Pennsylvania to Alabama Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 978 miles from Pennsylvania to Alabama ranges from $860 to $1,348 and takes two–seven 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 Alabama to Pennsylvania car shipping guide.
The best Pennsylvania to Alabama car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Pennsylvania to Alabama:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from Pennsylvania to Alabama
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 978 miles on your car going from Pennsylvania to Alabama. 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 Pennsylvania for a move to Alabama, 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 Pennsylvania to Alabama 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!
PA to AL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Pennsylvania and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 978 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Philadelphia, PA to Alabama
| From Pennsylvania to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL | $846 – $1,180 | 835 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Birmingham, AL | $837 – $1,298 | 881 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Montgomery, AL | $788 – $1,248 | 944 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Mobile, AL | $861 – $1,418 | 1,111 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Philadelphia, PA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $805 – $1,287 | 938 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Pittsburgh , PA to Alabama
| From Pennsylvania to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh , PA to Huntsville, AL | $741 – $1,139 | 677 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Birmingham, AL | $819 – $1,161 | 752 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Montgomery, AL | $789 – $1,254 | 841 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Mobile, AL | $815 – $1,383 | 1,008 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Pittsburgh , PA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $776 – $1,236 | 808 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Erie, PA to Alabama
| From Pennsylvania to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA to Huntsville, AL | $778 – $1,129 | 733 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Erie, PA to Birmingham, AL | $841 – $1,200 | 808 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Erie, PA to Montgomery, AL | $787 – $1,286 | 898 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Erie, PA to Mobile, AL | $840 – $1,370 | 1,064 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Erie, PA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $867 – $1,233 | 864 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Allentown, PA to Alabama
| From Pennsylvania to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PA to Huntsville, AL | $838 – $1,180 | 830 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Allentown, PA to Birmingham, AL | $837 – $1,311 | 876 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Allentown, PA to Montgomery, AL | $788 – $1,233 | 961 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Allentown, PA to Mobile, AL | $905 – $1,460 | 1,127 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Allentown, PA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $813 – $1,287 | 932 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Reading, PA to Alabama
| From Pennsylvania to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA to Huntsville, AL | $808 – $1,236 | 811 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Reading, PA to Birmingham, AL | $850 – $1,221 | 857 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Reading, PA to Montgomery, AL | $822 – $1,235 | 942 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Reading, PA to Mobile, AL | $870 – $1,432 | 1,109 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Reading, PA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $788 – $1,300 | 913 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Pennsylvania to Alabama
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 Pennsylvania to Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,075 and $1,685.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from PA to AL
When transporting your vehicle from the Keystone State to the Heart of Dixie, 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 Alabama.
- Distance and route: The journey from Pennsylvania to Alabama spans approximately 978 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania and Alabama 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 Pennsylvania to Alabama should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance 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.
- Vehicle inspection: 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.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Pennsylvania
More than 39 million people call Pennsylvania home. Nicknamed the Keystone State, Pennsylvania experiences cold winters and humid summers. Summers are generally hot and humid. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Tornadoes occur annually in the state, sometimes in large numbers, such as 30 recorded tornadoes in 2011; generally speaking, these tornadoes do not cause significant damage.
Transporting your vehicle to Alabama
About 22 million people are living in 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Pennsylvania and delivery in Alabama?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Pennsylvania and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Pennsylvania to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Pennsylvania to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, which you should verify before loading your car in Pennsylvania.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. When relocating to Pennsylvania, ensure compliance with state regulations by obtaining car insurance with minimum liability coverage: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage per accident. Consider enhancing your coverage with options like collision and comprehensive coverage. It's crucial to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Pennsylvania to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Pennsylvania to Alabama is about 978 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Pennsylvania to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are moving to Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
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.
If I have a driver’s license in Pennsylvania, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in Pennsylvania, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Pennsylvania to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Pennsylvania and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Pennsylvania to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Pennsylvania to Alabama 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 Pennsylvania to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Pennsylvania to Alabama costs $860 to $1,348.
