Shipping your car to another state when you move

Moving to a new state often means one more vehicle than you have drivers, or a cross-country drive you would rather skip. Shipping the car solves that, but the job is not finished when the truck leaves: your new state will expect a new title, registration, driver license and insurance within a set number of days. This guide covers both halves. Military families should also see military PCS car shipping, and seasonal movers snowbird car shipping.

Build the car's timeline around the move

The car does not move on your furniture's schedule. uShip suggests planning 2 to 4 weeks ahead where possible, which leaves time to compare quotes and prepare the vehicle. Three timing facts shape the plan:

• Pickup is a window, not an appointment. FreightWaves reports that most carriers offer a pickup window of three to five days from the reservation date, with guaranteed pickup available for an extra fee.
• Long moves take weeks, not days. FreightWaves puts cross-country deliveries at roughly seven to 21 days. See transit times for how distance and route affect that range.
• Summer is busy. FreightWaves calls May through September peak moving season, with higher demand and slower pickups, and describes spring and fall as the easier seasons to ship.

A common plan is to ship one car shortly before or after the household move and drive or fly with the rest of the family. If you will not be at either end, name a trusted person who can sign the bill of lading and hand over or receive the keys.

What drives the price of a long-distance move

Cross-country shipments cost more than regional ones, but distance is only part of the price. Route popularity, the size and condition of the vehicle, the trailer type, the season and how flexible your dates are all move the number. A car going between two large metro areas on a busy interstate corridor is usually easier to place on a truck than one bound for a small town far from the main routes.

The car shipping cost guide walks through each factor. The practical points for movers:

• Quote with your real pickup and delivery addresses and dates, since both change the price.
• Flexible pickup dates often help more than chasing the lowest number.
• If the car does not run, say so up front. See inoperable vehicle transport.
• Ask whether the quote is door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal, and whether a large truck can reach your new street.

Open or enclosed for a household move

Most everyday cars travel on an open car carrier. uShip notes that open transport is more affordable and works well for standard vehicles, while enclosed shipping is best for classic, luxury or weather-sensitive cars. For a daily driver, open transport is the normal choice. For a collector car, a new high-value vehicle, or a car you would not want exposed to road grime and weather for a week or more, compare an enclosed carrier quote as well. The open vs enclosed guide covers the tradeoffs in detail.

Check who is moving your car

Interstate car shipping is regulated. The FMCSA states that both auto transport brokers and carriers operating interstate must be registered with it. Brokers and carriers are issued a six-digit MC docket number, and carriers are also issued a seven-digit USDOT number. The FMCSA advises avoiding any transporter or broker that does not prominently display its MC number on its website.

Many people book through a broker that assigns the job to a carrier. That is normal, but know which role each company plays. The broker vs carrier guide explains the difference, and you can check an MC number or USDOT number before pickup.

Ask how insurance works too. uShip recommends knowing what your carrier's insurance covers and considering supplemental protection for higher-value vehicles. Your own auto policy may also matter, so call your insurer before the car ships.

Prepare the car, and keep the boxes out of it

It is tempting to use the car as an extra moving box. Do not. uShip advises against packing the car with personal items unless your service provider has approved it, notes that extra items add weight, and warns that most car carriers are not liable for goods carried inside the car. Pack belongings with your household goods instead.

Before pickup:

1. Wash the car so existing marks are easy to see, and take dated photos of every side, the odometer and the interior.
2. Run the fuel down; uShip suggests a quarter or an eighth of a tank.
3. Remove or deactivate toll tags and parking passes, as uShip recommends.
4. Take out loose accessories, chargers and anything of value.
5. Hand over a working key, and note on the bill of lading how many keys the driver received.

Keep the title, registration and proof of insurance with you, not in the shipped car, because you will need them at your new motor vehicle office. The preparation guide has the full checklist. At delivery, inspect the car before signing and note any new damage on the bill of lading while the driver is still there.

New-state paperwork: registration, license and insurance

Once you establish residency, your new state expects you to register the car and get a local driver license within a set period. The deadlines are short and differ by state. Here is what four state agencies say:

Other states set their own deadlines and steps, such as safety inspections, emissions tests or VIN checks. Look up your new state's motor vehicle agency before you move, not after the car arrives, so you know which documents and inspections you need. Rules change, so confirm the current version.

Update your auto insurance at the same time. Each state sets its own coverage rules, and an out-of-state policy may not be enough to register. Florida asks new residents to buy insurance from an agent licensed in Florida, and New York says it will never accept out-of-state coverage for a vehicle registered there. Call your insurer as soon as you know your new address.

If you are buying a car from a dealer in another state rather than moving one you own, the out-of-state buyer guide explains how that delivery usually works.