Car shipping in Seattle, done the easy way
Seattle is one of the busiest vehicle shipping markets in the western United States. Tech relocations to and from South Lake Union and the Eastside, University of Washington students arriving and leaving every semester, military families moving through Joint Base Lewis-McChord, retirees heading south for the winter, and collectors buying cars at auction all need the same thing: a dependable way to move a vehicle without driving it. Evergreen Car Shipping's Seattle office, located on Airport Way South in the SoDo district just minutes from I-5 and I-90, exists to make that simple.
We are a licensed and bonded auto transport broker. That means we don't own a single truck — we own something more useful: relationships with hundreds of vetted, FMCSA-registered carriers that run the I-5 corridor, I-90 across the mountains, and every major lane out of the Puget Sound region every week. When you book with us, we match your vehicle with a carrier already heading your direction, confirm their insurance and safety record, lock in your price, and manage the shipment until the keys are back in your hand.
Why Seattle residents choose Evergreen Car Shipping
There are plenty of national lead-generation websites that will take your Seattle car shipping request and sell it to five brokers who then call you nonstop. We work differently. You get one point of contact in our Seattle office, one all-in price, and one phone number — (253) 364-1610 — that reaches someone who actually knows your shipment.
- All-in pricing. The quote you see online is what you pay. No fuel surcharges, no "dispatch fees," no surprise balance on delivery day.
- Door-to-door service. Pickup and delivery as close to your address as a 75-foot car hauler can safely get, whether that's a driveway in Ballard or a parking lot in Bellevue.
- Open and enclosed carriers. Budget-friendly open transport for daily drivers, or fully enclosed trailers for Teslas, Porsches, classics, and anything you don't want exposed to road grime.
- Fully insured. Every carrier we dispatch carries cargo insurance, and your car's condition is documented on a bill of lading at pickup and delivery.
- Local knowledge. We know which Seattle neighborhoods a semi can and can't reach, which days the I-90 pass is a problem in winter, and how to time a pickup around the Port of Seattle and SeaTac traffic.
Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs we serve
Our Seattle auto transport service covers the entire city and the greater King and Snohomish County area. Carriers pick up and deliver regularly in Capitol Hill, Ballard, Queen Anne, West Seattle, Fremont, Green Lake, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Everett, Kent, Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, Federal Way, Bothell, and Mountlake Terrace, and everywhere in between. If you're outside the city — Bainbridge Island, Vashon, or up toward Marysville and Mount Vernon — we can still help; the driver will simply coordinate a convenient meeting point on the mainland or along I-5.
A quick note on Seattle's geography: hills, narrow residential streets, and low-hanging trees in neighborhoods like Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, and Madrona can make it impossible for a full-size transport truck to reach your front door. When that's the case, your driver will call ahead and arrange to meet somewhere nearby with room to load safely — a wide arterial, a grocery store parking lot, or a park-and-ride. It takes a few extra minutes and is completely routine.
Popular car shipping routes from Seattle
Because Seattle sits at the top of the I-5 corridor and the western end of I-90, carriers run south to California and east across the country constantly. That volume keeps prices competitive and pickup windows short. Here are the lanes we book most often, with typical transit times once your vehicle is loaded:
| Route | Distance | Transit time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle → Los Angeles, CA | 1,135 mi | 3–5 days |
| Seattle → San Francisco Bay Area | 810 mi | 2–4 days |
| Seattle → Phoenix, AZ | 1,420 mi | 4–6 days |
| Seattle → Denver, CO | 1,320 mi | 4–6 days |
| Seattle → Dallas, TX | 2,100 mi | 6–8 days |
| Seattle → Chicago, IL | 2,060 mi | 6–8 days |
| Seattle → New York, NY | 2,850 mi | 8–10 days |
| Seattle → Miami, FL | 3,300 mi | 9–12 days |
Shipping a car to Seattle? Every route runs both directions. Inbound shipments from California, Arizona, Texas, and the East Coast are just as common, especially during summer relocation season and when snowbirds return in spring.
What it costs to ship a car from Seattle
Seattle car shipping cost depends on five things: distance, vehicle size and weight, open versus enclosed transport, whether the vehicle runs, and how flexible you are on pickup dates. As a rough guide, a standard sedan on an open carrier costs about $650–$900 to Southern California, $900–$1,300 to Phoenix, Denver, or Dallas, and $1,300–$1,800 to New York or Florida. A large SUV or pickup adds $100–$250. Enclosed transport runs roughly 40–60% more than open. A non-running vehicle that needs a winch adds around $150.
Timing matters too. Summer is the busiest season on West Coast lanes as families move for school and work; booking a week or two ahead gets the best price. Flexibility on your pickup window — giving the carrier a two- or three-day range instead of one specific day — is the single easiest way to lower your rate. Rather than estimate, use the quote tool at the top of this page: enter two ZIP codes and your vehicle, and you'll see an exact, all-in price in about 30 seconds.
Open vs. enclosed transport in the Pacific Northwest
Open transport is the standard — the two-level haulers you see on I-5 carrying new cars to dealerships. It's safe, it's the most affordable, and it's what the vast majority of Seattle customers choose. Yes, it rains here, and your car may arrive needing a wash, but weather exposure during a few days in transit is no different from parking on the street.
Enclosed transport puts your vehicle inside a hard-sided trailer, protected from rain, road debris, and prying eyes. We recommend it for luxury and exotic cars, classics and restorations, low-clearance sports cars, and high-value EVs. Given how many Teslas, Rivians, and Porsches live in the Seattle area, enclosed is a popular choice here — and because enclosed carriers cross the Cascades and run the I-5 corridor regularly, availability is good.
Relocating to or from Seattle? Here's how it works
- Get your quote. Use the instant quote tool or call our Seattle office. Tell us the pickup and delivery ZIP codes, your vehicle, and when you'd like it picked up.
- Book and schedule. Once you approve the price, we assign a vetted carrier on your lane and confirm the driver's name, truck, and pickup window with you. A small deposit holds your spot; the balance is paid at delivery.
- Pickup and inspection. The driver inspects your car with you, notes any existing scratches or dings on the bill of lading, and loads it. Keep a copy — it's your record.
- In transit. We keep you updated as your car moves, and you can reach the driver or our office any time.
- Delivery. Inspect the car against the bill of lading, sign, pay the balance, and you're done.
Preparing your car for shipping from Seattle
A little preparation makes pickup day smooth. Wash the car so the inspection is accurate. Leave about a quarter tank of fuel — enough to load and unload, not so much that it adds weight. Remove toll transponders (Good To Go! passes will keep billing you otherwise), parking permits, and loose items. Fold in mirrors and retract antennas. Note any existing damage with photos. Personal items are allowed up to about 100 pounds in the trunk or below the window line, but they aren't covered by cargo insurance, so keep anything valuable with you. If your car has an alarm, disable it or tell the driver how.
Military, student, and snowbird shipping from Seattle
With Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Base Kitsap nearby, we handle a steady stream of PCS moves. We offer active-duty discounts and can work around orders and report dates. For UW, Seattle U, and Seattle Pacific students, we ship cars to and from campus housing every fall and spring — and we know how to coordinate pickup when a parent is on the other end. Seattle snowbirds heading to Arizona, Palm Springs, or Florida should book early; October and November are the peak months southbound, and March and April northbound.
Visit or call our Seattle office
Evergreen Car Shipping's Seattle location is at 3250 Airport Way S, Suite 1500, Seattle, WA 98134 — in SoDo, a short drive from downtown, the stadiums, and the I-5/I-90 interchange. Call (253) 364-1610 Monday through Saturday, or get your instant quote online any time. We also have Washington offices in Bellevue, Tacoma, and Spokane.