Tesla Auto 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.
Tesla Auto 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.
How much does it cost to ship a Tesla?
Tesla Shipping — Start With the Exact Vehicle
Tesla models and software versions differ in dimensions, weight, ground clearance, keys, low-voltage architecture, towing procedures, and vehicle settings. A generic sequence copied from another model year may be wrong for the car at pickup.
Before accepting an estimate, disclose the VIN or exact model year and configuration, operability, charge state, warning messages, modifications, dimensions, and access method. Use the current Tesla owner manual for the towing or transport procedure.
Bold is the transport broker. The assigned motor carrier performs the shipment, so review its authority, capacity, equipment photos, loading plan, and policy-specific cargo terms before pickup.
Illustrative Tesla Shipping Planning Ranges
These figures are examples for planning only; they are not live rates, bookable offers, or guaranteed prices. The written route estimate controls and may differ based on ZIP codes, exact configuration, weight, operability, equipment, dates, access, and carrier availability.
| Model | Open (LA→Miami ~2,750 mi) | Enclosed (LA→Miami) | Open (NY→FL ~1,280 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 3 (2017–present) | $1,150–$1,400 | $1,650–$2,000 | $800–$975 |
| Model Y (2020–present) | $1,200–$1,475 | $1,725–$2,100 | $850–$1,050 |
| Model S (incl. Plaid) | $1,300–$1,600 | $1,850–$2,300 | $925–$1,150 |
| Model X (incl. Plaid) | $1,400–$1,725 | $2,000–$2,500 | $1,000–$1,250 |
| Cybertruck | $1,500–$1,850 | $2,200–$2,800 | $1,075–$1,325 |
| Roadster (2008–2011 1st gen) | Request current enclosed option | $1,800–$2,400 | Request current enclosed option |
Use the car shipping cost calculator to request a current route-specific estimate. The returned amount remains an estimate subject to the written terms and disclosed shipment details.
Open or Enclosed? The Honest Answer for Tesla
Open and enclosed transport have different exposure, equipment availability, and price. Neither is risk-free, and model name or vehicle value alone does not dictate the choice. Compare the written options for your vehicle and route.
Reasons a customer may request enclosed transport include:
- A collector, show, auction, custom-painted, or unusually high-value vehicle.
- Customer preference for reduced road and weather exposure.
- Low clearance or modifications that call for specific enclosed loading equipment.
- A route or handoff where enclosed access and dimensions have been confirmed.
Use the Current Tesla Towing Instructions
Tesla towing and transport procedures can vary by model, model year, software, low-voltage condition, and operability. Use the current owner manual for the exact vehicle. The summary below is a coordination checklist, not an operating sequence:
- Identify the exact model and open its current towing section.
- Confirm whether the vehicle is operable and whether its displays, brakes, steering, and low-voltage system are available.
- Have the carrier explain whether it plans to drive, roll, or winch the vehicle.
- Use only manufacturer-authorized tow-eye, lifting, and loading points.
- Have the owner or another qualified person perform any on-screen or physical procedure when the carrier is ready.
Do not enable a towing or transport setting early or leave it active based on a generic duration claim. Follow the current vehicle instructions and the actual loading plan.
State of Charge and Connected Features
There is no single percentage on this page that replaces current Tesla guidance for every model, battery condition, route, or delay. Consult the owner manual or Tesla service guidance and confirm enough usable charge for loading and delivery. Review:
- The charge level recommended for the exact model and expected time in transit.
- Sentry Mode, cabin overheat, climate, scheduled charging, and other features that may consume energy.
- Whether the vehicle has an existing low-voltage or high-voltage warning.
- How delivery access will work if charge or the low-voltage system is insufficient.
Use a physical key card or another access method approved for the exact vehicle and handoff. Do not assume a driver's personal phone should be authorized.
If the Vehicle Will Not Wake, Unlock, Steer, or Roll
Low-voltage architecture and emergency access procedures vary across Tesla models and revisions. A generic jump-start or panel-removal sequence can damage the vehicle or create an electrical hazard. Do not improvise.
- Stop loading or unloading and secure the area.
- Open the current owner-manual instructions for the exact model and condition.
- Contact Tesla Roadside Assistance or a qualified Tesla service provider when the documented procedure is not clear or cannot be completed safely.
- Have the assigned carrier document the condition, delay, and any additional service or equipment before work proceeds.
Disclose existing warnings or recent low-voltage problems before dispatch so the carrier can decide whether it will accept the vehicle and what loading equipment is needed.
Tesla Service Center Pickup Logistics
Policies can vary by location and may change. Contact the specific service center or delivery location before dispatch and confirm:
- Release authorization: What document, app action, identification, or payment status is required?
- Pickup contact and hours: Who can confirm the vehicle is ready, and when may a commercial carrier arrive?
- Vehicle preparation: Who will provide the key and perform any manufacturer-authorized towing or transport steps?
- Access: Is there a gate, bay, curb, height, length, or street restriction for the proposed trailer? See access planning.
Tesla-Specific Pre-Pickup Checklist
The Tesla-specific items below stack on top of our general pre-pickup checklist (charge state, Sentry mode) covering photos, fuel level, fluid leaks, and key handoff that apply to every shipment regardless of drivetrain.
- Check current Tesla guidance. Confirm charge, towing or transport, alarm, climate, scheduled charging, Sentry Mode, and low-voltage instructions for the exact vehicle.
- Address warnings and operability. Disclose low charge, low-voltage warnings, disabled steering or brakes, collision damage, or inability to enter an authorized transport state.
- Provide an approved access method. Confirm which key card, key, or other authorized method the driver will receive; do not depend on an unplanned phone handoff.
- Confirm the loading plan. The owner or qualified person should perform manufacturer-authorized steps when the carrier is ready.
- Take photos of every panel, wheel, and interior. Timestamped. Screenshot the SOC and odometer reading from the touchscreen.
- Confirm mirrors and dimensions. Follow current manual guidance and verify trailer clearance.
- Remove valuables and secure approved accessories. Personal-property coverage should not be assumed.
Bill of Lading Inspection — Tesla-Specific Points
The Bill of Lading records observed vehicle condition at pickup and delivery. It does not create coverage or guarantee a claim outcome. Consider documenting:
- Front fascia / frunk lip: Aluminum panel, dents easily. Photograph from low angles.
- Wheel faces: Tesla wheels (especially Plaid 21" and Cybertruck 20") scuff if loaded carelessly with non-soft straps.
- Glass roof (Model 3/Y/S): Photograph the full roof glass. Cracks from impacts during loading are rare but happen.
- Charge port door: Open it during inspection to confirm the actuator and pin are intact.
- Falcon wing hinges (Model X): Photograph hinge seals and joints. These are expensive and sensitive.
- Cybertruck stainless panels: Document any panel gaps and existing scuffs — stainless shows everything.
- Touchscreen and warnings: Record whether the vehicle wakes and any existing warning message; the carrier's policy still controls claim coverage.
Dealer, Auction, Salvage, and International Logistics
Release rules vary by dealer, auction, service center, and seller. Confirm payment clearance, release documents, pickup hours, storage deadlines, exact vehicle location, access, and required carrier credentials before dispatch.
For a damaged, flooded, salvage, or non-operable Tesla, disclose battery condition, warnings, leaks, collision damage, fire history, rolling and steering condition, keys, and facility loading support. The carrier decides whether it can accept the vehicle. See auction transport planning.
For international moves, Bold can coordinate a U.S. domestic leg to a port or other handoff point. Ocean transport, customs, and destination-country services use separate providers and contracts. See UAE and Germany planning pages.
Questions to Ask Any Tesla Transport Broker
- Who is the assigned motor carrier, and can I verify its authority?
- What exact trailer, capacity, and loading method will be used?
- Will the owner and carrier use the current Tesla instructions for the exact vehicle?
- What are the carrier's cargo limit, deductible, exclusions, and valuation terms?
- How will service-center, dealer, auction, or port release requirements be confirmed?
- What happens if the vehicle will not wake, unlock, steer, or roll at pickup or delivery?
Questions to Verify for Luxury Vehicle Transport
Luxury, exotic, restored, and low-clearance vehicles can require carrier-specific equipment and cargo terms. Confirm the following items for the assigned carrier before pickup rather than relying on a universal panel, equipment, timing, or coverage promise.
- Authority: verify current FMCSA operating authority and carrier identity.
- Coverage: request the cargo certificate and review applicable limits, exclusions, deductible, and declared-value requirements.
- Equipment: confirm the trailer configuration, loading method, ground-clearance plan, and tie-down method for the actual vehicle.
- Condition records: photograph the vehicle and complete the pickup and delivery Bills of Lading.
- Timing: treat pickup and carrier transit windows as estimates unless the accepted written terms expressly state otherwise.
- Status options: ask what tracking or status tools the assigned carrier provides.
Bold Auto Transport is an FMCSA-authorized broker under USDOT 3775668 and MC 1349681. Carrier equipment, availability, price, and cargo terms are shipment-specific and should be reviewed in writing.
What customers say
Real reviews pulled live from our public review feed.
We had a good experience with Bold Auto Transport. Their price was reasonable, they showed up on time to get the car, transported it cross country, and it arrived when they said it would - in good condition. It was dirty on the outside but we knew the truck …
Great price. I do hate all the texting even though I can text. Theres a lot of money being spent here and a valuable piece of property being transported a simple phone call would do. Would have given them a 5 but my transport pushed back because of driver i…
I cannot say enough good things about this company. They were able to have my car and motorcycle picked up on separate occasions from my house in the mountains in California. No other company would even try to get someone to come to my home because I live an h…
Tesla Shipping FAQs
The Tesla-specific questions we get on every booking — Tow Mode, charge state, service center pickup, and pricing.
Do I need enclosed transport for my Tesla?
It is a customer choice informed by value, condition, modifications, route, weather exposure, access, and budget. Compare open and enclosed service, then confirm the assigned carrier's actual equipment and policy terms in writing. No method is risk-free.
How do I put my Tesla in Transport Mode for the carrier?
Use the current Tesla owner manual for the exact model, model year, software version, and vehicle condition. Menus and procedures can change. Perform only the manufacturer-authorized towing or transport steps when the carrier is ready and the loading plan calls for them.
What charge level should my Tesla be at for pickup?
Follow current Tesla or service guidance for the exact vehicle and battery condition. Confirm enough usable charge for loading and delivery, and review Sentry Mode, climate, scheduled charging, keys, and connected-service settings without relying on one universal percentage.
Can you pick up my Tesla from a Tesla service center?
Bold can coordinate a service-center pickup when the location permits third-party transport. Ask that specific location what release authorization, identity, payment status, hours, access, and carrier credentials it requires; procedures can vary.
Do you charge an EV surcharge for Tesla shipments?
Bold prepares a shipment-specific estimate rather than promising a universal EV pricing rule. Size, weight, operability, equipment, route, dates, access, and carrier availability can all affect the estimate. Review each line item in writing.
Is my Tesla insured during transport?
Coverage comes from the assigned motor carrier's policy; it is not automatically full value. Confirm the actual limit, deductible, exclusions, valuation basis, and claim process before pickup. Bold coordinates the shipment but is not the insurer. See the coverage guide.
Popular Car Shipping Locations
Explore address-based vehicle-transport routes. Pickup and delivery depend on current carrier availability and safe, legal access.
For white-glove handling, insurance options, and enclosed pricing across every marque, see Luxury Car Transport. For climate-controlled, lift-gate equipped, hard-sided trailers across all luxury and exotic marques, see Enclosed Auto Transport.
Need a route-specific estimate?
Share your route, vehicle, and timing. Review the current estimate and written terms before you book.
USDOT #3775668 · MC #1349681 · BBB A+ Accredited · Carrier coverage checked at assignment