Auto Transport Rates by State — 2026 Database
Per-mile rates, enclosed premiums, and transit times for every U.S. state. Q1 2026 planning benchmarks from Bold's pricing model. Route-specific estimates can differ. Freely citable under CC-BY 4.0.
How to read these numbers
Auto transport rates are computed per mile and depend on three main factors: total distance (longer hauls cost less per mile), carrier availability on the specific lane, and vehicle class. The per-mile rate in the table below is an average for a sedan-class vehicle on an open carrier. Actual quotes from Bold's calculator will vary based on your specific origin ZIP, destination ZIP, vehicle, and the current fuel surcharge.
The enclosed premium column shows the typical percentage markup for enclosed (hard-sided trailer) transport over open transport on the same lane. Enclosed is the preferred option for luxury, classic, exotic, and high-value vehicles.
Transit time is the expected window from pickup to delivery, once a carrier is dispatched. It does not include the pickup scheduling window, which is typically 1-5 days depending on lane demand and whether you choose expedited service.
State-by-state rate table
| State | Open $/mi | Enclosed premium | Transit (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $0.68 | +38% | 3-5 |
| Alaska | $1.85 | +45% | 10-18 |
| Arizona | $0.62 | +35% | 3-6 |
| Arkansas | $0.70 | +38% | 3-5 |
| California | $0.54 | +32% | 4-7 |
| Colorado | $0.72 | +38% | 4-7 |
| Connecticut | $0.66 | +36% | 2-4 |
| Delaware | $0.68 | +36% | 2-4 |
| Florida | $0.56 | +33% | 4-7 |
| Georgia | $0.62 | +35% | 3-5 |
| Hawaii | $2.10 | +50% | 14-21 |
| Idaho | $0.78 | +40% | 5-8 |
| Illinois | $0.62 | +35% | 3-5 |
| Indiana | $0.64 | +36% | 3-5 |
| Iowa | $0.70 | +37% | 3-5 |
| Kansas | $0.70 | +37% | 3-5 |
| Kentucky | $0.66 | +36% | 3-5 |
| Louisiana | $0.64 | +35% | 3-5 |
| Maine | $0.82 | +42% | 4-7 |
| Maryland | $0.64 | +35% | 2-4 |
| Massachusetts | $0.66 | +36% | 2-4 |
| Michigan | $0.64 | +36% | 3-5 |
| Minnesota | $0.72 | +38% | 4-6 |
| Mississippi | $0.68 | +37% | 3-5 |
| Missouri | $0.66 | +36% | 3-5 |
| Montana | $0.84 | +43% | 5-9 |
| Nebraska | $0.72 | +38% | 4-6 |
| Nevada | $0.60 | +33% | 3-6 |
| New Hampshire | $0.74 | +39% | 3-5 |
| New Jersey | $0.62 | +34% | 2-4 |
| New Mexico | $0.72 | +38% | 4-7 |
| New York | $0.58 | +33% | 2-4 |
| North Carolina | $0.62 | +35% | 3-5 |
| North Dakota | $0.82 | +42% | 5-8 |
| Ohio | $0.62 | +35% | 3-5 |
| Oklahoma | $0.68 | +36% | 3-5 |
| Oregon | $0.70 | +38% | 5-8 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.60 | +34% | 2-4 |
| Rhode Island | $0.68 | +37% | 2-4 |
| South Carolina | $0.64 | +35% | 3-5 |
| South Dakota | $0.82 | +42% | 5-8 |
| Tennessee | $0.64 | +35% | 3-5 |
| Texas | $0.58 | +33% | 3-6 |
| Utah | $0.70 | +37% | 4-7 |
| Vermont | $0.78 | +41% | 3-5 |
| Virginia | $0.62 | +34% | 2-4 |
| Washington | $0.64 | +35% | 4-7 |
| West Virginia | $0.72 | +38% | 3-5 |
| Wisconsin | $0.68 | +37% | 3-5 |
| Wyoming | $0.84 | +43% | 5-8 |
| District of Columbia | $0.64 | +35% | 2-4 |
Per-mile rate = Q1 2026 sedan-class open-transport planning benchmark. Enclosed premium = modeled markup over the open benchmark. Transit = estimated days after carrier assignment. Methodology documented below.
Key observations
- Lowest per-mile rates are on long-haul corridors through California ($0.54), Florida ($0.56), and Texas ($0.58) — high carrier density and balanced backhaul volume drive rates down.
- Highest per-mile rates are in Alaska ($1.85/mi, water-transport leg required) and Hawaii ($2.10/mi, container shipping from West Coast ports). Excluding those two states, the most expensive land-based corridors are Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming ($0.82-$0.84/mi) — low shipment volume + long empty-return distances.
- Enclosed premiums range from 32% to 50%. Bigger premiums apply to states with fewer enclosed carriers on the lane (Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Montana).
- Fastest transit times are between East Coast neighbors (2-4 days) and within the Sunbelt. Longer transits apply to cross-country routes and anywhere requiring Rocky Mountain passes.
Methodology
The table publishes Q1 2026 state-level planning benchmarks from Bold Auto Transport's pricing model for a sedan-class vehicle. It is not a dump of customer transactions, a carrier bid feed, or a shipment-count sample. The model considers distance, lane, vehicle class, equipment, seasonality, fuel, and expected carrier availability; an actual quote uses the specific shipment details.
The reporting period and publication date stay visible so readers can judge freshness. A later quarter is published only after its reference outputs and methodology are reviewed; the Q1 values remain labeled as Q1 rather than being silently presented as current live market prices.
Variables measured: Per-mile rate (USD/mi), enclosed premium (%), transit time (days). Covariates excluded from the public table but available on request: vehicle weight class, seasonal index, fuel surcharge delta, carrier-type distribution.
Data license: This dataset is published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY 4.0). Journalists, researchers, and competitors are free to cite, republish, or build upon these numbers with attribution to Bold Auto Transport and a link to this page.
Citation format (APA):
Bold Auto Transport. (2026).
Bold Auto Transport U.S. State-by-State Car Shipping Rate Database.
Retrieved from https://boldautotransport.com/rates
Get a route-specific estimate
The numbers above are state-level planning benchmarks. For an estimate based on your origin, destination, vehicle, timing, and transport type, use Bold's calculator. Final written terms depend on the shipment details and current carrier availability.
Estimate my route →About Bold Auto Transport: Licensed auto transport company (USDOT #3775668, MC-1349681) headquartered in Dallas, TX. BBB A+ accredited. Verify at FMCSA SAFER.