---
title: What moved in the October 2026 US car shipping cost index (50 lanes)
tags:  #us car shipping #cost index #october 2026 #snowbird season #price estimates #open carrier  
author: [haulfare](https://docswell.com/user/4746471155)
site: [Docswell](https://www.docswell.com/)
thumbnail: https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/47ZPV6GME3.jpg?width=480
description: This six-page report looks at the HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026 edition. It covers 50 major US lanes and compares the open-carrier midpoint for a running sedan with the same midpoint in September.  The average across all 50 lanes barely moved, from 1,209 dollars in September to 1,215 dollars in October. The average hides a split. Twelve lanes into Florida, Texas and Arizona from the North and Midwest rose 12.4 percent to 13.0 percent. Ohio to Florida, for example, went from 995 dollars to 1,123 dollars. Seven lanes running the other way fell 8.6 percent to 9.2 percent. Florida to New Jersey was estimated at 990 dollars in October, down 9.0 percent. The other 31 lanes, mainly West Coast and cross-country routes, eased 1.5 percent to 2.3 percent.  Every figure is a model estimate, not a quote. The actual price is set when a carrier accepts the load.  Full index, charts and the CSV (CC BY 4.0): https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/  I run HaulFare. HaulFare is a free US car shipping price guide. It is not a broker or a carrier and does not ship cars. It publishes model price estimates and refers quote requests to a licensed transport partner, which pays HaulFare a referral fee.
published: November 14, 26
canonical: https://docswell.com/s/4746471155/5MQNVE-october-2026-us-car-shipping-cost-index-50-lanes
---
# Page. 1

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/47ZPV6GME3.jpg)

Car shipping prices, September to October 2026
How the start of snowbird season split 50 US lanes
Based on the HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026 edition
Every price is a model estimate for a running sedan on an open carrier, not a quote.
The actual price is set when a carrier accepts the load.
HaulFare is a free US car shipping price guide, not a broker or carrier.
HaulFare: https://www.haulfare.com/
The index: https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/
HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026. Model estimates, not quotes. HaulFare is a free price guide, not a broker or carrier.
https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/


# Page. 2

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/YJ6M52Y57V.jpg)

What moved, at a glance
12 lanes
Up 12.4% to 13.0%
7 lanes
Down 8.6% to 9.2%
31 lanes
Down 1.5% to 2.3%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Number of lanes (of 50), change in open carrier midpoint from September
Rose: lanes heading into Florida, Texas and Arizona from the North and Midwest.
Fell sharply: the same lanes in the other direction, heading north.
Eased slightly: everything else, mainly West Coast and cross-country lanes.
Average open midpoint over all 50 lanes: $1,209 in September, $1,215 in October.
HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026. Model estimates, not quotes. HaulFare is a free price guide, not a broker or carrier.
https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/
35


# Page. 3

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/GJ5ZY2GGE4.jpg)

The 12 lanes that rose
Lane
Michigan to Florida
Ohio to Florida
Massachusetts to Florida
New Jersey to Florida
New York to Texas
Boston, MA to Miami, FL
Chicago, IL to Phoenix, AZ
New York to Florida
Pennsylvania to Florida
Illinois to Florida
Chicago, IL to Miami, FL
New York, NY to Miami, FL
Sept mid
$1,100
$995
$1,190
$1,088
$1,303
$1,248
$1,340
$1,090
$1,038
$1,123
$1,228
$1,183
Oct mid
$1,243
$1,123
$1,343
$1,228
$1,470
$1,408
$1,510
$1,228
$1,168
$1,263
$1,380
$1,330
Oct range
$1,105 to $1,380
$1,000 to $1,245
$1,195 to $1,490
$1,095 to $1,360
$1,310 to $1,630
$1,255 to $1,560
$1,345 to $1,675
$1,095 to $1,360
$1,040 to $1,295
$1,125 to $1,400
$1,230 to $1,530
$1,185 to $1,475
HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026. Model estimates, not quotes. HaulFare is a free price guide, not a broker or carrier.
https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/
Change
+13.0%
+12.9%
+12.9%
+12.9%
+12.8%
+12.8%
+12.7%
+12.7%
+12.5%
+12.5%
+12.4%
+12.4%


# Page. 4

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/9E2RG4YDJR.jpg)

One route, two prices
Where both directions are in the index, they had the same midpoint in September.
In October the southbound trip rose and the northbound trip fell.
Route (both directions)
New Jersey and Florida
New York and Florida
Michigan and Florida
Illinois and Florida
New York, NY and Miami, FL
New York and Texas
Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ
Sept, each
$1,088
$1,090
$1,100
$1,123
$1,183
$1,303
$1,340
Oct, south
$1,228
$1,228
$1,243
$1,263
$1,330
$1,470
$1,510
Oct, north
$990
$995
$1,005
$1,020
$1,078
$1,188
$1,223
HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026. Model estimates, not quotes. HaulFare is a free price guide, not a broker or carrier.
https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/
Oct gap
$238
$233
$238
$243
$252
$282
$287


# Page. 5

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/D7YDVMGM7M.jpg)

The other 31 lanes, and the per-mile rate
31 lanes eased 1.5% to 2.3%. Across all 50 lanes, the per-mile rate falls as distance grows:
$1.55 a mile (average trip $631)
Under 500 miles (4 lanes)
$1.08 a mile (average trip $995)
500 to 999 (5 lanes)
$0.96 a mile (average trip $1,169)
1,000 to 1,499 (24 lanes)
$0.80 a mile (average trip $1,324)
1,500 to 1,999 (6 lanes)
$0.62 a mile (average trip $1,570)
2,000 and over (11 lanes)
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
Average open carrier midpoint per mile, USD (October 2026)
HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026. Model estimates, not quotes. HaulFare is a free price guide, not a broker or carrier.
https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/
1.75
2.00


# Page. 6

![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/VEN6MWG3E8.jpg)

What it means for your budget
Heading south for the winter? Prices on those lanes rose about 12% to 13% in October.
Heading north before spring? The same lanes fell about 9% in October.
Elsewhere, October prices were about 2% below September.
Treat these figures as a starting point, then get a real quote for your exact addresses and dates.
Monthly index, all 50 lanes: https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/
Full dataset, free under CC BY 4.0: https://www.haulfare.com/data/
Price guide and estimates: https://www.haulfare.com/
Every figure is a model estimate for a running sedan on an open carrier, not a quote.
HaulFare is a price guide, not a broker or carrier.
A licensed transport partner pays HaulFare a referral fee on firm quote requests.
HaulFare Car Shipping Cost Index, October 2026. Model estimates, not quotes. HaulFare is a free price guide, not a broker or carrier.
https://www.haulfare.com/data/car-shipping-cost-index/