheels to their new home!

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State-to-state vehicle shipping is usually rather time-consuming. Besides planning the whole trip, buying tickets, packing household items you also need to check several shipping companies, their license, and the details of shipping for each company since they vary a lot.

If you are short of time you can avoid all this by getting your quote with us and we will send you a few offers from the best available companies. The only thing you will have to choose in such a case is whether to use an auto transport service or a tow dolly. 

A tow dolly is a type of trailer that elevates the front wheels of the vehicle. While towing, only a pair of wheels are lifted, so the vehicle is still under the effect of wear and tear. Also, varying from state to state, there are weight restrictions you may not be aware of. 

Putting your car on a tow dolly may also be quite difficult especially if you have rear-wheel drive, as you have to make sure that the wheels are fully secured and the car won’t suddenly get off the trailer while transportation.

That’s why this type of transportation using for moving vehicles for a rather short distance.

Long-distance car shipping is done with the car entirely loaded on a special car trailer (car hauler). This type of vehicle shipping allows transporting vehicles of any weight and condition and requires a minimum of effort from your side: just meet the driver at the pick-up, give him the car key and then meet him again at the drop-off location.

It’s the best way to ship vehicles long-distance, or even overseas from the mainland.

For more detailed info on long-distance transportation, you can check cross country auto transportation guide.

Let’s look at some pros and cons of each shipping method.

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CONS

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As long-distance car towing and car shipping are different kinds of vehicle transportation services, trailers that are needed for it are also different.

Depending on the size and weight of the vehicle, different sizes of trailers can be used for its transportation.

First of all, trailers used for vehicle shipping can be enclosed and open. Enclosed trailers are usually used for shipping brand new, classic, exotic, show cars and motorcycles. Open car haulers are more commonly used for long-distance auto transport. They are very easy to arrange and are cheaper than enclosed.  Open trailers are divided into 4 main types:

That moves up to 13 vehicles at a time depending on their size (usually it can only be sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and small buses);

Such car haulers could be open and enclosed.

This one is used in 95% of car shipments. You can see them near the dealerships as it’s a cheap and affordable way to transport a car. In general open vehicle transport trailer would be offered to you for shipping some usual car long distances.

The main difference from the open one is having a soft or hard cover on the trailer. This cover protects the vehicle from any possible damage that could be got during the transportation process. In most cases, such trailers are rather small and allow to haul fewer cars than an open trailer. It causes higher shipping rates around 50% higher than on an open one.

That’s why enclosed car haulers are used only for shipping luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Which is mostly used for moving large vans and buses, pickup trucks with utility beds, pontoon boats, ATVs, and UTVs;

It has two deck levels: an upper deck which is 11 feet long and a lower deck which is 37 feet long, and it is used for the same freight as flatbed trailers, but the height of the load may be up to 10 feet for lower deck and 8.5 feet for the upper deck;

In general, it’s used for shipping large and heavy vehicles that height is less than 10 feet

It is used for shipping heavy and military equipment like cranes, bulldozers, tractors, and so on, that can’t be shipped with a step-deck or drop deck trailer.

Trailers that are used for vehicle towing can be of 3 main types:

On this truck the vehicle is loaded on the trailer with all four wheels on;

It’s a truck that lifts only two wheels of the car;

Tow dolly it’s a two-wheel trailer that is attached to another car. It will lift only the front wheels of the vehicle while the rear wheels stay on the ground.

The one-car flatbed and a tow truck are mostly used for shipping inoperable cars with the vehicles that do not run at all, being loaded on the one-car trailer.

Car towing from state to state is relatively cheaper if you are planning to use a tow dolly, but in the long perspective, it may be quite ineffective since the vehicle is subjected to wear and tear. Therefore, a tow dolly is usually used for towing vehicles for relatively short distances, and if the vehicle is going more than 1500 mi tow dolly is not the best option.

The cost for towing the vehicle on a one-car flatbed or tow truck depends on such factors as mileage and the size of the vehicle. 

State-to-state towing of inoperable vehicles requires special attention and additional equipment like a winch. That affects the price quite a lot and the price may be higher for $100-$500 depending on the condition of the vehicle.

With Compare the Carrier, you can easily check the rate for long-distance car towing with taxes included and get the quote from the best companies. You will for sure have great options to choose from.

Though if you are looking for some emergency short-distance towing service it’s better to google some local car towing companies and choose one of them, it will cost more but you’ll save your time.

Long-distance auto transport services may be a bit pricey sometimes, but it all depends on the list of factors: 

Of course, the longer route is and the larger and heavier vehicle is, the more expensive the shipping will be. It can be explained by the fact that each trailer has its weight and size limit and instead of moving 2 small cars, for example, the driver can transport only one pickup truck. That is why the carrier will ask for either a double price or at least half more for a pickup than for a sedan.

The type of the trailer is also an important factor. Enclosed trailers are more expensive than open since enclosed shipping ensures that the vehicle will not be exposed to rain, snow, or other weather conditions (check here for more detailed info when you should choose enclosed trailer)

If you are shipping a vehicle with a non-standard wheelbase or if it’s a UTV, ATV, golf cart, or lawnmower the price may be higher than for moving a sedan. Usually, flatbed trailers are used for moving such vehicles since common car haulers have a standard width of ramps. But, unfortunately, flatbed trailers can only carry up to 3-4 vehicles at a time therefore their cost is higher.

As for the season, transportation during winter holidays always costs more since it is a high season for relocation. Besides that, moving a vehicle during a snowbird season will also cost more on some routes. The most popular snowbird states are Florida, Georgia, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Texas, South and North Carolinas, Nevada, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland.

The popularity of the route is another important thing to remember when planning your move. The less popular route the fewer drivers move on it and it results in higher prices. Let’s take a closer look at this factor. More details about routes’ popularity will be further in the article.

Grasping the intricacies of shipping cost factors is crucial, but sometimes, seeing these elements in action can offer greater clarity. For a hands-on demonstration, dive into our brief video tutorial, walking you through the step-by-step process of utilizing our ‘Vehicle Shipping Calculator’.

The ‘Vehicle Shipping Calculator‘ is designed with you in mind, streamlining the estimation process by accounting for all the critical factors discussed. Ready to get your accurate shipping estimate? Dive into our interactive tool now.

The popularity of the route is a very important factor that affects the price of the cross-country car towing and the time the driver can be found. When you are planning to get the car transported it’s very important to understand that some states are more popular among carriers than others and that is why it may take some time to negotiate the transportation within a specific time frame.

Negotiation of good time frames for the auto transport becomes even harder when you move to a new house and need to schedule both an auto transport and a long-distance moving service. In this case, we highly recommend you plan transportation in month advance.

This will give you enough time to find trustful long-distance moving companies near your location and plan your relocation properly.

Sometimes, when the state is rather large, there may be only a few areas that are popular among drivers. Let’s take a look at Washington state, for example. The Evergreen state is quite large, but only metropolitan areas of Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Everett, and Vancouver are considered to be the common route. The last one is actually more popular among cross-country towing companies that specialize in moving vehicles to and from Oregon.

Drivers that are transporting vehicles to Washington usually go I82 or I90 and Vancouver is located on the I5 and is closer to the Portland metropolitan area.

Therefore if you need your vehicle moved to some faraway locations (like Port Angeles, Bellingham, Forks, Aberdeen, Brewster), you should be ready to spend some extra money. If you want to save some money, you can meet the driver near a large metropolitan area or halfway to your location.

The similar situation you can face when looking for a car shipping to California. When moving to populated cities it’s rather easy to find a carrier, but in other cases, it can take some time.

But sometimes it happens that the whole state is not that popular among carriers. It may happen that after you request a quote, the price will be a bit higher than expected and the company can offer you ways to decrease the cost. If you decide to proceed and place an order, it may take some time to find a few loads going the same or similar route and negotiate the details with the carriers. 

So how should you act in such a case? We highly recommend you request a quote a month in advance if the vehicle is going to or from Montana, Wyoming, South and North Dakota, the northern part of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Vermont, Maine, and Delaware. These states are unfortunately the least popular among carriers as the vehicles are rarely shipped there and the states have low population density.

A list of the best cheap state-to-state car towing services based on their reviews on the most popular auto transport review websites. All the companies here are some of the best so we decided to put them in random order. 

AAA Auto Transport LLC is probably one of the most popular auto shipping companies. It was established in 1998 in Florida and provides customers with the cheapest options for open transportation. With AAA Auto Transport LLC one can ship any kind of vehicle from motorcycles to heavy vehicles. The insurance coverage of the carrier is $150 000 per car on the trailer.

Probably the only disadvantage of the company is that the vehicle must be empty while in transit. So if you are planning to ship some personal belongings inside the car, AAA Auto Transport LLC may not be the best option for you.  

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MoveWheels Auto Transport Company is one of the top five companies on several transport review websites. Also located in Florida, the company has been in business for more than 10 years. During this time, the company created its own database of drivers transporting any kind of vehicle. 

Besides open car shipping, the company can also offer enclosed transportation with remote control lift gates for vehicles with low clearance. Experienced shipping agents can also help you ship vehicles overseas (including Hawaii, Alaska, Europe). MoveWheels Auto Transport offers door-to-door service and unlike other companies, they do not require any prepayment up until the vehicle is picked up by the driver.

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America Auto Express LLC is a relatively young company compared to the previous one. It was founded in 2018 in Spokane, WA.

This towing company is very well equipped and provides services within west coast states offering both open and enclosed hardside transportation and the total number of trucks is 27.

America Auto Express LLC specializes in corporate relocations, dealerships, and military moves, as well as seasonal snowbird services.

The customer support representatives always keep the customers updated throughout the whole shipping process and are available any day of the week from 7 am to 5 pm.

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The company is located in Wilmington, DE, and received lots of positive reviews, they have almost 5 stars on Google reviews, Trustpilot, Transport Reviews, and BBB.

The company is very transparent about cost formation and its payment policy is probably the most convenient for the customers: nothing is charged upfront, the part of the rate is charged after the driver is assigned to the order. And then the remaining balance is paid at the drop-off location. 

To make transportation more efficient for customers Moverjet offers a lot of discounts. This option might have made this company so loved and highly trusted by its customers.

When shipping the vehicles with MoverJet, customers only get top-notch service and convenience.

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Accelerated Transport is probably one of the most popular full-service auto shipping companies on the East coast. Founded in 2016 in Raleigh, NC, the relatively young company has set customer-oriented service and transparent pricing as the main goals of the company. And so far, they are rather good at following the goals.

Accelerated Transport works with both open and enclosed carriers and before closing the deal with the drivers always make sure that they are fully insured.

The insurance coverage of this company is also quite high and it is up to  $250 000 per car on the trailer.

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True Carrier is a rather young shipping company on our list. Though, it is chosen by thousands to move their vehicles. As well as MoveWheels, Moverjet, and most of the companies we work with, TrueCarrier does not require any prepayment at the time of booking.

TrueCarrier is located in Tampa, FL, and works with all types of carriers (open, enclosed) suiting every customer’s needs and budget. Also, the drivers the company works with can offer expedited delivery and door-to-door service when possible.

TrueCarrier customer support service is available 24/7 and according to their customers’ reviews, TrueCarrier’s customer support is one of the points they liked the most.

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When it comes to state-to-state car towing, SGT Auto Transport stands out as a leader in peace-of-mind vehicle relocation. This 5-star rated company boasts an impressive track record, having delivered over 50,000 vehicles in 2023 alone, all while keeping over 36,000 customers happy.

They have a network of over 25,000 vetted carriers, ensuring your car can travel smoothly to any corner of the country.

SGT Auto Transport provides personalized attention throughout the entire shipping process. This commitment to customer service is reflected in their outstanding reputation on uShip, where they stand out among a million service providers.

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Founded in Delaware a few years ago, GetCarrier disproves all stereotypes you may have about car shipping services. If you had issues with shipping your vehicle in the past and are not sure whether to do it this time, you need to check out how car shipping works with GetCarrier.

The company’s main goal is to stay in the best relationship with each side of the business they deal with. So the company representatives always do their best to deliver a 100% positive experience for both drivers and customers.

GetCarrier always makes the shipping process safe and proper, since they value long-term partnerships. By offering many discounts (for regular customers, multiple loads, and of course dealers), the company works out a mutually beneficial agreement that would last months or years to come.

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Florida Transportation & Towing LLC is also a perfect example of a company that values each customer.  Even though the company was established only in 2019, it has grown from a small company hiring local drivers to a company with more than 100 employees.

Florida Transportation & Towing LLC operates only within Florida and specializes in shipping and towing operable and inoperable vehicles. Most of the company’s drivers work with dealerships, auctions, and corporate moves, but they are also doing private transportation with door-to-door shipping. It is also one of a few companies willing to transport vehicles to the Key West area. Only a few carriers are going there, as it is quite difficult for the trailer to get there and the route is not very popular.

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We’ve cruised through the world of car carrier shipping and tow dollies, equipping you with the knowledge to navigate your next long-distance car transport like a seasoned pro. Whether you prioritize budget-friendliness or ultimate protection, remember, the key is choosing the method that best suits your needs and vehicle.

But remember, the journey doesn’t end here! At Compare The Carrier, we’re always here to guide you. So, head on over to our website, grab some free quotes, and let us help you find the perfect car transport company for your upcoming adventure. With the right information and the right partner by your side, your car is guaranteed a smooth and worry-free journey to its new home, wherever that may be on this great American map.

Happy travels!