Car shipping companies quote prices for standard sedans. When you call with a lifted 3/4-ton dually or a built diesel with 37-inch tires, the quote process gets more specific — and the number changes. Here’s what to expect.
Why non-standard trucks cost more to ship
Standard open car carriers are designed around the dimensions of passenger vehicles. A Ford Explorer, a Camry, a standard F-150 — these fit predictably in the spaces on a multi-level hauler. When a vehicle exceeds those dimensions in height, width, or length, the carrier has fewer placement options, more loading complexity, and sometimes needs different equipment.
The cost premium for non-standard trucks is not a fee for inconvenience. It reflects the reduced carrier flexibility and, in some cases, the need for specialized transport.
The three dimensions that affect shipping
- Height is the most common constraint. Standard open carrier upper deck positions clear roughly 7 feet. A lifted truck with a 6-inch suspension lift and 35-inch tires often exceeds that. The driver can sometimes place an oversized truck in a lower deck position, but that reduces the number of vehicles on the trailer and affects carrier economics.
- Width comes into play with dually trucks and widebody modifications. Most duallies can be accommodated on standard carriers; the driver accounts for them in load planning. Custom widebody kits with extended fender coverage may push beyond standard tolerances.
- Length matters for extended-cab, long-bed configurations and aftermarket bed extensions. Most standard pickup configurations ship without issue. Full-size work trucks with commercial bed equipment or extended hauler configurations can exceed standard carrier length limits.
What specialized transport actually looks like
When a truck doesn’t fit a standard multi-level hauler, the options shift:
- Single-vehicle transport: The truck ships alone on a flatbed-style trailer designed for one vehicle. No clearance constraints from a multi-level design, more flexibility on exact placement, and direct point-to-point routing. The cost reflects the fact that the carrier is running your vehicle exclusively.
- Open flatbed: Designed for vehicles too large or too heavy for standard car carriers. Common for heavy equipment; used for the largest and tallest truck configurations in auto transport.
- Hotshot: A smaller trailer pulled by a pickup or medium-duty truck, sometimes used for single-vehicle moves on shorter routes. Available through specialized carriers.
Cost ranges by scenario
These are estimates based on open carrier rates. Add $300 to $700 for enclosed on the same routes.
- Standard lifted truck (fits standard trailer with lower-deck placement): – Under 500 miles: $600 to $900 – Cross-country: $1,100 to $1,600
- Lifted truck requiring single-vehicle or specialty transport: – Under 500 miles: $800 to $1,200 – Cross-country: $1,400 to $2,200
- Dually (standard carrier): – Add $100 to $200 above standard truck rates
- Inoperable truck: – Add $100 to $200 for winch or forklift loading, on top of applicable transport cost
The most important thing to do at booking
Give exact specifications. Not “it’s lifted” but the lift height, tire diameter, and overall vehicle height. Not “it’s a dually” but the exact year, make, and model. Not “it might not start” but whether it rolls, steers, and brakes.
Car shipping companies that do this work regularly will ask these questions. If you get a quote without being asked for specs on a clearly non-standard vehicle, that’s a signal the company isn’t planning the job correctly — and the mismatch usually shows up at pickup.
Which companies handle this well
RoadRunner Auto Transport ships lifted trucks, duallies, oversized vehicles, and inoperable vehicles across all 50 states, plus Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Their in-house dispatch team works with a network of more than 14,000 vetted carriers to match your vehicle with a driver equipped for the specific job. No deposit is required until a carrier is confirmed. Get a quote in under 60 seconds at roadrunnerautotransport.com.
For broader rankings of car shipping companies, including notes on specialty vehicle capability, TopCarShippers.com evaluates providers across pricing, carrier vetting, and delivery performance.