Electric Vehicle Shipping
Route, vehicle, timing, equipment, and carrier availability determine current pricing and planning windows. Review the written terms before booking.
USDOT #3775668
MC-1349681
Nationwide vehicle shipping coordination. Request a route-specific planning estimate.
Electric Vehicle Shipping — At a Glance
Pricing and timing are shipment-specific estimates. Confirm the assigned carrier, equipment, pickup and transit windows, coverage terms, and cancellation terms in writing before pickup.
Ship Any EV Without the Surcharge
Electric vehicle shipping uses the same open and enclosed carrier types as similarly sized gas-powered vehicles, with a few battery-management preparation steps. Bold coordinates Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, and other EV shipments, but remains the broker, not the insurer. Any cargo coverage comes from the assigned motor carrier's policy, with policy-specific limits, deductibles, exclusions, and claim rules.
How Electric Vehicle Shipping Works
If you have shipped a gas-powered car before, you already know how this works. The process is identical.
Your EV gets loaded onto a multi-car carrier trailer. The driver secures it with wheel harnesses, the same ones used on every other vehicle. The car sits stationary the entire trip. No mileage on the odometer, no wear on the motor or battery, no charging needed during transit.
When the carrier arrives at the destination, the driver releases the harnesses and rolls the EV off the trailer. You inspect the vehicle, sign the Bill of Lading, and drive off.
The only EV-specific part? You need enough battery charge for the driver to roll the car on and off the trailer. We recommend 50-80% charge at pickup. That is it.
How Much Does Electric Vehicle Shipping Cost?
EV shipping costs the same as shipping any car of the same size. There is no electric vehicle surcharge. Here are the current averages:
| Distance | Open Transport | Enclosed Transport |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $630 | $930 |
| 500–2,500 miles | $1,135 | $1,550 |
| Over 2,500 miles | $1,350 | $1,830 |
Pricing depends on the vehicle's size, not its drivetrain. A Tesla Model 3 ships at sedan rates. A Rivian R1S ships at SUV rates. A Ford F-150 Lightning ships at truck rates. Use our cost calculator for a price specific to your EV and route.
Open vs. Enclosed for EVs
Open transport may suit a standard-use EV, while enclosed transport reduces direct weather and road-debris exposure. There is no universal vehicle-value cutoff or fixed premium; compare route-specific written estimates and confirm the assigned carrier's equipment.
How to Prepare Your EV for Shipping
EVs have a few specific prep steps that differ from gas-powered cars. Here is the full checklist:
- Charge to 50-80%. Enough for the driver to load and unload, plus a buffer. Do not charge to 100%. Lithium-ion batteries degrade slightly faster when stored at full capacity for extended periods.
- Turn off Sentry Mode (Tesla). Sentry Mode drains the battery during transit and may trigger alerts when the carrier makes stops. Disable it before pickup.
- Disable scheduled charging. If your EV is set to start charging at a certain time, turn it off. The car will not be plugged in during transit and you do not want it searching for a connection.
- Set the vehicle to transport mode (if available). Some EVs have a dedicated transport or tow mode that puts the car in neutral without activating the drive motor. Check your owner's manual.
- Fold mirrors. Folded mirrors reduce the vehicle's width on the carrier and prevent contact with adjacent vehicles.
- Remove or secure the charge cable. Do not leave the charge cable loose in the trunk. Secure it so it does not rattle around during transit.
- Take photos of all angles. Timestamped photos before pickup are your documentation if anything happens. Photograph the battery charge level too.
- Note the odometer reading. Your EV should not gain any miles during transport. Note the reading before pickup and verify at delivery.
Electric Vehicles We Ship
Bold coordinates eligible electric-vehicle shipments through assigned motor carriers. Equipment and acceptance depend on the specific vehicle, dimensions, condition, route, and carrier. Common requests include:
Popular EV Models
- Tesla — Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X, Cybertruck
- Rivian — R1T, R1S, R2
- Ford — Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning
- Chevrolet — Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Silverado EV
- Hyundai — Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6
- Kia — EV6, EV9
Luxury and Performance EVs
- Porsche — Taycan, Macan Electric
- BMW — iX, i4, i5, i7
- Mercedes-Benz — EQS, EQE, EQB
- Lucid — Air, Gravity
- Volkswagen — ID.4, ID.Buzz
- Polestar — Polestar 2, Polestar 3
Plug-in hybrids (PHEV) ship exactly the same way. Toyota RAV4 Prime, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Volvo XC60 Recharge, BMW X5 xDrive50e -- all good. Same process, same pricing.
What About the Battery? (Your Questions Answered)
Battery concerns are the #1 question we get from EV owners. Here is the truth:
- The battery is not a safety risk during transport. EV batteries are designed to survive crashes, extreme temperatures, and severe road conditions. Sitting on a carrier trailer is the most benign environment your battery will ever experience.
- The battery will not drain significantly. Modern EVs have minimal parasitic draw when parked and powered off. You might lose 1-3% over a 7-14 day transport. Turning off Sentry Mode and other monitoring features reduces this even further.
- Transport does not degrade battery health. Battery degradation happens from charge cycling, extreme temperatures, and time. Sitting stationary on a trailer for a week does none of those things. Your battery health percentage will be the same at delivery.
- No special hazmat permits required. Ground transport of EVs requires no special permits, certifications, or hazardous material handling. Only air freight of lithium batteries has special regulations, and that does not apply here.
Why EV Owners Ship with Bold
EV buyers tend to do more research than average car buyers. They compare specs. They read the fine print. They want to know exactly what they are paying for. We like that.
- Vehicle-specific written estimate — Disclose the exact EV model, dimensions, weight, operability, and equipment needs. Any change may require a written price change accepted by the customer.
- assigned-carrier insurance-document review — Cargo coverage, if applicable, is controlled by the assigned carrier's policy. Confirm the limit, deductible, exclusions, valuation rules, and claim requirements against the EV's documented value before pickup.
- Dedicated coordinator — One person who knows your vehicle, your route, and your timeline. Proactive updates, not a call center.
- Both open and enclosed options — Open transport for everyday EVs. Enclosed transport for performance and luxury models. Your coordinator helps you choose the right option for your specific vehicle.
- Transparent pricing — The amount shown is a route-specific estimate based on the disclosed vehicle, addresses, dates, operability, and requested service. A change to those details may require a written price change accepted by the customer. Changes to disclosed details are handled in writing and require customer acceptance.
Get Your EV Shipping Price
Request an estimate based on the exact EV, route, dates, operability, and equipment needs.
Instant Car Shipping Cost Calculator
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Popular Car Shipping Locations
Explore address-based vehicle-transport routes. Pickup and delivery depend on current carrier availability and safe, legal access.
Electric Vehicle Shipping FAQs
Ship your EV with confidence
Request a route-specific EV estimate based on the disclosed vehicle and service details, with assigned-carrier insurance-document review.
Get Your EV Shipping Price →Or call (469) 942-5444