Shipping a a 2017 Mazda CX-3 from San Diego, CA to Charlotte, NC

A 2017 Mazda CX-3 was shipped by us from San Diego, CA, to Charlotte, NC. The car traveled on an open trailer. The shipment took 2,389 miles from one coast to another and cost us $1,680.00. Such shipments between two states occur very often. The process described above clearly demonstrates how open transport deals with transporting a typical crossover along the busiest interstate highway.

The Mazda CX-3 is a subcompact SUV. It has average ground clearance and weighs less than 3,000 pounds when empty. It gets loaded onto a typical open transporter without any problems, so it can be considered a candidate for the most affordable shipping. The car was not customized and ran perfectly well, so it was easy to load and strap.

Table of Contents

The Route

San Diego, CA, 92101 to Charlotte, NC, 28204

The move was from ZIP code 92101, located in central San Diego, to ZIP code 28204, found in Elizabeth, Charlotte. Both points were located in the large metro regions, which helped keep prices reasonable and secured the assignment quickly.

This shipping route uses the southbound interstate corridor. Shippers always use I-10 eastbound, passing through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. After that, the trip continues through the southeast states up to the Carolinas region. This path mostly relies on highly trafficked trucking corridors, thus it did not take too much time to find a carrier.

Both regions are among high-shipping volume regions. It is important because when both pickup and delivery locations are located in dense metro regions, the carriers maximize trailer space without making any long-distance drives to remote regions.

Open Transport

Open transport is what the majority of consumers choose, and such an option is appropriate for a typical crossover. The CX-3 does not have any exotic options; its clearance height is not excessively low, and the declared value is not particularly high to require enclosed trailer transport. This car is transported using the same multivehicle trailer that transports the majority of cars across the USA every day.

Enclosed transport is used for sports cars, classics, and luxury cars that require protection from road debris and weather conditions. This kind of transport is more expensive since enclosed trailers can carry fewer cars than open trailers, and their numbers are limited. Open transport is more cost-effective for transporting a typical daily driver Mazda.

The vehicle was exposed to the environment while being transported, which is a normal situation with open trailers. The only possible consequence of such transportation is road grime and dust that is cleaned by washing upon delivery. Damage risks with open transport are minimal since each car is tied with wheel straps and there is mandatory insurance.

Cost Breakdown

The amount of $1,680.00 comes to $0.70 per mile, which falls within the regular range for open transport over the cross-country route of 2,389 miles. It should be noted that per-mile pricing tends to decrease with increased distance; thus, the longer the distance (e.g., coast to coast), the lower the price per mile becomes.

A couple of reasons determined the cost. The distance was the primary factor. Having an almost 2,400-mile distance, the shipment is considered long-haul and, therefore, more expensive in terms of the total dollar amount, but cheaper in terms of per-mile rate. The vehicle size also matters. The CX-3 SUV is relatively small and will not take much deck space compared to trucks/vans and, therefore, will be cheaper. The transport type is another determining factor – the most common and economical option is open transport, where the carriers move multiple cars simultaneously. Finally, the route popularity was also a factor here because both San Diego and Charlotte lie on the popular freight routes, thus, ensuring the good carrier supply.

Infographic with the data about the shipment and its cost factors is provided below. Here it is: