How much does it cost to ship a car from North Carolina to Arizona?

For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,175–$1,700 from Charlotte to Phoenix (2,100 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,175–$1,825. An SUV costs about $1,325–$1,900, a pickup $1,525–$2,200, and an enclosed trailer $1,775–$2,550 for a sedan.

How long does it take to ship a car from North Carolina to Arizona?

Transit is usually 5–8 days after pickup for the 2,100-mile trip from Charlotte to Phoenix. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.

When is the cheapest time to ship a car from North Carolina to Arizona?

January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.

How soon do I have to register my car in Arizona after moving?

Arizona requires new residents to register right away — there is no grace period. Arizona expects registration as soon as you become a resident. Cars kept in the Phoenix or Tucson areas may need an emissions test first.

Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from North Carolina to Arizona?

Driving 2,100 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $270 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,175–$1,700. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.

Which car shipping companies go from North Carolina to Arizona?

Our directory lists 25 companies based in North Carolina and 34 based in Arizona, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 190 that ship nationwide.

Car Transport North Carolina to Arizona: Cost & Time (2026)

Car shipping from North Carolina to Arizona

Car transport from North Carolina to Arizona runs 2,100 road miles between the biggest metros. Shipping a running sedan from Charlotte to Phoenix costs about $1,175–$1,700 on an open carrier and $1,775–$2,550 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–8 days in transit. It ranks #154 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.

Prices updated October 2026 · Estimates, not quotes · Calculate for your car →

Open carrier, sedan

$1,450

Road miles

2,100

Days in transit

5–8

People moving a year

6.5K

Companies at both ends

From	Phoenix	Tucson	Yuma	Flagstaff
Charlotte	$1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days	$1,175–$1,6752,050 mi · 5–8 days	$1,250–$1,7752,280 mi · 5–8 days	$1,175–$1,6752,040 mi · 5–8 days
Raleigh	$1,225–$1,7502,240 mi · 5–8 days	$1,200–$1,7252,190 mi · 5–8 days	$1,275–$1,8252,420 mi · 5–9 days	$1,200–$1,7252,180 mi · 5–8 days
Greensboro	$1,200–$1,7252,160 mi · 5–8 days	$1,175–$1,7002,110 mi · 5–8 days	$1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days	$1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days
Fayetteville	$1,225–$1,7502,220 mi · 5–8 days	$1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days	$1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 days	$1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days

Phoenix

Tucson

Yuma

Flagstaff

Charlotte

$1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days

$1,175–$1,6752,050 mi · 5–8 days

$1,250–$1,7752,280 mi · 5–8 days

$1,175–$1,6752,040 mi · 5–8 days

Raleigh

$1,225–$1,7502,240 mi · 5–8 days

$1,200–$1,7252,190 mi · 5–8 days

$1,275–$1,8252,420 mi · 5–9 days

$1,200–$1,7252,180 mi · 5–8 days

Greensboro

$1,200–$1,7252,160 mi · 5–8 days

$1,175–$1,7002,110 mi · 5–8 days

$1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days

$1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days

Fayetteville

$1,225–$1,7502,220 mi · 5–8 days

$1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days

$1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 days

$1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days

Price by vehicle type

Charlotte to Phoenix, 2,100 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.

Vehicle	Open carrier	Enclosed
Sedan or small car	$1,175–$1,700	$1,775–$2,550
Midsize SUV or crossover	$1,325–$1,900	$1,975–$2,850
Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition)	$1,475–$2,125	$2,225–$3,175
Pickup truck	$1,525–$2,200	$2,300–$3,300
Motorcycle	$700–$1,025	$1,075–$1,525

Best time to ship

Prices on this lane peak in June–August (the summer moving peak), running about 8% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from North Carolina to Arizona is January–May and September–November.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cheapest: about $1,450 Peak: about $1,550

About this route

Why so many cars go from North Carolina to Arizona

About 6,541 people moved from North Carolina to Arizona in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (3,646 in 2023, 9,435 in 2024). That is 2.8% of everyone who left North Carolina for another state.

Traffic runs both ways — about 5,980 people a year move from Arizona back to North Carolina — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.

How the price compares

At a typical $1,450, shipping from North Carolina to Arizona costs more than sending a car to Colorado ($1,275) and Texas ($1,075) but less than to California ($1,600) and Washington ($1,650). That works out to about 69¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.

Distance and transit time

Charlotte to Phoenix runs about 2,100 road miles. With drivers limited to 11 hours of driving a day and stops for other cars on the load, that is 5–8 days on the truck. The car heads west and crosses 2 time zones — from Eastern to Mountain time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.

On the road

Trucks usually take the southern route across the desert Southwest, which stays open all winter — one reason this lane runs on schedule year-round.