Quick answer: Yes, you can ship a leased car to another state. Check your lease for any rule about moving the car or telling the leasing company first, then book the shipment like any other car. Shipping keeps miles off a lease with a mileage cap, and the carrier does not need the title, only the keys and a signed bill of lading. If you are moving for good, plan to register the car in your new state with the leasing company’s help. See our guide to the ways to ship a car to another state.
People ship leased cars all the time: for a new job, a move across the country, a few months at a winter home or a family member going to college. The shipping itself is the same as for a car you own. What is different is that the leasing company owns the car, so there are a few calls to make before the truck arrives and, if you are moving for good, some paperwork after. This guide covers both.
Can You Ship a Leased Car to Another State?
Yes. A car carrier can move a leased car just like any other. Leasing companies own the car, but you are the one who arranges and pays for the shipment, and the carrier deals with you. What makes a leased car different is the lease: it may say where the car can be kept, how long it can be out of state, and whether you must tell the leasing company before you move it.
What to Ask Your Leasing Company
Call the leasing company, or check its online account, a week or two before you ship. Ask:
- Do I need to tell you before moving the car to another state? Many leases have a relocation clause.
- Is there a limit on how long the car can be kept out of state before it must be registered there?
- How do I transfer the title and registration if I am moving for good? Most lenders have a state transfer request in their online account.
- Will you send the title to my new state’s DMV, and do I need a power of attorney from you?
- Are there any fees or taxes on the lease when it moves to a new state?
- Do my insurance requirements change? The lease will set minimum coverage, and your new state may have its own minimums.
Get any approval or instructions in writing, and keep them with your shipping documents.
Why Shipping Beats Driving a Leased Car
The biggest reason is the mileage cap. Most leases allow a set number of miles a year and charge for every mile over that at the end of the lease, at a rate written in the lease. A cross-country drive can be 2,800 miles or more, and every one of those miles comes out of your allowance.
Shipping adds no miles. The car rides on a truck, so it arrives with the same odometer reading it left with. It also avoids the stone chips, wear and road grime of a long drive, which matters when the car is inspected for wear and tear at lease return. For the cost side, see our drive or ship cost breakdown.
Documents You Need to Ship a Leased Car
The carrier does not need the title, which the leasing company holds anyway. For the shipment itself you need:
- A set of keys for the driver
- Someone at pickup and delivery, you or an adult you name, to inspect the car and sign the bill of lading
- The pickup and delivery addresses and your contact details
Keep a copy of your lease, your current insurance card and any written approval from the leasing company with you, in case you need them for the move or the registration.
How to Ship a Leased Car, Step by Step
- Check your lease and contact the leasing company with the questions above.
- Get a quote with the pickup and delivery addresses, the car and your first available date.
- Choose open or enclosed transport. Open is the standard choice for most leased cars. Enclosed keeps a luxury or high-end lease free of stone chips before lease return.
- Prepare the car. Wash it, take dated photos, remove personal items and toll tags, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
- Inspect at pickup with the driver and check every existing mark is on the bill of lading.
- Inspect at delivery before you sign, and write any new damage on the bill of lading. See how to inspect your car at pickup and delivery.
- Update the leasing company and your insurer with your new address.
Registering a Leased Car in a New State
If you are moving for good, you will need to register the car in your new state. Because the leasing company holds the title, you cannot do it alone. The usual process:
- Check your new state’s deadline. Each state sets its own. Texas, for example, gives new residents 30 days to register a car brought into the state.
- Tell the DMV the car is leased and ask what it needs from the leasing company.
- Request a state transfer from the leasing company. It will either send the title to the DMV, or the DMV will give you a request to forward to the leasing company.
- Get a power of attorney if the DMV needs one. The leasing company usually provides a limited power of attorney so you can sign for it; these are often notarized and sent by mail, so allow time.
- Get insurance in your new state, in your name and meeting both the state minimum and the lease requirements.
- Complete any inspection the new state requires, such as an emissions test, then register the car and pay the fees.
The leasing company stays the owner on the new title and registration. You are responsible for the fees and for meeting your new state’s rules.
Shipping a Leased Car for a Short Stay
If you are only away for a season or a short work assignment, you may not need to re-register the car. Ask the leasing company and your insurer whether the lease and policy cover the car where you are going and for how long. Snowbirds who ship a car south for the winter and back in spring can book both legs together; see our snowbird car shipping guide.
When Your Lease Ends Soon After a Move
If the lease ends a few months after you move, ask the leasing company where you can turn the car in. You may be able to return it at a dealer near your new home instead of shipping it back to where you leased it. If you do need to ship it back, book early so it arrives before the return date, and keep your delivery photos in case there are questions about wear and tear.
Leased EVs and Luxury Cars
- Electric cars. Charge to about half, turn off features such as Sentry Mode and give the driver a key card. See how to ship an electric car.
- Luxury and high-end leases. Enclosed transport keeps the paint free of stone chips, which helps at lease return. See how to transport a luxury car.
When to Book
Book 7 to 30 days before your first available date for the best choice of trucks. At ABC, you give a pickup window of 4 to 5 days, which narrows to 1 to 2 days once a carrier is assigned. If the car must be collected on a fixed date, such as the day you hand back a rental or leave for the airport, ask about a guaranteed pickup.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Leased Car?
A leased car costs the same to ship as any car of its size over the same distance. Typical prices for a running sedan on an open carrier with flexible dates:
| Distance | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $400 to $700 |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | $550 to $900 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | $700 to $1,100 |
| 1,500 to 2,000 miles | $850 to $1,300 |
| 2,000 miles and up | $1,000 to $1,700 |
Enclosed transport usually costs 40 to 60 percent more. For more on pricing, see our car shipping cost guide.
Who Pays to Ship a Leased Car?
You do, as the person leasing the car. The leasing company does not pay for a move you choose to make. If you are moving for work, your employer may cover car shipping as part of a relocation package, so ask before you book. See how to ship your car for a new job.
Common Mistakes With Leased Cars
- Not checking the lease for a relocation or notice clause
- Driving the car across the country and using up thousands of miles of allowance
- Leaving the registration too late, when the power of attorney still has to come by mail
- Forgetting to update the insurance for your new state
- Skipping the inspection photos, which help if there is a wear-and-tear question at lease return
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ship a leased car to another state?
Yes. Check your lease for any rule about moving the car or telling the leasing company, then book the shipment like any other car. The carrier needs the keys and a signed bill of lading, not the title.
Do I need permission from my leasing company to ship the car?
Often you need to tell them, at least. Many leases have a relocation clause, so read yours and call the leasing company if anything is unclear.
Who pays to ship a leased car?
You do. If you are moving for work, your employer may cover it as part of a relocation package.
Do I have to register a leased car in my new state?
If you are moving there for good, yes, within your new state’s deadline. The leasing company holds the title, so ask it for a state transfer and any power of attorney the DMV needs.
Does shipping a leased car add mileage?
No. The car rides on a truck, so the odometer reading does not change, which protects your lease mileage allowance.
Should I ship my leased car open or enclosed?
Open transport suits most leased cars. Enclosed is worth it for a luxury or high-end lease you want kept free of stone chips before lease return.
Ship Your Leased Car With ABC Auto Shipping
ABC Auto Shipping is a licensed broker that matches your leased car with an insured carrier, door to door. There is no deposit, and you pay only once your carrier is secured. Get a free quote today.
