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Sunday, June 22nd
Mike Mihaylov is the pioneering founder of Montway Auto Transport. Alongside his business partner, Galya Svetlieva, he started the brokerage from their modest home office, providing top-tier shipping services to local dealerships and auctions. The company is owned by AEA Investments and has been in business since 2006.
Over 1 million cars safely shipped
The company Mike Mihaylov started in his home office has had a steady history of growth and has safely shipped over 1 million cars of all kinds. They have a history of being dependable, with only a small percentage of complaints, mostly due to carrier issues. One complaint was about the car being delivered to its destination point a little early - which is probably the best complaint these companies could have.
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 $1.85 per mile on trips 1-500 miles. For medium distances, the average cost is $.91 per mile for a trip around 500-1,500 miles. Finally, their long-distance average is around $.59 per mile for a trip of 1,500+ 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. You may also get a request from Montway to add to your original quote if you experience delays in getting a carrier to take the job.
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:
In addition to shipping options, there are also ways to help streamline your auto business through Montway. These include tools for:
These things might be the best things about Montway and are probably their biggest strength. So, if you are in the vehicle business, Montway might be a good fit for you.
Engaged professionals on the board level
One thing that we were impressed with was the level of engagement in the industry that the board and leadership of Montway have. They have been guests on podcasts like Lifehacker, USA Today, and Motor.
Company culture focuses on strong marketing
The company culture is one that sends lots of emails and texts once they have your personal information via the instant quote calculator or other means. As long as you know this going in, you can make sure to look for the "opt out” buttons. If you don't see them, make sure to unsubscribe via your email.
Industry standard options
Montway offers a series of options that are pretty standard industry-wide. They do offer some things that others might not, like top loading. This means that your car won't have any other cars loaded above it. Undoubtedly, this will incur additional costs, but it can provide you with a sense of security. What's nice about each section of the website that explains each option is that they give you four bullet points summing up the type of shipping and who would benefit from each option in an easy-to-read way.
Industry-standard issues
Montway's reputation has some negatives here and there, with the same issues that seem to plague all auto transport companies - most complaints relate to a problem that is completely carrier-related, without understanding that the broker is neither liable nor responsible for damages incurred. Customers often fail to comprehend that the insurance carriers typically provide the minimum coverage mandated by law, and the carriers themselves are reluctant to file claims. Montway also has problems with their customer service representatives being misunderstood over the phone due to language/accent barriers. Others say there was never a bill of lading provided, which is the most important document if you have any damage to your vehicle. We'd love to see Montway use its knowledge of the industry to state realistic expectations in bold, large font on their website so people understand what they are getting into. It would do a lot to prevent customer complaints.
One of the better options
We love Montway's involvement in industry matters, and it's nice to know that the company that started in someone's home office now is owned by an investment group that has a lot of financial backing. We love the informative website and the passion these people have for the industry. While we'd love to see more passion in educating customers regarding the snags in auto transport services involving carriers and brokers, and an explanation of insurance and what it means if damages occur, we do like the fact that Montway is at least responsive when customers run into issues with insurance claims. We think that Montway is one of the better options out there - prices are good, and having delivered over 1 million cars, they know what they're doing. As long as you understand the fine print and prepare for it, this might be the perfect fit for your car transport needs.
Auto transport companies make it easy and fast to move vehicles from one place to another. The biggest benefit is that it saves time. Driving a car across long distances can take a lot of time, especially if you're not familiar with the route or don't have enough time. Auto transport companies handle everything, so you don't have to worry about the trip. Many companies also offer door-to-door service, picking up and delivering your car exactly where you want it, which makes the whole process easier.
Whether you're a car enthusiast, classic car collector, snowbird, or being relocated by the military, there are lots of brokers and other options out there available to help you transport your car to wherever it is you're going.
One big advantage for using an auto transport company is that these companies keep your car safe during the journey. They use special trucks, like open or closed trailers, to make sure your car is protected from road debris, bad weather, or accidents that could happen on the road. Some companies even offer insurance to cover any damage, so you don't have to worry. This is especially important if you have a valuable or classic car that needs extra care.
Another plus for auto transport companies is they can actually be cheaper than driving the car yourself. When you add up costs like gas, food, lodging, and the wear and tear on your car, driving long distances can get expensive. Auto transport services usually include everything in the price, and it can be more affordable than you think. If you need to move more than one car, many companies give discounts for transporting multiple vehicles, making it a great option for businesses or people moving with several cars.
The car transport industry includes any company that ships finished vehicles. That means that many car transport companies deal in businesses and corporate-level car hauling in addition to working with individuals. Some carriers deal mainly with individuals, as they are smaller and independent. Other companies have a fleet - but most do not deal directly with individuals. They instead rely on brokers who post your job on a bid board that only brokers and carriers have access to see. Then, your broker will give you the best quote and set up your pickup and delivery, charging a fee for their services. The carrier's part of the total money billed is given directly to them by you. The broker is not associated with the carrier and is not responsible for damages or theft of your vehicle - the carrier is the only one liable for damages.
The average cost to ship a car across the country is around $1,500. 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? With so many different services out there, it can be hard to select the best option. 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 get your dream car safely home.
Select any 2 Auto Transport Companies to compare them head to head