NATIONWIDE AUTO TRANSPORT FOR YOUR MOVE

Relocation Car Shipping

A moving truck, travel plans, and a new address are enough to organize. Onyx Auto Transport arranges relocation car shipping so your vehicle can travel separately, with open or enclosed transport, practical pickup planning, and a team you can reach throughout the move.

No payment until a carrier is assigned.

Instant Car Shipping Quote

Calculating Your Quote

We’re checking your route, vehicle details, and current transport rates to provide you with an accurate estimate.

Pickup Around Your Move

Plan around vehicle availability, travel dates, and an authorized pickup contact.

Open & Enclosed Carriers

Compare affordable open shipping with added protection inside an enclosed trailer.

$0 When You Book

Payment is processed only after carrier assignment.

Car Relocation Services That Fit Your Moving Plans

Your household move and your vehicle shipment rarely follow the same schedule. Relocation car shipping lets you fly, travel with family, or drive one vehicle while a motor carrier transports another. It is useful for a new job, retirement, a military move, or a long-distance change of address where another road trip would complicate the week.

Onyx Auto Transport coordinates the vehicle shipment with a licensed and insured carrier. We start with the route, your car’s condition, and the first day it can be collected. Then we discuss access at both addresses and any dates that matter. The household moving company and the car carrier have separate routes, so their arrival times should be planned independently.

You do not need to be at both locations yourself. A trusted adult can release or receive the car if the arrangements are agreed in advance. Keep that person’s phone number available and make sure they can inspect the vehicle and sign the condition report. This small step helps when flights, closing dates, or work commitments take you away before pickup.

Open vs. Enclosed Transport for a Relocation

Choose the trailer around the vehicle you are moving. Open auto transport usually offers the most practical price for a daily driver. Enclosed transport adds a covered environment for cars where outside exposure is a greater concern.

Choosing a relocation transport option
Option	Useful for	Consideration
Open carrier	Everyday sedans, SUVs, and pickups	Vehicle is exposed to weather and road conditions
Enclosed carrier	Classics, specialty vehicles, and valuable finishes	Higher cost and a smaller pool of available carriers

Enclosed Transport for a Special Vehicle

A move is a good time to think about how your vehicle should be loaded and protected. A covered trailer reduces exposure to weather, dust, and road debris. It can suit a collectible, luxury vehicle, or car with a finish you want to preserve.

Tell us about low ground clearance, modifications, unusual dimensions, or a starting problem before booking. Enclosed trailers do not all use the same loading equipment. If your car needs a liftgate, extra clearance, or a particular securing method, those details must be confirmed with the assigned carrier rather than assumed.

Open Shipping for Everyday Vehicles

For many household moves, an open carrier is a sensible way to transport a daily driver. Multiple vehicles share trailer space, and more carriers operate this equipment than enclosed trailers. That often gives you more scheduling options on established routes.

The vehicle stays on the trailer during the journey, apart from necessary loading and unloading. Open transport leaves it exposed to ordinary outdoor conditions, so it may arrive dusty. Compare quotes using the same vehicle, locations, and dates; the lowest price is less useful if it leaves out information that affects loading or pickup.

Moving Soon? Start with the Vehicle Schedule

Tell us when you are leaving, when someone can release the car, and when the delivery address will be accessible. If your new home is not ready, discuss a suitable alternate location before the carrier is scheduled. Call to plan a tight deadline, multiple vehicles, or a non-running car.

Plan Around Flights, Closings & Work Dates

A new job or transfer: Give yourself room between vehicle collection and a flight. If the car is needed for your first day at work, plan temporary transportation as well. Pickup and transit estimates depend on the carrier’s route and can change.

A family move: Consider which car you will keep for errands and which you can release first. When shipping two cars, give complete details for each. Different vehicle sizes, conditions, or ready dates can affect whether they travel together.

Retirement or a seasonal address: Confirm that someone can receive the vehicle when it arrives. Busy seasonal routes may need more advance planning. Read about shipping your car to another state if you are comparing a permanent move with a shorter stay.

A home closing: Avoid tying the shipment to an address you cannot yet access. A wide public meeting area may be more workable than a narrow driveway, but the driver must confirm a safe and permitted loading location. Keep backup contact details handy if your moving day changes.

How Relocation Car Shipping Works

Start once your route and likely moving dates are known. The first available date is the day the vehicle can be collected, not a guaranteed pickup appointment. Onyx helps coordinate the next steps, while the assigned motor carrier operates the truck and confirms loading arrangements.

Quote & Book

Request a quote with pickup and delivery ZIP codes, year, make, model, running condition, and first available date. Explain any travel or work deadlines. Review the transport option, total price, payment method, and scheduling terms before booking. Use accurate details so the carrier can plan the correct space and equipment.

Carrier & Pickup

Keep the car accessible and arrange an authorized adult if you are leaving early. The driver coordinates a safe location and records the vehicle’s condition before loading. Take clear dated photos and review that report with your contact. Onyx processes payment after carrier assignment, according to the option selected at booking.

Delivery & Inspection

Make sure the receiving contact can answer the driver’s call and reach the agreed location. Inspect the vehicle before signing the delivery report and note any new concerns. For the discounted cash option, the remaining balance is paid to the carrier using the agreed method. A full-card payment has no remaining delivery balance.

Door-to-Door Access & Carrier Coverage

Door-to-door car shipping brings collection and delivery as close to your addresses as safely and legally possible. A large trailer may not enter a gated community, apartment complex, steep driveway, or street with low branches. Tell us about restrictions at both homes and plan an alternate meeting area when needed.

Vehicle transport is handled by licensed and insured carriers. Before pickup, ask about cargo coverage, deductibles, exclusions, and the process for reporting a concern. Personal belongings are not the same as the vehicle and should not be assumed covered. Keep your own vehicle policy in place unless your insurer advises otherwise, and retain the pickup and delivery paperwork.

Prepare Your Vehicle Before Moving Day

Clean the exterior and photograph existing marks in good light.
Remove valuables, loose accessories, toll devices, and household moving items.
Provide a working key and instructions for alarms or special starting procedures.
Report leaks, flat tires, weak brakes, or problems with steering and starting.
Keep fuel at a modest level agreed with the carrier.
Confirm the pickup contact, delivery contact, and any gate or building access.

Your car shipment should be planned separately from boxes and furniture. If you want to leave any items inside the car, ask before booking; weight limits and carrier policies vary. Do not rely on a vehicle shipment to deliver belongings you need immediately after arrival.

What Does Relocation Car Shipping Cost?

Relocation car shipping cost depends on the route, vehicle, trailer type, ready date, and carrier availability. Distance matters, but a rural pickup can be harder to arrange than a longer trip between major cities. SUVs, large pickups, modified cars, and vehicles that do not run can need more space or additional handling.

Seasonal demand and a short booking window can affect the quote. Enclosed transport usually costs more because equipment is less common and trailers often carry fewer vehicles. Flexible dates may give the dispatch team more options, but flexibility does not guarantee a lower price.

Use the car shipping cost calculator for a standard running vehicle, then call if your move involves unusual access, equipment, or timing. Ask what the quote includes and review updated terms if your route or vehicle details change. Onyx does not process a payment until a carrier is assigned.

Two Payment Choices

Discounted cash price: A partial payment is processed after carrier assignment. The remaining balance is due to the carrier at delivery using the agreed method.

One-time full payment: The full amount is processed by credit or debit card after carrier assignment. There is no remaining transport balance at delivery.

Review the option and cancellation terms shown with your booking. Neither option requires a charge simply to place the booking.

Relocation Auto Transport with Onyx

Onyx Auto Transport brings more than 12 years of industry experience to planning vehicle moves. Our team coordinates shipments through a network of 21,000+ vetted carriers and explains how the selected transport option fits your route, vehicle, and schedule. You have a dispatch contact for questions about pickup, carrier details, and delivery coordination.

We arrange transportation; the assigned motor carrier performs it. Clear roles and practical planning matter when a move has several deadlines. Learn how car shipping works, or contact us with your moving dates to discuss the best next step for your vehicle.

Relocation Car Shipping FAQs

When should I book relocation car shipping?

Start discussing the shipment as soon as your route and approximate moving dates are known. Booking in advance gives more time to plan access and carrier availability. Share hard travel deadlines, but treat pickup and transit windows as estimates unless a specific written arrangement says otherwise.

Can someone else release or receive my car?

Yes. Arrange a trusted adult in advance and provide their contact details. They need to be available for the driver, inspect the vehicle, review the condition report, and sign the transport paperwork. Confirm any payment responsibility before delivery.

Will my car arrive with the household moving truck?

The two shipments travel on different vehicles and schedules. Plan them separately and keep a receiving contact available. If you need a car immediately at the new home, arrange a backup until delivery is completed.

Is open or enclosed transport better for a move?

Open transport is usually a practical option for everyday vehicles. Enclosed shipping adds cover from weather and debris and may suit a classic, luxury, or specialty car. Tell us about ground clearance and modifications so loading equipment can be checked.

Is my vehicle insured during relocation transport?

The assigned carrier carries cargo insurance. Ask about coverage limits, exclusions, deductibles, and the reporting process before collection. Take photos at both ends and retain the condition reports. Personal belongings should not be assumed covered.

Carrier cargo insurance is included during transport, subject to the assigned carrier’s terms, limits, and exclusions. Ask about coverage before pickup. Photograph the vehicle, keep the inspection records, and note any new damage on the delivery paperwork.

When do I pay for relocation car shipping?

No charge is processed until carrier assignment. With the discounted cash option, a partial payment is processed after assignment and the balance is due to the carrier at delivery. With the full-card option, the entire amount is processed after assignment.

Can a car carrier reach my apartment or gated home?

The driver comes as close as safely and legally possible. Large trailers may need a nearby meeting area if gates, tight streets, low trees, or parking rules prevent access. Tell us about restrictions before the carrier is scheduled.

Can I ship a non-running car during a move?

Call before booking. Describe whether the car rolls, steers, brakes, and can be safely loaded. The carrier may need special equipment, and the quote must account for the vehicle’s condition and access at pickup and delivery.