01 / PRICING EXPLAINED
A realistic estimate starts with your actual shipment
Market information provides context. Experience makes that information useful for your particular vehicle, route, and schedule. Approved is a licensed broker: we arrange transportation with independent carriers, rather than operating a fleet.
Three stages. One customer-approved total.
A reference estimate, an individually reviewed manual estimate, and a carrier-confirmed price serve different purposes. We keep those distinctions clear so you know what you are reviewing—and when you are approving the final arrangement.
02 / PRICING EXPLAINED
Our three-stage pricing process
STAGE 1
Market Reference Pricing
We use available carrier-market information, route characteristics, vehicle specifications, and timing to establish a starting estimate.
Published reference prices are useful for planning but aren't commitments from individual carriers.
STAGE 2 / OUR PREFERRED APPROACH
Experienced Manual Pricing
An experienced coordinator evaluates the details that shape your shipment:
- Origin and destination
- Distance and route characteristics
- Vehicle dimensions, weight, and operating condition
- Open versus enclosed transport
- Requested shipping dates and scheduling flexibility
- Seasonal direction and demand
- Available carrier capacity
- Current market indications and comparable transportation opportunities
The coordinator uses professional judgment to recommend a realistic price for that specific shipment.
Manual pricing is more tailored than a generic reference estimate, but the actual carrier offer may differ.
STAGE 3
Carrier Confirmation and Customer Approval
When a suitable carrier is available, Approved evaluates the offer and completes its carrier-verification process.
The final carrier-confirmed total and transportation arrangement are presented for written customer approval before dispatch. Any required pricing change must be approved according to the existing booking procedures.
Approved Price Promise protection applies after that required written approval, subject to its published terms.
Read the Approved Price Promise03 / PRICING EXPLAINED
What influences car shipping prices?
No single mileage formula describes every shipment. These factors work together to shape a realistic rate.
Distance and transportation corridors
Longer routes generally involve more driving time and operating costs. Established corridors may offer more transportation opportunities than less-traveled routes, so distance alone does not determine a rate.
Carrier availability and route demand
A price must fit the capacity available for your shipment. Demand for space and the number of carriers traveling in the required direction influence which offers are available.
Urban versus rural access
Routes near major transportation corridors can be easier to combine with other shipments. Remote locations may require additional travel, while tight city streets can require a nearby accessible meeting point.
Vehicle size, weight, modifications, and condition
A larger or heavier vehicle uses different trailer space and capacity. Lift kits, low clearance, modifications, or a vehicle that does not run and drive may require different equipment and handling.
Open versus enclosed transportation
Open and enclosed carriers offer different equipment, capacity, and protection from the elements. Enclosed transport typically costs more; the actual difference depends on the shipment and available carrier.
Seasonal demand and direction of travel
Seasonal relocations can concentrate demand in one direction. The same route can have different market conditions in the opposite direction or at a different time of year.
Pickup timing and flexibility
A wider pickup window can create more opportunities to match available capacity. A narrow or urgent window limits the available options and may require a different rate.
Special equipment and handling
Winches, loading equipment, clearance requirements, or unusual vehicle dimensions can limit suitable carriers. Sharing accurate vehicle details helps the coordinator evaluate the right transportation arrangement.
For general carrier authority and insurance context, consult FMCSA's auto transporter guidance. This reference does not validate Approved's estimates or historical results.
04 / PRICING EXPLAINED
How our published reference estimates work
The homepage sample-route estimates are a planning reference—not the same thing as an individually prepared manual quote. Four things define them:
STEP 1
Six selected lanes
The homepage table uses Super Dispatch market-pricing recommendations as a reference for six selected shipping lanes.
STEP 2
A standard example vehicle
The reference is a 2023 Toyota Camry, running and driving, on open transport.
STEP 3
Internal safeguards
Displayed estimates apply established internal route adjustments and minimum-rate safeguards where appropriate. A single price may appear instead of a range when applicable.
STEP 4
Weekly refresh
The table is refreshed weekly, generally on Mondays. The homepage displays the latest market-check date; market information can change between updates.
A reference vehicle is not your shipment
These prices are market references, not direct carrier commitments. Your vehicle, locations, dates, and available transportation options may differ from the published example.
An individually prepared manual quote examines your actual shipment and can differ from the published price. Personalized quotes are not all generated by the homepage pricing algorithm.
View the homepage reference estimatesSee industry pricing references
05 / PRICING EXPLAINED
How We Evaluate Current Car Shipping Rates
At Approved Auto Transport, we don't rely on a single automated price recommendation to determine what a vehicle should cost to ship.
Our pricing process combines multiple sources of transportation-market information with experienced manual evaluation.
Automated Market Estimates
Pricing tools provide preliminary recommendations informed by available route, vehicle, and transportation-market information. These serve as starting references, not guaranteed carrier rates.
Comparable Posted Shipments
We review similar transportation opportunities being offered to carriers, considering their routes, posted compensation, vehicle requirements, and pickup timing. A posted rate is an asking or offered price—not proof that a carrier accepted the shipment at that amount.
Recent Carrier Activity and Completed Moves
Where available, comparable completed moves and carrier-market activity help us evaluate whether a proposed transportation price is realistic.
Experienced Manual Review
Our coordinator evaluates these sources alongside the actual vehicle, pickup and delivery locations, scheduling flexibility, seasonal demand, and route characteristics. Depending on the available market information and familiarity with the corridor, we recommend either a specific price or a realistic range.
Market data informs the estimate. Experience determines the recommendation. An actual carrier offer confirms the price.
06 / PRICING EXPLAINED
Our Manual Pricing in Practice: Five Completed Shipments
The following examples are actual sedan shipments arranged by Approved Auto Transport during October 2026. They show how manually prepared customer estimates compared with final shipping prices.
Why Some Shipments Receive a Specific Quote and Others Receive a Range
On established transportation corridors where we regularly work with carriers, our experience may allow us to recommend a specific price with greater confidence.
For routes where carrier availability, timing, or market conditions introduce more uncertainty, we may recommend a carefully evaluated price range.
Both approaches are based on a review of the individual shipment. Our goal is to communicate a realistic expectation—not to suggest that every carrier offer can be predicted to the dollar. The final transportation price is confirmed after a suitable carrier offer is received and the customer approves the total.
| Shipment route | Manual quote or recommended range | Final customer price | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largo, FL → Watertown, MA | Manual quote or recommended range$1,205 | Final customer price$1,205 | ResultExact |
| Lakeville, CT → Sinton, TX | Manual quote or recommended range$1,500 | Final customer price$1,500 | ResultExact |
| Denver, CO → Green Bay, WI | Manual quote or recommended range$1,200–$1,400 | Final customer price$1,200 | ResultWithin range |
| North Hollywood, CA → Saint James, NY | Manual quote or recommended range$1,800–$2,100 | Final customer price$2,050 | ResultWithin range |
| Kansas City, MO → Leesburg, FL | Manual quote or recommended range$1,150–$1,350 | Final customer price$1,200 | ResultWithin range |
When Manual Pricing Adds Important Context
Kansas City, MO → Leesburg, FL — Sedan
- Initial automated estimate
- $985
- Manually recommended customer range
- $1,150–$1,350
- Final carrier-confirmed customer total
- $1,200
The automated estimate was a preliminary reference. After reviewing the actual shipment, our coordinator communicated a more realistic expected range—and the final customer total fell within it.
For the Denver shipment, the original manual recommendation was $1,200–$1,400; we subsequently agreed to attempt sourcing at a lower $1,100 starting price, and the final total of $1,200 came in within the original recommended range.
Historical examples only. These are five selected sedan shipments arranged by Approved Auto Transport in October 2026. They illustrate our pricing process, not our overall quote accuracy. Prices reflect historical transportation arrangements and are not current quotes or guaranteed future rates.
07 / PRICING EXPLAINED
What Does Your Car Shipping Price Include?
The total customer price includes compensation for the independent carrier transporting your vehicle and Approved Auto Transport's brokerage services.
- Carrier sourcing and coordination
- Carrier authority verification
- Cargo insurance verification
- Pickup and delivery scheduling
- Shipment communication
- Transportation administration and coordination
- Delivery follow-up
One complete customer-approved shipping price
Each shipment is priced individually. Brokerage compensation is not a fixed universal amount; it reflects the work involved in arranging and coordinating that shipment.
You review the total before approving the transportation arrangement, subject to applicable contractual disclosures and documented exceptions. A breakdown is available on request.
No payment until your carrier is assigned and confirmed and you have approved the carrier and rate.
08 / THE APPROVED PRICE PROMISE
Protection begins with the confirmed arrangement
Your original online or manually prepared estimate is not automatically price-locked. The Approved Price Promise applies after you approve the carrier and rate in writing before dispatch, according to the existing published terms.
If the dispatched carrier falls through and a replacement costs more, Approved first absorbs its broker fee, covers its own service and card-processing costs, then provides up to $100 in additional customer protection. Any remaining gap is discussed with you before a change: you may wait, approve a documented adjustment, or cancel for a broker-fee refund under the terms.
Replacement-carrier protection is subject to the published 72-hour search window, the condition that you are not also booking or shopping the same vehicle with another broker while Approved is actively securing a carrier, and documented exceptions. The full policy governs protections and refund conditions.
09 / PRICING EXPLAINED
Frequently asked pricing questions
How are car shipping prices calculated?
Approved combines available carrier-market information with an individual review of your route, vehicle, transport type, timing, and available capacity. An experienced coordinator recommends an estimate; an actual carrier offer and your written approval establish the final transportation arrangement.
Why can two shipments of similar distance cost different amounts?
Distance is only one factor. Carrier availability, demand in the direction of travel, urban or rural access, vehicle requirements, transport type, and pickup flexibility can differ even when mileage is similar.
How accurate is a manually prepared car shipping estimate?
A manual estimate reflects professional judgment and the market information available at the time. It is tailored to the shipment, but it is not a carrier commitment or a guaranteed final price. Selected historical examples do not establish an overall accuracy rate.
Why might the final carrier-confirmed price differ from my quote?
An estimate is prepared before a carrier commits to the shipment. The actual carrier offer and final transportation arrangement may differ from the conditions anticipated. Any required pricing change is presented for customer approval according to the existing booking procedures before dispatch.
What does a car shipping broker’s fee cover?
Approved’s brokerage services include carrier sourcing and coordination, authority and cargo insurance verification, pickup and delivery scheduling, shipment communication, transportation administration, and delivery follow-up. Brokerage compensation varies by shipment; it is not a fixed universal amount.
Does my price include carrier transportation and brokerage services?
Yes. The total customer price includes compensation for the independent carrier transporting your vehicle and Approved Auto Transport’s brokerage services. You approve the complete shipping total, subject to applicable contractual disclosures and documented exceptions. A breakdown is available on request.
When is my shipping price confirmed?
After a suitable independent carrier is identified and verified, Approved presents the carrier-confirmed total and transportation arrangement for your written approval before dispatch. No payment is collected until the carrier is assigned and confirmed and you have approved the carrier and rate.
Does Approved offer a price guarantee?
The Approved Price Promise protects the confirmed arrangement after you approve the carrier and rate in writing, under the published terms. It does not automatically lock an initial online or manually prepared estimate. Replacement-carrier protection includes specified cost absorption, up to $100 in additional protection, a 72-hour search window, and the published exclusivity condition and documented exceptions.