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

For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,275–$1,825 from Virginia Beach to Phoenix (2,400 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,175–$1,900. An SUV costs about $1,425–$2,050, a pickup $1,650–$2,375, and an enclosed trailer $1,925–$2,750 for a sedan.

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

Transit is usually 5–9 days after pickup for the 2,400-mile trip from Virginia Beach to Phoenix. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.

When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Virginia 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. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.

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 Virginia to Arizona?

Driving 2,400 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $310 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,275–$1,825. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.

Which car shipping companies go from Virginia to Arizona?

Our directory lists 24 companies based in Virginia and 34 based in Arizona, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 190 that ship nationwide.

Virginia to Arizona Car Shipping: Cost & Time (2026)

Car shipping from Virginia to Arizona

Car transport from Virginia to Arizona runs 2,400 road miles between the biggest metros. Shipping a running sedan from Virginia Beach to Phoenix costs about $1,275–$1,825 on an open carrier and $1,925–$2,750 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–9 days in transit. It ranks #243 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

$1,550

Road miles

2,400

Days in transit

5–9

People moving a year

4.2K

Companies at both ends

From	Phoenix	Tucson	Yuma	Flagstaff
Virginia Beach	$1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 days	$1,275–$1,8002,360 mi · 5–9 days	$1,325–$1,9002,590 mi · 6–9 days	$1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days
Richmond	$1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days	$1,225–$1,7752,260 mi · 5–8 days	$1,300–$1,8752,490 mi · 5–9 days	$1,225–$1,7502,240 mi · 5–8 days
Alexandria	$1,250–$1,8002,330 mi · 5–9 days	$1,250–$1,7752,290 mi · 5–8 days	$1,300–$1,8752,510 mi · 6–9 days	$1,225–$1,7502,250 mi · 5–8 days
Roanoke	$1,200–$1,7252,150 mi · 5–8 days	$1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days	$1,250–$1,8002,330 mi · 5–9 days	$1,175–$1,6752,080 mi · 5–8 days

Phoenix

Tucson

Yuma

Flagstaff

Virginia Beach

$1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 days

$1,275–$1,8002,360 mi · 5–9 days

$1,325–$1,9002,590 mi · 6–9 days

$1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days

Richmond

$1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days

$1,225–$1,7752,260 mi · 5–8 days

$1,300–$1,8752,490 mi · 5–9 days

$1,225–$1,7502,240 mi · 5–8 days

Alexandria

$1,250–$1,8002,330 mi · 5–9 days

$1,250–$1,7752,290 mi · 5–8 days

$1,300–$1,8752,510 mi · 6–9 days

$1,225–$1,7502,250 mi · 5–8 days

Roanoke

$1,200–$1,7252,150 mi · 5–8 days

$1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days

$1,250–$1,8002,330 mi · 5–9 days

$1,175–$1,6752,080 mi · 5–8 days

Price by vehicle type

Virginia Beach to Phoenix, 2,400 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	$1,275–$1,825	$1,925–$2,750
Midsize SUV or crossover	$1,425–$2,050	$2,150–$3,075
Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition)	$1,600–$2,275	$2,400–$3,425
Pickup truck	$1,650–$2,375	$2,475–$3,550
Motorcycle	$775–$1,100	$1,150–$1,650

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 Virginia to Arizona is January–May and September–November.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cheapest: about $1,550 Peak: about $1,675

About this route

Why so many cars go from Virginia to Arizona

About 4,219 people moved from Virginia to Arizona in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (4,441 in 2023, 3,996 in 2024). That is 1.6% of everyone who left Virginia for another state.

Traffic runs both ways — about 3,376 people a year move from Arizona back to Virginia — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.

How the price compares

At a typical $1,550, shipping from Virginia to Arizona costs more than sending a car to Colorado ($1,350) and Texas ($1,200) but less than to California ($1,700) and Washington ($1,725). That works out to about 65¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.

Distance and transit time

At roughly 2,400 road miles, Virginia Beach to Phoenix is a cross-country haul. Federal hours-of-service rules cap truck drivers at 11 hours behind the wheel a day, so plan on 5–9 days in transit once the car is loaded. 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.