We picked up a 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport in Frisco, Texas. It went to Malibu, California for $550 on open transport covering around 1,500 miles. This is one of the busiest westbound corridors in the country. Because this lane sees steady traffic, carriers were easy to find and the price stayed competitive.
Most people look at $550 and just see the cost. What they don’t see is everything that had to line up to make that number work.
Why Shipping a Full-Size Luxury SUV 1,500 Miles Takes More Than a Basic Order
The Range Rover Sport isn’t a compact car. At roughly 5,000 pounds, it takes up more room on a hauler than a standard sedan. Most open carriers hold up to nine vehicles. The way each one is loaded affects the whole trailer’s balance. A full-size SUV changes how the driver has to arrange that load from the start.
The route follows I-20 out of Frisco and connects to I-10 heading west. Those highways carry strong outbound freight from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. So finding a carrier on this lane is pretty reliable. DFW generates enough volume that dispatchers can match orders without much of a wait.
The $550 rate makes sense when you look at how this lane performs. Longer hauls don’t always cost more per mile because carriers want to fill trailers on busy corridors. For a 1,500-mile run from Texas to Southern California, $550 is a solid rate for open transport.
Open transport was the right call here. The Range Rover Sport didn’t need special protection since the route conditions were good. The vehicle was in solid shape and enclosed transport would’ve cost more without actually helping.
Full-Size SUV Price Estimate from Texas to California
| Transport Type | Vehicle Condition | Total Price | Price Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Auto Transport | Operable | $550 | $0.36 |
What Is a Bill of Lading and Why Is It Your Only Legal Protection During Auto Transport?
Before the Range Rover even rolled onto the carrier in Frisco, the driver performed a pre-load inspection. The Bill of Lading was completed and executed in accordance with the terms and conditions of Tempus Logix. This is not just a formality. This is the official record of your vehicle’s status at the time of change in ownership.
The BOL lists the make, model, VIN, and mileage. It lists each scratch, dent, or paint chip that was present before the vehicle ever hit the carrier. Both the driver and customer sign off before the vehicle is ever transported. This document is what supports or denies any damage claims at the time of delivery.
But what many people do not know is that the customer is supposed to sign the BOL without ever walking the vehicle. This is where the problems begin. If the driver marks an existing damage on the BOL and you did not review it at pickup time, you will find yourself in a world of trouble. This pre-existing damage is almost impossible to deny at the time of delivery.
Not walking the vehicle is probably the most common mistake in auto transport. It is just a few minutes at pickup time that will save you a world of trouble at the time of delivery.
The pickup inspection is the standard by which the delivery inspection is performed. What is documented on the BOL is exactly what is checked against at the time of the final walkthrough. Getting it right at the beginning is just as important as getting it right at the end.
See Also: Understanding About Auto Transport Bill of Lading
Understanding BOL Damage Codes
Delivering to Malibu: Coastal Access, Tight Streets, and the Last Mile
Malibu is not an easy delivery location. The Pacific Coast Highway runs through the city, and there are many residential streets that are off the PCH. These are not made for large, long trucks like the standard 9-car carrier. The sharp turns and the low clearance off the bluffs are not conducive for such large equipment.
Most neighborhoods in Malibu are located at the end of access roads that are off the canyon. These are not made for large equipment, so full-size carriers cannot get to the exact delivery location. The carrier and the customer agree on a meeting point, and the customer picks up the shipment from there. This is the standard practice for the area, and most customers in Malibu are aware of the practice. The driver calls ahead to confirm that access is allowed.
For the shipment, the driver and the customer agreed on a pull-off near the PCH. The Range Rover was picked up without any issues. The final BOL was done, and the driver and the customer confirmed that everything was in order.
The rate of $550 for the shipment of 1,500 miles from Texas to the West Coast of California is good. The key is that the BOL is kept accurate at both ends of the shipment. Otherwise, the rate could go through the roof.
Shipping Summary
- Direction: Frisco TX to Malibu CA (1500 miles)
Frisco, TX → Dallas, TX → I-20 W → I-10 W → Los Angeles, CA → Malibu, CA - Vehicle: 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- Condition: Runs and Drives
- Service: Open Auto Transport
- Vehicle type: Full-Size SUV
- Shipping price: $550 ($0.36per mile)
