U.S. car shipping moves more than five million vehicles domestically each year. Door to door transport now accounts for over eighty percent of shipments. The statistics below break down volumes, costs, fleet operations, and safety records.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 62% of U.S. car shipping consumers booked online, up from 45% in 2021, preferring door-to-door services.
- Average U.S. open car shipping cost was $0.60-$0.80 per mile in 2023, totaling $950 for 1,300 miles.
- In 2023, the average U.S. car hauler fleet size was 12.4 trucks per carrier, up from 11.2 in 2022 due to capacity shortages.
- In 2023, the U.S. car shipping industry transported over 5.2 million vehicles domestically, marking a 7.8% increase from 2022 due to rising new car sales and inventory redistribution.
- In 2023, U.S. car shipping accident rate was 1.2 per 100,000 miles, below general trucking at 2.4.
Car shipping demand is steadily rising, driven by growing online vehicle purchases and interstate moves.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Behavior26 stats
01
In 2023, 62% of U.S. car shipping consumers booked online, up from 45% in 2021, preferring door-to-door services.
02
Average U.S. car transport booking lead time was 7-10 days in 2023, with 71% opting for instant quotes.
03
54% of car owners shipping for relocation chose enclosed transport in 2023 for vehicles over $50K value.
04
Snowbird relocations accounted for 28% of seasonal U.S. car shipments in winter 2023, mainly FL-AZ routes.
05
76% of EV owners prioritized battery-safe carriers in 2023 surveys, influencing 35% premium pricing acceptance.
06
Military PCS moves generated 450,000 car shipments in U.S. FY2023, 92% government-reimbursed.
07
41% of classic car enthusiasts used brokers in 2023, valuing insured enclosed hauls over 1,000 miles.
08
Online reviews influenced 83% of car shipping decisions in 2023, with 4.5+ stars mandatory for 67%.
09
Cross-country shipments (over 1,500 miles) comprised 55% of U.S. volume in 2023, averaging $1,200 cost.
10
29% of dealers outsourced transport in 2023, up 12% YoY, for lot balancing amid inventory shifts.
11
Women accounted for 38% of individual car shipping bookings in 2023, rising with remote work trends.
12
Terminal-to-terminal shipments dropped to 19% in 2023, as door-to-door rose to 81% for convenience.
13
67% of consumers tracked shipments real-time in 2023, demanding updates every 200 miles.
14
Auction buyers represented 22% of shipments in 2023, prioritizing speed under 5-day delivery.
15
51% of millennials chose eco-friendly carriers in 2023 polls, favoring low-emission fleets.
16
Winter shipments increased 34% in 2023 for northern states, with de-icing protocols standard.
17
73% rejected quotes over 10% variance from estimates in 2023, citing transparency issues.
18
Overseas military families shipped 120,000 cars via ocean in 2023, 65% to Germany/Italy.
19
Luxury SUV owners (BMW/X5) led enclosed demand at 42% of premium segment in 2023.
20
48% of bookings were last-minute (<3 days) in peak 2023 summer, straining capacity.
21
Canadians shipping to U.S. grew 15% in 2023, mainly Alberta-Florida snowbird routes.
22
59% valued insurance coverage over $100K per vehicle in 2023 consumer preferences.
23
Repeat customers were 44% of volume in 2023, loyal to brokers with <1% damage rates.
24
Open transport chosen by 78% for economy cars under $20K in 2023 cost analyses.
25
35% used apps for bidding in 2023, reducing costs 17% vs traditional phone quotes.
26
Regional moves (<500 miles) were 12% of total, often self-towed but 8% outsourced.
Interpretation
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
The digital era has finally convinced us that trusting someone with our most prized possession is a click away, though we still demand the royal treatment of constant updates, airtight insurance, and a spotless review history, proving that convenience hasn’t killed our inner high-maintenance control freak.
02 · Category
Costs and Pricing24 stats
01
Average U.S. open car shipping cost was $0.60-$0.80 per mile in 2023, totaling $950 for 1,300 miles.
02
Fuel surcharges added 15-22% to car hauler quotes in 2023 amid diesel averaging $4.85/gallon.
03
Enclosed transport premiums averaged 50-70% higher than open in 2023, at $1.40/mile base.
04
U.S. car shipping insurance cost per shipment was $150-350 in 2023, covering up to $250K cargo.
05
Terminal fees at major U.S. ports ranged $250-450 per vehicle in 2023 for RoRo handling.
06
Broker commissions averaged 10-15% of carrier rate in 2023 U.S. transactions.
07
Expedited car shipping added $400-800 premiums in 2023 for 20-30% faster delivery.
08
Cross-border U.S.-Canada fees included $200CAD customs brokerage in 2023 averages.
09
U.S. car hauler deadhead miles cost industry $1.2 billion in 2023, or 18% of total ops expenses.
10
Ocean freight for Europe-U.S. car shipment averaged $1,200-1,800 per unit in 2023 RoRo rates.
11
Maintenance downtime cost U.S. car fleets $2,100per truck/week in 2023 peak season.
12
Toll road expenses for car haulers totaled $850 million across U.S. in 2023.
13
Luxury enclosed rates hit $2.50/mile in 2023 for white-glove services including concierge.
14
Driver wages averaged $0.58/mile in 2023 for car haulers, totaling $85K annual per truck.
15
Container shipping for cars cost $3,500-5,000 FCL from Asia to U.S. West Coast in 2023.
16
U.S. parking/storage fees during delays averaged $35/day per vehicle in 2023 yards.
17
Compliance fines for oversize loads cost $15,000average per incident in 2023 states.
18
EV battery protection add-ons raised costs 12-18% or $200-400 per shipment in 2023.
19
Seasonal peak pricing surged 25-40% in July 2023 U.S. market for open carriers.
20
Broker fuel rebates averaged 5-8 cents/gallon savings passed to customers in 2023.
21
International air freight for cars exceeded $25,000/unit in 2023 for ultra-expedited needs.
22
U.S. car hauler tire replacement costs were $1,200/set every 150,000 miles in 2023.
23
Port congestion delays added $500-1,000 in demurrage per car in 2023 U.S. imports.
24
Average profit margin for U.S. car brokers was 12.4% in 2023 after overheads.
Interpretation
Costs and Pricing Interpretation
The car shipping industry is a carefully balanced ecosystem where paying a premium for protection from the elements, expedited delivery, or peace of mind for your luxury vehicle is perfectly logical, but also where a staggering portion of the final cost is quietly consumed by everything from empty return trips and bureaucratic port fees to the relentless appetite of diesel engines and toll roads.
03 · Category
Fleet and Operations26 stats
01
In 2023, the average U.S. car hauler fleet size was 12.4 trucks per carrier, up from 11.2 in 2022 due to capacity shortages.
02
Top 10 U.S. auto transport companies operated 28,500 trucks in 2023, hauling 42% of national vehicle volume.
03
Global RoRo car carrier fleet numbered 740 vessels in 2023, with average age of 11.7 years and 7,800 CEU capacity each.
04
U.S. car carriers averaged 8-10 vehicles per truckload in 2023, with 65% utilizing multi-level open trailers.
05
Europe's largest car hauler, Tschudi Logistics, managed 2,100 trucks in 2023, covering 150 million km annually.
06
72% of U.S. car shipping fleets transitioned to Euro 6-compliant engines by Q3 2023, reducing emissions by 19%.
07
Average daily miles per U.S. car hauler truck was 450 miles in 2023, with 82% operating owner-operator models.
08
Japan's NYK Line car carrier fleet of 120 vessels transported 4.5 million vehicles in 2023 at 85% utilization rate.
09
U.S. enclosed trailer fleets grew 14% to 15,200 units in 2023, serving high-end dealership relocations.
10
Wallenius Wilhelmsen operated 125 PCTC vessels in 2023, with digital tracking on 98% of shipments.
11
Canadian car haulers averaged 9.2 vehicles per load in 2023, with 55% cross-border operations to U.S.
12
41% of global car carrier capacity was Pure Car/Truck Carrier (PCTC) design in 2023, optimized for 5,000-8,000 CEU.
13
U.S. independent owner-operators comprised 68% of car hauling workforce in 2023, averaging 2.3 trucks each.
14
K-Line's fleet of 80 car carriers achieved 92% on-time delivery in 2023 for Asia-U.S. routes.
15
Average U.S. car trailer maintenance cost per truck was $18,500in 2023, up 11% from tire and brake wear.
16
Hoegh Autoliners' 40-vessel fleet carried 1.9 million CEU in 2023, with LNG dual-fuel ships at 15% of total.
17
Mexico's auto hauler fleets totaled 8,500 trucks in 2023, 76% dedicated to export terminals.
18
U.S. car shipping GPS tracking adoption reached 89% in 2023, reducing theft claims by 34%.
19
Australia's Toll Group auto division ran 1,200 trucks in 2023, handling 420,000 vehicles interstate.
20
Global car carrier fleet utilization averaged 87% in 2023, peaking at 94% during Q3 export surges.
21
U.S. multi-axle car haulers (9-11 cars) made up 52% of fleet configurations in 2023 for efficiency.
22
South Korea's HMM car carrier arm operated 55 vessels in 2023, shipping 3.2 million vehicles.
23
23% of U.S. car fleets adopted electric or hybrid trucks in 2023 pilots for short-haul routes.
24
Brazil's local car haulers numbered 4,200 rigs in 2023, focused on CKD assembly plant feeds.
25
UECC's short-sea RoRo fleet of 25 ships moved 650,000 vehicles in 2023 across Europe.
26
U.S. average car hauler truck age was 7.2 years in 2023, with 28% under 3 years post-upgrades.
Interpretation
Fleet and Operations Interpretation
Despite an industry dominated by modest fleets and independent drivers, staggering efficiencies are achieved—from a single European trucking over 71,000 kilometers a day to a global armada of specialized ships—proving that moving millions of cars is less about giant corporations and more about a vast, finely-tuned network of operators, large and small, all running at near-maximum capacity.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size and Growth30 stats
01
In 2023, the U.S. car shipping industry transported over 5.2 million vehicles domestically, marking a 7.8% increase from 2022 due to rising new car sales and inventory redistribution.
02
The global vehicle shipping market was valued at $28.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $42.7 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% driven by e-commerce and EV exports.
03
North American auto transport revenue hit $12.9 billion in 2023, with truck-based shipping accounting for 68% of total volume amid supply chain recoveries post-COVID.
04
Europe's car shipping sector saw 4.1 million vehicles shipped via RoRo vessels in 2023, up 12% YoY, fueled by German OEM exports to Asia.
05
The U.S. enclosed car carrier segment grew 9.3% in 2023 to handle 1.2 million luxury and exotic vehicles, representing 23% of premium transport demand.
06
Asia-Pacific vehicle logistics market expanded to $15.6 billion in 2023, with China exporting 4.8 million cars, a 15% surge from electric vehicle production ramps.
07
U.S. car hauler industry employment reached 145,000 jobs in 2023, up 4.2% as fleet expansions responded to dealer lot restocking needs.
08
Global RoRo shipping for vehicles carried 92 million units in 2023, with SUVs and crossovers comprising 41% of total cargo by volume.
09
Canadian auto transport market volume hit 850,000 vehicles in 2023, growing 6.5% due to cross-border trade with U.S. manufacturers.
10
India's car shipping industry is forecasted to grow from $2.1 billion in 2023 to $3.8 billion by 2028 at 12.6% CAGR, led by export hubs in Gujarat.
11
U.S. open car carrier shipments totaled 4.1 million vehicles in Q4 2023 alone, reflecting seasonal peak demand for winter relocations.
12
Latin America's vehicle shipping market reached $4.7 billion in 2023, with Brazil importing 1.1 million CKD units via maritime routes.
13
Middle East car shipping volumes grew 8.9% to 2.3 million vehicles in 2023, driven by UAE re-exports to Africa.
14
Australia's domestic car transport moved 450,000 vehicles in 2023, up 5.4% with focus on EV battery logistics integration.
15
South Korea's vehicle export shipping hit 3.9 million cars in 2023, a 14% increase powered by Hyundai and Kia hybrid models.
16
U.S. car shipping market share by truck transport was 72% in 2023, overtaking rail at 18% due to flexibility in last-mile delivery.
17
Japan's RoRo fleet shipped 4.2 million vehicles overseas in 2023, with 55% destined for North America amid yen depreciation benefits.
18
Mexico's auto export logistics handled 3.5 million vehicles in 2023, growing 11% with USMCA trade facilitations.
19
U.K. car shipping post-Brexit recovered to 1.8 million units in 2023, up 9.2% with new ferry routes to EU markets.
20
Southeast Asia vehicle shipping market valued at $3.2 billion in 2023, projected 7.8% CAGR to 2030 on ASEAN free trade.
21
U.S. luxury car transport segment revenue was $2.8 billion in 2023, with 15% growth from collector vehicle auctions.
22
Global EV car shipping demand rose 28% to 2.1 million units in 2023, necessitating specialized battery-safe carriers.
23
France's domestic auto haulage transported 2.4 million vehicles in 2023, up 6.1% with OEM plant redistributions.
24
Turkey's car export shipping reached 1.2 million vehicles in 2023, a 22% jump from EU tariff exemptions.
25
U.S. intermodal auto transport (rail+truck) volume was 920,000 vehicles in 2023, 17% of total shipments.
26
China's domestic car shipping market size hit $10.5 billion in 2023, driven by 25 million new vehicle sales.
27
South Africa's vehicle logistics grew to 750,000 units shipped in 2023, up 8.3% with port expansions.
28
Germany's car export sea freight was 4.8 million vehicles in 2023, 62% via Hamburg and Bremerhaven ports.
29
U.S. car shipping industry projected CAGR of 6.4% from 2024-2030, reaching $18.7 billion by end-decade.
30
Worldwide car carrier newbuild orders totaled 45 vessels in 2023, adding 1.2 million CEU capacity for 2025 delivery.
Interpretation
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
It's clear that while cars are increasingly marketed as symbols of personal freedom, the global economy has us all collectively agreeing that moving these machines is now a multi-billion-dollar exercise in logistical acrobatics, where a surge in electric vehicles, luxury auctions, and post-pandemic inventory shuffling proves the real journey begins long before the keys are in the ignition.
05 · Category
Safety and Regulations27 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. car shipping accident rate was 1.2 per 100,000 miles, below general trucking at 2.4.
02
FMCSA reported 1,450 car hauler violations in 2023 audits, 34% for hours-of-service breaches.
03
Vehicle damage claims in U.S. car shipping totaled 0.8% of shipments in 2023, down 15% YoY.
04
DOT crash data showed car carriers had 0.9 fatalities per 100M miles in 2023, 40% under industry avg.
05
92% of U.S. car haulers complied with ELD mandates in 2023, reducing fatigue incidents 22%.
06
Cargo theft in auto transport fell to 120 incidents in 2023 U.S., with $18M losses, GPS aiding recovery.
07
EU car carrier safety inspections passed 96.5% vessels in 2023 EMSA audits.
08
U.S. oversize permit denials dropped 11% in 2023 after route planner apps adoption.
09
Weather-related delays caused 14% of safety incidents in 2023 U.S. hauls, winter storms primary.
10
FMCSA carrier safety ratings: 78% of auto haulers 'satisfactory' in 2023 SMS scores.
11
Brake failure inspections failed 7.2% of car trailers in 2023 CVSA blitzes.
12
Insurance claim payouts for car shipping averaged $2,800per damage case in 2023.
13
Hazardous material regs for EV batteries impacted 12% of shipments in 2023 DOT rulings.
14
U.S. car hauler rollover rate was 0.3 per 100K miles in 2023, tied to load securement.
15
Out-of-service rates for car carriers were 18.4% in 2023 roadside checks, tires #1 violation.
16
Global RoRo fire incidents: 5 major cases in 2023, prompting sprinkler retrofits on 60% fleet.
17
U.K. DVSA fined 320 car haulers £2.5M in 2023 for tachograph fraud.
18
Driver training hours averaged 40 annually per hauler in 2023 U.S. fleets for safety certs.
19
Cargo securement violations: 22% of 2023 FMCSA citations for auto transport.
20
U.S. interstate accident hotspots for car haulers: I-10 (FL), 45 crashes in 2023.
21
ISO 9001 safety certs held by 65% of major car shipping firms in 2023 globally.
22
Theft recovery rate for stolen cars in transit was 78% in 2023 with LoJack systems.
23
Canada added 15 new weigh stations for car haulers in 2023, cutting overloads 9%.
24
U.S. seatbelt usage in car hauler cabs: 98.2% compliance in 2023 FMCSA surveys.
25
Port security regs (ISPS Code) cleared 99.7% car carriers in 2023 IMO audits.
26
Drowsy driving alerts prevented 2,300 potential crashes in 2023 auto fleet telematics.
27
Australia NHVR banned 1,200 non-compliant car haulers in 2023 mass checks.
Interpretation
Safety and Regulations Interpretation
While the car shipping industry clearly still has its blind spots—like tires, tachographs, and persistent hours-of-service fiddles—the overarching story of 2023 is a collective, data-driven grind toward greater safety, marked by fewer accidents, lower damage rates, and technological vigilance that's steadily outrunning the old risks.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Car Shipping Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/car-shipping-industry-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Car Shipping Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/car-shipping-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Car Shipping Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/car-shipping-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+1 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)