Philadelphia, PA
Car shipping Philadelphia
Row-house neighborhoods usually mean a Broad Street or shopping-center handoff.
City guide
Northeast · PA
Pennsylvania Auto Transport & Car Shipping
Into Pennsylvania from $750 · Out of Pennsylvania from $750 · Door-to-door in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and statewide
- Pickup in 1–5 days
- I-95 · I-76 · I-79 · I-80 · I-81
- Busiest: October–December, June–August
888-706-8784Specialists answer 7 days a week
Quote to or from Pennsylvania
Compare quotes from licensed, bonded carriers.
- 1. Route
- 2. Vehicle
- 3. Contact
No obligation · Takes 60 seconds · We never sell your data
- Insured carriers
- 1–5 day pickup
- No deposit to us
- Insured up to $100k+ per vehicle*
- Door-to-door pickup & delivery
- No upfront payment to us
- Real-time tracking updates
- Major metros served
- Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown
- and 2 more
- Ports
- Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort)
- Interstates
- I-95, I-76, I-79, I-80, I-81
- Shipping into the state
- $750 – $1,500
- typical sedan, open
- Shipping out
- $750 – $1,450
- typical sedan, open
- Busiest months
- October–December, June–August
Shipping a car to or from Pennsylvania: two markets in one state
Pennsylvania ships like two different states. The east, centred on Philadelphia and reaching up through Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, is part of the I-95 corridor: it shares carriers with New Jersey and New York, ships heavily to Florida every autumn, and is priced with the Northeast. The west, centred on Pittsburgh, faces the Midwest: carriers run I-79, I-70 and I-76, the Florida lane goes down I-77 through the Carolinas, and Ohio, Michigan and Chicago are as close as the Atlantic coast. Harrisburg, Scranton and State College sit in between and are served by whichever direction the load is heading.
Both halves are busy. Snowbirds from the Philadelphia suburbs, the Main Line and the Poconos ship to Florida from October to December; families relocate to the Carolinas, Georgia and Texas in summer; students arrive for the state's universities in August; and the dealer and auction trade around Manheim and the Philadelphia suburbs moves cars in every direction all year. Inbound traffic is steady from the same lanes.
This page covers what it costs to ship into and out of Pennsylvania from the main origins and destinations, the routes carriers run from each side of the state, the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh city guides, and the local details: Center City pickups, mountain weather, and the Port of Philadelphia.
Outbound
Shipping a car from Pennsylvania
Leaving Pennsylvania? These are the destinations with the most carrier capacity.
| Delivery | Distance | Transit | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Florida | 1,100 mi | 3–5 days | $850 – $1,250 | $1,225 – $1,800 |
| To Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1,190 mi | 3–5 days | $900 – $1,275 | $1,300 – $1,850 |
- Distance1,100 miTransit3–5 daysOpen carrier$850 – $1,250Enclosed$1,225 – $1,800
- Distance1,190 miTransit3–5 daysOpen carrier$900 – $1,275Enclosed$1,300 – $1,850
Sedan, running, standard pickup window. Select a route for the full price table by vehicle type.
Cities
Pennsylvania cities we serve door-to-door
Each city guide covers pickup logistics, the nearest carrier terminal and price examples to the most common destinations.
Pittsburgh, PA
Car shipping Pittsburgh
Hilly, narrow streets; carriers route south on I-79 and I-77 rather than I-95.
City guide
Cost
What it costs to ship a car to or from Pennsylvania
Typical ranges by distance band. Inbound Pennsylvania shipments run $750–$1,500 on the busiest lanes.
| Distance | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short (under 500 miles) | $525 – $700 | $750 – $1,000 | 1–3 days |
| Medium (500–1,500 miles) | $975 – $1,300 | $1,425 – $1,900 | 3–5 days |
| Cross-country (1,500+ miles) | $1,600 – $2,125 | $2,300 – $3,075 | 6–9 days |
- Short (under 500 miles)Open carrier$525 – $700Enclosed carrier$750 – $1,000Transit1–3 days
- Medium (500–1,500 miles)Open carrier$975 – $1,300Enclosed carrier$1,425 – $1,900Transit3–5 days
- Cross-country (1,500+ miles)Open carrier$1,600 – $2,125Enclosed carrier$2,300 – $3,075Transit6–9 days
Running sedan, flexible pickup window. SUVs add about 12%, pickups 20%, inoperable vehicles about $150.
After delivery
Registering a car after it arrives in Pennsylvania
The paperwork Pennsylvania asks of a new resident, so you can book the DMV visit for the week the car lands rather than discover it at the counter.
Registration deadline
Title and register within 20 days of establishing residency.
VIN verification
VIN verification is required on form MV-1: a Pennsylvania inspection mechanic, notary or dealer checks the VIN against the out-of-state title. If the car is still outside Pennsylvania, a police officer, dealer or military official can verify it before it ships.
Inspections
An annual safety inspection is required statewide, plus an emissions inspection in 25 counties; the first inspection is due within 10 days of registration.
Also worth knowing
Most tag and title agents or notaries can process the application and issue a temporary registration on the spot.
Source: PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services . Checked September 15, 2026. Deadlines and inspection rules change; confirm on the official page before you go.
Delivering in Pennsylvania: Center City, the Main Line, the hills and the port
Philadelphia's older neighbourhoods are the hard part. Center City, South Philadelphia, Fishtown and University City have narrow one-way streets and no room to stop a 75-foot truck, so drivers arrange a meeting point: the lots around the stadium complex off I-95, a big-box lot in the Northeast or on Columbus Boulevard, or a wide street near I-76. The Main Line, Bucks and Montgomery Counties and the Delaware County suburbs are straightforward, with driveway or curbside pickups the norm. Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, on I-78, are easy too.
Pittsburgh's terrain does the same job that Philadelphia's streets do. Steep, narrow hillside streets in the city neighbourhoods and the river towns rule out a hauler, and the driver proposes a lot near I-376, I-79 or the Parkway. The suburbs north and south of the city are fine. Winter weather is the other Pittsburgh factor: snow on I-79 and I-80 in January and February can hold a truck for a day, and the same applies around Erie and Scranton. Carriers wait it out at no charge.
The Port of Philadelphia handles vehicle imports and exports on the Delaware River, and carriers collect from and deliver to freight forwarders and port yards during business hours after customs release or before vessel cut-off. The specialist needs the forwarder's contact and the dates.
Dealer and auction pickups are common in the state. Carriers collect from dealership lots and auction facilities during their business hours; give the seller's contact and the release date so the truck arrives when the car is ready. For a private shipment the paperwork is keys and a photo ID at pickup and the receiver's details at delivery. Pennsylvania requires no state form to ship a vehicle in or out, and turnpike transponders should be removed before loading.
Services
Services Pennsylvania customers book most
Chosen from what ships on these lanes, not a generic list.
- from $850
Snowbird Car Shipping
Seasonal shipping to Florida and Arizona each fall, and home again in spring. Book early for the best window.
Learn more - from $550
Door-to-Door Shipping
The carrier picks up and delivers as close to your address as the truck can safely get. No terminals, no extra trips.
Learn more - from $550
Open Transport
The standard for 9 in 10 shipments. Two-level open trailers, lowest cost, fastest pickup.
Learn more
Questions
Pennsylvania car shipping questions
Not covered here? A specialist can answer route-specific questions in a couple of minutes.
888-706-8784$850–$1,250 for a running sedan on an open carrier to Florida, $1,000–$1,400 to Texas, $500–$800 to the Carolinas or Georgia and $1,400–$1,950 to California. Inbound is similar. Enclosed adds 40–60%.
Philadelphia, on most lanes. It sits on I-95 and shares carrier traffic with New Jersey and New York, so southbound trucks are plentiful. Pittsburgh ships via I-79 and I-70 and adds $50–$100 and often a day on Florida and Northeast lanes, though it is better placed for the Midwest.
Three to five days on the truck to Florida from Philadelphia, four to six from Pittsburgh; four to six to Texas; one to two to the Mid-Atlantic; seven to ten to the West Coast. Add one to five days for carrier assignment and pickup.
Not on the narrow streets. Drivers meet Center City and South Philly customers at a lot near I-95 or I-76, the stadium complex, or in the Northeast. Suburban addresses on the Main Line and in Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware Counties are usually served at the door.
From the east, I-95 the whole way. From Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania, I-79 to I-77 through West Virginia and the Carolinas, joining I-95 or I-26 in South Carolina. Both are three- to five-day runs.
In the mountains and around Pittsburgh, Erie and Scranton, yes, by a day or so in January and February when snow closes I-80 or I-79. The Philadelphia area is rarely affected. Carriers wait out closures at no charge.
Yes. Carriers collect from dealerships and the large auction lots around Manheim and the Philadelphia suburbs during business hours. Give us the seller's contact and the release date and the pickup is scheduled around them.
Ready to ship a car to or from Pennsylvania?
Carriers run I-95 and I-76 daily. Tell us the route and vehicle and a specialist will confirm the price and the earliest pickup.
Average response time under 5 minutes during business hours (Mon–Sun 7am–9pm ET).
Last updated September 12, 2026 · Written by the AutoShippingUS Editorial Team · Reviewed by Christofer Whiteman, Editor · Industry review by Sarah Williams, Independent auto transport consultant, 20 years in the industry