New Mexico → Arizona · About 420 miles
Ship a Car from Albuquerque to Phoenix
A short Southwest hop with steady demand: families relocating between New Mexico and the Valley, students moving for ASU or the University of New Mexico, military households connected to Kirtland Air Force Base, and employees moving between the two metros' growing tech and lab employers. Plenty of retirees make this move too — same desert sunshine, bigger-city amenities.
Carriers run west on I-40, then either drop south through Payson on AZ-87 or continue to Flagstaff and come down I-17 into Phoenix. Typical transit is 1–2 days door to door once your vehicle is loaded. Most cars move on open transport — the standard way the majority of vehicles travel, and every shipment includes insurance coverage. Classic, luxury, and exotic owners often step up to enclosed transport for added protection from weather and road debris along the way.
Below you'll find the typical price ranges for this route, how the process works, and the details that actually move the price. The ranges below are a guide — your exact price depends on your specific pickup and delivery cities, since a pickup well outside the Albuquerque metro or a delivery in a smaller Arizona city prices differently than metro to metro. The quote form gives you a price for your specific cities.
Albuquerque to Phoenix car shipping cost
Typical ranges for a standard sedanOpen transport
typically $500–$900
Enclosed transport
typically $800–$1,400
Typical ranges for a standard sedan in running condition. Season is a factor too: prices run higher when demand peaks — snowbird season in the fall and spring, the summer moving season, and the year-end holidays — and lower in quieter months. Your exact price depends on your specific pickup and delivery cities — locations well outside the Albuquerque or Phoenix metros can price differently than metro to metro. Use the quote form for your free quote.
How it works
Three steps from quote to delivery — we handle the carrier, the scheduling, and the updates.
Get your quote & book
Get a shipping quote and book.
We assign your carrier
We match your vehicle with a vetted carrier already running the Albuquerque–Phoenix lane, and confirm your pickup window with you. Every shipment includes insurance coverage.
Pickup, transit & delivery
The driver inspects and loads your vehicle at your door, transits 1–2 days, and delivers in Phoenix with updates along the way.
What we ship on this route
Cars & SUVs
Daily drivers, family SUVs, and crossovers.
Pickup trucks
Half-ton through heavy-duty, priced by size and weight.
Classic & collector cars
Enclosed transport recommended for full protection.
Motorcycles
Enclosed only, for full weather and road protection.
Vans & heavy-duty trucks
Quoted by our team — call for a quote.
What affects the price on this route
The typical ranges above are for a standard sedan shipping metro to metro. Here’s what moves your quote within — or outside — those ranges.
Distance — about 420 miles
Mileage is the backbone of every quote. Your specific pickup and delivery cities set the exact distance — and metro-to-metro moves price better than remote or hard-to-reach endpoints, where a carrier has to travel out of its way to reach you.
Vehicle size & weight
A compact sedan takes one standard slot. Large SUVs, trucks, and heavy vehicles take more trailer space and weight capacity, so they price higher.
Running condition
A vehicle that runs, steers, and brakes loads in minutes. A non-running vehicle needs a winch and extra handling, which adds to the price.
Open vs. enclosed
Open transport (typically $500–$900) is the standard for everyday vehicles. Enclosed (typically $800–$1,400) puts your car inside a covered trailer.
Season & timing
Demand on this lane is steadier than most, with bumps during the summer moving season and around Balloon Fiesta in October. If your dates are flexible — even by a day or two — you'll usually price better than a fixed, must-move date.
Ways to save on this route
- Stay flexible on pickup dates. Carriers fill trucks around their own schedules and reward flexibility — even a day or two of give usually prices better than a fixed, must-move date.
- Book a few days to a week ahead. Trucks on this short lane turn over quickly, and a little lead time gets you a wider choice of pickup days.
- Ship metro to metro when you can. Pickup and delivery in metro areas price better than remote or hard-to-reach locations, where a carrier has to deadhead to reach you.
- Choose open unless the car calls for enclosed. Open transport (typically $500–$900) is the best value for everyday vehicles — save enclosed for a classic, exotic, or high-value car.
Good to know for this route
- High-desert winter weather is the one real variable. I-40 across northern Arizona and the I-17 descent into Phoenix can see snow from late fall into early spring. A storm can shift a pickup or delivery by a day — the rest of the year, this lane runs like clockwork.
- Short lane, scheduled trucks. At about 420 miles, your car rides a truck already passing through on I-40. Staying flexible on the exact pickup day lets us put you on the best-positioned truck — and usually the better price.
- Balloon Fiesta week is busy in Albuquerque. During the October Balloon Fiesta, hotels, roads, and carrier schedules around Albuquerque all tighten up. If you're shipping that week, book earlier than usual.
- Door to door, both ends. The carrier comes to your address in the Albuquerque area and delivers to your address in the Phoenix area, wherever a full-size hauler can safely and legally reach.
Preparing your car for pickup
A few quick steps before the driver arrives make pickup smooth — and protect you if anything comes up in transit.
- Keep the fuel tank about a quarter full. That’s plenty for loading and unloading, without the extra weight of a full tank.
- Remove personal items and loose accessories. Carriers aren’t insured for belongings left inside the vehicle, so clear out anything you can’t replace.
- Wash the car before pickup. A clean car makes the pre-shipment inspection photos accurate, so any existing marks are documented clearly.
- Note any existing damage with the driver. Walk the car together at pickup and make sure it’s recorded on the bill of lading before you sign.
- Disable alarms and remove toll tags. It prevents surprise alarms in transit and toll charges piling up along the way.
- Have a spare key ready if possible. The driver needs a working key for loading and unloading at both ends.
Albuquerque to Phoenix car shipping FAQs
The questions we hear most on this lane, answered with this route's typical ranges.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Albuquerque to Phoenix?
For a standard sedan in running condition, open transport typically runs $500–$900 and enclosed transport typically runs $800–$1,400 on this route of about 420 miles. The exact number depends on the specific cities and ZIPs on both ends — pickups or deliveries well outside the Albuquerque and Phoenix metros can price differently. Larger vehicles, non-running condition, and tight timelines can also move the price. Your price comes from the quote form — get your free quote with the quote tool above or by calling 800-507-2629.
How long does it take to ship a car from Albuquerque to Phoenix?
Typical transit is 1–2 days door to door once your vehicle is picked up — it's only about 420 miles. Most of the timing on a short lane like this is the pickup itself: trucks run I-40 on their own schedules, so booking a few days ahead and staying flexible on the pickup day keeps things moving.
Is open or enclosed transport better for this route?
For most everyday vehicles, open transport is the right call — it's how the large majority of cars move between Albuquerque and Phoenix, and your shipment includes insurance coverage either way. Choose enclosed if you're shipping a classic, luxury, exotic, or freshly restored vehicle: the covered trailer shields it from desert sun, dust, and road debris on the I-40 run.
Can I ship a car on short notice on this lane?
Often, yes. I-40 carries steady truck traffic between Albuquerque and Phoenix, and short lanes turn over quickly. Call as early as you can — even a few days of lead time widens the choice of trucks — and flexibility on the pickup day helps us match you to a truck already rolling west.
Can you pick up or deliver outside the main metro areas?
Yes. We pick up across the Albuquerque area — Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Ranchos, Los Lunas, Placitas, Edgewood — and deliver throughout the Phoenix area. Service is door to door to your exact address wherever a full-size carrier can safely and legally reach it — and if a street is too tight, the driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you. Keep in mind the figures on this page are based on the Albuquerque and Phoenix metro areas — pickups or deliveries well outside those metros can price differently, which is why the quote form asks for your specific cities.
Areas served on this lane
Albuquerque area pickups
Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales, Los Ranchos, Los Lunas, Placitas, Edgewood — and the surrounding metro.
Phoenix area deliveries
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria — and the surrounding metro.
Service is door to door — the truck comes to your address wherever it can safely and legally park. If a street is too tight for a full-size hauler, the driver will arrange the nearest accessible meeting spot with you.