The cheapest way to move a car interstate is usually depot-to-depot on an open carrier, booked as a backload when there’s spare space—cheap, cheerful, and your paint will survive.
Expect roughly $500–$900 for Sydney–Melbourne, $800–$1,400 for Melbourne–Brisbane, and $1,500–$2,500+ to or from Perth; door-to-door adds a couple of hundred, enclosed transport adds 30–60%.
Rail can be competitive on long hauls, but you’ll still handle drop-off/pick-up timings like a budget airline with fewer jokes.
Ask for included transit insurance (declared value, excess, and exclusions), and get quotes from two or three carriers—then wave the cheapest at the others for a price match.
Driving it yourself isn’t “free”: fuel, a night’s accommodation, tolls, and 1,000–4,000 km of depreciation happily eat $300–$1,000+ while your weekend disappears.
Summary: depot-to-depot open carrier or backload wins on price; pay extra for door service or covered transport if the car’s fancy and your anxiety is louder than the exhaust.
LightingListing your ad only takes a few minutes, and most categories are free.
Post an adA weekly hand-picked round-up of the best bargains, free stuff, and trending listings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Know someone looking to buy or sell something? Send them to Tradingpost, Australia's original marketplace.
