Seasonality
Best time to ship a car
Auto transport is a capacity market, so the calendar moves your price more than almost anything else. Here is how each month prices against the annual average, and when to book to land on the cheap side of the swing.
Post-holiday lull; southbound snowbird lanes still tight.
Cheapest month on most lanes outside Florida and Arizona.
Snowbirds head north — FL/AZ outbound spikes, everything else normal.
Spring demand builds; book 10 days out.
Graduations and PCS military moves start pulling trucks.
Peak season begins. Expect the highest carrier pay of the year.
Most expensive month. Book two to three weeks ahead.
Student and relocation volume keeps rates elevated.
Rates cool as summer moves finish.
Best value window of the second half of the year.
Snowbird southbound rush into Florida, Texas, Arizona.
Holiday shutdowns cut truck supply; pickup windows stretch.
Three rules that beat the calendar
- Be flexible by three days. A three-day pickup window is usually worth more savings than shifting your move by a month.
- Ship against the flow. Trucks returning empty discount hard — northbound in winter, southbound in spring.
- Lock the rate early. On a rising lane, the quote you get today is usually the best quote you will see.
Seasonal shipping questions
What is the cheapest month to ship a car?
February and October are typically the cheapest, running roughly 5-10% below the annual average because truck supply outpaces demand.
What is the most expensive month?
July, followed by June and August. Summer relocations, graduations and military moves absorb open-carrier capacity nationwide.
How far in advance should I book?
Seven to ten days in the off season, two to three weeks in summer or during snowbird season. Booking earlier locks the current rate before capacity tightens.
Does day of the week matter?
Yes. Pickups scheduled Monday through Wednesday get assigned faster than weekend requests, because dispatchers build routes at the start of the week.