Pennsylvania Car Shipping

For a standard sedan on an open carrier, the lane rows run one way, out of the state: $900 to $1,100 from Philadelphia to Orlando and from Pittsburgh to Tampa, and $1,450 to $1,650 from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. The distance rows run $800 to $1,150 between Philadelphia and Chicago, $1,200 to $1,550 between Philadelphia and Dallas, and $550 to $850 between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. A larger vehicle, an enclosed trailer for a show car or a holiday-week departure costs more, and our guide to what shipping a car costs covers trips of other lengths.

Counted from loading, Orlando is 2-3 days from Philadelphia and Tampa 2-3 days from Pittsburgh, and Chicago is 2-3 days as well. Dallas is 3-4 days away, Los Angeles 5-7, and Pittsburgh a day across the state. The pickup window is agreed when you book; the two metros are simpler to schedule than the ridge-and-valley towns along I-80, and winter on the ridges can add time.

Yes, the middle of the state included. State College, Altoona, Williamsport and the ridge-and-valley towns sit farther from the main truck routes than the two metros, so windows widen a little and some township roads are too tight for a full-size rig. The driver then meets you at a wide lot by the closest interstate exit, and your quote reflects it either way.

Yes. Before your car loads in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or anywhere between, we confirm the carrier’s active cargo insurance and its operating authority. Damage on the truck is the carrier’s liability from load to delivery, judged against the bill of lading, so inspect and photograph the car at both ends and keep your copy of the paperwork.

Ship the cabin empty. The carrier’s cargo policy covers the vehicle only, contents ride at your risk, and a visibly packed car is a magnet at overnight stops. The customary tolerance is a single soft bag under about 100 pounds secured in the trunk; anything beyond that belongs with your household goods.

Open transport is the standard choice out of Philadelphia or Pittsburgh and the lower price. Enclosed typically adds a third or more and earns it for collector cars headed to the Carlisle and Hershey shows, and for owners who want no winter road salt on the paint. An everyday car does fine on an open trailer.

From Erie to Chester, every corner of the state gets door-to-door service where a full-size rig can reach. Metro Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh sit on the interstates, Erie and Scranton ride their own, and rural townships get a planned meet-up nearby. Tight rowhouse blocks in Philly work like any dense city: the handoff happens at a wide lot minutes away.

Empty the car before pickup: boxes from the move, golf clubs headed south, swap-meet parts, electronics, and documents. The carrier’s cargo insurance is for the vehicle, not the contents, and loose items slide on the Turnpike run. If one soft bag must ride in the trunk, clear it with your coordinator first.

Winter brine and spring pollen both hide small marks, so wash the car and photograph every panel, the wheels, the glass, and the roof in daylight the day before pickup. Dated photos are the baseline for the inspection when the car reaches Florida, the Midwest, or the show field.

Remove or bag your E-ZPass before loading. A live transponder riding an open carrier can rack up charges across the Turnpike’s gantries and every bridge and toll road the truck crosses between pickup and delivery.

Leave the tank near a quarter full: enough to load, unload, and reach a station in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Harrisburg, and nothing more. The hauler crosses Turnpike gantries and weigh stations within the hour, and extra fuel is dead weight on the ridges.

A vehicle dripping oil or coolant may be refused at pickup, because the fluid falls onto the car racked below. Have it repaired first. Pennsylvania winters wear out marginal batteries, so test one that has been sitting, and warn your coordinator about a sticky parking brake, a sensitive alarm, or a manual gearbox.

Philadelphia rowhouse blocks, steep Pittsburgh streets and gated communities cannot take a hauler that stretches 75 to 80 feet. A supermarket lot or a park-and-ride near the Turnpike makes a good meeting place, and the handoff is over in minutes.

An adult signs the bill of lading and releases the keys at pickup, and an adult inspects and signs when the car arrives. Pennsylvania snowbirds fly ahead of the car and collectors ship weeks before a show, so name a neighbor, relative, or event contact for the far end when you book and send them your pickup photos.