Car transport in France makes the most sense on exactly the kind of trip nobody enjoys driving. Paris to Marseille is about 775 km down the A6 and A7, close to eight hours at the wheel before you count fuel, autoroute tolls and the journey back. A professional car carrier runs the same corridor every week with 8 to 12 cars on board, which is what keeps the price per vehicle sensible.
The people who book this corridor are a familiar mix: families relocating between Ile-de-France and the south, buyers who found the right car online in another region, dealers shifting stock between branches, and second-home owners sending a car down for the season. Our car transport service covers the whole mainland, vans included, and for Corsica we arrange the ferry leg from Marseille or Toulon as part of the same booking.
How much does car transport in France cost?
For a standard car on an open carrier, Paris to Marseille typically costs 850 to 1090 euros ex VAT. Enclosed transport, worth considering for classics and high-value cars, usually adds 40 to 70%. Short regional moves under 300 km are priced at a fixed minimum, usually 300 to 400 euros, because loading and unloading cost the same however far the truck then drives.
What moves the price inside that range: how well your dates match a carrier already running the route, whether the car starts and drives, its size and height, and access at both ends. Central Paris and the older streets of Marseille are tight for a full-size transporter, so the driver may suggest a meeting point nearby. Flexible dates almost always land at the lower end. Request a quote with your exact addresses and you'll have a firm figure in minutes.
How long does it take?
The driving itself is a long day: 775 km works out at roughly eight hours of road time, and a loaded transporter making pickups and deliveries along the way needs longer than a private car. Door to door, think in days rather than hours. Two things decide the schedule: the pickup window you agree and how full the truck's route already is. Paris, Lyon and Marseille sit on the busiest transport axis in France, so slots come up often in both directions.
One seasonal note: in July and August the Autoroute du Soleil fills with holiday traffic and southbound demand spikes, so book earlier than usual. For Corsica, add the overnight crossing and a little margin either side of it. And if your car is continuing beyond France, see our pages on car transport from France to Italy and car transport from France to Spain.
Why put it on a transporter?
Good to know
How does booking work?
Start with the online quote form: route, vehicle, whether it runs, rough dates. Once you confirm, we match the job with a verified carrier and agree a pickup window. On collection day the driver inspects the car with you and notes its condition on the transport document; the same check happens at delivery, so compare against your photos before signing. You pay nothing before pickup.
Do I need to update the registration after a move within France?
Yes. After a permanent move, French rules give you one month to update the address on the carte grise; the plates themselves stay with the car for life. The change is made online through the ANTS portal. There's no customs paperwork on a domestic move, and none anywhere inside the EU, so the transport side stays simple.
How should I prepare the car?
Wash it so existing marks are visible, take dated photos from every angle, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel, enough for loading and unloading without hauling extra weight. Remove personal belongings, toll badges and loose accessories, switch off the alarm, fold the mirrors and check the tyre pressures. Hand over one key and keep a spare.
Can you move a car that doesn't start?
Yes, as long as we know in advance. Non-runners need a truck with a winch and more loading time, which is reflected in the price. Tell us whether the car still rolls and steers freely: a seized project car is a different job from one with a flat battery.
Is the car insured during transport?
Every carrier we work with holds cargo insurance covering loading, transit and unloading. Cover levels vary by carrier, so ask for the details with your quote. Personal items left in the car aren't covered, one more reason to empty it. You can read how we vet our partners on why Send Your Auto.
Booking tip: if your dates fall in late July or early August, reserve well ahead. Those are the busiest weeks of the year on the Paris to Marseille axis, and southbound spaces go first.
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