01
Send your route and vehicle
Share origin, destination, vehicle details, condition, and timing through the inquiry form.
State to state, 48 contiguous states
Nationwide Car Shipping & Interstate Auto Transport
Moving across the country, sending a car to a family member, or relocating for work? Properly Shipped helps arrange interstate vehicle transport with independent motor carriers, and a real person walks you through each step.
Request a Quote A person reads every inquiry
Properly Shipped LLC is a freight broker, not the transporting carrier. We arrange transportation through independent motor carriers. The carrier assigned to your shipment performs the pickup, transport, and delivery of your vehicle.
How interstate transport works
One vehicle, many miles, several hands.
Interstate auto transport is rarely a single truck driving straight from your door to the destination. Long-haul carriers typically load several vehicles on one trailer and plan stops along a route, so your car shares space with others going the same general direction.
As your broker, we look for a carrier whose route and equipment suit your vehicle and timing, share the details with you, and arrange the shipment once you decide to go ahead. From there, the carrier handles loading, the drive, and delivery, while we help keep communication moving.
- A / LEGOriginWhere the vehicle sits today: a driveway, a storage unit, a dealer lot, or a seller’s address.
- B / LEGThe carrier’s routeLong-distance carriers run lanes and fill trailers with several vehicles heading the same general direction.
- C / LEGDestinationThe delivery address in another state, or a nearby spot a large truck can safely reach.
Requesting a quote
What helps us help you.
Use the inquiry form on our homepage. Complete details lead to a more useful first reply.
- Pickup city and ZIP and delivery city and ZIP
- Year, make, and model, plus any modifications such as lift kits or oversized tires
- Whether the vehicle runs, rolls, steers, and brakes
- Open or enclosed preference, if you have one
- The earliest date the vehicle is ready and how flexible your timing is
- Anything about access at either end: gated communities, narrow streets, or limited hours
02
Talk through options
A person replies by email to discuss open or enclosed transport, carrier availability on your route, and anything that may affect scheduling.
03
Arrange a carrier
Once you decide to proceed, we arrange transport with an independent motor carrier suited to the route and vehicle.
04
Pickup and inspection
The driver inspects the vehicle with you or your contact and notes its condition before loading.
05
Delivery
The carrier coordinates arrival. Inspect the vehicle again and note anything on the paperwork before signing.
What shapes the cost
Six things carriers weigh.
There is no single rate for moving a car between states. These factors explain why two quotes for similar distances can differ.
01 / FACTOR
Distance and lane
Total miles matter, but so does the lane. Routes between major metro areas on interstate corridors tend to see more carrier traffic than remote or rural endpoints.
02 / FACTOR
Vehicle size and weight
A larger or heavier vehicle takes up more trailer space and weight allowance than a compact car, which affects how a carrier fits it into a load.
03 / FACTOR
Operating condition
Vehicles that do not run may require a winch or other equipment and extra loading time, and fewer carriers may be able to take them.
04 / FACTOR
Open or enclosed trailer
Enclosed capacity is more limited than open capacity, which generally changes both cost and scheduling flexibility.
05 / FACTOR
Season and demand
Seasonal moves, weather, holidays, and regional demand all shift how many carriers are available on a route at a given time.
06 / FACTOR
Timing and flexibility
A wide pickup window gives more carriers a chance to fit the vehicle in. A narrow or urgent window reduces options.
Quotes reflect market conditions at the time they are given and are not a guarantee of carrier availability or a fixed schedule.
Trailer type
Open or enclosed.
Both are common ways to move a vehicle across state lines. The right fit depends on the vehicle and your priorities.
Most common
Open transport
The multi-level carriers you see on the highway. Open trailers make up most of the available capacity, which usually means more scheduling options.
- Suits everyday cars, trucks, and SUVs
- Vehicle is exposed to weather and road conditions
- Generally the more flexible option on busy routes
Added protection
Enclosed transport
A covered trailer that shields the vehicle from weather and road debris. Often chosen for classic, collector, high-value, or low-clearance vehicles.
- Fewer carriers, so timing may be less flexible
- Some trailers offer liftgates for low vehicles; this must be confirmed
- Typically costs more than open transport
Before pickup
Getting the car ready.
A little preparation makes the pickup inspection faster and gives you a clear record of the vehicle’s condition.
- Wash the vehicle so existing scratches and dents are visible during inspection
- Photograph all sides, the roof, and the odometer, with dates, before pickup
- Remove personal items, toll tags, and parking passes; carriers are not household movers
- Leave a modest amount of fuel in the tank rather than a full tank
- Fold in mirrors, retract antennas, and secure or remove loose exterior parts and racks
- Note any leaks, warning lights, or mechanical quirks and share them before pickup
- Have a working key available for the driver at pickup
Condition, equipment & coordination
Honest about the limits.
Telling us about these early avoids surprises on pickup day.
01 / NOTE
Inoperable vehicles
Non-running vehicles can often be moved, but only by carriers with suitable equipment. Winches, forklifts, or other loading help cannot be promised and must be confirmed for each shipment.
02 / NOTE
Modified or oversized vehicles
Lifted trucks, lowered cars, roof racks, and dually trucks may not fit every trailer position. Disclose modifications so the right equipment can be discussed.
03 / NOTE
Access at pickup and delivery
Transport trucks are long and may not fit on narrow, low-clearance, or restricted streets. A nearby parking lot or wide street may be used as a meeting point instead.
04 / NOTE
Staying reachable
Drivers coordinate arrival as they move through their route. A reachable contact at each end, by phone or email as arranged, keeps pickup and delivery on track.
Picking up a purchase from an auction, dealer, or online seller? See auction vehicle shipping for release and deadline details.
Interstate shipping questions
Before you book.
Something else on your mind? Add it to your inquiry and a person will reply by email.
Does Properly Shipped transport my car?
No. Properly Shipped LLC is a freight broker. We arrange transportation through independent motor carriers, and the assigned carrier performs the pickup, transport, and delivery.
Which states do you arrange transport between?
We help arrange vehicle transport between locations in the 48 contiguous states. Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipments are outside that scope.
Can you give me an exact pickup or delivery date?
No date can be guaranteed. Timing depends on carrier availability, route, weather, and road conditions. A flexible window usually gives the most options.
Can I pack belongings in the car?
Plan to ship the vehicle empty. Carriers may refuse or restrict personal items, and items left in a vehicle are generally not treated as cargo. Ask before assuming anything can ride along.
What should I do at delivery?
Walk around the vehicle with the driver, compare its condition against your pickup photos and the inspection report, and note anything on the paperwork before signing.
Can you help with a car I bought at auction in another state?
Yes, that is a common interstate move. Auction pickups have their own release rules and deadlines, covered on our auction vehicle shipping page.