Why the same car gets a $900 quote and a $1,400 quote

Gather a few auto transport quotes and they won't match. That's not necessarily anyone lying — it reflects real differences in how companies price and operate. Here's what's actually going on.

What goes into the number

• Carrier market price — what a truck actually charges to run your lane right now.
• Broker margin — a broker's fee for arranging and coordinating.
• Lane demand — busy routes with lots of trucks are cheaper than thin ones.
• Vehicle size and weight — bigger vehicles cost more.
• Pickup and delivery location — easy-access vs. far off the route.
• Fuel and season — both swing the price.
• Urgency and truck availability — flexible timing is cheaper.

The problem with the lowest quote

Some companies quote artificially low to win your booking and collect a deposit — then can't find a carrier at that price, and the number climbs. A quote hundreds below everyone else is often a number designed to get your deposit, not to move your car. How to check before you book →

Estimate vs. confirmed price

An online quote is usually an estimate. It becomes a confirmed price when the shipment is booked and a carrier is committed. With Auto Rocket, your deposit secures your quoted rate and your transport space — that's when the estimate becomes a commitment.

How to compare fairly

Get a few quotes, set aside the highest and the suspiciously lowest, and ask each company whether the price is an estimate or confirmed and what happens if a carrier won't take it. The honest answers usually cluster together.