If you are moving, buying a car online, or sending one to family across the country, one of your initial questions is: are car shipping services available in all states?
Car shipping services exist nationwide. The key is to understand about how service coverage works, which areas are harder to ship to, and how to find the right company for the vehicle. Here is all the information for you to need, step by step.
For nationwide coverage, you can always check availability using Car Shipping Source a trusted platform for comparing professional carriers across the U.S.
1. Are Car Shipping Services Available Nationwide?
Most carriers can transport your vehicle regardless of whether you live in an urban, rural or remote area in all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii. Roads need destinations. Carriers need routes. However, population density isn’t the only factor influencing this service.
To break it down:
States with the highest availability
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- New York
- Illinois
- Georgia
These states are major transportation hubs with heavy auto shipping traffic.
In states with moderate availability of auto transport service, such as large parts of the Midwest, the mountain states, and portions of rural Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, cars are fully deliverable, but may take longer to pick up or deliver as there are fewer carriers going and the distance is longer. In areas with limited availability, such as small towns in desert areas, mountainous areas, unpaved rural roads, or islands without a connecting bridge, carriers will create a rendezvous point on their route in a connected area.
2. How State Location Affects Transport Availability
In order to understand how nationwide availability works, it is helpful to understand what affects shipping.
✔ Proximity to major highways
The routes of the carriers generally run along already heavily traveled corridors; other locations may require extra coordination.
✔ Population density
Rural areas are not serviced as frequently as urban ones, which have higher shipment frequencies and are more densely served by carriers.
✔ State regulations
Some states, including California, have strict truck emissions standards that dictate carrier eligibility to operate.
✔ Seasonal weather patterns
In the states below, snowstorms, hurricanes, and heavy rain can delay availability:
- Colorado
- North Dakota
- Maine
- Florida (hurricane season)
✔ Ferry or port access (Alaska & Hawaii)
Shipping to or from these states requires ocean transport and thus planning around it.
3. How to Check Whether Your State Has Active Shipping Routes
Check by entering the name of your state in the following simple steps.
Step 1: Start by entering your ZIP codes
Car Shipping Source, and other instant quote tools, let you enter ZIP-to-ZIP and check whether or not a carrier serves your area.
Step 2: Review the carrier route notes
- Remote delivery limits
- A surcharge for rural access
- Nearest alternative pickup locations
Step 3: Ask about region-specific challenges
- Roadway clearance for large trailers
- Weather conditions affecting access
- Whether flatbed trucks are required
Generally, major cities offer terminal to terminal options when door to door service is not available.
Step 4: Confirm terminal availability
Unless door-to-door service is available, most major cities have terminal-to-terminal service.
4. What If Your Area Has Limited Car Shipping Availability?
All shipping companies provide service to every area of the country, but not every neighborhood or street is suitable for truck delivery. If you live in one of those areas, you have options.
✔ Meet at a nearby landmark
This is common for:
- Gated communities
- Narrow streets
- Rural backroads
- Steep hills
Carriers often use:
- Shopping mall parking lots
- Big-box store parking
- Rest stops off major highways
✔ Opt for terminal delivery
Terminals store vehicles until they are retrieved.
✔ Request a smaller carrier
Flatbed or smaller trucks travel to out-of-the-way locations for an extra fee.
✔ Consider adjusting your pickup date
Carrier availability may increase near weekends or along the busiest transport routes.
5. Tips for Ensuring Smooth Car Shipping in Any State
Fewer daily carriers operate in states such as Wyoming, South Dakota, and Maine.
✔ Book early if you’re in a remote state
However, in states such as Wyoming, South Dakota, and Maine, fewer carriers pass through.
✔ Use accurate, detailed addresses
These locations allow carriers to determine accessibility before sending a truck to transport.
✔ Be flexible with pickup points
Meeting at a major road or parking lot saves time and avoids route complications.
✔ Understand seasonal patterns
- Summer (peak season)
- Winter storms
- Holiday periods
✔ Work with a platform that covers all states
Using a nationwide service like Car Shipping Source ensures you’re matched with carriers that actually serve your location.
- Example: Shipping From a Remote Area
- Scenario: You live in rural Montana, 20 miles from the nearest major highway.
Also, keep in mind that carriers may ask you to meet them at your local highway interchange instead of at your home if roads are not paved, are narrow, or are otherwise not easily traversable by large transport trucks. This does not mean that your location is not serviceable; it’s just a special pickup circumstance that is designed to properly load the vehicles.
In Summary
Your car can ship from any state in the U.S. You might be in a major metropolitan area or a small rural town. In addition to remote or hard to reach locations with additional pickup points or scheduling options, shipping is available as well.
To locate dependable nationwide service you can compare carriers and availability with Car Shipping Source, your best bet for a safe shipment anywhere in the United States.
