Daniel Robinson is a content writer specializing in auto insurance, car warranties and car shipping. He has written about these topics for MarketWatch and Jalopnik. Daniel studied American literature and technical writing at East Carolina University. He is based in eastern North Carolina and spends his spare time cooking, playing guitar and getting schooled in video games by his 12-year-old son.
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The first step in the sometimes-confusing car shipping process is to find the right company to handle your vehicle shipment. That’s not as easy as it may sound.
We asked Steve Yariv, the owner of Dealers Choice Auto Transport, for his thoughts on what customers need to look for in an auto transport company. He said customers should be considering customer ratings, reputations and how long a shipper has been in business so you can be sure it’s a reputable car shipper.
With that in mind, our top picks in the auto transport industry are Montway Auto Transport and Mercury Auto Transport. These companies combine competitive car shipping rates with excellent customer service to stand out in a crowded field.
Market standing, cost, variety of services and customer experience are the criteria we use to evaluate car transport companies. These are our top rated providers of car shipping services:
When comparing the auto shippers in the industry, it’s important to look at the factors that are most relevant to your shipment. Typically, you’ll want to consider how each company is rated, the pickup date range and cost. The table below compares this criteria for top shipping brands.
In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at each of our top five vehicle transport providers. You’ll learn about each company’s pros and cons, the car shipping services it offers and what customers are saying about it.
The pricing information in these sections reflects the average quote we received from each provider. This average is based on quotes for shipping an operable 2019 Toyota Camry various distances (between 500 and 2,500 miles) through both open and enclosed transport.
Montway Auto Transport has a great combination of competitive car shipping rates and excellent industry standing.
What we like
Montway is a well-rounded car shipping broker that can ship all types of vehicles to all 50 states and Canada. We also like that the company offers guaranteed pick-up dates and works with a network of more than 15,000 well-vetted car carriers.
What we don’t like
Montway doesn’t offer terminal-to-terminal shipping — centrally-located terminals that are cheaper than door-to-door auto transport. The company also doesn’t feature guaranteed pricing, so you may see some changes between your initial quote and final cost.
Montway offers open and enclosed auto transport, along with door-to-door service for maximum convenience. As mentioned earlier, the company doesn’t offer the more cost-efficient option of terminal-to-terminal shipping.
The average quote we received from Montway with the vehicle mentioned above was $1,104. The company offers a discount for paying up front with cash.
Deposit: When paying in cash, a deposit of $249 or less is required to secure a spot on the carrier
Payment methods: Credit card or PayPal when paying online; cash, cashier’s check or money order when paying upon delivery
Available in all 50 states and Canada.
Montway Auto Transport receives mostly positive reviews from customers online. On the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Montway has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 2,200 customer reviews. Polite customer service agents and strong communication throughout vehicle shipments are common themes of positive customer feedback.
Trustpilot paints a similar picture, with Montway receiving an average of 4.2 stars from over 1,400 customer reviews. No-hassle deliveries and responsive customer support are key themes of the best Montway reviews on Trustpilot.
Mercury Auto Transport stands out for its low auto shipping rates and service variety.
Mercury Auto Transport ships to all 50 states. The company offers open and enclosed car shipping, door-to-door service, and terminal-to-terminal auto transport. Along with all this, Mercury also features some of the cheapest rates in the auto shipping industry.
We wish Mercury offered instant online quotes. As it stands, you have to fill out a form and receive an estimate through email. Mercury also has a slightly lower BBB rating (A- rather than A+) than the other companies listed here. This rating is an indication of how well a company responds to customer concerns and complaints.
Mercury offers both open and enclosed auto transport and will pick cars up and deliver them to shipping terminals as well as home addresses. The company also features standby mode — you pay a lower price for shipping because you don’t need it shipped right away, and Mercury ships your vehicle when it can.
The average quote we received from Mercury Auto Transport was $778. This is nearly $300 cheaper than the average quotes from the other companies on this list.
Deposit: Yes, a deposit is required
Payment methods: Broker fee payable by credit card; remainder payable to driver in cash or money order
50 states
Mercury has a 4.7-star rating and almost 600 customer reviews on BBB. The company’s Trustpilot score is even better, sitting at 4.9 stars from over 100 reviews. Prompt communication from customer service representatives and cost-effective shipments are often cited in positive reviews for Mercury.
Sherpa Auto Transport’s Price Lock Promise sets it apart from the competition and simplifies the car shipping process.
The Price Lock Promise is what Sherpa is best known for, and it’s a major point in the company’s favor. With this benefit, you can be confident that your initial quote will also be your final vehicle shipment price. If Sherpa can’t secure a carrier at the original estimate, the company will contribute up to $300 to make sure your rate doesn’t change.
Sherpa doesn’t offer terminal-to-terminal shipping. The company also doesn’t ship to Alaska. Although it has an A+ rating from BBB, Sherpa has only been in business since 2017. Having fewer years of experience than other car shippers may concern some customers.
Sherpa features open and enclosed transport throughout the continental U.S. and just added shipping to Hawaii. Expedited shipping is available for an additional fee. You also get a clean car guarantee, which reimburses you for a car wash if your vehicle is dirty upon delivery.
While we don’t have quotes from Sherpa for a shipment, its Price Lock Promise ensures that when you get a quote, Sherpa won’t raise your rate when it finds a carrier.
Deposit: $250 to $300 once carrier is assigned
Payment methods: Credit card for deposit; cash or certified check to driver upon delivery
49 states (no Alaska)
Sherpa Auto Transport has the highest BBB customer rating of the companies in this article, with an impressive 4.9 stars and almost 500 reviews. Timeliness and regular updates during the shipment are common themes of these positive reviews. Sherpa nearly matches this rating on Google, where it has a 4.8-star rating based on more than 1,700 reviews.
SGT Auto Transport offers a price-match guarantee and good selection of shipping services.
SGT’s price-match guarantee sets it apart from the competition. If you bring a written quote from a direct competitor, SGT will match it. We also like that SGT requires no upfront deposit and offers instant quotes online.
SGT doesn’t offer shipping to Alaska, and it also doesn’t feature a terminal-to-terminal transport option. We’ve also found that the company’s rates can be slightly above average.
SGT Auto Transport offers open and enclosed car shipping, guaranteed pick-up dates, expedited service and door-to-door transport.
The average quote we received from SGT Auto Transport was $1,161. This is the highest average among our top five providers.
Deposit: No, a deposit isn’t required
Payment methods: Small partial payment by credit or debit card once carrier is assigned; cash, cashier’s check, or money order to pay remaining balance to driver
49 states (no Alaska shipping)
SGT Auto Transport receives excellent customer reviews online, although not quite as strong as some of the companies featured here. Customers on Trustpilot give SGT 4.6 stars, similar to the 4.6-star rating on BBB. On-time deliveries and smooth communication are two things frequently highlighted in SGT reviews.
Shipping a car for the first time can be overwhelming. Armed with some basic information about the vehicle transport process, you can book your shipment with confidence and get the best possible rate.
The companies we’ve outlined in this article are car shipping brokers. They work with vetted carriers that bid on posted vehicle transport jobs. This helps customers get the best shipping rates.
The actual process of how to ship a car is pretty straightforward. You can expect to follow these basic steps:
Many vehicle transport brokers allow you to get fast and free car shipping quotes for your car shipment. You’ll typically need to provide the following information to obtain a quote:
Once you’ve ironed out the details of your shipment with the car shipping broker and paid any required deposit, your transport job will be opened up to bids from carriers. It may take a few days for your broker to find the best possible price on your car shipment.
Transporters typically request that you remove personal items from your vehicle and leave no more than a quarter tank of gas to keep shipping weight as low as possible. We also recommend washing your car so you can get a good look at any existing dings and dents before shipping.
Whether your car is picked up from your home or a centrally-located shipping terminal, you and the transport driver will inspect your vehicle before it’s loaded onto a trailer. You’ll record any existing damage on the bill of lading. Both you and the driver will then sign this document. Make sure you get a copy of the bill of lading.
A few car shipping brokers offer GPS tracking of shipments, but you’ll likely keep tabs on your transport by phone, email or an app. If bad weather conditions or road hazards create issues for your transport driver, it’s good to be in the know.
Once your car reaches its destination, you’ll inspect it for any damage and sign the bill of lading again. You’ll likely pay the driver the remaining balance for the shipment at this time. Cash, a money order or a cashier’s check are often the only accepted methods of payment here. Keep the bill of lading handy in case you notice any damage later and need to contact the broker or carrier.
We gathered quotes for both open and enclosed auto transport from 10 leading brokers to give you a clear idea of how much car shipping costs. The averages in the table below are for shipping an operable 2019 Toyota Camry with door-to-door service.
A variety of factors determine how much you pay for an auto shipment. Here are some of the key variables car shipping brokers use to set their rates:
The most effective ways to get the best price on car transport services are to book in advance, go with open transport — unless you’re transporting an exotic or classic car and need the extra protection of enclosed shipping — and choose terminal-to-terminal shipping if available.
Car shipping brokers don’t actually provide insurance coverage — that’s the carrier’s responsibility. This is definitely an area in which customers are uninformed. “In the transport industry, what the customers are lacking tremendously is knowledge regarding the insurance qualifications of carriers,” Yariv said. “That is the number one issue of this industry.”
Put simply, auto transport carriers are required to have liability insurance and cargo insurance. The liability piece covers other drivers and their property if the transport driver causes an accident. Cargo insurance covers your vehicle from damage and theft during shipping.
Car shipping customers need to carefully review the insurance coverage provided by any auto mover, as cargo insurance won’t necessarily cover everything. It’s best to have comprehensive coverage as part of your personal car insurance policy on any car you ship. That should cover any potential damage that cargo insurance might not.
Every business involved in car shipping — both brokers and carriers — must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Once a company is registered, they’re issued a seven-digit United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and a six-digit Motor Carrier (MC) number.
Each of the companies we reviewed for this article has its accreditations displayed on its website. If you can’t find a company’s USDOT number or MC number on its website, you can use the FMCSA’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System.
If you can’t find a company’s registration numbers through the SAFER System, this is a red flag that the company isn’t legitimate, and we recommend looking elsewhere for vehicle shipping.
The distance a transportation service will ship your vehicle varies from company to company. For example, Montway will ship your vehicle to Canada, while Sherpa and SGT don’t serve Alaska. There are plenty of shipping companies in business that specialize in shipping internationally, though.
If you’re shipping your car internationally, be sure to read the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s requirements for exporting a motor vehicle to ensure you’re adhering to all federal regulations.
The time it takes to ship a car depends on a few factors, including the shipping route, pick-up window, transportation method (enclosed or open carrier) and the time of year.
Under ideal conditions, shipping your car from one side of the continental United States to the other can take about one week. However, unforeseen circumstances — like a sudden winter snowstorm — can delay that time frame significantly.
If you’re working with a reputable transportation company, it should keep you updated on any potential delays so you’ll never be caught off guard if your vehicle takes longer than expected to arrive at its destination.
Similar to how booking far in advance and choosing open transport can save you money, these options can also help get your car to its destination faster. But if you’re really in a hurry, Montway, Sherpa and AmeriFreight all offer expedited shipping services.
Many professional moving companies also handle vehicle shipping. If you’re hiring a professional service to move your household (especially if it’s a cross-country move), it doesn’t hurt to get a quote to see how much your mover will charge to bring your vehicle along with the rest of your belongings.
A few of the top moving companies we’ve reviewed include International Van Lines, Allied Van Lines and JK Moving Services. All of these companies offer vehicle shipping among their services.
Cars aren’t the only vehicles that shipping companies deal with. All of the providers covered in this article also specialize in shipping motorcycles. AmeriFreight, Mercury and Montway also ship boats, RVs, trailers and ATVs.
Just like with car shipping, the cost to ship a motorcycle varies on its make and model, size, value, condition (operable or inoperable), transportation type, distance and time of year.
Our top picks in the auto transport industry combine good selection of shipping services with excellent customer service and competitive pricing. We recommend starting with quotes from Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport and AmeriFreight.
It’s always best to compare quotes from several companies before booking a shipment, so take your time to fully explore and understand your options.
We base our auto shipping ratings and recommendations on our proprietary detailed methodology. We’ve assessed key aspects of the customer experience, including pricing, breadth of services offered and overall reputation, to determine which auto shipping companies offer the best service.
Auto shipping providers that meet our standards carry the required licensing and registration as a prerequisite. Each company has also maintained a good reputation via high customer ratings, which cite clear pricing, timely service and multiple shipping options for different vehicle types.
BBB, Google and Trustpilot scores are accurate as of April 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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