Shipping a Car from Philadelphia, PA to Montgomery, AL
The Philadelphia–Montgomery corridor covers roughly 966 road miles heading southwest, across seven states, from Pennsylvania to Alabama. Allow 2–3 days after pickup, in line with roughly 19 hours of highway time. This lane sees steady, moderate demand.
What Philadelphia to Montgomery Costs
Over 966 miles, a standard sedan on open transport runs $580–$820 ($0.72 per mile). Enclosed shipping adds about 45% ($840–$1,190), while SUV and truck surcharges bring open pricing to $650–$920. Loading in New York City, about 81 miles from Philadelphia, is $55 more at $635–$900. Delivery to Birmingham, 100 miles from Montgomery, would be $560–$790. A comparable-length trip, San Diego, CA to Denver, CO (991 mi), is priced at $595–$840.
| Transport Type | Car Type | Typical Price | Why Choose It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $580–$820 | Standard choice for everyday cars |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $650–$920 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $650–$920 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $840–$1,190 | Luxury, classic and low-clearance cars |
Figures assume a standard sedan; actual quotes vary with pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Philadelphia. The nearest major airport, Philadelphia International Airport, is a common landmark for meeting a driver. Delaware River port city with I-76, I-95 and I-676 and tight rowhouse streets. Philadelphia has port activity, so imported or exported vehicles may need extra release time. Expect to meet the driver at an open lot because of street and tunnel limits.
Delivery in Montgomery. Trucks serving Montgomery lean on I-65 and I-85. Montgomery Regional Airport is the usual reference point for staging in the area. Montgomery sits on busy trucking corridors, which helps with availability.
The Route and Corridor
A carrier on this lane works through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Expect snow in the mountains and coastal storms in Virginia. In Maryland, I-95 passes through the Baltimore tunnels, which restrict some loads. South Carolina: I-95, I-26 and I-85 meet the coast and the Upstate. Baltimore (MD) and Atlanta (GA) sit close to the corridor, which is why trucks often add or drop vehicles there. Pickup is on Eastern time and delivery on Central time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock. Toll roads in Pennsylvania and Maryland are built into carrier pricing.
Timing and Seasonality
Montgomery has a large military community, so summer permanent-change-of-station season (about May to August) tightens carrier space. Hurricane season (June to November) can pause or reroute trucks along the coast. Start getting quotes roughly three weeks ahead for a move of 966 miles. Across Pennsylvania expect snow on the Allegheny mountain grades; across Alabama, humid summers and Gulf storm risk near the coast.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Mention port status. If the car arrives from or leaves through a port near Philadelphia, say so when you request quotes.
- Vet the carrier. Check the MC number on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and get insurance terms in writing before paying a deposit.
- Have a storm plan. For coastal legs from June to November, agree on a backup date up front.