Best Car Shipping Companies

Speed Reads:

• The best car shipping company in 2023 is Montway Auto Transport, according to our research team’s analysis. 
• With its guaranteed rates and streamlined customer experience, Sherpa was recognized for offering “Locked-In Pricing” and was the runner-up in the overall rankings.
• SGT Auto Transport, which offers a unique price match guarantee, is a reputable provider that offers a comprehensive array of car shipping services.

Shipping your car can be intimidating. Car shipping companies aren’t always transparent on how much services cost, and some guarantee perks like specific pickup windows, price matching, and insurance upgrade options, while others do not. We’ll explain our top picks, the types of transport options available, and how the car shipping process works in this article.

Each year, our expert review team collects data from a wide selection of the top car shipping companies in order to generate rankings of the best transporters. We shopped providers to compare pricing on hundreds of custom quotes, surveyed past customers, and evaluated the unique services offered by each business.

What Are The Best Car Shipping Companies?

After 300 hours of research, we found the best car shipping companies in 2023 are Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, American Auto Shipping, AmeriFreight, uShip, and Easy Auto Ship:

After performing an in-depth industry review, our research team named Montway Auto Transport as the best car shipping company in 2023. While the provider tops this year’s list for the best provider overall, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best auto transport company for everyone. 

Because rates with any provider can vary depending on your location, service preferences, and discount eligibility, we recommend researching a few leading providers and comparing quotes. To that end, the sections below contain in-depth reviews of the top auto transport companies on our list.

#1 Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

Founded: 2006
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.6/5.0
Trustpilot rating: 4.6/5.0
Google review score: 4.6/5.0

Topping our list in 2023, Montway Auto Transport works with over 15,000 carriers across the nation and can ship a car to anywhere in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. According to our consumer vehicle shipping survey, Montway Auto Transport had the highest satisfaction rating of any major provider.

Here are some more quotes we received from Montway:

*Sample shipping costs are to ship an operable 2018 Toyota RAV4 (SUV) on an open-carrier transport unless otherwise stated. Costs are estimates and may be subject to change by the time the final shipping is booked.

For more information about this provider, read our full Montway Auto Transport review.

#2 Sherpa Auto Transport: Locked-In Prices

Founded: 2017
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.9/5.0
Trustpilot rating: 4.6/5.0
Google review score: 4.7/5.0

The mission of Sherpa Auto Transport is to provide a simple and reliable consumer shipping experience, enhanced by its Price Lock Promise. This means that Sherpa makes a special effort to work only with the most reliable shippers and provides full-service support to customers. Sherpa removes most hidden fees and price increases with its Price Lock Promise.

What does the Price Lock Promise do? When you accept a quote from Sherpa, the company will try to secure a carrier within that price range. If demand for carriers is high, the price may not be good enough to bring in a carrier. In that case, Sherpa will contribute up to $300 of its own funds to get a carrier without raising your quote.

If you’re like most other people who ship their cars, finding a good price is important to you. Our survey data shows customers are most concerned about cost when looking for a carrier. With Sherpa’s Price Lock Promise, you know the rate won’t increase after you get a quote.

Here are a few quotes we received from Sherpa:

You can read more in our in-depth Sherpa Auto Transport review.

#3 SGT Auto Transport: Best Price-Matching Guarantee

Founded: 2014
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.7/5.0
Trustpilot rating: 4.8/5.0
Google review score: 4.7/5.0

SGT Auto Transport has many strengths as a car transporter, but one of the main reasons it made our list of the best car shipping companies is its price-match guarantee. Under this guarantee, SGT Auto Transport will match a written quote from a direct competitor if you find a better rate elsewhere.

SGT Auto Transport offers and fulfills everything from shipping for online car purchases to transporting entire inventories for car dealerships. This, along with high ratings from customers, helps to demonstrate their level of credibility across the industry. However, one downside to SGT Auto Transport is that it doesn’t offer car shipping to Alaska.

Below are quotes we received from SGT Auto Transport.

To learn more about this company, check out our SGT Auto Transport review.

#4: American Auto Shipping: Best Service Selection

Founded: 1999
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.6/5.0
Trustpilot rating: 3.8/5.0 (From two reviews)
Google review score: 4.6/5.0

American Auto Shipping is another great choice if you’re looking for a wide range of service options. The company offers a diverse set of shipping services, such as car shipments to Hawaii, auto auction transport, and even heavy equipment shipping. You’re likely to find the service you need through American Auto Shipping.

In our experience, American Auto Shipping offers timely customer service with helpful agents. Our secret shoppers were able to get help with a quote quickly and have their questions answered. This is reflected in many American Auto Shipping customer reviews as well. Reviewers mention timely vehicle pickup, great communication, and professional drivers.

Below are quotes we received from American Auto Shipping.

To learn more, read our review of American Auto Shipping.

#5 AmeriFreight: Best Discounts

Founded: 2004
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.9/5.0
Trustpilot score: 3.7/5.0 (From one review)
Google review score: 4.7/5.0

AmeriFreight partners with over 10,000 auto shipping companies to transport customer vehicles anywhere in the U.S. This nationwide auto transporter stands out by dedicating extra attention to its carrier vetting process. Only fully insured truckers with consistently high customer ratings are used, and any shipper with a poor client history is dropped as a partner.

Below are a few quotes from AmeriFreight.

Read our full AmeriFreight review to learn more about the car shipping company.

#6 uShip: Best Car Shipping Marketplace

Founded: 2003
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.5/5.0
Trustpilot score: 4.3/5.0
Google review score: 4.9/5.0

uShip is a different kind of car shipping company. It’s a marketplace that connects customers to car carriers. The advantage is that you can find affordable rates directly from car carriers. But the downside is that uShip doesn’t guarantee the service or insurance that carriers offer. So, it’s up to you to do due diligence on any carrier you come across.

Below are the instant quotes our team received from uShip.

Check out our review of uShip for more information.

#7 Easy Auto Ship: Best Customer Service

Founded: 2013
BBB rating: A+
BBB customer review score: 4.6/5.0
Trustpilot score: 3.4/5.0
Google review score: 4.6/5.0

Easy Auto Ship is a low-cost auto shipping broker that also offers moving and relocation services. The company will transport many types of vehicles, including classic cars, motorcycles, and heavy equipment. Easy Auto Ship offers service to all 50 states plus international shipping.

Having compared quotes from Easy Auto Ship, we noted it offered a standard pickup window of one to five days, which was the best among all companies we researched. It also offers expedited service, and can even pick your car up in as little as a few hours – depending on carrier availability.

Below are some quotes we received from Easy Auto Ship.

Read our Easy Auto Ship review for a more in-depth take on the motor carrier.

If this is your first time shipping a car, take a few minutes to get the lay of the land. Shipping a car isn’t like sending a box through the mail.

Car Shipping Companies: Brokers vs. Carriers

Shipping a car involves three components: the customer, a car shipping broker, and a carrier. In a nutshell, a customer gets a quote from a broker to ship their car. The broker then posts the job to their network of carriers. Once a carrier is dispatched to pick up the car, the broker has rendered their services.

Most of the time, a carrier picks up the job for the agreed price. In some cases, the quote is not high enough to secure a carrier. This may happen if there is high demand for car shipping at the time the customer requests a quote. The broker may go back to the customer and ask to raise the quote to secure a carrier.

You might wonder, why not just book directly with a carrier? Well, carriers rarely advertise to customers. Most prefer to work with brokers to keep their schedules full and to avoid worrying about marketing costs.

Car Shipping Services

If you are considering shipping a car, it’s important to understand the services that are available to you. With respect to auto transport, three crucial components to consider are shipping method, whether or not your vehicle is protected by a sufficient level of insurance coverage, and common issues that customers face when shipping a car. 

In the sections below we’ll cover each of these components.

Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping Services

There are two kinds of auto shipping: open and enclosed. With open shipping, the carrier loads your car onto an open-air trailer that can accommodate 10 vehicles or more depending on their sizes. Since more cars fit on an open trailer, transportation costs are lower.

However, open shipping leaves your car vulnerable to debris from the road and damage from the elements. Not to mention, cars on the upper deck can leak oil and other fluids onto the lower cars.

If these potential risks set off a lot of alarm bells for you, you’ll want to use enclosed shipping. SGT Auto Transport CEO Tsvetelin (Jack) Savov shared some expert tips for those who are deciding between the two shipping methods. “Enclosed shipping is worth the extra cost in certain situations. If the vehicle is expensive, classic, or a sports car, enclosed shipping is highly recommended to ensure that it is protected from any climate impacts during transport.”

Depending on the distance and company, enclosed shipping can cost anywhere from $200 to $900 more than open shipping. But the cost may be worth it to keep a new or valuable car safe from the elements, especially during times when the weather is bad or if you are transporting to a snowy or rainy climate. “Customers should weigh the benefits of enclosed transport against their budget and shipping needs to determine if it is the best option for their specific situation,” said Savov. “Overall, while enclosed shipping is not always necessary, it can provide added peace of mind and security for certain types of vehicles during transport.” 

Car Transport Insurance

The car shipping companies on our list all require the carriers in their networks to have minimum levels of cargo insurance, which usually start at $100,000. This insurance covers both theft and damage to your vehicle while it is in transit. However, some situations may be excluded. For example, Easy Auto Ship and its carriers aren’t liable for damage from objects flying from the road or sky during transport. And AmeriFreight can cover these damages through its Allied Fidelity Total Assurance Plan (AFta) for a price.

“Most companies provide bumper-to-bumper insurance, which covers external damage to the vehicle, but it’s always advisable to check the coverage of the insurance to make sure it includes the cost of the vehicle,” explained Savov. “If the insurance coverage provided by the shipping company meets the customer’s needs, it may not be necessary to purchase additional insurance. Customers should take time to review the terms and conditions of any additional insurance policy, including any exclusions, limitations, and deductibles.”

Damage to your vehicle during the loading and unloading process may be excluded from cargo insurance. If something happens to your car and the carrier denies the claim, you can file a claim with your insurance company – but only if you already have comprehensive coverage.

Some companies provide extra insurance coverage for a fee, and others offer compensation if certain claims are denied by the carrier’s insurance. This is why it’s important to read the fine print as you shop around for car shipping quotes.

Customer Satisfaction

Our team surveyed 1,000 people in 2021 who shipped a car in the past. Overall, 69 percent of respondents were satisfied with their experience. However, 21 percent were somewhat or very dissatisfied with their experience with the auto moving company. Some common problems include:

• The vehicle had damage upon delivery
• The truck driver’s insurance wouldn’t cover the damage
• The final price was more than the auto transport quote

About 56 percent of respondents would recommend the auto transport company they used to a friend. On the other hand, 15 percent would ship a car again but use a different provider.

We also found that open car transport is the most popular way to ship a car, which makes sense since it’s usually the most economical shipping option. About 43 percent used open transport, while 20 percent used enclosed transport. Some customers also used single-car transport services such as a flatbed truck.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car?

Shipping a car can cost up to $1.98 per mile for short trips of about 500 miles but as low as $0.53 per mile for distances over 2,000 miles.

Our team received quotes from over 15 companies in both 2021 and 2022. We saw an increase in costs across the board in 2022. Notably, we received our 2022 quotes while inflation and gas prices were on the rise, and both of those factors will reliably increase car shipping costs.

The average 1,500-mile open-car shipment cost was $1,056 in 2021 and $1,425 in 2022. That’s an increase of about 35 percent. Our company rankings in this article take the updated cost data into account.

In general, car shipping costs are most affected by the following factors:

• Time of year: Prices peak in the summer and in January, when auto shippers are at their busiest.
• Shipping distance: The farther your move, the more vehicle shipping will cost. Shorter trips will cost less overall, but do tend to cost more per mile.
• Type of vehicle: Your car’s length, height, clearance, and weight can all impact shipping costs. Inoperable vehicles cost more to ship as well.
• Transport type: Enclosed car transport costs more than open auto transport.
• Pickup location: Door-to-door delivery is more expensive than terminal-to-terminal delivery. Shipping to and from rural areas is also more expensive than shipping to and from urban areas.

Car Shipping Tips

When shipping a car, there are a few things you should know to avoid unnecessary headaches and hassle during your move. Below are a few helpful tips for those who are considering or are in the process of transporting a vehicle.

1. Do Your Research

If this is your first time shipping a car, take a few minutes to get the lay of the land. Shipping a car isn’t like sending a box through the mail. For that reason, it’s important to do your research. Savov recommends the following for first-shippers:

“For a first-time car shipper, I recommend investing sufficient time into the research phase to determine the type of service needed. Whether it’s for relocating or for a guaranteed pick-up service, comparing prices and evaluating the pros and cons of at least two to three companies is highly recommended.” – Tsvetelin (Jack) Savov, CEO of SGT Auto Transport

2. Be Flexible

It’s important to be flexible when shipping a car, especially for long-distance moving. If you don’t plan ahead, you’ll pay more upfront for expedited car delivery. Shipping timelines can change depending on weather and traffic, too.

Auto movers may not be able to meet you at your exact delivery location. Remember, an open or enclosed trailer needs to make it to the drop-off spot. This isn’t always possible on smaller neighborhood streets.

3. Prepare Your Vehicle Correctly

Here’s how to prepare for shipping your car:

• Make sure your vehicle has no more than a quarter tank of gas.
• Remove all your personal items.
• Make sure your car isn’t leaking any fluids.
• Clean your car inside and out.

Note your car’s exact condition and take photos before signing the bill of lading.

We rated Montway Auto Transport as the best overall car shipping company, but each of the other providers on this list is worthy of your attention. Sherpa Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Easy Auto Ship, SGT Auto Transport, and American Auto Shipping all scored almost as high in our study and offer both reliable service and competitive pricing.

You can and should get free quotes from several providers to compare before making a decision. The car shipper that offers the best rates for your neighbor may not be the one with the cheapest rates for you.

Car Shipping Companies: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about car shipping companies: