Alabama to Washington Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,541 miles from Alabama to Washington ranges from $1,275 to $2,199 and takes seven–fifteen days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Washington to Alabama car shipping guide.
The best Alabama to Washington car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Alabama to Washington:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- No upfront payment
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Competitive pricing
- Door-to-door shipping
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from Alabama to Washington
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,541 miles on your car going from Alabama to Washington. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers. If you need to ship your car from Alabama for a move to Washington, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
- Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Alabama to Washington for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- Ship by train. If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
AL to WA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Alabama and Washington. The average travel distance is about 2,541 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Huntsville, AL to Washington
| From Alabama to Washington | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL to Seattle, WA | $1,356 – $2,199 | 2,500 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Spokane, WA | $1,258 – $2,010 | 2,222 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Tacoma, WA | $1,315 – $2,221 | 2,513 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Vancouver, WA | $1,261 – $2,149 | 2,466 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Huntsville, AL to Bellevue, WA | $1,354 – $2,213 | 2,494 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Birmingham, AL to Washington
| From Alabama to Washington | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL to Seattle, WA | $1,409 – $2,094 | 2,531 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Spokane, WA | $1,351 – $2,157 | 2,253 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Tacoma, WA | $1,302 – $2,199 | 2,545 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Vancouver, WA | $1,314 – $2,170 | 2,497 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Birmingham, AL to Bellevue, WA | $1,302 – $2,221 | 2,525 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Montgomery, AL to Washington
| From Alabama to Washington | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL to Seattle, WA | $1,326 – $2,091 | 2,620 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Spokane, WA | $1,355 – $2,135 | 2,341 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Tacoma, WA | $1,452 – $2,069 | 2,633 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Vancouver, WA | $1,275 – $2,115 | 2,586 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Montgomery, AL to Bellevue, WA | $1,326 – $2,091 | 2,614 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mobile, AL to Washington
| From Alabama to Washington | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL to Seattle, WA | $1,385 – $2,150 | 2,715 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Mobile, AL to Spokane, WA | $1,315 – $2,051 | 2,397 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Mobile, AL to Tacoma, WA | $1,356 – $2,150 | 2,728 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Mobile, AL to Vancouver, WA | $1,466 – $2,178 | 2,645 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Mobile, AL to Bellevue, WA | $1,470 – $2,307 | 2,709 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tuscaloosa, AL to Washington
| From Alabama to Washington | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Seattle, WA | $1,396 – $2,115 | 2,524 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Spokane, WA | $1,284 – $2,157 | 2,246 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Tacoma, WA | $1,288 – $2,073 | 2,538 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Vancouver, WA | $1,327 – $2,213 | 2,490 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Tuscaloosa, AL to Bellevue, WA | $1,409 – $2,094 | 2,518 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Alabama to Washington
Since vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Alabama to Washington you should expect to pay between $1,594 and $2,749.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from AL to WA
When transporting your vehicle from the Heart of Dixie to the Evergreen State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Washington.
- Distance and route: The journey from Alabama to Washington spans approximately 2,541 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Alabama, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Alabama and Washington and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Alabama to Washington should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Washington vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Drivers in Washington are mandated to maintain a minimum of $25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage to meet legal requirements and enhance on-road protection.
- Vehicle inspection: In the state of Washington, there are no annual safety inspections, however, vehicles must still comply with strict Clean Car standards.
- Driver’s license: To register your vehicle in Washington, obtaining a Washington driver's license is necessary. This must be done within 30 days of relocating to the state. If you have a valid driver's license from another state, the process of obtaining a Washington license is straightforward and only requires proof of residency in the state, without the need for any additional exams.
- Additional taxes: If you have obtained and utilized a "private motor vehicle" in another state for more than 90 days prior to relocating to Washington, you are exempt from paying Washington's use tax.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Alabama
More than 39 million people call Alabama home. Nicknamed the Heart of Dixie, Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
Transporting your vehicle to Washington
About 22 million people are living in the Evergreen State. Washington state rarely experiences extreme weather to worry about. Your move should be unaffected by the weather conditions. However, it's always a good idea to check the forecast ahead of time and maybe prepare for a little rain!
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Alabama and delivery in Washington?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Alabama and when dropping it off in Washington.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Alabama to Washington?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Alabama to Washington, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Washington, which you should verify before loading your car in Alabama.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
Drivers in Washington are mandated to maintain a minimum of $25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage to meet legal requirements and enhance on-road protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from Alabama to Washington?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Alabama to Washington is about 2,541 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from Alabama to Washington.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
In the state of Washington, there are no annual safety inspections, however, vehicles must still comply with strict Clean Car standards.
If I have a driver’s license in Alabama, will I need one in Washington?
To register your vehicle in Washington, obtaining a Washington driver's license is necessary. This must be done within 30 days of relocating to the state. If you have a valid driver's license from another state, the process of obtaining a Washington license is straightforward and only requires proof of residency in the state, without the need for any additional exams.
If I bought a car in Alabama, will I be required to pay sales tax in Washington after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Alabama to Washington after purchasing it.
If you have obtained and utilized a "private motor vehicle" in another state for more than 90 days prior to relocating to Washington, you are exempt from paying Washington's use tax.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Alabama and Washington to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Alabama to Washington?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Alabama to Washington is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Alabama to Washington?
Shipping a car from Alabama to Washington costs $1,275 to $2,199.
