If you need to transport your vehicle across the country, you may be wondering — how long is this actually going to take? The car shipping process can be complicated, with many factors impacting timelines. This complete guide from RoadRunner will walk you through everything you need to know about typical car shipping durations and how to expedite your delivery.

Understanding Car Shipping Basics

Before diving into specific shipping timelines, it helps to understand some background on how the car shipping process works.

Popular Shipping Methods

There are two predominant methods used for moving cars, each with their own duration implications:

• Open Transport: The more common shipping method involves hauling multiple vehicles stacked on an open carrier truck or trailer. Open car transport is less expensive but also provides less physical protection for your car.
• Enclosed Transport: The more premium white glove option uses a fully enclosed truck trailer to transport vehicles. Enclosed car shipping costs more, but hauls just 1-4 vehicles at once for added security and protection from road debris/elements. However, the extra loading/offloading time does extend overall delivery timelines.

Get a quick and easy quote free from RoadRunner to help decide which shipping method works best for you.

Logistics Chain Overview

The overall logistics chain for vehicle transport involves:

• Initial inspection and pick up at the origin
• Overland freight transit on highways and interstates
• Potential interim storage and consolidation at trucking terminals
• Final delivery inspection and customer hand-off at destination

A variety of players facilitate this process:

• Freight brokers coordinate logistics between shippers (customers) and carriers.
• Trucking companies own the actual carrier equipment for transit.
• Independent truck drivers operate and drive transport trucks and trailers.

Proper coordination by brokers optimizes market dynamics between shipper demand and available carrier capacity. This dramatically simplifies and accelerates the historically very complex car moving procedure for private customers.

Key Factors That Impact Car Shipping Time Frames

Many variables impact car shipping delivery time:

Transport Mode

The transportation method used — open or enclosed — impacts overall time in transit significantly:

• Open auto shipping: Average transit times of 7-14 days
• Enclosed auto transport: Typically takes between 10-21 days

This holds true over similar shipping distances. Enclosed trailers require more time loading each vehicle on/off the truck bed compared to open carriers that simply stack multiple vehicles quickly using ramps.

Overall Distance & Destination

Geographic factors also affect shipping duration:

• Regional vs long-haul: Inter-regional open shipping over 500-1,000 miles (e.g. Midwest to Southeast) is inherently faster than longer cross-country delivery (West Coast to East Coast).
• Rural vs urban destination: Final delivery and unloading the car shipment takes longer for rural destinations and remote areas, compared to drop-off at centrally located terminals in major metro regions.

If your final delivery point is in a slower rural locale, selecting the nearest major transportation hub terminal can shave off the last time-intensive final delivery segment.

Seasonality & Other Events

Car shipping delivery timelines also fluctuate based on broader market conditions:

• Peak season: Late spring to early fall are the busiest shipping seasons, with surging student, family, and military relocations. More demand strains carrier capacity leading to longer transit times.
• Holidays/events: Major holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc. often see traffic jams that significantly slow transport. One-off events like COVID-19 also disrupted delivery chains.

When possible avoid booking car shipments for date ranges with historically high freight volumes.

Size of Vehicle Shipment

The number of cars being shipped impacts time in transit as well:

• Single car: Solo car transport means no delays for consolidation or interim storage with other vehicles.
• Multiple vehicles: Even just 2-3 cars add pit stops for consolidation before final delivery, slightly increasing timelines.

If optimizing for speed, private single-vehicle deliveries have the advantage. That said, shippers can offset delays from multi-car transport through better carrier shipping route optimization.

Average Car Shipping Delivery Timelines

While precise shipping durations can vary widely case-by-case, we can establish reasonable expectations around typical timelines for common car transport scenarios.

Open auto shipping for distances under 500 miles usually completes within 3-7 days on average. Shipments between 500-1,000 miles take a bit longer at 5-10 days to account for the additional road transit time. Standard open shipping deliveries for moves in the 1,000-1,500 mile range span about 7-14 days end-to-end.

Enclosed auto transport tends to take longer overall compared to open methods, due to the extra preparation involved in loading a car safely into an enclosed trailer. For enclosed shipping of vehicles under 1,500 miles, customers can usually expect average delivery window of 10-14 days.

The longest average durations unsurprisingly come with moving a car cross country over 1,500 miles. For these long-distance car transport routes, open shipping transit often complete in a 14-21 day range on average. And enclosed trailers taking interstate trips of over 1,500 miles average delivery timeframes between 21-30 days.

While useful as rough estimates, actual shipping times often vary above or below these averages based on additional factors. Specifics like vehicle modifications, seasonal demands, weather conditions, final delivery location, and shipment sizes all impact precise time in transit as well. But framed properly, these averages paint a broad picture of realistic time expectations.

Tips to Help Expedite Car Shipping Delivery

If you have strict, specific delivery dates or simply need your car faster, here are some useful tips for expedited shipping:

Optimize Destination & Logistics

• Select major transportation hubs in centrally located metro regions rather than rural delivery points. Avoid North Dakota in favor of Minneapolis.
• Leverage enclosed car shipping only for the final delivery leg rather than the entire route. Use open transport for long freeway portions then transfer to enclosed carrier to reach remote destinations.

Strategically Time Your Shipment

• Ship during off-peak fall and winter seasons when road freight sees far less volume and congestion.
• Avoid scheduling deliveries close to major holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc as this is when roads are busiest.

Configure Optimal Transportation Mode

• Use less expensive open shipping which loads/unloads much quicker at transit points than enclosed trailers.
• Consider vehicle repositioning deals from car transporters moving empty fleet trucks and cargo vans. These one-way trips fill unused capacity at discounted rates in return for time flexibility.

While aftermarket modifications don’t impact road transit times directly, removing non-OEM parts can speed loading and prevent damage disputes later — ultimately quickening door-to-door delivery.

What to Expect After Initiating Vehicle Transport

Once you’ve initiated the process of shipping your car with a selected auto transport company, here’s a high-level timeline detailing key milestones to expect:

Initial transport booking & paperwork (1-5 days)

The broker collects details on your shipment parameters and destinations. Initial pickup timeframe windows are discussed. Vehicle inspection requirements are covered to note any pre-existing flaws.

Origin inspection & vehicle pickup (1 day on scheduled date)

On the booked pickup date, the carrier driver will conduct an inspection, compare to any prior damage disclosed, assess vehicle readiness for shipping, and have the shipper sign a contract listing terms and lienholder information. The vehicle is then loaded onto the transport carrier.

Overland transportation (Variable duration)

Truck and loaded vehicles begin highway transit along the route to the final destination. En route, the driver may stop to consolidate additional cars onto the carrier.

Delivery destination inspection & customer hand-off (1 day)

Once at the final destination, receivers conduct inbound inspections checking for any new damage sustained en route. Shippers sign final proofs of delivery to transfer custody back, and the vehicle is offloaded from the carrier.

Post-delivery administration (1-3 days)

The carrier driver submits all paperwork and delivery recaps to the originating broker. The broker finalizes payment paperwork and the shipper typically receives notifications that guaranteed delivery promises have been fulfilled.

The entire door-to-door transport process is streamlined through freight brokerage firms that coordinate pickups between customers and vetted car shipping companies. This simplifies and compresses shipping timelines significantly for private owners versus self-orchestrating such a complex chain of transportation hand-offs on your own.

Choosing the Right Car Shipping Company

Selecting the optimal car shipping partner has significant impacts on transparency, communication, and delivery timeliness throughout your vehicle transport. Here are key areas to evaluate potential car shipping companies:

Industry Experience & Reputation

Look for established players with years or decades of demonstrated history moving cars safely across states. Check online reviews and rating sites to confirm satisfactory experiences from past customers. Repeat business and referrals indicate capabilities to handle unique cases.

Shipment Tracking Technology

Modern systems and mobile apps providing real-time GPS tracking bring confidence through shipment visibility. Push notifications at each transport milestone also facilitate coordination and contingency planning if delays emerge.

Driver Vetting & Equipment Maintenance

Rigorously screened drivers and consistent carrier equipment maintenance demonstrate commitment to safe, damage-free delivery. Multi-point inspection protocols also help early identification of pre-existing flaws to prevent false claims later.

Taking time to carefully vet and select your transport broker sets the foundation for tailored planning based on factors like timing preferences, vehicle types, and delivery constraints. Leverage quotes from multiple auto transport providers, but prioritize experience and capabilities over just chasing the lowest bid. This lays the groundwork for smooth transport even in tricky scenarios.

About RoadRunner’s Car Shipping Services

RoadRunner Auto Transport is a premier car shipping service renowned for its reliability and efficiency. Catering to diverse needs, they offer seamless transportation for vehicles across the nation. Their comprehensive services ensure a hassle-free experience, providing open or enclosed transport options to suit individual preferences.

With a focus on customer satisfaction, RoadRunner employs cutting-edge technology for tracking and timely deliveries, assuring peace of mind throughout the process. Their commitment to safety and professionalism makes them a trusted choice for transporting vehicles, earning accolades for their dedication to quality service in the competitive auto shipping industry.

Frequently Asked Questions on Car Shipping Durations

Still have unanswered questions around car shipment timelines or how to make your delivery faster? We address some of the most common queries:

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car Across the Entire Country?

For coast-to-coast open shipping transport between the West Coast states and the East Coast corridor, average delivery times typically range from 14-21 days. Enclosed trailers take slightly longer – averaging 21-30 days for cross country delivery depending on truck routes.

How Far in Advance Should I Plan and Book Shipments to Ensure Ideal Timelines?

We recommend initiating the booking process around 2-4 weeks prior to your ideal pickup date. This provides leeway to research a wide range of auto transport companies and find one that meets your desired timing.

Does the Condition of My Actual Vehicle Impact Shipping Duration?

Heavily modified vehicles with non-OEM parts or aftermarket chassis modifications can take longer to safely load and unload without damage which may indirectly increase transport timelines. But the vehicle itself does not impact overall highway transit times in most regular cases.

How Long Does International Vehicle Transport to Overseas Destinations Take?

Overseas shipping adds layers of complexity with international freight forwarding, customs import/export procedures, and overseas regulations. Total delivery timelines typically range from 30-60 days for most worldwide destinations with additional buffers built in for potential delays at each stage.

What Other Factors Can Directly Help Speed Up Car and Vehicle Delivery?

Using less expensive open shipping methods, keeping logistics flexible on the destination depot, shipping in off-peak fall and winter seasons, and selecting more centralized delivery locations all help expedite automobile transport and compress shipping timelines.