Rhode Island Car Shipping & Auto Transport Services

Every price on this page is an estimate. We work it out from the road distance between pickup and delivery and show it as a range. A 2,977-mile Providence to Los Angeles move is estimated at $1,230–$1,756.

Distance is the biggest driver, but it is not linear. Providence to Los Angeles (2,977 miles) is nearly three times as far as Providence to Atlanta (1,046 miles), yet it costs only about 1.7 times as much. If you are comparing a short regional move with a long one, look at the total, not the rate per mile.

Because Rhode Island is so small, nearly every move is a long-distance move. There is almost no in-state shipping to price, and the shorter runs go into neighboring states such as Worcester, Hartford, Springfield, New Haven and Stamford. A car that travels only a few dozen miles still needs its own driver, truck space and paperwork, which is why even the shortest runs carry a price of their own.

Direction matters very little. The same pair of cities is usually priced within a few dollars both ways, for example Providence to Orlando at $851–$1,216 and Orlando to Providence at $850–$1,214, or Providence to Houston at $1,029–$1,470 and Houston to Providence at $1,030–$1,471. A one-way move costs about the same whether Rhode Island is the start or the end, which helps winter residents who ship a car south in the fall and back north in the spring.

Other things move the number inside the range:

• Pickup and delivery location. A car in Providence, Warwick or Cranston sits beside Interstate 95, one of the busiest truck corridors on the East Coast, so there are many carriers to choose from. A car in a small coastal village, on Aquidneck Island or in a town off the main highways may take a short detour, which can push the price toward the top of the range.
• Vehicle size and condition. Trucks, large SUVs and cars that do not run take more room or equipment than a sedan.
• Open or enclosed. Enclosed trailers cost more than open ones. Our route estimates show one range, so ask for the enclosed price separately.
• Time of year. Demand for Florida lanes rises in the fall and again in the spring, and winter weather in New England can slow pickups, so a flexible date helps you find a driver who is already heading your way.

Plan for two clocks. The first is the pickup window: a carrier is normally assigned and arrives 1–3 business days after booking. The second is transit, which depends on distance. On our Rhode Island routes it runs 1–2 days for trips up to about 700 miles, 2–3 days from 700 to about 1,100 miles, 2–4 days from roughly 1,100 to 1,400 miles, 3–5 days from 1,400 to about 1,700 miles, 4–7 days at around 1,700 to 1,800 miles, 5–8 days from about 1,800 to 2,500 miles, 7–9 days from 2,500 to about 2,900 miles, and 7–10 days on the longest runs to the West Coast.

Rhode Island adds a few local factors. Interstate 95 runs through Providence, Pawtucket and Warwick and carries heavy traffic at rush hour and on summer weekends, which can slow pickup and delivery. Interstate 295 gives drivers a way around the city, and Route 146 links the Providence area with Worcester and the Massachusetts Turnpike. Getting to Newport means crossing a bridge onto Aquidneck Island, and traffic to the beaches can build up on warm weekends. In winter, snow, ice and coastal storms can close roads or delay a driver by a day or more, and a carrier that left Florida or the Midwest may reach New England later than first estimated.

Inside the state the practical question is usually the handoff spot rather than the drive. Many Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls streets are narrow and lined with parked cars, and a full-size carrier may need to meet you on a wider road or in a large lot. A second contact number and a flexible two-day window help the dispatcher fit your car onto a route that is already running. If you are flying out the day your car is collected, tell us in advance so someone can hand over the keys.

Examples from our route pages: Providence to Boston (49 miles) is 1–2 days, Providence to New York (181 miles) is 1–2 days, Providence to Charlotte (808 miles) is 2–3 days, Providence to Orlando (1,254 miles) is 2–4 days, Providence to Miami (1,464 miles) is 3–5 days, Providence to Dallas (1,736 miles) is 4–7 days, Providence to Denver (1,964 miles) is 5–8 days, Providence to Phoenix (2,596 miles) is 7–9 days, and Providence to Seattle (3,039 miles) is 7–10 days.

Rhode Island has a long tradition of classic and collector cars, and the coast around Newport has many owners who keep a valuable car in a garage through the winter and bring it out for summer. If your vehicle is valuable, low to the ground or newly delivered, an enclosed trailer protects it from road debris, road salt and weather. Open carriers are the standard choice for everyday cars and cost less. Read more about enclosed transport and open transport. Tell us which you want when you request your quote, and we will match your car with the right carrier. Because enclosed trailers hold fewer cars and fewer carriers run them, availability on a given date can be tighter than for open trucks, so book enclosed shipments a little earlier, especially in the fall and spring.