car transport costs

I'm considering a few MGTDs I've found around the USA. Being of meager resources, I have to consider transport costs, so I got some preliminary quotes.

I got a quote from Intercity, for covered transport of an MGTD from New Mexico to Connecticut: $1800.
Got a quote from Reliable for the same car: $1795.

Surprised they were so close, but I figured it's a standard "mileage" charge.

But then I got quotes for a similar MGTD, from northern Alabama to Connecticut: $1700 from Intercity, $1750 from Reliable.

What gives? The second car is 1500 miles closer to me, but the quotes are nearly the same? 1500 fewer miles, but only $100 less?

Thanks.
Tom M.

Dunno. The cross country quotes seem in line with the one or two I've gotten recently, although I didn't act on them. The east coast trip seems high by a few hundred. I'd get a few more estimates on that one. When tempted to bid on something on the West coast, I allow 2000 for transportation.
Seems supply and demand are a bigger influences than mileage.
Tom

Tom- a horror story I encountered shipping my car many years ago from the west coast to my home in PA.
Car was picked up in La Jolla, CA and was to be delivered to my home in PA. The car transport first went to Connecticut to deliver another car. At a truck stop in Connecticut they off-loaded my car to be able to get the other car off the truck. While my car was sitting on the ground in the Connecticut truck stop a truck backed into my car causing lots of damage. I submitted the quote for repairs to the trucking company in Wisconsin that hit my car. In the end they did pay me for the repairs but it was a nightmare.
Just telling you this so you can make sure your car is covered during the entire trip.

Thanks for that sound advice. Best to get insurance as soon as purchase transaction is complete.
Tom

Elliot makes a good point. Go with a company that understands classic cars. We had a delivery from California to PA for a daily driver. Given the way they pick up and drop off cars, I assume ours was on and off-loaded many times. With a finicky classic, frequent starting and short distance driving could become a problem.

Another thing we learned when shipping our car: Transport costs are seasonal. It costs a lot to have a car carried south in the fall; or transported to Arizona for major auctions; etc. I am not exactly sure what the "event" would be, but this could be the reason for the similarly priced quotes for the different mileage.

(P.S. Are you no longer in the hunt for a Pontoon? For a variety of reasons, none all that significant, I have had less time to visit the BCF and could be a little out of the loop!)

It boggles the mind.

Just sayin'