Cost guide

Car shipping and driveaway costs in 2026: a transparent price guide

Last updated: July 27, 2026

SelectDrive's preliminary model bills driver pay at $450 per day in half-day increments, so a 2,800 mile gas-vehicle plan is roughly $4,100 to $5,300 with typical route costs and positioning travel. These are planning numbers, not an offer or dispatch commitment. Electric charging requires a vehicle-specific plan and is billed at documented actual cost.

Planning status as of July 26, 2026: SelectDrive is accepting quote and route-planning requests only while required federal interstate operating authority is pending. No interstate for-hire move will begin unless and until that authority is granted and active and the specific vehicle, driver, insurance, route, and signed agreement are approved.

How driveaway pricing works

SelectDrive uses $450 per day in driver pay, billed in half-day increments with a one-day minimum. A planning day is about 8 driving hours or roughly 500 miles. The estimate itemizes route and positioning costs. A final price would require active authority, trip approval, and a signed agreement.

Line item	How it is calculated
Driver pay	$450 per day, half-day increments, one-day minimum
Gas fuel	About $0.18 per mile, from real route distance
EV charging	Documented actual cost with receipts, not a mileage allowance
Tolls	About $0.02 per mile on average, route specific
Lodging	$120 per night on multi-day routes (one stop per ~500 miles)
Insurance surcharge	8% of driver pay in the preliminary model
Driver positioning	The cheaper feasible option between round-trip drop-off and flight plus ground transport for each leg
Express planning	Proposed +5% for requests under 3 days notice

What it costs by distance

These planning ranges include estimated driving, fuel, tolls, lodging, and insurance cost. Estimated driver positioning travel depends on the specific route, which is why each band is a range.

Distance	Transit	Typical estimate
Short, under 500 miles	1 day	$550 to $1,200
Regional, 500 to 1,200 miles	1 to 2 days	$1,100 to $2,200
Long, 1,200 to 2,500 miles	3 to 5 days	$2,200 to $4,300
Cross-country, 2,500+ miles	5 to 6 days	$4,000 to $5,500

These bands illustrate gas-vehicle plans. Electric vehicles usually take longer because of charging stops, and charging is billed at documented actual cost. Exact pickup, delivery, vehicle, battery, weather, and route conditions can move the result.

Use the cost calculator to estimate your specific route, or chat with Pilot for a preliminary itemized plan.

Sample routes

• Des Moines to Denver, about 680 miles, roughly $1,150 to $1,450
• Des Moines to Phoenix, about 1,450 miles, roughly $2,300 to $2,700
• Iowa to Florida, about 1,500 miles, roughly $2,300 to $2,800
• Coast to coast, about 2,800 miles, roughly $4,100 to $5,300

Driveaway vs trailer shipping on cost

Trailer-based auto transport and driveaway are priced differently. Open-carrier shipping can look cheaper per mile on long hauls because the carrier splits the trip across several cars, while broker and carrier terms vary. SelectDrive publishes a planning base and provides preliminary itemized estimates while authority is pending. Any future approved trip would identify the driver. A pet that travels well may accompany the vehicle it belongs to, and ordinary belongings that fit safely below the window line may be accommodated, but both require advance disclosure and written approval in the trip agreement. Approval is separate from the price estimate and is never automatic. These accommodations are incidental to delivering the vehicle. SelectDrive does not offer household goods moving, standalone goods delivery, or standalone pet transport. No person may ever travel in the vehicle. For a full comparison, see driveaway vs auto transport.

A worked example: a 1,200-mile move

Here is an honest side by side for moving one operable car about 1,200 miles. Figures are illustrative; your real numbers depend on the route, the season, and the carrier.

	Trailer broker	SelectDrive driveaway
Headline quote	~$950 to $1,150 (non-binding)	~$1,900 to $2,500 preliminary plan
Final price	Provider terms control	Would be fixed only in an approved signed agreement
Tracking	Often none or inconsistent	Could be enabled for a future approved trip
Personal effects and animals	Carrier and contract rules vary	Pet or ordinary belongings only with advance written trip approval
Who has your car	The carrier assigned to the load	A future approved driver named in the signed agreement

On a long haul, a trailer quote may be lower. Compare the final written price, provider, timing, insurance documents, tracking, and cancellation terms. SelectDrive's current output is preliminary planning only, and no interstate move will begin while required authority is pending. See the full comparison of options.

How to lower your cost

• Request planning 3 or more days ahead to avoid the proposed 5% express line
• Be flexible on pickup timing so the route can be planned efficiently
• Disclose any pet or ordinary belongings and obtain written trip approval before pickup

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?

SelectDrive's preliminary day-rate model estimates a gas-vehicle move of about 2,800 miles at roughly 4,100 to 5,300 USD, including typical route costs and positioning travel. An electric vehicle requires a vehicle-specific time plan, with charging billed at documented actual cost. This is not a dispatch commitment, and no interstate move will begin unless required operating authority is granted and active and the trip is approved.

How is the price calculated?

Driver pay is $450 per day in half-day increments, with a one-day minimum. Preliminary estimates add gas fuel where applicable, tolls, lodging, an 8 percent insurance surcharge on driver pay, and itemized positioning travel. Electric charging is billed at documented actual cost with receipts. A future approved trip would require active authority and a signed written quote.

Is driveaway cheaper than trailer car shipping?

It depends on the route and provider terms. SelectDrive currently provides preliminary planning estimates only while required federal interstate operating authority is pending. Any future approved trip would identify its driver, price, insurance documents, and vehicle requirements in writing.