How it Works

From quote to driveway, here's exactly how it works.

No lowball quote, no surprise fees, no mystery middleman. A specialist confirms your locked, all-in price, we match your car to a vetted carrier, and it ships door to door across the lower 48.

Licensed & Bonded

Vetted carrier network

USDOT #3314113

MC-1053256

Get your price

NO OBLIGATION

Tell us the route and vehicle. A transport specialist confirms your locked, all-in price — usually within minutes.

1 Route
2 Vehicles
3 Schedule

Route Details

✓ No obligation
✓ No spam — one specialist

Vehicle Inventory

Vehicle #1

✓ No obligation
✓ No spam — one specialist

Schedule & Contact Info

✓ No obligation
✓ No spam — one specialist

The process

Three steps, and a real person on every one.

Most shippers go quiet the moment they have your deposit. We don't. Here's the whole path, and who's accountable at each turn.

Get your quote and lock the price

ell us the route and vehicle. A transport specialist confirms a real, all-in price — not an automated estimate — and locks it at booking. The number you book is the number you pay.

We assign a vetted carrier

Your car is matched through Central Dispatch to a carrier screened for active authority, insurance, and safety record before anyone touches your vehicle.

Door-to-door delivery

The carrier picks up as close to your door as legal access allows and delivers to your destination, coast to coast across the lower 48 — with your specialist reachable the whole way.

How we vet carriers

Every carrier is checked before it touches your car.

Matching loads through Central Dispatch is industry standard. What protects you is the screen that happens before the match — here's ours.

Active operating authority

We confirm the carrier's USDOT and MC authority is active and in good standing through FMCSA records before a load is assigned.

Insurance on file

Every assigned carrier must carry active cargo insurance, verified before pickup — never assumed.

Safety record

We review the carrier's FMCSA safety and inspection history, so your car rides with an operator that's earned the load.
We hold ourselves to the same standard — verify Carvato's own FMCSA authority before you book:
MC-1053256
USDOT #3314113

What it costs

A real sense of price before you commit.

Open transport, common lanes. Your locked number depends on distance, vehicle, season, and transport type — but these set honest expectations.

California ➞ Texas

$900–$1,200

~3–5 days · estimate

Florida ➞ New York

$700–$1,000

~2–4 days · estimate

Illinois ➞ Arizona

$850–$1,150

~3–5 days · estimate

Washington ➞ Florida

$1,200–$1,600

~5–7 days · estimate
These are estimates to set expectations, not quotes.
See the full cost breakdown

Did you know

A few things the car-shipping industry would rather you not ask.

Misconception
Open transport means my car isn’t insured.
The Reality

Every open carrier Carvato assigns must carry active cargo insurance, verified before pickup.
Misconception
The cheapest open quote is the best deal.
The Reality

A lowball price often leaves your car unbooked, because no carrier will haul it at that rate. A realistic price is what actually gets your car assigned and moving.
Misconception
You have to pay the full cost upfront.
The Reality

Nothing is charged at the quote. Once a carrier is assigned, a small deposit (typically $50–$100) is collected and the balance is charged automatically — or you can pay the driver directly on delivery by cash or check (COD), our preferred method, in which case the deposit is refunded.` Payment follows standard industry practice, and your specialist tells you exactly what’s due and when before you book. Nothing is hidden.
Misconception
Handing over your number means endless spam calls.
The Reality

Carvato routes you to one accountable specialist who owns your shipment — not a bidding pool that resells your contact to a dozen callers.
Misconception
Shipping a car takes weeks.
The Reality

Most lower-48 moves are picked up within a few days and delivered in roughly two to seven days, depending on distance. Transit time comes down to miles, not paperwork.
Misconception
My car isn’t insured while it’s on the truck.
The Reality

Every carrier Carvato assigns must carry active cargo insurance, verified before pickup. Your specialist confirms the coverage that applies to your specific shipment.
Misconception
Open transport isn’t safe for my car.
The Reality

Open transport is how most vehicles ship, including new cars delivered from the factory to dealerships. For everyday vehicles it’s the safe, standard choice; enclosed is for high-value, classic, exotic, or low-clearance cars.
Misconception
“Door-to-door” means the truck pulls up to your exact front door.
The Reality

The carrier gets as close as the truck can legally and safely reach. On narrow or restricted streets you may meet a short distance away. It’s still door-to-door — bound only by what’s safe and legal.
Misconception
Using a broker is riskier than booking a carrier direct.
The Reality

Nearly every reputable mover books through Central Dispatch — that’s how loads are matched to carriers across the industry. What protects you isn’t avoiding brokers, it’s who vets the carrier and stands behind the move.
Misconception
Every car-shipping company is the same call center working a load board.
The Reality

Most are standalone brokers. Carvato is the auto-transport arm of an established, licensed and bonded transport company, so a real operating company stands behind your booking.
Misconception
The online quote is the price you’ll pay.
The Reality

Many instant quotes are automated estimates that climb after you’ve committed. With Carvato, a transport specialist confirms a real, all-in price and locks it at booking — the number you book is the number you pay on delivery.

    Common questions

    Quick answers.

    Get Your Personalized Quote

    Ready to price your move?

    Get a real, locked price from a real specialist. No obligation.
    Call (224) 506-3676
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