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Dealer and multi-vehicle estimator
Three sedans and a pickup from Dallas to Atlanta on an open carrier add up to $3,485–$4,330 as four single-car estimates in the October 2026 HaulFare price model, about $965 per vehicle. That sum is a reference, not a quote: one carrier loading all four at one stop can charge less per vehicle, and the licensed broker quotes the whole load.
Updated October 2026
Worked example: 3 sedans and 1 pickup truck, Dallas to Atlanta
About 849 road miles from central Dallas to central Atlanta, open carrier, all four vehicles running, priced with the October 2026 HaulFare model for a pickup in October. Each line is a single-car estimate; the total is their plain sum.
$3,485–$4,330
sum of four single-car estimates, open carrier, October 2026
$965
per vehicle at the midpoint
$825–$1,025
each sedan, shipped alone
$1,010–$1,255
the pickup truck, shipped alone
| Vehicle | Type | Single-car estimate | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle 1 | Sedan | $825–$1,025 | $915 |
| Vehicle 2 | Sedan | $825–$1,025 | $915 |
| Vehicle 3 | Sedan | $825–$1,025 | $915 |
| Vehicle 4 | Pickup truck | $1,010–$1,255 | $1,120 |
| Sum of single-car estimates | $3,485–$4,330 | $3,865 | |
Each sedan is estimated at $825–$1,025 and the pickup truck at $1,010–$1,255, so the 3 sedans and the pickup add up to $3,485–$4,330, about $965 per vehicle at the midpoint. Each line is priced as if that vehicle shipped alone, and the total is their plain sum. When one carrier loads several vehicles at a single pickup and drops them at a single delivery, it fills several slots on one trip, so a multi-car load can price lower per vehicle than the same vehicles shipped separately. How much lower, if at all, depends on the truck and the week, so no adjustment is applied here and the total is a reference, not a price ceiling: the actual multi-car price comes from the licensed broker your quote request goes to.
Same four vehicles, other options
| Option | Sum of single-car estimates | Per vehicle (midpoint) |
|---|---|---|
| Open carrier, all four run | $3,485–$4,330 | $965 |
| Open carrier, pickup truck does not run | $3,620–$4,495 | $1,005 |
| Enclosed carrier, all four run | $4,940–$6,145 | $1,375 |
A non-running vehicle adds the $150 winch fee to its own line only. Enclosed transport raises every line, and enclosed trucks are scarcer, so a multi-vehicle enclosed load can take longer to place.
Auction yard, dealer lot and residence pickups
The pickup location does not change the estimate, but it changes what has to be ready before a truck is sent. Auction rules below come from the auctions' own help and branch pages as of October 2026; free days and fees vary by yard, so confirm them on the lot or branch page. HaulFare is an independent price guide and is not affiliated with any auction.
Dealer lot
- Give dispatch the receiving hours and an on-site contact who can hand over keys and sign the Bill of Lading for every vehicle.
- List each VIN or stock number so the release paperwork, the Bill of Lading and your records match.
- Say whether a full-size car hauler can pull in and turn around on the lot. If it cannot, the driver may load from the street or a nearby open lot.
Auction yard
- Pay the auction on time. Copart asks for payment within 3 business days including the day of sale and adds a $50 late fee per vehicle after that; IAA wants payment by 5:00 p.m. branch time two business days after the award for US buyers.
- Storage fees start after the free days. Copart gives a three-day complimentary storage period, counted from the day of sale. IAA sets free days and the daily rate by branch; its Houston branch listed the award day plus 4 days, then $50 a day. Check the lot or branch page for your yard.
- Have the lot numbers and your buyer or member number ready for the dispatcher. Each auction releases vehicles to the transporter through its own system: the Copart Transportation app issues paperless gate passes, and the IAA Tow app uses a pullout PIN.
- Copart loads first-come, first-served during business hours, and IAA yards close earlier than the office to leave time for pullout and loading, so give dispatch the pickup hours for every yard on the load.
- Auction vehicles often have existing damage. Compare each one with the listing photos at pickup and make sure the damage is written on the Bill of Lading before the truck leaves.
Residence
- Federal rules require states to allow car haulers of at least 65 feet, or 75 feet for stinger-steered rigs, on the national truck network. A rig that long often cannot turn into a residential street, so the driver may ask to meet at a nearby open lot.
- Have every vehicle ready at the same time, with keys, so the truck is not held waiting for one of them.
More detail: auction car shipping, dealer and fleet transport and non-running car transport.
How the estimate works
One price model for every vehicle, summed without a discount.
Every vehicle is priced on its own by the same model as the car shipping cost calculator: a per-mile curve by distance, a vehicle class adjustment, open or enclosed, the national month index, the weekly diesel index, rural pickup and delivery fees, a $150 winch fee for a vehicle that does not run and, for Hawaii or Alaska, an ocean leg per vehicle. Each range runs from 10% below to 12% above the midpoint, rounded to $5.
The load total is the plain sum of those single-car estimates. No multi-car discount is applied, because the saving from filling several slots at one stop depends on which trucks are running the lane that week and how heavy the load is. Treat the total as a reference and the broker’s quote as the number to book on.
Distance is the straight line between U.S. Census ZIP code area centers (by the first three digits of each ZIP) times a road-circuity factor; the worked example runs city center to city center. The pickup location only changes the checklist, not the price. The estimator stops at nine vehicles, about one full truck: a high-mount car hauler carries up to eight cars and a stinger-steer rig up to 11, fewer when the load is heavy. For a single vehicle, use the cost calculator; to compare carrier types, see open vs enclosed.
Dealer and multi-vehicle estimator FAQ
How much does it cost to ship several cars at once?
In the October 2026 HaulFare price model, three sedans and a pickup truck from Dallas to Atlanta on an open carrier add up to $3,485–$4,330 when each is priced as a single-car shipment, about $965 per vehicle at the midpoint. That sum is a reference, not a quote. A carrier that loads several vehicles at one pickup can charge less per vehicle, and the licensed broker quotes the whole load.
Is shipping several cars together cheaper per car?
It can be, but not by a fixed percentage. A carrier that fills several slots on one trip, with one pickup stop and one delivery stop, spreads the cost of that trip over more vehicles. How much that lowers the rate depends on how many open slots trucks have on your lane that week, how heavy the vehicles are and whether they all run. That is why this estimator shows the plain sum of single-car estimates instead of subtracting an assumed discount.
What do I need to ship cars bought at an auction?
Pay the auction on time, then request a quote and have the lot numbers, your buyer or member number and the yard address ready for the broker. Copart asks for payment within 3 business days including the day of sale, and storage fees start after a three-day complimentary period. IAA wants payment two business days after the award for US buyers and sets free storage days by branch; its Houston branch listed the award day plus 4 days, then $50 a day. Request transport as soon as you win.
What if some of the vehicles do not run?
Mark each one as not running. The model adds a $150 winch fee to each non-running vehicle, because the carrier needs a winch-equipped truck to load and unload a vehicle that does not drive. A vehicle that cannot roll, steer or brake needs other equipment and is priced individually by the broker. Describe the condition accurately: a truck that arrives without the right equipment cannot take the vehicle.
How many cars fit on one car hauler?
A high-mount car hauler carries up to eight cars and a stinger-steer rig up to 11, according to a 2021 Overdrive review of car-haul equipment. Heavy vehicles, electric cars in particular, lower that count, because the rig can reach its weight limit before it runs out of deck space. That is why this estimator stops at nine vehicles; larger loads are split across trucks.
Does the estimate assume one pickup and one delivery?
Yes. Every vehicle is priced from the same pickup ZIP to the same delivery ZIP. If the vehicles sit at different yards or go to different stores, run the estimator once for each pair of addresses, or give the broker every stop when they contact you. Extra stops take the carrier more time, so they are priced into the load.
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