1-2
DAYS TO PICKUP, NOVA & HAMPTON ROADS
$700-$1,700
OPEN TRANSPORT, BY DESTINATION
I-95 · I-81 · I-64
PRIMARY CARRIER CORRIDORS
Key Takeaways
Typical cost: Virginia to Florida runs $700-$1,000 on an open carrier, Virginia to Texas $800-$1,100, cross-country to California $1,300-$1,700, and moves within the Northeast $400-$700. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent.
Transit time: Florida takes 2-4 days, Texas 3-5 days, and the West Coast 7-10 days once the vehicle is picked up.
Seasonality: Snowbird traffic flows south on I-95 from October through December, and military PCS cycles add summer volume around Hampton Roads.
Savings tip: I-95 corridor density means daily carrier flow through Northern Virginia and Richmond, so flexible dates can cut $75-$150 off your price.
Process: You get a dedicated coordinator and a vetted, insured carrier. Nothing is due until a driver is assigned, and your vehicle is tracked by GPS throughout.
Popular Car Shipping Routes from Virginia
Virginia sits on the I-95 mid-Atlantic corridor and holds the largest naval concentration in the country at Hampton Roads, so carriers pass through daily and pickup windows in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads run 1-2 days. Open transport prices between $500 and $1,400 depending on destination, with most traffic moving on I-95, I-81, and I-64. These are the routes we book most often from Virginia.
- Virginia to Florida - 750-950 miles, 2-4 days (I-95 south, see the Florida guide)
- Virginia to Texas - 1,200-1,400 miles, 3-5 days
- Virginia to California - 2,600-2,800 miles, 7-10 days
- Virginia to New York - 250-380 miles, 1-2 days
- Virginia to Chicago - 700-850 miles, 2-3 days
Military Moves Around Hampton Roads
Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and the surrounding base cluster generate steady vehicle shipments year-round. Car haulers cannot drive onto the bases, so carriers stage just outside the gates and your coordinator plans the exact meet with you and the driver before pickup day. During PCS season from June through August, carrier space books up 2-3 weeks out, so lock your dates early if you have orders in hand.
Pickup and Delivery Across Virginia
Northern Virginia’s density means direct door-to-door service on most residential streets, and carriers running the DC market often stage in NoVA lots for quick handoffs. The Shenandoah Valley and southwest Virginia are served by carriers running I-81, which can add a day to pickup compared with the I-95 side of the state. Wherever you are, your coordinator confirms the exact pickup spot with you and the driver before arrival.
Virginia Car Shipping FAQs
Most standard sedans and SUVs run $700-$1,000 on an open carrier from Virginia to Florida. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent. During the October through December snowbird push, southbound prices sit toward the top of that range, so booking 2-3 weeks ahead helps you lock a better rate.
Cross-country runs of 2,600-2,800 miles typically price at $1,300-$1,700 for open transport. That works out to a lower cost per mile than shorter routes because the carrier keeps the vehicle for the full run. Enclosed service typically adds 40-60 percent to the open price.
Pickup in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads usually happens within 1-2 days of booking. Once the car is loaded, count on 1-2 days to New York, 2-3 days to Chicago, 2-4 days to Florida, 3-5 days to Texas, and 7-10 days to the West Coast.
Car haulers cannot drive onto Norfolk Naval Station or the other bases, so drivers stage just outside the gates at an agreed meeting point. Your coordinator plans the meet with you and the driver before pickup day and handles the same routine at the destination base. It is standard practice for every PCS shipment we book.
June through August is peak PCS season across Hampton Roads, and demand for carrier space rises sharply. Book 2-3 weeks ahead in that window. The rest of the year a few days of lead time is usually enough, given how much carrier traffic runs the I-95 corridor.
Often not directly. Many NoVA townhouse streets and cul-de-sacs are too tight for a 75-foot rig, so drivers arrange to meet at a nearby shopping center, commuter lot, or wide arterial road. Your coordinator confirms the exact spot before pickup day, and it usually adds only minutes to the process.
Open transport is the right choice for most vehicles and prices at $700-$1,700 from Virginia depending on destination. Enclosed typically adds 40-60 percent and makes sense for classics, exotics, and low-clearance cars, and some owners choose it in winter to keep road salt off the vehicle.
Most carriers allow up to 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk or below the window line. Anything more can trigger extra charges or a refused pickup, and personal items are not covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance, so keep valuables out of the vehicle.
Yes. Every carrier we assign holds active cargo insurance, with coverage up to $2M available for high-value vehicles, and we can send you the certificate of insurance on request before pickup. Nothing is due until a driver is assigned to your shipment.
