About LaneFerry

Start with the route. Where is the car shipping from, where is it going, and when are you ready? That lane is what shapes the typical price range, pickup window, and transit time.

LaneFerry does not move vehicles, dispatch trucks, or broker shipments. We are a free matching service. We connect customers with licensed, insured carriers and brokers who may be able to handle the route.

That matters because you stay in control. You review options, compare prices and pickup windows, and decide who to book. Before you book, confirm the final price and pickup window in writing, and verify the company's USDOT/MC number and insurance yourself.

If you are new to the US or more comfortable in another language, help may be available in your language. The matching service is free to the customer.

The process is simple. We collect contact and shipment details only, such as:

• pickup and delivery locations
• vehicle year, make, and model
• running condition
• first available ship date
• transport preferences like open transport or enclosed, and door-to-door or terminal

We use that information to help match your request with licensed, insured carriers and brokers that serve the route. Then you compare the options. The real number depends on the lane, the vehicle, the season, and how flexible your timing is.

A busy major route usually has more availability than a rural pickup or delivery. A flexible pickup window often helps. If you need the car moved faster, expedited car shipping may be available on some lanes, usually at a higher cost.

We do not ask for bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, or payment details. Your job is to compare, ask questions, and choose the company you want to book with.

Route first, then the trade-offs. A short interstate lane usually costs less than a coast-to-coast move. Major city-to-city routes are often more competitive than rural lanes. Larger vehicles, non-running vehicles, enclosed trailers, and tight timing usually raise the price.

Typical transit time also depends on the route. A short regional lane may take a few days in transit. A cross-country lane often takes about 7 to 10 days in transit, sometimes more depending on weather, truck capacity, and stops along the way. Pickup usually happens within a window, not at an exact guaranteed time.

If you are comparing options, these choices usually matter most:

• Open vs enclosed: Open is the most common and usually costs less. Enclosed costs more and is often chosen for high-value, classic, or specialty vehicles. See enclosed auto transport.
• Door-to-door vs terminal: Door-to-door is more convenient when truck access allows. Terminal service can be useful on some routes, though availability varies. See door-to-door shipping.
• Flexible vs urgent timing: More flexibility can help on price. Rush timing can narrow your options and increase cost.

If you want a fuller breakdown of price drivers, read what it costs. Treat all numbers as estimates until the company confirms the route, vehicle, and pickup window in writing.

LaneFerry is free to the customer because the service is built to connect shipping requests with companies that actually handle transport. We are not the carrier. We are not the broker on the shipment. We do not take over your booking.

Our role is to help organize the request so you can review options without starting from zero. That is useful if you are shipping from another city, moving for work or school, buying a car out of state, or arranging a shipment while settling into the US.

Free does not mean automatic approval, guaranteed pricing, or guaranteed pickup. It means there is no charge to use LaneFerry to get matched. The company you choose will set its own terms, pricing, and pickup window for the route.

The best approach is simple: compare more than one option, ask what is included, confirm the total price and pickup window in writing, and verify USDOT/MC and insurance directly before you book.

Most shipments go smoothly, but car-shipping scams and overcharging tactics do exist. The warning signs are usually easy to spot if you know what to look for.

Watch for these red flags:

• a quote far below the others on the same lane
• pressure to book today or lose the price
• a large upfront deposit before clear written terms
• no USDOT/MC number, or refusal to share it
• vague answers about insurance, pickup windows, or who is actually handling the load

A good company should explain the route, give you a written price and pickup window, and let you verify its authority and insurance. You should also confirm whether the company is the carrier or a broker and ask who will contact you at pickup and delivery.

For a step-by-step checklist, read how to vet a car-shipping company. Before pickup, it also helps to review how car shipping works so there are no surprises.

LaneFerry is for anyone in the US who needs help finding options for interstate or cross-country vehicle shipping. That includes people moving to a new state, college students, military families, snowbirds, online car buyers, dealerships arranging a single unit, and people who have recently arrived in the US and want a simpler process.

You do not need to know transport jargon to get started. Just give the route, vehicle details, and timing. From there, you compare the trade-offs. Open or enclosed. Door-to-door or terminal. Flexible pickup window or faster dispatch.

If you are preparing to ship, it helps to clean out personal items, keep the fuel level low, and document the vehicle condition before pickup. For a practical checklist, see prepare your car for shipping.

When you are ready, you can request matches through get matched. The service is free, and you choose whether to move forward with any company you hear from.