How the 2026 Fuel Crisis Is Affecting U.S. Car Shipping Prices

Car shipping became substantially more expensive over the past year. Our shipment data shows carrier prices were 61.1% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025, rising from $0.647 to $1.042 per vehicle-mile.

We see higher diesel costs as a major reason for that increase. Fuel prices and carrier prices both rose sharply, and we haven’t seen a comparable price jump in our previous years of shipment data.

These are the amounts we paid to carriers, excluding brokerage fees. They show what it cost to have the vehicles transported, rather than the full amount customers paid to arrange their shipments.

The increase is also clear when looking back to February 2026. At that point, the carrier price was $0.748 per vehicle-mile. By September, it had risen 39.3%, adding $0.294 per mile.

To make the comparisons more meaningful, we account for shipment distance and whether vehicles traveled on open or enclosed trailers. These findings reflect our own shipments, rather than a nationwide survey of customer quotes.

Comparisons account for shipment distance and transport type. All prices shown exclude brokerage fees.

For a simple dollar comparison, take a hypothetical $1,000 carrier charge in September 2025. Applying the increase recorded for open transport (55.8%) brings it to $1,558 in September 2026. For enclosed transport, the 85.6% increase brings that same starting charge to $1,856.

By September 2026, diesel cost 69% more than in February, while carrier prices were up 39.3%. Diesel jumped again in September, but carrier prices dipped slightly. We expect that higher fuel bill to show up in October and November shipping quotes, as carriers take time to pass on the cost.

Higher fuel prices increased carriers’ operating costs

U.S. retail diesel averaged $6.291 per gallon in September 2026, up from $3.748 in September 2025. That is a 67.8% annual increase, alongside the 61.1% rise in carrier prices we recorded. The similar scale of those increases supports our view that fuel has been a major source of pressure on shipping prices. EIA monthly diesel prices.

For a carrier, the extra expense appears every time the truck needs fuel. Take a 1,000-mile trip at an assumed six miles per gallon. At September 2026’s average diesel price, that trip would cost approximately $424 more in fuel than it would have a year earlier.

That is the additional cost for the whole truck trip. How much falls on each vehicle depends partly on how many vehicles the truck carries. Empty miles matter too, because the carrier still buys fuel when traveling to the next pickup without a full load.

Recovering that extra expense takes more than raising an asking price. Carriers still compete for shipments. On some routes, they can secure higher rates more quickly. On others, they may have to absorb more of the fuel increase until demand or truck availability changes.

Why the full effect of the fuel crisis emerged later

The Iran war disrupted oil supplies from late February 2026. In September, an attack shut Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline while Houthi activity threatened Red Sea shipping, adding fresh pressure to fuel markets.

A disruption to oil shipments takes time to work through the supply chain. Tankers that left before the disruption still arrive with their cargoes. Oil and fuel already in storage provide another temporary cushion. Prices can react to the news immediately, while the physical shortage becomes more apparent as those supplies are used and fewer replacement cargoes arrive.

The International Energy Agency described this progression in its April report. The disruption had a greater effect on refining as time passed, while oil already at sea provided only temporary relief. Once that buffer diminished, replacing the missing supply became more difficult. IEA April oil market report.

The pressure also reached the U.S. fuel market. EIA reported record distillate exports during the second quarter as overseas buyers sought fuel to replace disrupted supplies. That international competition helps explain why a supply problem abroad can affect the diesel bill of a truck carrying vehicles within the United States. EIA analysis of petroleum-market conditions.

We see the later increase in carrier prices as fuel-cost pressure working its way into shipping rates. Carrier prices rose 22.6% in April and continued climbing through May and June. By September, they were 39.3% above February’s level. We saw the effect become clearer over the following months as carriers sought higher prices to cover more expensive trips.

September’s diesel increase could reach shipping prices in October and November

September brought another sharp rise in diesel. The monthly average increased from $5.462 to $6.291 per gallon, a gain of 15.2%. Carrier prices did not rise alongside it that month. They slipped 1.7%, from $1.060 to $1.042 per vehicle-mile.

We expect that September fuel increase to put renewed upward pressure on carrier prices in October and November. Our outlook follows the pattern seen earlier in the year, when shipping prices rose after the initial jump in diesel.

Carriers are already paying the higher fuel bill. As they price their next shipments, they have a reason to seek more money for the same trip. That response can take several weeks to appear across monthly shipment figures. How far prices rise will depend on whether diesel stays expensive and whether carriers can secure higher rates on the routes they serve.

September also included more enclosed shipments. They accounted for 38% of the monthly mix, compared with 28% in August. Across all shipments, the median carrier payment rose 8.1%, from $0.902 to $0.975 per vehicle-mile. After accounting for distance and trailer type, the comparison shows the 1.7% monthly decline. That distinction matters when judging whether prices have risen for comparable shipments.

The largest annual increase was in Southwest/Texas

Carrier prices rose in every regional group covered by our analysis. Southwest/Texas had the largest annual increase at 86.2%. The Midwest and South followed, with increases above 74%.

The Northeast and West saw smaller increases, but prices in both regional groups were still more than 40% above their September 2025 levels.

The differences between regions show why a single percentage cannot tell a customer what their shipment will cost. Carriers face higher fuel bills across the country, but the number of available trucks and shipments varies from one route to another.

Methodology: Based on our shipments picked up through September 2026, including those still in transit. Carrier prices exclude brokerage fees and are calculated per vehicle-mile, accounting for distance and trailer type. Diesel figures use EIA monthly averages. The chart uses February 2026 as its baseline; annual comparisons use September 2025. Historical observations and the fuel-cost explanation reflect our experience and interpretation. The October and November outlook is a forecast based on data through September.

What to do if you need to ship a car

If you are planning a shipment in October or November, get a fresh quote before setting your budget. Last year’s price may no longer be a useful guide, and September’s higher diesel costs could put further pressure on rates in the coming weeks.

You should not simply add 61.1% to an old quote. That figure describes the increase in carrier prices across our data. Your shipment may see a different change, and the total you pay will also include the brokerage fee. Ask what is included in the quoted amount and how long the quote is valid.

If your pickup date is flexible, mention that when you request a quote. Ask whether moving the pickup a few days would change the price. If your vehicle does not need enclosed transport, ask for an open-transport quote as well. You can review our transport options to decide which service fits your needs.

When comparing companies, request quotes for the same shipment and the same type of transport. Before booking, confirm the full price and make sure the pickup window works for you.