- After reading hundreds of American Auto Shipping reviews, our team found this company to offer great customer service and good transport options.
- The services offered by American Auto Shipping set it apart, and include car transport to all 50 states and to U.S. territories.
- If you have a tight timeframe for shipping your car, American Auto Shipping offers three levels of service, ranging from one to five weekdays to pick up within 24 hours.
Our review team examines the best car shipping companies in the country every year. We collect auto transport quotes, comb through online reviews, and conduct surveys to fully understand what each provider brings to the table. Our team also mystery shops to get a feel for how car shipping companies deal with customers. Powered by 300 hours of research and more than 500 data points, we awarded American Auto Shipping 4.6 out of 5.0 stars and recognized the company for its Great Customer Service.
Our American Auto Shipping Review & Methodology
Industry reputation, cost, services, and customer experience are the key criteria we analyze when we review and rank car shipping companies. Our overall rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars for American Auto Shipping reflects the company’s performance in these four areas.
How We Rated American Auto Shipping
To make sure our ratings are as current and accurate as possible, we update our review standards several times each year. The following sections provide additional context on the criteria we use and how we evaluated American Auto Shipping accordingly.
Reputation
When we research a shipping provider’s industry reputation, we consider how long it’s been in business, state availability, and its status with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We give American Auto Shipping a 4.9 out of 5.0-star rating in this category because it’s been around since 1999 and handles vehicle shipments to all 50 states and to U.S. territories. The company also has an A+ rating from the BBB.
Cost
For this review, we collected quotes from American Auto Shipping for transporting an operable 2018 Toyota RAV4 various distances. These quotes were for open transport, which involves shipping a car loaded onto an open-air trailer – a less expensive option than shipping a vehicle in an enclosed hauler. Weighing the quotes we received and the fact that the company offers binding price quotes, we give American Auto Shipping a solid 4.4-star rating in the cost category.
Services
American Auto Shipping shines in the services category by offering all the car transport options you’d expect to all 50 states and to U.S. territories. In our experience, it’s rare to find a shipping provider that works in so many areas. The company offers both door-to-door transport, which picks up and delivers your car as close to home addresses as possible, and the option to have your vehicle picked up from and delivered to centralized terminals. We give American Auto Shipping a perfect 5.0-star rating for services.
Customer Experience
When it comes to customer experience, we consider both online customer reviews and the ease of our quote-gathering process. American Auto Shipping receives solid feedback from customers online. Nearly 600 Google reviews give the company 4.7 out of 5.0 stars, with the same star rating on the BBB. Our team had no problems collecting estimates from American Auto Shipping thanks to its instant online quote tool. Due to this, we recognized this company for its Great Customer Service in our comprehensive survey of car shipping services and providers.
American Auto Shipping doesn’t offer GPS tracking, but customers can call or email during business hours for updates on their shipments. Taking all this together, we give the company 4.3 out of 5.0 stars for customer experience.
American Auto Shipping Overview
Founded: 1999
Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada
Service area: Nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii and all U.S. territories
American Auto Shipping has shipped over 137,000 vehicles since its founding in 1999. The auto transport broker provides locked-in pricing, door-to-door shipping, and instant quotes via its website. The company offers three tiers of service based on how quickly you need a vehicle shipped.
American Auto Shipping also provides perks, such as a free car wash in the form of reimbursement for up to $20 and a free rental car in the case of delayed delivery.
How Much Does American Auto Shipping Cost?
Based on the free quotes we received from American Auto Shipping, the company’s prices are a little below the national average. The company offers locked-in pricing, meaning you won’t get surprised by hidden fees or sudden price changes.
We reached out to American Auto Shipping for price quotes on transporting an operable 2018 Toyota RAV4. Keep in mind that inoperable vehicles cost significantly more to ship. Here’s what we received:
| Shipping Route | Transport Type | American Auto Shipping Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Kansas City, Mo. (503 miles) | Open | $669 |
| Los Angeles to Houston (1,556 miles) | Open | $1,319 |
| Los Angeles to Houston (1,556 miles) | Enclosed | $1,819 |
| New York City to San Francisco (3,306 miles) | Open | $1,829 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs?
When you’re looking for cheap car shipping, there are many factors that determine the cost of your vehicle transport service:
- Type of vehicle: Larger and heavier vehicles, such as SUVs, cost more to ship.
- Type of transport: You’ll need to choose between open or enclosed shipping. Open carrier transport is less expensive but leaves vehicles exposed to the elements.
- Location: It’s cheaper to ship a vehicle to an urban area rather than a rural one.
- Vehicle condition: Inoperable vehicles take more time and effort to move, so shipping them costs more.
- Shipping distance: Shorter trips cost less overall but more per mile.
- Fuel costs: The higher the price of fuel, the more expensive shipping will be.
- Time of year: January and the summer months typically have an increase in demand for car shipping, so costs rise.
American Auto Shipping Services
American Auto Shipping offers a wide range of shipping options, including:
- Door-to-door shipping: You can choose the pickup and delivery locations.
- Open transport: This is the most affordable option, but does leave your car exposed to road debris and weather hazards.
- Enclosed transport: This option is a bit more expensive, but the enclosed carrier protects your car from damage.
- Rail transport: Shipping a car via train is an affordable option when fuel costs are high. However, rail transport is limited compared to shipping by truck.
American Auto Shipping also offers shipping for other types of vehicles:
- Motorcycles
- Military members’ cars
- Heavy equipment
- Auto auction vehicles
The auto transport company ships to Hawaii, Alaska, and all U.S. territories, but it doesn’t ship internationally.
Service Level Tiers
American Auto Shipping offers three levels of service based on your timeframe for shipping your car:
- Standard service: Designed to get a car picked up in one to five weekdays, this is the lowest-priced tier. It’s recommended for those not in a rush to ship their vehicles.
- Priority shipping: This schedules the car pickup one or two weekdays after the order is placed and costs $200 more than standard service.
- Expedited shipping: This tier is designed to get a car picked up within 24 hours. It costs $500 more than standard service but works best for people who need their cars shipped right away.
American Auto Shipping Process
American Auto Shipping’s website spells out its simple, four-step process:
- Get a free car shipping quote online
- Talk to a vehicle shipping specialist and place your order
- Schedule your pickup
- Receive your vehicle
At the time of your pickup, you and the carrier driver will inspect your vehicle for any existing damage. You’ll do the same once the car is delivered to the drop-off location, and sign a bill of lading to complete the transaction.
American Auto Shipping Customer Reviews
American Auto Shipping holds an A+ rating from the BBB. Customers on the site rate the auto transport broker highly, giving it an average score of 4.7 out of 5.0 from more than 300 reviews. The company has a similar rating on Google, with more than 590 reviews giving an average score of 4.7 out of 5.0.
Our team surveyed car shopping customers to determine their satisfaction levels across the industry. American Auto Shipping holds its own against the competition in this regard, as we found that the majority of people who paid for auto transport services were “very satisfied” in the end.
Positive American Auto Shipping Reviews
Positive reviews praise the company’s clear and constant communication.
“The employees at American Auto Shipping were down to earth and so kind and informative. They were quick to respond and answered all of our questions. … [The drivers] communicated constantly and made us so comfortable.”
– Sarah via BBB
“Excellent service. [O]n time, professional and the communication was fluid and constant.”
– Al via BBB
Negative American Auto Shipping Reviews
Negative reviews cite issues with delivery date availability and sudden price changes.
“I had my order [in mid-December] with $1,600 to ship my car from east coast to west coast. … On Jan 26, they told me they have to cancel my order, or I need to pay more for the car to be shipped. … [T]hey guarantee that as long as they made the order, they will never change the price.”
– Yankang via Google
“I was very disappointed with this company, I would not recommend. I scheduled my delivery three months in advance with a deposit. When the time came for my delivery window, there was still no driver dispatched that could give me a date and time for pickup.”
– Salema via Google
Our Take On American Auto Shipping: 4.6 Stars
We give American Auto Shipping a rating of 4.6 stars out of 5.0. The company is highly reputable based on customer reviews and offers a variety of shipping options. The quotes we received were generally lower than the national average costs. Though the car transport company does ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and all U.S. territories, it doesn’t ship internationally.
Other Recommendations For Car Shipping
Shipping your car can be a costly and time-consuming process. It’s important to do your research and compare companies to find the best choice for your needs. While American Auto Shipping is a reputable service provider, we recommend reaching out to Easy Auto Ship and uShip for free, no-obligation quotes.
Easy Auto Ship: 4.4 Stars
Easy Auto Ship offers customers guaranteed pricing and full insurance coverage for vehicles during shipment. It provides transport to all 50 states for a wide variety of vehicles, including motorcycles and boats.
The BBB gives Easy Auto Ship an A+ rating, and consumers who left post-transport reviews on the site give the company an average rating of 4.6 stars. We believe Easy Auto Ship is a very reliable choice for auto transport.
Read more in our complete Easy Auto Ship review.
uShip: 4.4 Stars
Rather than a broker, uShip is an auto shipping platform. You post a shipping request to uShip, which allows auto transport carriers to bid on your contract. You choose the right bid – and price – for your shipment. Since uShip is a marketplace, you can find carriers to ship your car cross-country or internationally.
The auto shipping platform is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating from the organization. More than 10,000 customer reviews on Trustpilot give uShip an average score of 4.3 stars. In our review of the top car shipping companies, we name uShip the Best Car Shipping Marketplace.
Delve into our full uShip review to learn more.