Distance should not decide where you buy. Here is how vehicle transport actually works, what the four options cost relative to each other, and the paperwork you need to hand over.
The most common reason buyers rule out a car is simply that it sits in another state. That is a reasonable default and an expensive one. With the right transport the difference between a local purchase and a coast-to-coast one is often a few hundred dollars against a difference in the car itself.
The car rides on an open trailer, exposed to the weather. It is the cheapest option and the right choice for a vehicle that will be detailed on arrival anyway. The practical limits are cosmetic: hail, road debris and bird strikes are all possible. Expect a lower rate and a longer transit, typically five to ten days coast to coast.
The same trailer enclosed, protecting the car from weather and road debris. This is the sensible default for a finished vehicle you intend to keep. It costs more than open and often saves money on paint correction later.
For genuine exotics and low-production cars, air freight avoids the road entirely. It is the fastest and most expensive option, and carriers require a full structural and mechanical inspection documentation pack before accepting a vehicle. If a car is going air freight, expect the documentation requirements to take longer than the transit.
A dedicated driver on a direct route with no intermediate stops. It is the most expensive per-mile option and the right one when you need the car in a fixed window.
Quotations are calculated on distance, the transport type, the vehicle's size and weight, and the declared value. Oversized vehicles and roof-mounted racks are surcharged. A second car travelling in the same direction occasionally reduces the marginal cost of yours, so it is worth asking whether a shared load is possible for your route.
Three documents travel with the car: the signed title, a bill of sale, and the registration in the buyer's name or a temporary transit permit. The carrier requires all three before loading. It is worth getting the title transferred before the car leaves, because a vehicle in transit cannot be registered in most states, and an unregistered car can be held at a state line.
Photograph the vehicle before it is driven off the trailer and again within the first few miles. Every carrier is insured, but claims depend on damage being documented at delivery. Walk the paint, check the wheels and roof edge, and note anything new before moving the car.
Use the shipment request form with your pickup postcode, delivery postcode, the vehicle, and your preferred timing. You will get an itemised quote covering transport and any surcharges, and we will tell you if a shared load is available for that route. The form is the fastest route to an accurate number, because a quote over the phone always has to be revised once the VIN and distance are confirmed.
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