4 Best Car Shipping Companies: Consumer Guide (2021)
There are thousands of registered car shipping companies in the U.S., but not all of them offer excellent service and prices. The best car shipping companies stand out among the competition based on their excellent customer service reputation, affordability and wide range of shipping services.
We’ve compared car transport providers throughout the car shipping industry to find the ones that drivers can count on year-round. In this article, we’ll discuss our top five choices in detail and highlight each company’s shipping services, pricing and reputation.
Best Car Shipping Companies
The Detroit Bureau reviewed the top car shipping companies to find the best.
Top 5 Car Shipping Companies of 2021
After comparing the industry’s best car shipping companies, we named Montway Auto Transport as the Best Provider overall based largely on its solid reputation and affordable pricing. AmeriFreight, Sherpa Auto Transport and uShip all made it into our top four as well. We graded each provider on a 10.0-point scale.
| Best Car Shipping Companies |
Overall Rating |
Our Award | Shipping Cost Rating | Better Business Bureau (BBB) Customer Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Montway Auto Transport | 9.0 | Best Provider | 9.0 | 4.5 out of 5.0 |
| #2. AmeriFreight | 9.0 | Best for Discounts | 8.5 | 4.9 out of 5.0 |
| #3. Sherpa Auto Transport | 8.4 | Locked-In Pricing | 8.0 | 4.9 out of 5.0 |
| #4. uShip | 8.4 | Best Shipping Marketplace | 8.0 | 4.6 out of 5.0 |
What to Look for in Car Shipping Companies
When moving your vehicle to any new location, it’s important to find the right auto shipper. You may have dozens or even hundreds of options, depending on your pickup and dropoff locations. The best way to find affordable, reputable auto transport services is to work with one of the most highly rated car shipping companies. Brokers partner with thousands of vetted motor carriers, which can save you time and money.
To gain some peace of mind, you should look for the following in a reputable broker:
- A cargo insurance policy, preferably worth at least $100,000, or the option to purchase add-on coverage
- Strict vetting process for carriers
- Easy, straightforward car shipping process
- Positive customer reviews on sites such as the BBB, Trustpilot and Google
- Reasonably priced services
- Little or no money upfront
#1 Montway Auto Transport: Best Provider
Montway Auto Transport is a trusted auto broker that works with 15,000 vetted carriers nationwide. As the best car shipping companies go, it’s hard to top Montway for any number of reasons. Here’s Montway, at a glance
| Year Established | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Schaumburg, Illinois |
| Availability | 50 states |
| Insurance | $100,000 cargo insurance coverage |
| BBB rating | A+ with accreditation |
Montway Auto Transport Services
Montway Auto Transport offers the following car shipping services:
- Open transport, enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, expedited shipping and international shipping services
- Transports to and from Hawaii and Alaska
- Instant quotes online for standard vehicle shipping
- Free $100,000 cargo insurance for over-land shipments provided by Inland Marine Cargo with the option to upgrade to $250,000
- Shipment of nonstandard vehicles such as ATVs and motorcycles
Montway Auto Transport doesn’t provide international shipping services, but it can ship your vehicle to or from a domestic port. The auto transport company also allows you to transport up to 100 pounds of personal items inside your vehicle’s trunk at no additional cost.
Montway Auto Transport Cost
Average price: $1,241
Many customers rank Montway Auto Transport as one of the best car shipping companies due to its affordable rates. Of course, prices vary widely from shipment to shipment. According to Montway, average prices are:
- About $1.96 per mile for shipments up to 500 miles
- About 93 cents per mile for shipments between 500 and 1,500 miles
- About 58 cents per mile for shipments over 1,500 miles
Here are a few sample quotes we received from the auto broker:
| Shipping Distance | Vehicle Size | Transport Type | Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 231 miles | Car | Open | $529 |
| 1,083 miles | Car | Enclosed | $1,249 |
| 1,992 miles | SUV | Open | $1,509 |
| 2,903 miles | Midsize sedan | Open | $1,569 |
*Reflects flat rates.
If you cancel your shipment after the car carrier has been dispatched, you’ll have to pay a minimum cancellation fee of $199. However, cancellation before dispatching will not lead to any additional costs.
Montway Auto Transport Reputation
As one of the industry’s best car shipping companies, Montway Auto Transport holds an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB. The broker also has a 4.5-star average score on the BBB website, based on more than 1,750 reviews. Trustpilot gives Montway a 4.5-star rating based on over 900 customer reviews.
Montway Auto Transport
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Low prices
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Over 140,000 vehicles shipped in 2020
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$100,000 in cargo insurance
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Wide range of shipping services
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No terminal-to-terminal shipping
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No GPS tracking
Read more about our top pick in our Montway Auto Transport review.
#2 AmeriFreight: Best for Discounts
Known for its quality service and various discount opportunities, AmeriFreight is a reputable auto transport broker. With over 17 years in business, AmeriFreight has been around long enough to know what it takes to be one of the top car shipping companies.
| Year Established | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Peachtree City, Georgia |
| Availability | 50 states |
| Insurance | Works with insured carriers and offers guaranteed asset protection (GAP) for an additional cost |
| BBB rating | A+ with accreditation |
AmeriFreight Services
AmeriFreight offers standard shipping options, including:
- Door-to-door shipping
- Expedited shipping
- Open or enclosed transport
- Terminal-to-terminal shipping
AmeriFreight works with over 10,000 vetted carriers to provide a reliable shipping process. The company ensures that each carrier is equipped with standard insurance coverage, but AmeriFreight also offers add-on GAP protection to cover shipping damage.
AmeriFreight Cost
Average price: $861
AmeriFreight is another provider with affordable rates, but its enclosed transport pricing may be higher than some competitors. However, the company offers the following discounts:
- Military: $35 off
- First Responder: $35 off
- Medical Personnel: $35 off
- Student: $25 off
- Senior Citizen: $25 off
- Early Bird: $25 off and stackable
- Return Customer: $50 off
- Multiple Vehicles: $50 off per additional vehicle
When we reached out to AmeriFreight for auto shipping quotes, we received the following estimates:
| Shipping Distance | Vehicle Size | Transport Type | Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 231 miles | Car | Open | $561 |
| 1,083 miles | Car | Open | $699 |
| 1,757 miles | Car | Open | $791 |
| 1,757 miles | Car | Enclosed | $1,423 |
*Reflects AmeriFreight’s economy rates.
AmeriFreight offers “economy” rates that are not 100% guaranteed. If a carrier doesn’t accept this proposed rate, your car shipping costs will likely increase. However, this is common with most car shipping companies. AmeriFreight does offer locked-in pricing if you choose its First Class service, which comes at a higher price point.
AmeriFreight Reputation
AmeriFreight has an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB. The company also has a 4.9-star BBB customer review score based on over 1,100 reviews. AmeriFreight carries a 4.7-star Google rating backed by almost 3,000 reviews.
AmeriFreight
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Service available nationwide
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Guaranteed carrier vetting
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Wide range of discounts
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High customer service ratings
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No GPS tracking
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Higher rates than some competitors
Learn more about one of our top car shipping companies by reading our AmeriFreight review.
#3 Sherpa Auto Transport: Locked-In Pricing
Sherpa Auto Transport is a newer auto transporter with some of the best customer ratings among car shipping companies.
| Year Established | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Availability | 48 states (no service to Alaska or Hawaii) |
| Insurance | $100,000 cargo insurance included |
| BBB rating | A+ with accreditation |
Sherpa Auto Transport Services
Sherpa Auto Transport is another car shipping broker that works with only the most reputable carriers. The company offers door-to-door service in the 48 continental states as well as:
- Expedited shipping
- Open or enclosed transport
- Classic car shipping is available
- $100,000 cargo insurance plus $1 million in liability insurance per carrier
- Shipment updates through live chat and company help center
- $20 reimbursement toward the cost of a car wash
Sherpa Auto Transport Cost
Sherpa Auto Transport’s main benefit is its Price Lock Promise. If your vehicle shipping cost increases after receiving a quote from an agent, Sherpa will pay up to $300 to cover the difference. This benefit keeps the broker affordable overall, especially compared to car shipping companies that routinely raise prices mid-shipment.
For an operable car traveling 231 miles from New York City to Washington, D.C., Sherpa Auto Transport quoted us $650. This price reflected door-to-door, open transport shipping.
Sherpa Auto Transport Reputation
Sherpa Auto Transport has a sterling reputation among car shipping companies, holding a 4.9-star customer review average on the BBB website from just over 200 reviews. With over 450 customers weighing in, the broker earned a 4.7-star rating on Google.
Sherpa Auto Transport
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Locked-in pricing
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Works with insured and vetted carriers
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$20 car wash reimbursement
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No instant quote form
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No GPS tracking
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No terminal-to-terminal shipping
You can read more about the company in our comprehensive Sherpa Auto Transport review.
#4 uShip: Best Shipping Marketplace
uShip is an auto transport marketplace offering services from car shipping companies of all price ranges and service levels. If you’re looking to specialize your shipment, uShip can likely fit your needs.
| Year Established | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas |
| Availability | 50 states plus international shipping |
| Insurance | No guarantee |
| BBB rating | A+ with accreditation |
uShip Services
uShip is a different type of provider than the other five top car shipping companies. It’s a marketplace for thousands of carriers, not a transport broker. Think of it as the eBay of auto shipping. With uShip, customers can:
- Ship cars both domestically and internationally
- Get instant online quotes for car shipping companies and services
- Choose open or closed transport
- Get expedited shipping
- Ship almost any type of vehicle, including farm equipment, RVs and watercrafts
uShip Cost
Average price: $1,108
Customers can find a wide range of prices on uShip since carriers set their own rates and bid on customer listings. Listing a shipment will attract carriers who then attempt to win your business, leading to lower rates overall. Using uShip’s instant quote tool instead will generally yield more expensive rates, but it is far more convenient.
We received the following instant quotes from uShip:
| Shipping Distance | Vehicle Size | Transport Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 231 miles | Car | Open | $617 |
| 1,083 miles | Car | Open | $1,020 |
| 1,757 miles | Car | Open | $1,529 |
| 2,991 miles | Midsize sedan | Open | $1,266 |
uShip Reputation
Since uShip isn’t a broker, it doesn’t have to vet each carrier that uses its platform. The responsibility is on the customer to research carriers they find, including levels of insurance. Despite the extra hassle, most customers have positive experiences with uShip.
The company holds an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB and a 4.57-star customer review score with just under 400 reviews. Backed by almost 11,000 reviews, uShip has 4.4 stars on Trustpilot.
uShip
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Low prices when you post a job for bidding
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Instant quotes for standard shipments
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GPS tracking
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Highly variable pricing
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No instant quotes for enclosed transport
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Car shippers aren’t vetted
See our full uShip review to learn more about what makes uShip one of the top car shipping companies.
How Much Do Car Shipping Companies Charge?
Everything from the state of the freight to industry to the model of your car influences transport prices. Car shipping costs are highly variable and depend on a few factors, including:
- Distance: Longer shipping distances like cross-country moves cost more overall but have a lower rate per mile.
- Rural vs. metropolitan area: If your pickup or delivery location is in a rural area, you’ll pay more.
- Transport type: Open car transport is cheaper than shipping a car in an enclosed trailer, but it also leaves your vehicle exposed to the elements and road hazards.
- Pickup and delivery options: Door-to-door shipping is the more convenient option as it allows you to have your vehicle picked up and delivered at your home or very nearby, but it usually costs more than terminal-to-terminal shipping
- Time of year: Many people move and ship their cars during the summer months and January, so prices are higher during these times.
- Carrier competition: Car shipping companies that are brokers or marketplaces allow multiple carriers to compete for your business, which often drives shipping costs down.
- Price of fuel: Shipment costs can fluctuate depending on the price of gas.
- Vehicle operability: If your car isn’t operable, you’ll pay more for the carrier to push or winch it onto the vehicle transport truck.
- Vehicle size: It costs more to ship trucks and SUVs because they take up more room on the carrier.
Discounts from Car Shipping Companies
Another piece worth considering with car shipping companies is the opportunity to lower transport costs. Some of the moving companies mentioned above offer discounts for members of the military, returning customers and people who pay in cash.
If you’re looking for cheap car shipping, try opting for an open carrier and have flexible pickup dates and delivery times. It may not be the most convenient, but it will save you money if you’re shipping long-distance, such as from California to Florida or Texas to Maine.
For the best auto shipping rates, we recommend comparing free quotes from several top-rated car shipping companies.
Consumer Feedback on Car Shipping Companies
In 2021, our research team conducted a survey of 1,000 car transport service customers. Several of the auto companies we profiled in our article appear in the survey, but respondents used other providers as well.
Here are some of the key takeaways from that study.
Shipping Costs
Around 22% of respondents paid between $1,500 to $2,000, and 19% paid between less than $1,000 and $1,500. According to our survey, fewer than a fifth of respondents ended up paying more than $2,000 for auto shipping.
We also found that most customers opted for open vehicle transport, which is typically a more affordable option. What our survey doesn’t account for is what time of year customers shipped their vehicles or other external factors that can raise prices.
Customer Satisfaction
Our survey found that most auto shipping customers are happy with their investment. Approximately 69% of respondents said they were satisfied with the transporter’s services and 56% said they would recommend the company to a friend or family member.
Below are some of the average satisfaction numbers by the auto transport provider.
- 84% of Montway Auto Transport customers were satisfied.
- 67% of AmeriFreight customers were satisfied.
- 60% of Sherpa Auto Transport customers were satisfied.
- 59% of uShip customers were satisfied.
How Do You Ship a Car?
If you’ve never used an auto transport service before you’ve probably been searching how to ship a car. The process is actually rather simple. Here’s an overview of how auto shipping works:
- Research: Before even looking at prices, look at the reputations of companies within the auto transport industry to see which have the best carriers, insurance coverage and customer experience.
- Get a quote: The next step is to get a quote from the car transport company for the distance, make and model of the vehicle you want shipped. This is also where you pick enclosed or open transport, along with drop-off preferences.
- Book a mover: Once you’ve got your shipping dates and transport details squared away, you can book with the auto shipping company that best suits your needs.
- Prepare your vehicle: Before your car is shipped, you’ll need to remove all personal items. These items usually aren’t covered by the shipping company’s insurance policy, and added weight can increase your transport bill.
- Inspect your vehicle: When the mover arrives to transport your car, the car will be inspected for any pre-existing damage and ensure it is ready for travel. You will also sign a bill of lading that confirms the vehicle is being processed.
- Collect your car: Many auto shippers have ways for customers to track their vehicles during shipment either by GPS or customer service line. Once your car arrives at the agreed-upon location, you should inspect it for any damages before driving.
Best Car Shipping Companies
The Detroit Bureau reviewed the top car shipping companies to find the best.
FAQ: Car Shipping Companies
What is the best company to ship a car with?
We recommend Montway Auto Transport based on its high customer service ratings, wide range of shipping services and affordable pricing. However, it’s always wise to get quotes from multiple car shipping companies when you’re looking around. We also recommend AmeriFreight, Sherpa Auto Transport and uShip.
How much does it cost to get your car shipped?
It can cost anywhere from $400 to $2,000 or more to ship your car. How much you pay depends on a variety of factors. A cross-country shipment between major cities can cost between 50 cents and 70 cents per mile. If you need an enclosed trailer or live in a rural location, you’ll pay more for transport services. We found that car shipping companies generally charge around $1,200 for the average cost of transport.
Does AAA offer auto shipping?
AAA, the roadside assistance company, does not offer car shipping. However, there is an unrelated auto carrier called AAA Transporters that does provide auto shipping services.
What is the cheapest way to ship my car?
The cheapest way to ship your car is to book a shipment on an open transport truck. This is the most common way for cars to be moved by car shipping companies. To save money, avoid peak shipping times during the summer and January, start to compare quotes and be sure to plan your car shipment in advance.
What are the different types of auto shipping?
Cars can be shipped by air, train or truck, but shipping by truck is the most common. Truck delivery services usually include open or enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, terminal-to-terminal shipping and expedited shipping.
What is the cheapest car shipping company?
Data from our research team shows Montway Auto Transport is an affordable auto shipping company and identified AmeriFreight as the best provider for discounts. Both have comparable rates and shipping services. AmeriFreight even offers locked-in pricing for customers that choose the First Class Rate.
Can you ship a car to another state?
Distances we looked at for auto shipping ranged from around 250 miles to 3,000 miles. Many auto shipping providers have carrier networks that span the continental U.S. and overseas locations.
Do car shipping companies provide a rental car?
While it didn’t make our list of the best car shipping companies for 2022, Easy Auto Ship is one of only a few auto transport companies that offer rental car reimbursement. The company will pay you back for a portion of the cost of a rental if your car shipment takes more than 14 days to arrive.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car shipping provider to formulate rankings of the best auto transport companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account pricing, services, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in four categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend car shipping companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best service.
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