Moving Cars · Advice and planning
Car transport transit times
Compare indicative car transport times between all eight Australian capitals. Business-day ranges start at collection or depot drop-off; confirm timing with your quote.
Updated
Planning an interstate car move? The ranges below are a guide for journeys between all eight Australian capitals. Count from collection or depot drop-off, in business days—not from the day you request a quote or make a booking. Business days exclude weekends and public holidays.
These are indicative operating estimates, not guaranteed delivery dates or measured averages. Check the current estimate for your route and selected service before booking.
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Indicative capital-city transit times
Read across from the collection city to the destination city. The same broad planning range applies in either direction. On smaller screens, scroll the grid sideways to see every destination.
| From ↓ / To → | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | Canberra | Hobart | Darwin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | — | 3–9 | 3–9 | 3–15 | 10–25 | 2–6 | 6–17 | 12–24 |
| Melbourne | 3–9 | — | 5–12 | 2–10 | 10–15 | 2–5 | 7–10 | 10–20 |
| Brisbane | 3–9 | 5–12 | — | 6–18 | 14–25 | 4–9 | 10–18 | 12–19 |
| Adelaide | 3–15 | 2–10 | 6–18 | — | 5–12 | 7–22 | 10–16 | 10–22 |
| Perth | 10–25 | 10–15 | 14–25 | 5–12 | — | 12–18 | 10–20 | 12–20 |
| Canberra | 2–6 | 2–5 | 4–9 | 7–22 | 12–18 | — | 7–15 | 12–26 |
| Hobart | 6–17 | 7–10 | 10–18 | 10–16 | 10–20 | 7–15 | — | 12–24 |
| Darwin | 12–24 | 10–20 | 12–19 | 10–22 | 12–20 | 12–26 | 12–24 | — |
A dash marks a same-city journey, which is outside this interstate guide. These ranges apply to the named cities, not every address in their states. Regional and remote journeys need individual assessment.
These broad ranges allow for variation between services but do not cover every disruption. The estimate and conditions for your selected quote take precedence; confirm any required arrival date before booking.
Booking, collection and arrival are different stages
- Quote and booking: check availability, the proposed service and any required arrival date. Time spent waiting for collection or waiting to drop the vehicle at a depot is before the guide’s starting point.
- Collection or depot drop-off: this is when the published transit range starts. Confirm the handover arrangements and any service-specific timing qualifications in your quote.
- Arrival and handover: confirm the vehicle is ready before travelling to a depot, or follow the arrangements provided for delivery to an address. Check depot hours and any collection or storage conditions.
The quoted handover points matter. Ask whether the estimate covers your full booked journey, including any collection or delivery legs, and whether additional arrangements affect the expected arrival window.
What can affect the estimate?
Available capacity, busy periods, public holidays, weather, road or rail disruption and connections between transport stages can affect timing. Regional access and the service selected can also change the estimate. Tell us about a fixed deadline before accepting a quote so it can be checked against availability.
An estimate can change between quoting and booking or during the journey. Avoid relying on an unconfirmed arrival day when arranging onward travel or collecting a vehicle from a depot.
Will belongings affect transport time?
Every available quote offers a Goods in Car option. If you want belongings to travel with the vehicle, select and book that option. The available service and its timing depend on the carrier, route and allowance; belongings do not automatically mean every journey takes longer.
Follow the goods-in-car instructions. Unapproved or incorrectly packed items may need to be removed before transport.
Getting an update
Some carriers provide online tracking and others do not. Use the update method supplied for your booking. If you need help, contact Moving Cars with your quote or booking reference, route and the date the vehicle was collected or dropped off.
For a service that includes rail, read our rail transport guide. Before handover, follow the vehicle preparation checklist and the instructions for your booked service.
Request a quote for your route to check the available service and current estimate.
Keep planning
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Compare the service offered for your vehicle and route.