Customer Reviews

How to Ship a Car: Step By Step Guide

RoadRunner makes shipping your car as easy as 1-2-3!

Start
Finish

Step 1

Instant Car Shipping Quote

Begin by getting an instant quote from our online car shipping cost calculator, or by speaking with a car shipping specialist at (888) 777-2123.

Secure Online Shipment Reservation

Schedule a convenient time for pickup via our secure online booking form or by phone with a shipping agent.

how it works step one
how it works step two

Step 2

Vehicle Pick Up

Your shipment will be assigned to the carrier that can best accommodate your route and timeframe. On the day of pickup, your vehicle will be safely loaded and will begin heading to the destination.

Online Shipment Tracking

Track the status of your shipment and get priority support from a live shipping agent with our online transport tracker.

Step 3

Vehicle Delivery

Upon arrival at the destination, your vehicle will be safely offloaded. A final inspection is completed and the driver hands over the keys.

That's it! That's all there is to it!

Join the hundreds of thousands of customers that trusted RoadRunner Auto Transport with the safe delivery of their vehicles.

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"I would definitely use RoadRunner Auto Transport again without a doubt. Excellent overall service from start to finish."

Trish A.

Miami, FL

5 stars
google reviews

"Very easy to book and great with answering my questions. The shipping agent I spoke with was very friendly and helpful."

Susan K.

Dallas, TX

5 stars
shopper approved reviews

"Everything with RoadRunner went smooth and seamless. They gave me a great rate and provided excellent service!"

Owen A.

Hartford, CT

5 stars
transport reviews

"We needed 2 cars shipped across the country last minute and RoadRunner really came through big time for us!"

Amanda M.

Los Angeles, CA

5 stars
better business bureau reviews
ready to ship

Ready to Get Started?

Calculate your instant car shipping cost and view carrier availability in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle transportation process.


You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

Door-to-door car transport is the full-service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to reach your door safely. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low-lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.

Yes, the city and zip code will suffice until your exact pickup or delivery location is known.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter, local car moving. There is a broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed car shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed vehicle transportation guarantees maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since carrier availability is limited. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed transport services services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed transport services are when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.