Speed Reads:
- Car shipping rates can range from $732 to $2,313 depending on the distance you need to ship your vehicle and the type of transport carrier you choose, either open or enclosed.
- You should always compare quotes from multiple providers before making your decision on a car shipping service.
- Montway Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and SGT Auto Transport are great companies to start with when looking for car shipping quotes.
Looking for cheap car shipping quotes online? Our team compared over 400 quotes from 18 car shipping companies to determine average car shipping costs and the cheapest companies to use. In this article, we’ll explain how to get car shipping quotes and cover the factors that influence costs.
To recommend the best car shipping companies, we also interacted with companies through secret shopping, surveyed car shipping customers, analyzed services, and collected industry ratings. The best way to get cheap car shipping quotes online is to compare offers from multiple providers. You can then easily find the best shipping company for your budget and needs.
What Is A Car Shipping Quote?
When you get a quote, the shipping company gives you a price estimate. Then, it posts the shipment to its network of carriers. Carriers can take the job or pass it up for other opportunities depending on the market at that time.
Getting a quote to ship your car is slightly different from getting a rate from the United States Postal Service to ship a large package. That’s because most car shipping companies are brokers that work with independent carriers, meaning they don’t have full control over the price.
Best Car Shipping Quotes
The table below highlights the cost ratings for each of our top-rated car shipping companies. With these companies, you can expect to receive cheap car shipping quotes, no matter how far you need to ship your vehicle or whether you choose an open or enclosed carrier.
To calculate the average cost per mile, our team got quotes for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 along the following routes from multiple companies:
- Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri with open shipping (503 miles)
- Los Angeles to Houston with open shipping (1,556 miles)
- Los Angeles to Houston with enclosed shipping (1,556 miles)
- New York to San Francisco with open shipping (3,036 miles)
Compare the best quotes we received from our top-rated car shipping companies below:
| Car Shipping Company | Average cost per mile | Get a quote if you need… |
|---|---|---|
| uShip | $0.97 | All shipping distances, open and enclosed shipping |
| American Auto Shipping | $0.99 | All shipping distances, open shipping |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1.00 | Short distances, enclosed shipping |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1.01 | All shipping distances, open and enclosed shipping |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $1.10 | Enclosed shipping |
| AmeriFreight | $1.15 | Medium- to long-distance shipping, open shipping |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1.23 | Long-distance open car shipping |
*Average quotes are based on the prices we received to ship a 2018 Toyota Rav4 short, medium, and long-distances using an open-air carrier
Methodology: How We Rate Car Shipping Companies
Each year, our team scores car shipping companies in the following categories: reputation, cost, services, and customer experience. We surveyed shipping customers to see what matters most to them, and that affected the overall weighted average rating. Aside from the quotes we received, we collected over 400 pieces of data to formulate our industry ratings.
Reputation
You might be looking for affordable shipping companies, but it’s valuable to know a company has a good reputation, as well. This category includes industry ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as well as complaints on the site and the general nature of complaints. Company longevity and shipping availability by state also factor into this score.
Cost
Our team compared over 400 quotes from many popular car shipping companies. Our quotes covered short, medium, and long shipping distances as well as open and enclosed shipping. We gave the best cost scores to companies with lower average prices and available discounts.
All of the quotes in this article apply to shipping an operable 2018 Toyota RAV4. You may find different quotes depending on the size of your vehicle and whether it drives. If a vehicle is inoperable, the truck driver will need to winch it onto the truck, which adds to the overall cost.
Services
Most companies offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping with door-to-door service. We give companies higher scores if they offer add-on insurance coverage, fast average transit times, and guaranteed pickup dates.
Customer Experience Ratings
We use a variety of techniques to determine how companies serve customers:
- Secret shopping: We shop for quotes from all the companies we review. We record our experiences with agents and see how they compare to experiences from other customers.
- Customer surveys: To date, we’ve surveyed 2,000 people who have shipped their cars through many different companies. Survey questions focus on customer experiences and the process of shipping a car from start to finish. We also ask about common issues people encounter when shipping cars.
- Customer reviews: We comb through hundreds of online customer reviews from sites like the BBB, Trustpilot, and Google, and we include customer ratings in our overall customer experience score.
Customer Experience Survey
Our team also polled customers on their overall satisfaction with the shipping process. About 69 percent of respondents were satisfied with the experience to some degree. However, about 21 percent of respondents were dissatisfied to some degree. A few common problems include:
- Vehicle damage during transport
- The carrier’s insurance policy wouldn’t cover the damage
- The price of a quote increased before booking
The bar graph below depicts the results of our car shipping customer satisfaction survey, showing that 69% of customers were satisfied.
Compare Car Shipping Quotes
When looking to get the best quote, we recommend reaching out to AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and uShip. In the following sections we will compare each companies’ best quotes for short, medium, and long-distance shipping using either open or enclosed carriers.
Car Shipping Company Quotes
Car shipping quotes can vary widely depending on the company you choose. Comparing the average quotes from car shipping companies gives you a good indication of which provider offers the best car shipping quotes.
| Shipping Company | Average Quote |
|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,264 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,299 |
| uShip | $1,372 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,457 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,466 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $1,642 |
Compare Car Shipping Quotes By Distance
Typically, short-distance quotes are lower overall compared to long-distance quotes. However, on a per-mile basis, longer shipments are substantially lower.
Short-Distance Car Transport Quotes
We received the best short-distance quote to ship a 2018 Toyota Rav4 from SGT Auto Transport, at only $610. You can compare our top-rated car shippers in the table below.
| Shipping Company | Short-Distance Quote |
|---|---|
| SGT Auto Transport | $610 |
| uShip | $689 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $700 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $719 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $824 |
| AmeriFreight | $996 |
Medium-Distance Car Transport Quotes
According to our research, AmeriFreight offers the lowest medium-distance quotes by far. The company quoted us $1,199 to ship the same vehicle as above roughly 1,500 miles. The table below contains the best quotes we received from the most reputable car shipping companies.
| Shipping Company | Medium-Distance Quote |
|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,199 |
| uShip | $1,249 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,369 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,499 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $1,575 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,589 |
Long-Distance Car Transport Quotes
AmeriFreight quoted our review team the best rate to ship a vehicle 3,000 miles or more, coming in at just $1,598.
| Shipping Company | Long-Distance Quote |
|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,598 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,809 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,959 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $2,289 |
| uShip | $2,177 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $2,650 |
Compare Car Shipping Quotes By Carrier Type
Next to shipping distances, the type of carrier you choose has the second biggest impact on shipping quotes. Open carrier shipping quotes are almost always lower than enclosed quotes. This is because open-air carriers can transport several vehicles at a time and this type of shipping is more commonly available. In the following sections, we will highlight how the type of auto carrier you choose affects car shipping quotes.
Open Transport Quotes
According to our research, you can get an open carrier quote from AmeriFreight for as low as $1,199 when shipping your vehicle roughly 1,500 miles. You can compare the best quotes we received for open car transport services in the table below.
| Shipping Company | Shipping Distance | Open Carrier Quote |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | 1,556 miles | $1,199 |
| uShip | 1,556 miles | $1,249 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 1,556 miles | $1,369 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 1,556 miles | $1,499 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 1,556 miles | $1,575 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 1,556 miles | $1,589 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Quotes
If you want the added protection of enclosed shipping, we recommend uShip. The company has a good industry reputation and quoted us the best rate to ship a 2018 Toyota Rav4 1,556 miles with enclosed shipping, at only $1,529.
The table below contains the best enclosed trailer shipping quotes from the most reputable car shipping companies included in our industry-wide study.
| Shipping Company | Shipping Distance | Enclosed Carrier Quote |
|---|---|---|
| uShip | 1,556 miles | $1,529 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 1,556 miles | $1,699 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 1,556 miles | $1,739 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 1,556 miles | $1,750 |
| AmeriFreight | 1,556 miles | $2,038 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 1,556 miles | $2,491 |
Getting Car Shipping Quotes
We will provide an overview of the entire shipping process so you can best understand which services you need while you’re shopping around for quotes. In the following sections, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to ship a car and get personalized auto shipping quotes.
What Is The Best Way To Get A Car Shipping Quote?
The easiest way to get the best auto transport quotes is to find companies that offer car shipping calculators. We’ve confirmed that Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and uShip all provide instant car shipping quotes on their websites.
Car shipping quote calculators estimate shipping costs based on route information and carrier availability. Some companies may offer a car shipping quote calculator for domestic moves but not international ones. If this is the case and you’re looking to ship internationally, you’ll need to call the auto transport provider for a price.
Car Shipping Bidding Sites
Another way to get a car shipping quote online is through a marketplace such as uShip, which is one of the few companies operating in this way. Instead of acting as a liaison between carriers and customers, uShip offers a platform for customers to post jobs and carriers to accept them.
uShip is a bit like eBay. If you use the uShip quote system, you’ll post your shipment details to the marketplace. Then, you’ll wait for offers as car carriers bid on your shipment. uShip will notify you of each bid, and you can pick the one that works for you.
To recap, you can request an instant quote or you can post your shipping request to a marketplace for bidding. Instant quotes can be higher, so if time allows, we recommend posting your job to a marketplace to find cheap car shipping rates.Since uShip is a marketplace, it doesn’t verify the insurance of carriers on the platform. However, it does offer an insurance add-on for extra coverage.
In addition to shipping costs, uShip charges a service fee that ranges from $25 to $150. Some shippers carry insurance, but if your carrier doesn’t have insurance, you can purchase it separately.
What You Need For A Car Shipping Quote
Many auto shippers allow you to use an instant car shipping cost calculator online, while other providers need to check market conditions manually before giving you a price. In any case, you’ll need to provide some basic information to get accurate car shipping quotes. For a hassle-free experience, you should have the following information on-hand, whether or not you plan to use a car shipping calculator:
- Vehicle make, model, and year
- Vehicle operability status
- Drop-off and delivery locations
- Drop-off and delivery dates
- Shipping preferences, such as enclosed or open transport and terminal-to-terminal or door-to-door shipping
- Your contact information including email and phone number
What Affects Car Shipping Quotes?
When giving an estimate, car shipping brokers rely on several factors to determine how much to determine your transport cost. Below we highlight the most important factors that affect car shipping quotes.
- Time of year: Auto transport rates are highest in January, when people are moving south to get out of the cold, and in the summer when many people chose to move their families.
- Open or enclosed auto transport: Opting for vehicle shipment in an open carrier is the cheapest way to go. Enclosed carrier transportation is safer but pricier. Enclosed shipping can offer greater peace of mind if you have a classic car or a luxury vehicle.
- Door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal shipping: Door-to-door delivery is more expensive but less of a hassle than picking your car up from a terminal. Only a few companies offer terminal-to-terminal shipping, and it requires you to drop your car off at a shipping terminal and then pick it up from another terminal. This type of shipping often takes much longer than door-to-door shipping.
- Type of vehicle: Full-size SUVs and pickups can cost more to ship because of their weight.
- Drop-off and pickup destinations: Shipping to rural towns is more expensive than shipping between major cities.
- Payment type: Car shipping companies offer electronic payments or cash on delivery options. Generally, paying by cash costs slightly less than paying entirely online.
- Distance: A cross-country shipment will cost more than hauling your car a short distance, but it will cost less per mile.
- Vehicle condition: Inoperable vehicles cost more to ship since drivers have to spend extra time and resources winching them onto the trailer.
- Guaranteed pick-up dates: If demand for car shipping is increasing at that time, the shipping company may have to increase the quote to secure a carrier. This doesn’t happen all the time, and some companies guarantee that the initial quotes they give won’t increase. This is true for Sherpa Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and American Auto Shipping.
- Fuel costs: Since transporting a vehicle longer distances will use a lot of fuel, the price of your transport will typically fluctuate as gas prices go up and down.
Our team got car shipping quotes in the fall of 2021 and 2022 to see how quotes change over time. We found the average price for a 1,500-mile vehicle transport increased by about 35 percent in 2022. Many factors contributed to this increase, including higher gas prices and increased inflation.
How To Get The Best Car Shipping Quotes
When you’re shopping for car shipping quotes online, you can be sure you’re getting the best price by following these tips to lower your car shipping costs:
- Choose terminal-to-terminal shipping: Although less convenient than door-to-door shipping, this option is often much less expensive.
- Book in advance: The earlier you book your car shipment, the better. You’ll avoid paying for expedited car shipping prices.
- Choose a large delivery window: Your final vehicle shipping cost depends largely on carrier availability. If you have wiggle room with your drop-off and pickup dates, car transport companies can often find you better rates.
- Choose a reputable car shipping company: The best car shipping companies partner with thousands of truckers. Because the auto moving companies coordinate with so many vehicle haulers, getting quotes from an auto transport broker is usually the most cost-effective way to book a shipment.
- Look for discounts: The top-rated car shipping companies offer multiple discounts that can lower the overall quote you receive. These discounts include, military, student, cash, multiple vehicles, and returning customers. Some companies do not list discounts on their website, so you will have to call a representative and ask if they offer any deals.
How Car Shipping Quotes Work
If this is your first time shipping a car, it’s helpful to learn how things work. We will highlight everything you need to know about the car shipping industry to get the best quotes when shopping around.
Getting A Car Shipping Quote From A Broker
Most car shipping companies are brokers that coordinate with thousands of carriers across the country to move vehicles. When you get a quote, the broker attempts to secure a carrier to move your car for that price. In some cases, the price may increase if the broker can’t find a carrier. This could happen if the demand for shipping a car increases on your route or during a specific season.
Some companies, like Sherpa Auto Transport, will guarantee your quote won’t rise even if demand is rising in the market.
Booking A Car Shipping Quote
After you find a quote that you like, you’ll continue with booking the shipment. That’s when you’re committed to shipping your car with the company. But the car shipping company hasn’t secured a carrier yet. Once a carrier is found, the shipping company will dispatch your car to the carrier, which means the carrier is now committed to picking up your vehicle.
Auto Transport Insurance Protection
Auto transport carriers are required to have liability insurance and cargo insurance. Liability insurance covers other people on the road and their property if the truck driver causes an accident. Cargo insurance covers theft and different types of damage to your vehicle while it’s in transit. Not everything is covered by cargo insurance, though. Most policies exclude environmental events or “acts of God.” Your car also isn’t covered during the loading and unloading process. Some brokers offer supplemental coverage that can provide additional protection in different situations.
“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 Jack Savov, SEO of SGT Auto Transport. “Overall, it is important to carefully review the insurance coverage provided by the car shipping company and to make an informed decision about whether to purchase additional insurance based on individual needs and circumstances.”
It’s always a good idea to have comprehensive insurance on a vehicle you’re shipping. This would cover damage during the shipping process that cargo insurance doesn’t.
Car Shipping Payments
Car shipping companies usually offer two ways to pay: in full electronically or part electronically and part in cash on delivery.
You can use debit and credit cards to pay online. With electronic payments, you may pay a deposit at booking and the rest upon dispatch, or you may pay the whole amount at booking.
If you choose cash on delivery, you’ll make an electronic deposit at booking. You’ll then pay the balance in cash or a cash equivalent, like a cashier’s check or money order, to the truck driver when they deliver your car.
Car Shipping Quote Comparison: Conclusion
In this review, we covered everything you need to know about car shipping quotes. Below are some companies that we recommend starting with when searching for a quote.
Best Car Shipping Quotes
If you’re ready to look for car shipping quotes online, we recommend you start by reaching out to two of our top-rated providers: Montway Auto Transport and AmeriFreight. Both auto shipping companies scored high in our review of the auto transport industry and are known for affordable prices.
Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall
Our team found Montway to be affordable for many different shipping distances and for both open and enclosed transport. Monway quotes came in at $1.01 per mile on average, but this varies depending on the distance and service.
Montway Auto Transport Quotes
Below you can see all of the quotes we received from Montway Auto Transport.
| Carrier type | Shipping route | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Chicago to Kansas City, MO (503 miles) | $719 |
| Open | Los Angeles to Houston (1,556 miles) | $1,369 |
| Enclosed | Los Angeles to Houston (1,556 miles) | $1,739 |
| Open | New York City to San Francisco (3,036 miles) | $1,809 |
For more on this provider, check out our full Montway Auto Transport review.
AmeriFreight: Best Discounts
AmeriFreight quoted us $1,598 for a cross-country shipment, which was one of the cheapest prices for this distance of any company. AmeriFreight offers a streamlined shipping process and a simple pathway for car shipping quotes online.
AmeriFreight Discounts
The following discount opportunities are available when you choose to ship your car with AmeriFreight:
- Active-duty military: $35 off
- First responders: $35 off
- Medical personnel: $35 off
- Early bird: $35 off if you sign up no more than 48 hours after getting a quote
- Students: $25 off
- Senior citizens: $25 off
- Return customers: $50 off
- Multiple vehicles: $50 off each additional vehicle
AmeriFreight Quotes
Looking at quotes from AmeriFreight, we found it to cost slightly more than Montway on average, at $1.15 per mile. The table below contains quotes we received from AmeriFreight.
| Carrier type | Shipping route | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Chicago to Kansas City, MO (503 miles) | $996 |
| Open | Los Angeles to Houston (1,556 miles) | $1,199 |
| Enclosed | Los Angeles to Houston (1,556 miles) | $2,038 |
| Open | New York City to San Francisco (3,036 miles) | $1,598 |
To learn more about auto transport services from this provider, see our AmeriFreight review.
Free Car Shipping Quote: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about car shipping quotes: