Car Shipping When Moving to a New Home
The movers take the boxes, a carrier takes the car. CHD picks up typically within 1-3 days of booking and delivers door-to-door in all 48 contiguous states, so the car can go ahead of you or arrive after you land.
- Pickup typically within 1-3 days, timed around the moving truck
- Most carriers allow around 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk
- Two-car households can ship one and drive one, or ship both
Car shipping when moving takes the second-biggest item in your household off the to-do list: the movers take the boxes, and a carrier takes the car. Car Haul Direct picks up typically within 1-3 days of booking and delivers door-to-door in all 48 contiguous states, so you can ship the car ahead and have it waiting, or fly out and receive it after you land.
Reviewed by Mike Fergusson, EVP Operations, Car Haul Direct
One less thing on moving week
Moving week is already full. Shipping the car takes one item off the list.
1-3 Day Pickup
Metro pickups typically happen within 1-3 days of booking, so the car can load before or after the moving truck.
48-State Coverage
Door-to-door delivery reaches all 48 contiguous states, from short hops to cross-country moves.
$2M Cargo Insurance
Your car is covered by $2M cargo insurance from pickup to delivery.
FMCSA-Licensed Broker
CHD operates under USDOT 4321158 and assigns carriers to your route and dates.
Around 100 Lbs in Trunk
Most carriers allow around 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk, kept below the window line.
Two-Car Handling
Both family cars can ship on one order with one pickup contact and coordinated delivery.
Timed Around the Moving Truck
The figures that govern a CHD move-related shipment.
1-3
Day Pickup Window
Metro pickup after booking, so the car loads before or after the moving truck.
$2M
Cargo Insurance Coverage
From pickup to delivery, documented on the Bill of Lading at both ends.
48
Contiguous States Covered
Door-to-door delivery, from short hops to cross-country moves.
100
Lbs of Personal Items
What most carriers allow in the trunk, kept below the window line.
Car shipping when moving: quick answers
Timing, sequencing, and what you can leave in the car.
How does car shipping when moving work?
You book the car like any other shipment and time it against the moving truck. Pickup typically happens within 1-3 days of booking; you can ship the car ahead so it waits at the new address, or fly out and receive it after the movers. Delivery is door-to-door with a Bill of Lading inspection.
Should I ship my car before or after the movers?
Shipping ahead works best for most families: the car leaves 1-3 days after booking and waits at the destination. If you need the car until the last day, schedule pickup for moving day or the day after and receive it after you fly out.
Can I pack boxes in my car when I ship it?
Most carriers allow around 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk, kept below the window line, while the cabin and seats stay clear. Items inside are not covered the way the car is, so keep valuables on the moving truck.
Who ships a car during a move?
Families Moving Cross Country
One adult already has to wrangle the moving truck route; nobody wants a second 2,000-mile drive. Ship the car instead.
Two-Car Households
Ship one car and drive the other, or ship both on a single order. Either way, one contact coordinates the pair.
Renters on a Deadline
Lease end and lease start rarely line up. The typical 1-3 day pickup window bends around your dates, not the reverse.
First-Time Car Shippers
If you have never shipped a car, the car shipping timeline guide walks through booking to delivery step by step.
Employees With Paid Moves
When an employer is covering the relocation, your coordinator works to the company's schedule and paperwork.
Service options for household moves
Six ways the standard CHD service set maps onto moving week.
Open Transport
The standard for household moves and the most economical choice for daily drivers. Open carriers run every major corridor, keeping 1-3 day pickup windows realistic.
Enclosed Transport
For the family car that is not a daily driver. Enclosed typically runs 40 to 60 percent above open on the same lane.
Door-to-Door Transport
Pickup at the old address and delivery as close to the new one as the truck can safely reach. No terminal visits during moving week.
Expedited Pickup
When the closing date moves or the movers reschedule, expedited service tightens the pickup window to match the new plan. State the new date at booking and the quote reflects it.
Timing Guidance
The timeline guide shows what happens from booking to delivery with real day counts. Read it before you lock dates with the movers so the car and the truck do not collide.
Insurance Coverage
$2M cargo insurance covers the car in transit, one policy fewer to think about while everything else is in boxes. The Bill of Lading at both ends documents condition for any claim.
From quote to new driveway in 5 steps
Five steps that fit around the moving truck, not against it.
1. Quote the Route Early
Run the instant quote 2-4 weeks before the move so you plan around real numbers, such as $900-$1,400 on New York to Florida.
2. Pick the Date Against the Movers
Ship ahead so the car waits at the destination, or schedule pickup during moving week and fly out.
3. Loading Day
The driver documents the car on the Bill of Lading; most carriers allow around 100 lbs in the trunk, below the window line.
4. Transit While You Travel
The car moves while you handle the move, and your CHD contact confirms progress.
5. Delivery at the New Home
Inspect against the Bill of Lading and sign. The car is home before half the boxes are unpacked.
Car shipping when moving FAQ
Cost against driving, timing with movers, two-car moves, and stand-ins.
Driving looks cheaper until you count fuel, hotels, meals, time off work, and wear on a long move. Shipping converts all of that into one quoted number. For short hops of a few hundred miles, driving usually wins; past that, compare a real quote.
Work backward from move-in day. Book 2-4 weeks out, then choose: ship ahead so the car waits at the destination, or schedule pickup inside the typical 1-3 day window during moving week and receive it after you arrive. Your coordinator confirms the window once a carrier is assigned.
Yes. Two-car households can ship one and drive one, or ship both on a single order with one pickup contact and coordinated delivery. Shipping both often simplifies moving week, since nobody has to drive a second car behind the moving truck.
Yes. Any designated adult can release the car and hand over keys at pickup, and another adult can receive it at delivery. This is how ship-ahead moves work: the car waits with someone you trust until you arrive. Name your stand-ins when you book.
The carrier delivers to the address you named, and any designated adult can receive it, walk the inspection, and sign the Bill of Lading. Many families have the car waiting with a friend or relative at the new home before the moving truck arrives.
Two to four weeks ahead gives the best carrier selection, though pickup typically happens within 1-3 days of booking in metro areas. Summer is peak season for household moves. Outlying addresses can add 1-2 days to the pickup window. Earlier booking widens your carrier options.
Yes. Every shipment carries $2M cargo insurance from pickup to delivery, and the Bill of Lading documents the car’s condition. If anything new appears at delivery, note it on the paperwork before signing; that record supports a cargo claim under the policy.
Latest Car Shipping Guides
Straight answers on cost, timing, and prep for every shipment.
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Transit runs 1 to 3 days under 500 miles and 7 to 10 days coast to coast.
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Check the price, the payment terms, and the federal authority record before any money moves.
Why Car Shipping Quotes Change Before Pickup
A quote is an offer price to carriers, not a locked fare, so it can move.
Get an Instant Quote for Your Move
Price your move route in the instant quote calculator on this page, then pick the pickup window that fits around the moving truck.