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Are you looking to buy a car, but you feel limited to the area you can drive to? Or maybe you're moving houses and you need a way to get your car from point A to point B? Whether you're a car enthusiast, a collector, or you just love your good old car, there are tons of options available to help you transport your car safely across whatever distance you need to cover.
Despite some small interruptions in 2020 due to car shortages, the automotive transport industry is a booming business. In fact, vehicle shipping services brought in a whopping $10.8 billion of revenue in 2022. But what does auto transport entail?
Sunday, February 9th
eShip is a Nationwide Transport Company that offers trusted state-to-state, long distance, and cross-country transportation. Although they don't ship internationally, they have great insurance and offer options to ship other large hard-to-transport items for you.
More than just cars
On top of promising to move any kind of vehicle available, eShip has five other shipping categories. If you've got something large and unwieldy, eShip can help you with that. Their options include:
One-on-one touch
At eShip they promise every client is assigned a dedicated agent for vehicle transport. This includes consistent updates throughout the whole transportation process, an agent who will oversee the process from start to finish, ensuring that you don't have to deal with inter-departmental transfers when you need to know about your car. At eShip you know exactly who to speak to about any concerns that you have with your process.
Prices and online bookings
While they do have an online calculator for price points, allowing you to import key factors like the make and model of your car, the weight or size class, and where you are leaving from and going to, their online pricing tool doesn't stand out much against competitors. They do offer you the option to call in if you find the tech too confusing. However, it's important to note that eShip is transparent about the fact that they may not be the cheapest option out there. They aim to provide quality, reminding their customers that sometimes that comes with a higher price.
Platinum protection plan
eShip makes double sure that any driver working them is completely insured before they get anywhere near your car. They want you to have full confidence, so they offer their Platinum Protection Plan for Auto Transport to protect your vehicle. The Platinum Protection Plan includes:
Rave reviews
eShip's "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau is reflected in the rave reviews about their customer service, attention to detail, and the trustworthiness of the drivers, moves, and staff. Clients agree that working with eShip is a breeze, and that they felt confident about the process from beginning to end.
Best choice for auto transport - and more
eShip is a great all-in-one shipping option that includes overseas shipping to the United States and Puerto Rico. They have stellar reviews, and with their specialized insurance and offers for a rental car free of charge, their place at the top of our list is practically a given. With their one-on-one approach and wide variety of shipping types, eShip has created a one-stop shop to move your whole life.
In business since 2004, AmeriFreight promises to be a premier car transport company. Functioning as a transportation broker, they serve as the middleman between you and freight drivers to ensure the best and easiest experience for you and your vehicle. AmeriFreight is highly rated on Google and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). They do the hard work of vetting carrier companies and don't require an upfront deposit until they've secured a carrier that fits your needs.
No deposit, plus discounts
On top of not requiring a deposit, AmeriFreight also works to provide opportunities for discounts on their auto transport. They look for places to save you money and offer discounts that include Military, First Responders, Seniors, Students, Return Customers, and Early Bird discounts. They also have options for shipping items other than cars.
Full range of moving services
With a section specifically for golfers and boat enthusiasts, AmeriFreight stands out among others in this list as offering a complete array of moving services. Besides individual transportation, they also offer options for your business including B2B shipping services, coordinating with moving companies to offer car shipping when families move house, and OEM auto shipping for large companies.
Ensuring your car's safety
AmeriFreight has a heavy focus on ensuring that your auto transportation is safe and completely insured. AmeriFreight validates that their carriers have the required basic insurance to protect your vehicle. In the event that a carrier's regular insurance may not protect your vehicle from all damage and inconvenience that can happen during shipment, AmeriFreight offers AFta GAP Protection on top of the carrier's basic insurance. The AFta PLAN (required to purchase) will offer up to $2000 for expenses if a carrier's insurance fails to pay. GAP protection, depending on the coverage, will tack on an additional $48-$98 for you during your purchase. This coverage will protect you not just at the time of delivery, but also if the damage is detected up to 48 hours afterward.
Pricing factors and options
Many different factors will affect the cost of transporting your vehicle with AmeriFreight. Here are some of the primary ways that they use to create a price for your move:
On top of these pricing factors, there are also a variety of options for the type of shipping which can affect your final price. These include:
Remember that every factor can affect your final price. Using the AmeriFreight price calculator is a great way to get a clear idea of what you can expect from their services. And until you have a carrier booked, you don't have to pay a dime.
Many return customers
When looking at AmeriFreight against competitors it's important to consider what the customers are saying and doing after their experience with the service. AmeriFreight has hundreds of 5-star reviews, and many of their customers return to work with AmeriFreight again and again to transport their vehicles across the country. Most reviews cite the helpfulness of staff, swift problem resolution, and how easy the process was when working with AmeriFreight.
Fantastic option within the US
With popularity among reviewers and happy customers, a heavy focus on insurance and ensuring excellent customer service, AmeriFreight stands out among the competition as one of the safest companies to use to transport your vehicle. With discounts and different pricing options, and an easy-to-use price calculator, AmeriFreight is easily a top contender.
In business for 25 years, Easy Auto Ship is one of the country's top Auto Transport firms. They specialize in shipping privately owned vehicles, motorcycles, heavy equipment, and even boats across the US and internationally.
Fully transparent costs
Easy Auto Ship offers a variety of shipping styles, as well as a fully transparent look at the costs of auto shipping and where the price you get comes from. Along with their variety of automotive shipping for individuals, families, and college students, Easy Auto Ship also offers options for businesses and partners regularly with moving companies and auto auctions to help get cars from one place to the next.
Strong relationships and security
Easy Auto Ship double vets all their carriers. Everyone who works with Easy Auto Ship is licensed, bonded, and properly insured to haul cars. Further, Easy Auto Ship offers what they call "contingency cargo policy” to cover the carrier's insurance. This means Easy Auto ship provides a $100,000 backup cargo policy in case something does go wrong. This way you are doubly covered with insurance, giving you that extra peace of mind.
Instant quotes and full transparency
Easy Auto Ship offers an easy-to-use price calculator on their website. But, if you don't feel like putting all your information in right away, they break down the pricing options in the industry in a handy chart to help you start ballparking. Some of this pricing transparency includes:
While there are a lot of variables, you don't have to pay anything up front, only once the transportation has been scheduled.
Customer service is pro-tier
Easy Auto Ship's staff has a passion for logistics and customer service. With a family-friendly environment, Easy Auto Ship offers approachable services around the clock. Easy Auto Ship is open 7 days a week, with a full customer service department and dispatch team, along with dedicated shipping agents to book with. Reviews at the Better Business Bureau and Google reviews are in the 4.5- and 5-star range.
Good leading option
A good match for some of our top contenders, Easy Auto Ship excels in transparency. However, their website is a little more outdated than some of the competition. Also, because this service focuses on privately owned delivery, some customers might need larger or more specialized shipping. But with numerous 5-star reviews, Easy Auto Ship is still well worth checking out.
American Auto Shipping has been in business for over 22 years. They use their expertise to promise the best and most transparent auto shipping services. They work as a middle man, taking your request for car shipping and contacting the transport companies for you. They aim to make the process easy for everyone involved.
Four-step process
American Auto Shipping has a four-step process: quote, reserve, pickup, and move. The quotes are promised to be a locked-in price, without any changes as you complete the process. Once you're locked in, the auto transport carrier selected by American Auto Shipping will contact you to schedule a day and time to pick up your vehicle. A full inspection of your vehicle will be completed with your truck driver to mark any existing damage to your vehicle before transportation. Once you're satisfied, your vehicle is ready to go. It will travel around 500 miles a day, and delivery time will depend on the distance needed to cover.
3 tiered pricing
American Auto Shipping promises to cater to all walks of life with their three tiered pricing. They offer Standard, Priority, and Expedited auto shipping.
Remember, your final price will be determined by your vehicle type and distance, but these charges are on top of that for faster shipping. American Auto Shipping notes that most customers won't need the faster shipping, but the option is there if you're in a rush.
11 shipping styles
On top of their price options, they also offer 11 different styles of shipping including:
So between land and sea, they offer a variety of options that can affect the final price. Even within these styles there are multiple options, so be sure to check out the detailed descriptions of what different types might be better for your particular vehicle.
Pricing factors
Pricing for auto shipping is hard to pin down without knowing exactly what car you're looking to ship. American Auto Shipping calculates the cost of their shipping with key factors. However, they note that these factors can also fluctuate depending on time of year or supply and demand. Some other factors include:
However, it is easy to get a quote from American Auto Shipping. All you need to supply is your zip code, vehicle details, and the type of transport (open or closed) that you want to use. After you add your contact information, you'll be sent a quote with everything you'd need to pay in one locked-in price.
Popular among clients
American Auto Shipping has tons of 5-star reviews. Customers are particularly excited about the customer service. American Auto Shipping offers access to a personal concierge that will help you through the entire process. Happy clients agree that this auto transport company's customer service is top tier and that "you get what you pay for.” On top of all the good customer reviews, American Auto Shipping also promises to provide a rental to you if your shipment is delayed too long.
Good features and reasonable prices
Overall, this auto transport service ticks all the boxes and meets industry standards. American Auto Shipping stands out as a site that specializes in military vehicles and construction equipment, but they only focus on vehicles and no other shipping options. However, because of this specialization, they have rave reviews from customers, especially for their focus on customer service. This makes American Auto Shipping one of the top contenders among auto transportation companies.
Montway Auto Transport has been in business for 15 years. Servicing the continental US and Hawaii, and also offering international shipping, Montway is focused on giving 5-star service every time. They have excellent pricing transparency and stand out for their options for business owners to transport goods through their carriers.
Price outlines and transparency
Montway has a whole page dedicated to explaining the cost of transportation. For vehicle transportation they note that the average cost is $1.96 per mile on trips 1-500 miles. For medium distances the average cost is $.93 per mile for a trip around 500-1,500 miles. Finally, their long distance average is around $.58 mile for a trip of 1500+ miles. These prices can shift depending on the specifics of your vehicle, needs, and trip timeline, but you don't have to pay until you know exactly what it will cost. However, reviewers did note that there is a $200 cancellation fee, and the price you get quoted may not be the final price you end up with when your car is delivered.
Individuals and business options
On top of promising to move automobiles, motorcycles, home items, or stock for individual collectors, Montway offers options for business owners to move their automobile stock from one place to another. These options include:
On top of shipping options, they also provide ways to help streamline your auto business through Montway. These include tools for:
So, if you're looking for a way to simplify and centralize your vehicle-related business Montway offers all the tools you need in one place.
Industry standard options
Montway offers a series of options that are standard across the industry. However, their site is set up to tell you at a glance which one might be best for your needs. For example, their Open Auto Transport option is listed as "quick and affordable” while their Enclosed is described as "safe and clean.” This allows customers to easily eyeball and prioritize what they need from their auto transport service.
Protection is hard to find
While Montway stands out in the business department and its offerings for international shipping, it doesn't talk a lot about insurance. With something as important as your car, you want to be sure that there is sufficient protection. While Montway does promise that their carriers are completely vetted and safe to use, they don't promise (at least nowhere we saw on the site) any extra protection for your vehicle. At the very least, you might need to check with a representative while you're getting a quote if security is one of your top concerns.
Is Montway the best way to ship your car?
According to many clients, Montway is a great auto transport company. Despite having a slightly lower average rating than some of the others on our list, Montway is still rated 5 stars by over 87% of customers. Reviewers agree that this business offers fast service, constant communication, and excellent delivery of the product. The lower reviews mostly talked about logistics issues or insurance claims that Montway helped the customer resolve. Overall, clients say that Montway lives up to its reputation.
Good across the board, but no specific insurance
A great all-around shipping option inside and outside the US, Montway has great reviews and provides options specifically for auto businesses to step up their game. Their only drawback is that they don't have any heavy focus on insurance and security on their site, but most of their reviews note that they are able to help customers with problems if and when they pop up. Give Montway a look if you don't find what you're looking for with its higher-ranked rivals.
uShip is a shipping database rather than a middleman or broker for booking like many others in our review. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an "A+” and 5-star rating, uShip stands out as a service to find and hire your own carrier for auto transportation.
More than just cars
uShip offers a wide range of vehicles to ship. In fact, within the automobile section, uShip has 11 different vehcile types that you select to transport to your new location. These options include some familiar ones like cars, motorcycles, and boats, and also some more unique options like airplanes, RVs, ATVs, and trailers.
Full home moves too
If other transport options made you worry that you couldn't ship everything on your list, throw that worry away. In addition to vehicles, uShip's database covers full home moves, appliances, and furniture. The best part is that you can select all of these options, or just one or two to narrow down your search more clearly. You can filter by date, location, category, pricing, and what kind of business you want to work with.
Reverse auction puts the decision in your hands
and date ranges, and then you begin getting bids from carriers who can take your car, home, or boat wherever you need it to go. The only downside with this is if you're in a rush, you have to wait for someone to see your listing and make a bid before you can get going. Be aware that some reviewers noted that items were lost or damaged during shipping, and that might be cause for caution using uShip.
Perks of uShip
One of the best things about working with a database is the constant flow of information. uShip offers continuous tracking, a mobile app to keep an eye on your posts and your quotes, cargo insurance with Lloyd's of London to make sure that you don't lose something precious along the way, and a "Ship with Confidence Guarantee” that compensates you up to $500 in the case of damage or loss. uShip puts their own money on the line to make sure you feel safe.
Best auction option
While it might still be faster to go through a broker, if you're looking to find a carrier on your own, uShip is a great way to do it. There's no cost to sign up, and you can compare rates and quotes across different carriers to pick the best one for you. Plus, with insurance and money-back guarantees, uShip stands behind their business model and makes sure you have a safe exchange. However, even with those promises, there are still reviews with concerns about individual carriers. It's worth it to do a little extra research before you commit to using uShip.
Despite only being in business for 5 years, Sherpa is popular with customers. With a 5-star "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, they are noted for their high-quality customer service. And with their proprietary, data-driven technology, Sherpa determines accurate pricing for your transportation with a promised "price lock” to make sure you know exactly what you're paying for.
Price lock promise
How does that price lock work? Sherpa evaluates previous prices of your proposed transport route, the current market, and the usual factors including vehicle size, geography, availability of transport carriers, and time of year. According to their typical auto transport costs, they estimate your transport will fall under the following prices:
Sherpa only offers concrete pricing after you've entered your information, but they promise that the quote you receive is the amount you will pay. On top of that, they offer a "Clean Car Guarantee” with a free car wash after delivery to get your vehicle looking its finest.
Sherpa ships for everyone
Sherpa offers a full range of shipping options including door-to-door, terminal-to-terminal, open and closed transports. While they don't ship overseas or internationally, they do promise to have something for everyone from individuals looking to relocate, military personnel, online car sales companies, car dealerships, to corporations looking to move shop.
Communication is king
Sherpa's hallmark across all reviews is their communication and customer service. The majority of 5-star reviews on the Better Business Bureau mention how easy Sherpa is to work with. Whether it was to communicate the basics, or to help customers solve a problem during the delivery, Sherpa showed up for their customers. Across the board, the only real complaints were that some of the carriers don't take credit cards, and the customer had to pay in cash or check only.
Slimmed down to basics, but good
Sherpa seems a little light compared to the different options at other companies, but the price lock and car wash make up some of that gap. With 5-star reviews and a top tier certification from the Better Business Bureau, this one might be worth your time to check out and compare prices, especially if you only want to ship a car. However, if you're looking for a comprehensive shipping option for boats, golf carts, or overseas options, Sherpa might not have what you need.
SGT Auto Transport offers auto delivery across the country, to Hawaii, and internationally. SGT is federally licensed and works with more than 20,000 reliable carriers. They promise that you get to choose how and when your vehicle is picked up, shipped, and delivered. With interstate deliveries, island moves, military transport, and luxury and vintage deliveries, SGT Auto Transport has a competitive range of auto transportation services.
Safe with SGT
SGT is a BBB-accredited, "A+” rated company and the most trusted service provider on at least one of the auto shipping databases in our review. Since opening eight years ago, they have delivered more than 32,000 vehicles and currently work with more than 25,000 vetted carriers. During their vetting process, SGT ensures that the carriers hold insurance so that your vehicle will be completely insured from pick-up to delivery. All carriers working with SGT meet the requirements of the Department of Transportation: open car carriers have cargo insurance coverage between $100,000 and $150,000 and enclosed transport carriers offer cargo insurance between $250,000 and $3,000,000. SGT will provide customers a certificate of insurance upon request.
7-day quote security
SGT's prices for auto shipping are calculated using the standard criteria: car size and weight, car type, carrier type, transport route, geography, availability of transport carriers, and time of year. They only offer concrete pricing after you've entered your information, but they promise that the quote you receive will be locked-in for 7 days while you think about it. You can request a new or updated quote at any time.
Automobiles only
While SGT services a number of different auto owners, including international customers, classic car owners, or military personnel, they only transport cars. So, if you need to move other large items, SGT isn't for you.
Mixed customer reviews
Across the board the 5-star reviews for SGT are amazing. Most happy clients note that the service was fast and easy to deal with. They got their cars on time, and had no complaints. However, the 1-star reviews are just as important, and there are a number of them. Some of these customers described the cancellation policy as a "scam” where you can't cancel once you've paid. Others noted that their vehicles arrived damaged or with personal items missing from the car. While these are fewer and further between than the 5-star reviews, there are enough of them to keep an eye out when looking at SGT Auto Transport.
Good but not great
As a good middle-ground option, SGT has competitive prices and international services, which stands out from other competitors. However, they don't ship anything other than cars, and while most of their reviews are top tier, their 1 star reviews are detailed and worth looking into before you commit your money to SGT.
In business for 7 years, Nexus is a middle-of-the road option for auto transport. They cover the basics and offer competitive prices. They have a comparable list of services, and average 4.5 stars with reviewers. However, their shifting prices frustrate some customers, which earns Nexus a lower ranking on our list.
Prices are competitive
Nexus' prices for auto shipping are competitive within the industry. They offer Standard, Accelerated, and Enclosed options. They offer visible pricing on their auto shipping page; however, like the other options in this list, Nexus also has a calculator to address how differences in car shapes, sizes, and distance will affect price. Generally speaking, the basic pricing brackets are:
As one of the few auto transport companies that list prices, Nexus gives you a good way to get an idea of what you can expect. However, the final price will change depending on the specifics of your auto transport needs.
Options are standard
Nexus promises to move your cars, golf carts, boats, and mobile homes both within the country. There seem to be some errors getting reservations across water, however, and the customer is encouraged to call customer service. Across their services, they offer:
Moving house
Nexus has a comprehensive page on home moving, including data about average cost per distance; however, they don't do any of the moving themselves. Instead, the information is a lengthy attempt to convince you to ship your car during a move. They do note that it's important to coordinate between a car mover and traditional moving company, but don't provide any links to movers they partner with on the page. So, if you're looking for an all-in-one place company, this one isn't it.
Good transportation, but payment isn't popular
While Nexus has overall good reviews, they only have a 3.5-star average for service. Most reviewers agree that the actual shipping was done well; however, many 4 star and 3 star reviews note that the pricing felt dishonest. One reviewer complained that they didn't know what the service would cost even after confirming the reservation. Several other reviewers echo this sentiment, feeling frustrated by the final price being different from the official quote. With a "B-” rating from the Better Business Bureau, you can see a difference in quality compared with auto transport companies that can boast an "A+” grade.
Middle of the road auto shipping
Nexus doesn't measure up against other options that have international and over-water shipping, as well as home moving services. They have some complaints about the quoting vs. payment process, and while they have decent shipping options, there are others out there who are doing it better for a competitive price. We recommend using one of Nexus' higher-rated rivals instead.
Owned by eBay, Shiply is a database of shipping options instead of a single broker. Shiply uses a reverse auction method where you submit your needs (car type, distance shipped, preferred method of transport) and you start receiving quotes from individual carriers for you to compare. However, it's important to note that Shiply is based in the UK, isn't accredited by the BBB, and that its 5-star customer reviews are related to all types of shipping, not just auto transportation.
The choice is in your hands
One of the stand-out factors of Shiply is the way that it places the process in your hands. Instead of waiting for a broker to find you a driver or carrier for what you need, you look through quotes and prices yourself to find the best match for your needs. You have options for international, overseas, and local shipping as well as the opportunity to ship items that aren't vehicles.
All in one
Since you are taking bids for your money, you can ask for extras, and Shiply offers a variety of types of shipping in-house. So, if you need other large or complicated furniture like pianos or beds shipped during your move along with your car, you can take multiple bids, or try to find a carrier that will do everything for you in one move.
Mixed reviews and scamming worries
While many of the reviews of Shiply are overwhelmingly positive, there are just as many talking about scams, broken items, and paying for services that are never completed. However, there is about as much risk of scams on Shiply as on other auction-style sites. One reviewer noted that Shiply is a great place to find a driver to ship your items, but if something goes wrong with that driver "Shiply won't be there” for you. Since they don't broker the deal for you or offer separate insurance, the end result is between you and the carrier alone.
Not worth the worry
While it might seem like a good idea at first to avoid paying a broker to do things for you, Shiply's carriers are too unreliable and take a lot of external checking to make sure that you're not going to get scammed. Shiply won't help out if something goes wrong, and you end up working out the auto shipping completely on your own. However, Shiply or similar databases might be a good place to check how much you should be paying for auto transportation, if you want to compare a broker's quote to other prices out there.
The US car hauling industry includes any company who ships finished vehicles. This industry includes independent transporters and those who work in a fleet. Some of the most popular transportation services move cars by ship, rail, and trucking.
The average cost to ship a car across the country is $1,650. However, numerous variables affect pricing. And although auto transportation companies can feel similar at first glance, it's important to consider the best fit for your needs and your vehicle. Most companies can transport your car to almost any location.
So, how do you choose the auto transport company for your needs? There are so many different transport services that it can be hard to select the best option for you.
There are a lot of factors to consider. If you're not sure where to start, here are a few things to help you decide:
To help you find the right transportation for your vehicles, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked today's most popular Auto Transport Companies across the US. We hope this will make it easy to choose the best way to let someone else drive your dream car safely home.
Select any 2 Auto Transport Companies to compare them head to head