Washington to Alabama Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,531 miles from Washington to Alabama ranges from $1,304 to $2,226 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 Alabama to Washington car shipping guide.
The best Washington to Alabama car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Washington 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 Washington to Alabama
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,531 miles on your car going from Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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!
WA 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 Washington and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 2,531 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Seattle, WA to Alabama
| From Washington to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA to Huntsville, AL | $1,372 – $2,205 | 2,505 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Seattle, WA to Birmingham, AL | $1,345 – $2,247 | 2,522 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Seattle, WA to Montgomery, AL | $1,413 – $2,116 | 2,610 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Seattle, WA to Mobile, AL | $1,459 – $2,199 | 2,705 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Seattle, WA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,345 – $2,140 | 2,515 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Spokane, WA to Alabama
| From Washington to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA to Huntsville, AL | $1,367 – $2,119 | 2,228 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Spokane, WA to Birmingham, AL | $1,367 – $2,034 | 2,244 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Spokane, WA to Montgomery, AL | $1,398 – $2,161 | 2,333 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Spokane, WA to Mobile, AL | $1,358 – $2,054 | 2,389 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Spokane, WA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,313 – $2,098 | 2,238 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tacoma, WA to Alabama
| From Washington to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA to Huntsville, AL | $1,331 – $2,162 | 2,513 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Birmingham, AL | $1,372 – $2,055 | 2,535 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Montgomery, AL | $1,342 – $2,116 | 2,624 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Mobile, AL | $1,401 – $2,199 | 2,718 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,426 – $2,033 | 2,528 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Vancouver, WA to Alabama
| From Washington to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, WA to Huntsville, AL | $1,384 – $2,175 | 2,471 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Birmingham, AL | $1,330 – $2,240 | 2,487 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Montgomery, AL | $1,372 – $2,076 | 2,576 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Mobile, AL | $1,483 – $2,116 | 2,644 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,411 – $2,240 | 2,481 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bellevue, WA to Alabama
| From Washington to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA to Huntsville, AL | $1,290 – $2,140 | 2,500 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Birmingham, AL | $1,385 – $2,076 | 2,516 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Montgomery, AL | $1,370 – $2,315 | 2,605 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Mobile, AL | $1,455 – $2,138 | 2,699 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,318 – $2,033 | 2,510 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Washington 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 Washington to Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,630 and $2,783.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from WA to AL
When transporting your vehicle from the Evergreen 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 Washington to Alabama spans approximately 2,531 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 Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington to Alabama should take between seven and fifteen 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 Washington
More than 39 million people call Washington home. Nicknamed 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!
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 Washington 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 Washington and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Washington to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Washington 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 Washington.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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.
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 Washington to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Washington to Alabama is about 2,531 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from Washington to Alabama.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In the state of Washington, there are no annual safety inspections, however, vehicles must still comply with strict Clean Car standards.
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 Washington, 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 Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Washington to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Washington 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 Washington to Alabama?
Shipping a car from Washington to Alabama costs $1,304 to $2,226.
