Shipping a Non-Running Car (2026): Cost, Surcharge & What to Expect
Shipping a non-running car in 2026 follows the same broker-and-carrier model as a standard sedan, but with a $150–$300 surcharge over running rate adjustment for size, equipment, or service requirements. The numbers below reflect tracked Q1 2026 shipments in our network.
Real non-running car shipping prices on common routes
| Route | Distance | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix → Houston (non-running) | ~1,170 mi | $1,100–$1,400 |
| Atlanta → Chicago (non-running) | ~720 mi | $850–$1,100 |
| Detroit → Miami (non-running) | ~1,410 mi | $1,200–$1,500 |
| Los Angeles → Dallas (non-running) | ~1,440 mi | $1,100–$1,400 |
These are open-transport prices unless marked enclosed. Larger non-running cars and premium-configuration vehicles will land at the upper end of these ranges. For a custom estimate based on your exact route, vehicle, and timing, use our cost calculator.
What you’ll pay extra for
The non-running car premium covers a few specific things:
- Non-running means anything that won’t drive on and off the carrier under its own power. The vehicle still needs to roll, steer, and brake — if it can’t, you need a flatbed-tow service first or an additional surcharge.
- Winch loading adds $150–$300 to the base rate and requires a carrier with the right equipment. Not every carrier in a broker’s network has a winch — confirm at booking.
- If the vehicle has flat tires, no battery, or no key, that’s another step beyond non-running and may require a forklift or specialty equipment ($400–$800 extra).
- Auctioned, salvage-title, and storage-lot vehicles often need extra paperwork (a release form, a power of attorney, or a copy of the auction receipt) — ask the carrier what’s required for your scenario.
- Insurance is the same as a running vehicle, but document any pre-existing damage thoroughly because the vehicle’s condition makes claim disputes more common.
Open vs. enclosed transport
For most non-running cars, open transport is the standard and gets you to the target price range above. Enclosed transport adds 35–55% to the cost but is worth considering for vehicles valued above $60,000, recently restored vehicles, or any vehicle where you want to minimize road-debris exposure on a long haul.
Best carriers for non-running car shipping
Our top-ranked US auto transport carriers, scored against our methodology:
| Carrier | Best for this type | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Sherpa Auto Transport | Locked-price quotes — best for first-time shippers and high-value cars | Read review |
| AutoStar Transport Express | Reliable long-haul non-running car dispatch on cross-country corridors | Read review |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | Fast online quotes, deep carrier network | Read review |
| AmeriFreight | Discount stacking — military, students, seniors, first responders | Read review |
| Easy Auto Ship | Door-to-door with no surcharge — strong on multi-vehicle | Read review |
None of these placements are paid. Rankings reflect editorial scoring on price accuracy, on-time performance, coverage, insurance, and verified customer feedback only.
What’s included in your quote
A standard non-running car shipping quote includes:
- Door-to-door pickup and delivery. The carrier comes as close as legally and physically safe to your exact addresses on each end.
- Cargo insurance. Every dispatched carrier holds a minimum $100,000 cargo policy; many specialty carriers carry $250,000–$500,000 per vehicle.
- Bill of Lading at pickup and delivery. A signed condition report — the document any future damage claim is filed against.
- Tracking on most carriers — text, email, or app updates from the driver. Confirm at booking if real-time tracking is required.
What’s not included: personal items left in the vehicle (not covered by cargo insurance), vehicle prep (washing, draining fluids, removing aftermarket items), or expedited service beyond the standard transit window.
How long will it take to ship a non-running car?
Total time has two components: dispatch (the wait between booking and a carrier picking up the vehicle) and transit (the time the carrier is on the road).
- Dispatch: 1–3 days on busy lanes (CA↔FL, NY↔FL, TX↔CA, IL↔FL); 3–7 days on thinner lanes or with a tight pickup window. Posting a flexible pickup window (5–10 days) often cuts dispatch in half because the load board picks the first carrier headed your direction.
- Transit: roughly 1 day per 500 miles on open transport, slightly longer on enclosed because enclosed haulers carry fewer vehicles and make more stops. A 1,500-mile move typically transits in 3–5 days; a 2,500-mile coast-to-coast in 7–9 days.
- Expedited: guaranteed pickup within 24–48 hours adds $100–$250 to the quote. “Top-load” or “first-off” placement on enclosed haulers is a separate $100–$300 add-on.
For a non-running car, neither size nor configuration affects transit time materially — what affects timeline is the route, your pickup window, and the season. Snowbird-season shipments (Oct–Apr southbound; Apr–May northbound) run 2–4 days slower than off-season because carrier capacity is tight.
Common mistakes when shipping a non-running car
The mistakes that cost real money on this vehicle type:
- Booking the lowest quote without checking price-lock terms. Some brokers post a low quote to win the booking, then re-price upward at dispatch when no carrier accepts the original number. Ask explicitly: “Is this price locked, or could it change?” Our Sherpa review covers the price-lock model in detail.
- Skipping the FMCSA check. Every legitimate carrier or broker has a USDOT or MC number you can verify on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. If the authority is “Inactive,” “Pending,” or “Revoked,” walk — the broker can’t legally dispatch your load.
- Not documenting the vehicle at pickup. Photograph every panel, the wheels, the interior, the engine bay, and the undercarriage. Damage claims fail more often than they succeed because pre-existing condition is hard to prove without timestamped photos.
- Loading personal items. Most carriers’ cargo insurance excludes personal property. A few will refuse the load if items are visible. If you must, keep the value low and don’t expect coverage if anything goes missing.
- Booking with no flexibility. A 1–2 day pickup window costs 10–15% more than a 5–10 day window for the same non-running car on the same route — and it pushes dispatch out longer because fewer carriers can hit the tight slot.
Pre-pickup checklist for a non-running car
The 30 minutes you spend on this saves real money on damage claims and carrier disputes:
- Wash the exterior. Existing scratches and chips show up against a clean finish. A dirty vehicle hides pre-existing damage and weakens any future claim.
- Reduce fuel to ¼ tank. Reduces weight and meets carrier preferences for safety. Don’t fully drain — the engine needs to start for unloading positioning.
- Photograph every panel and angle. Front, rear, both sides, roof, wheels, interior, engine bay, undercarriage if accessible. Date-stamped phone photos are sufficient. Email yourself a copy so the timestamps are independently verifiable.
- Disable any GPS, kill-switch, or alarm features that could pause the vehicle or trigger during transit. Or share the override procedure with the carrier in writing.
- Remove or secure aftermarket accessories (toll transponders, dashcams, antennas, removable racks). Anything not bolted on can be lost.
- Read the Bill of Lading at pickup. The driver fills out a condition report; verify it matches your photos and any pre-existing damage you’ve documented. Sign only after reviewing.
- Have a backup contact for delivery. If you can’t be at the delivery address, designate a friend, family member, or neighbor with authority to receive and inspect the vehicle. The carrier will not leave the vehicle without a signed BOL.
How to cut your non-running car quote 15–25%
- Flexible pickup window. A 5–10 day pickup window beats a 1–2 day window by 10–15%.
- Major-city pickup and delivery. Routing into a metro is cheaper than rural addresses on either end.
- Get 3–5 quotes. Quote spread between brokers on this vehicle type is typically 15–20%. The cheapest quote isn’t always the cheapest final bill — see our Sherpa review on the price-lock alternative.
- Disclose modifications and condition at quote time. Surprise modifications at pickup can result in a re-quote or a refused load — both worse than a slightly higher initial quote.
- Avoid expedited service unless required. Standard service is the cheapest tier; “guaranteed” pickup adds $100–$250.
Frequently asked questions
How much extra does a non-running car cost to ship?
Typically $150–$300 over the running-vehicle rate. The surcharge covers the winch-equipped carrier and the additional loading time.
What does ‘non-running’ actually mean to a carrier?
It means the vehicle won’t drive onto the carrier under its own power. It still needs to roll, steer, and brake. If any of those are non-functional, the price goes higher (forklift loading or flatbed-tow first).
Can I ship a salvage-title car?
Yes. Salvage and rebuilt-title vehicles ship the same way as any other non-running vehicle. You may need to provide a copy of the title or an auction receipt at pickup, depending on the carrier.
What if my car has flat tires?
If all four tires are flat, the vehicle can’t roll onto the carrier — that’s a forklift load and costs an additional $400–$800. Air up the tires before pickup if possible.
Is insurance the same on a non-running car?
Same cargo and liability coverage. Document pre-existing damage thoroughly with photos at pickup — claim disputes are more common on non-runners because pre-existing condition is harder to prove.
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