Shipping Cost from Oakland, California to Djibouti

Shipping a car 3000 miles typically costs $1,200 to over $2,000, with open transport being cheaper ($0.33-$0.60/mile) and enclosed transport costing more (around $0.75-$1.00+/mile), with prices varying by season, demand, vehicle type, and transport availability. Expect lower per-mile rates for longer distances, but higher overall prices.

It's usually cheaper to drive for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, shipping can become competitive or even cheaper when you factor in the "hidden" costs of driving (gas, hotels, food, wear-and-tear) versus the upfront shipping fee, especially if you're moving with others or have an unreliable car.

The cheapest way to ship a car is by using an open transport carrier, choosing terminal-to-terminal service, booking during off-peak seasons, being flexible with dates, and getting multiple quotes from reputable brokers, as this method uses multi-car trailers with no weather protection but significantly lowers costs compared to enclosed shipping. For even shorter distances, having someone drive it or finding a driver moving in the same direction can be the absolute cheapest, but open transport is best for standard auto shipping needs.