Transit time is one of the most common concerns for car shipping customers. Here's an honest look at what to expect and why timelines vary.
Average Transit Times by Distance
Short routes under 500 miles typically take 1–3 days. Medium-distance routes (500–1,500 miles) average 3–6 days. Long-distance and cross-country routes (1,500+ miles) take 7–10 days. These are transit times after the vehicle has been picked up — not the total time from booking to delivery. Factor in 1–5 days for carrier dispatch and pickup scheduling.
Why Transit Times Vary
Several factors can affect how long your shipment takes. Route popularity matters — carriers run daily on busy corridors like New York to Florida, meaning faster dispatch. Rural pickups and deliveries take longer because carriers make fewer stops. Weather events, driver hours-of-service regulations, and mechanical issues can also extend delivery windows. No honest carrier can commit to a specific delivery date in advance — they can only provide estimated windows.
Door-to-Door vs. Terminal Shipping
Door-to-door shipping is the standard service — a driver comes to your address for pickup and delivers to your destination address. If your location has narrow streets, low bridges, or HOA restrictions that prevent a large carrier from accessing, the driver may ask you to meet at a nearby safe spot. This is normal and not a bait-and-switch. Terminal shipping, where you drop off and pick up your vehicle at a central lot, can be cheaper but may add several days to your overall timeline.
How to Track Your Shipment
EZ Auto Movers provides your assigned carrier's contact information so you can communicate directly with the driver throughout transit. You can call or text the driver to get real-time location updates. While we don't have GPS tracking on every carrier, direct communication with your driver is often more useful and accurate than a tracking app.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Get a Free QuoteFrom the Knowledge Center
- Transit ExpectationsThe difference between quoted transit days (wheels rolling) and total booking-to-delivery time — and why customers regularly miscalculate by 4–10 days.
- The Dispatch ProcessHow a shipment moves from booking to assigned carrier — load board posting, carrier bids, dispatch acceptance, and the operational rhythm behind every shipment.
- Carrier AssignmentHow the specific carrier for your shipment gets picked — vetting, dispatch math, and what 'assigned' actually means.