New Research Examines Auto Transport Costs, Delivery Times, Vehicle Types, State Differences, and Industry Trends Across the United States
Transportli has published its latest Car Shipping Statistics 2026, providing an in-depth look at auto transport pricing, delivery times, route differences, and freight broker activity across the United States. Unlike industry roundups that compile figures from other websites, the research draws on Transportli's own pricing and delivery records, alongside publicly available Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data.
The study brings together 1,545 priced shipping lanes covering 48 states and Washington, DC, as well as 377 delivered vehicle orders with recorded pickup and delivery dates. It also incorporates a weekly car shipping price index and an analysis of public freight broker records. The objective is to give consumers, businesses, automotive professionals, and industry researchers a clearer understanding of how vehicle transportation works in practice.
Real Data Reveals What Car Shipping Costs in 2026
One of the central findings concerns the relationship between shipping distance and transportation costs. According to Transportli's November 2026 lane data, the median price to ship a running sedan on an open trailer was $697 across the 1,545 priced lanes.
The research also found that shorter journeys generally cost more per mile than longer routes. Sedan transportation averaged approximately $2.06 per mile for journeys under 250 miles, compared with $0.56 per mile for trips of 2,000 miles or more. This difference reflects the fixed operational expenses involved in loading, unloading, and repositioning transport vehicles, which become more efficiently distributed across longer distances.
Vehicle type also influences transportation prices. Transportli's findings show that pickups cost a median of 44% more than sedans on the same routes, while vans cost 41% more and SUVs cost approximately 6% more. These differences highlight why customers should consider vehicle specifications when comparing auto transport estimates.
Delivery Times and Route Differences
Cost is only one part of the car shipping decision. Delivery timing can also influence planning, particularly for people relocating, purchasing vehicles from another state, or coordinating dealership inventory.
Transportli analysed 377 completed orders using actual pickup and delivery dates. The results showed that the median delivery time was one day for journeys between 500 and 1,000 miles, two days for routes between 1,000 and 1,500 miles, and five days for journeys of 2,000 miles or more.
Across the recorded orders, 82% of vehicles were delivered within three days of pickup. These figures provide a practical reference for customers while recognising that actual delivery schedules depend on route conditions, carrier availability, collection arrangements, and other operational factors.
Another important finding involved transportation direction. Of the 287 routes priced in both directions, 64% showed a price difference of at least 10%, depending on which direction the vehicle travelled. The median difference was 14%. This demonstrates how carrier availability and the balance of vehicle movements between locations can influence shipping prices.
Understanding State-Level Shipping Costs
The study also examines differences between states, identifying locations where transportation prices were relatively lower or higher compared with routes of similar distances.
In Transportli's analysis, Texas was the least expensive state to ship a vehicle from, at 18% below a typical lane of comparable length. Montana was the most expensive state to ship into, at 44% above the typical comparison level.
These findings demonstrate that geographical location can influence auto transport pricing beyond mileage alone. Population density, carrier availability, demand, and the balance of freight movements can all contribute to differences between routes.
Industry Insights Through FMCSA Data
Beyond consumer pricing and delivery information, Transportli's research examines the broader freight brokerage landscape using public FMCSA records.
The analysis identified 25,081 freight brokers with active authority in the dataset. It also found that 35.3% had received at least one revocation notice during the five-year period examined. These figures cover property freight brokers generally and should not be interpreted as statistics specific to auto transport brokers alone.
By including this information, Transportli provides additional context for understanding the wider industry in which vehicle transportation services operate.
A Data Resource for Consumers and Automotive Businesses
Transportli aims to make auto transport information more transparent through regularly reviewed pricing figures, delivery records, and industry research. The company updates its statistics when underlying data changes and displays dates alongside its tables to help readers understand the context of individual findings.
The Car Shipping Statistics 2026 report is intended to support consumers comparing transportation options, automotive businesses planning vehicle movements, and researchers looking for practical information about the US auto transport market.
Readers can explore the complete findings, methodology, pricing comparisons, and delivery-time analysis through Transportli's official statistics page.
Media Contact:
Steve Palmer
Email: support@transportli.com
Phone: 206-279-2311
Website: https://transportli.com/auto-transport/car-shipping-statistics/
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