Best Car Shipping Companies of 2024

Here’s the quick answer: SGT Auto Transport is our top pick for car shipping due to their positive customer reviews, fair pricing, and wide range of perks and guarantees.

The average cost to transport a car is about $1,100 but you could spend as little as $500 or upwards of $2,400 depending on the type of vehicle you have and where you need it shipped. You’ll want to find a professional car shipper that can accommodate your specific needs at a price point that works for your budget.

Read on to decide if SGT Auto Transport is the right match for you or if you should go with one of our other recommended car shippers.

SGT Auto Transport: Our top choice for services and price

Founded in 2014, SGT Auto Transport is a car shipping company that has quickly become a favorite among movers for its variety of services at a reasonable cost. If you do find a lower price somewhere else, you won’t have to rule out SGT Auto because they offer a price-matching guarantee. SGT Auto provides open and enclosed car shipping throughout the U.S. and in some areas overseas, and you can get guaranteed pickup and delivery for an extra fee.

Our rating

We gave SGT Auto Transport a 4.9/5 stars overall. Here’s how the company scored in each of our major categories:

• Standard services & perks: 4.6/5
• Customer feedback & reputation: 5/5
• State availability: 4.5/5
• Quote process & payment options: 5/5

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Easy Auto Ship: For those who need their car shipped quickly

What really sets Easy Auto Ship apart from the competition is their ability to facilitate a smooth and easy pickup process. Like most auto transport companies, Easy Auto Ship is a third-party logistics provider (or broker). But their advanced logistics technology and wide network of carriers gives them the unique ability to streamline scheduling for faster pickups.

To ease the stress, you will always have a dedicated account rep from start to finish with Easy Auto Ship. For added peace of mind, the company will send you a text and email with the company’s name, truck driver’s name, and phone number before pickup and delivery.

Our rating

Easy Auto Ship received 4.7/5 stars from us. Here’s a breakdown of that overall score:

• Standard services & perks: 4.6/5
• Customer feedback & reputation: 4.5/5
• State availability: 5/5
• Quote process & payment options: 5/5

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Montway Auto Transport: Best if you’re moving cross-country

What makes Montway Auto Transport different from competitors is their ability to seamlessly ship cars across the country. Montway’s network of carriers allows for efficient and flexible car shipping anywhere nationwide — including more complex cross-country moves. As expensive as cross-country moves can be, Montway offers a variety of service options to fit most budgets no matter how far you’re relocating.

Given their expert handling of cross-country moves, it is not surprising that Montway Auto Transport is a preferred shipper for some of the largest corporate relocation companies in the world. It is also the exclusive transport partner for Autotrader Classics.

Our rating

We rated Montway Auto Transport 4.4/5 stars. Take a look at how it scored on each of the following factors:

• Standard services & perks: 3.7/5
• Customer feedback & reputation: 4.5/5
• State availability: 5/5
• Quote process & payment options: 3.5/5

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Sherpa Auto Transport: For those who hate hidden fees

Sherpa Auto Transport prides itself on being very customer-focused — and its online reviews are proof of that focus — but the company’s real standout feature is its accurate pricing. Car shipping costs vary based on a lot of variables, so it’s not uncommon for pricing to change from booking to your pickup date. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that with Sherpa. It offers consistent costs from quote to delivery through guaranteed pricing, so you always know what you’ll pay and why. If the price needs to change for any reason, Sherpa contributes up to $300 to make sure the transport happens. Most shippers pass these price increases to you, so this is a big bonus.

Our rating

We gave Sherpa Auto Transport 4.5/5 stars. Although Sherpa is our pick for pricing accuracy, we did deduct some points because the company doesn’t have a price-matching policy.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Standard services & perks: 3.7/5
• Customer feedback & reputation: 4.5/5
• State availability: 5/5
• Quote process & payment options: 3.5/5

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Ship A Car Direct: If you want extra protection for your car

Ship A Car Direct has made a name for itself by carefully vetting every auto carrier in its network. It also offers generous carrier insurance with every shipment. Ship A Car Direct is very selective about which carriers they will work with to haul your car. And because the company backs every carrier with a Damage Free Guarantee, choosing to ship your vehicle with them is risk-free.

It even has a Damage Protect App for iOS and Android that explains how to document your vehicle’s condition before and after auto shipping. This can definitely simplify the claims process if you do ever need to file a claim. If you have a classic or high-value car, Ship A Car Direct has premium insurance coverage options for added peace of mind.

Our rating

We scored Ship A Car Direct 4/5 stars.Ship A Car Direct is a top-notch car shipper overall, but the company did lose significant points for its limited variety of services, perks, and state availability, as well as its lack of pricing guarantees.

Check out how they did on each of our key ranking factors:

• Standard services & perks: 2.5/5
• Customer feedback & reputation: 4.5/5
• State availability: 3.5/5
• Quote process & payment options: 3.5/5

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Comparing car shippers

Compare by discounts

Whether you’re shipping your car as part of a larger move or just getting your new car from the dealership to your house, auto transport can be costly. Some companies offer deals to offset costs — but car shipping discounts are certainly not the norm. Of the 2,400 car shippers we have evaluated, only 22 percent provide a military discount. Just five percent have a senior or student discount and discounts for teachers are even rarer (only one percent of companies offer them).

If you fall into one or more of those categories, promotions that can save you money may be the deciding factor between a car shipper that provides discounts and one that doesn’t.

Compare by cost

How much it costs to ship your car will depend on multiple factors, such as the type of vehicle you have, whether you go with open vs. enclosed transport, and the distance of your shipment. However, below is a look at what you can expect to pay for each of our best car shippers. Estimates are based on transporting a standard sedan approximately 1,500 miles via an open carrier.

Compare by reputation

Here’s how our top picks stack up based on independent ratings and consumer reviews:

Other considerations

We researched and analyzed thousands of car shipping companies to come up with our short list of the five best based on a variety of needs and situations. But the best fit for you will ultimately depend on your unique circumstances. If you haven’t found your perfect match based on the companies here, you may want to take a look at one or more of these highly-rated car shippers:

• AmeriFreight
• American Auto Shipping
• uShip

How much does it cost to ship a car?

Car shipping costs average about $1,100 but cost depends heavily on distance. The average range for shipping a car under 250 miles is $340–$750. Auto transport typically costs between $400 and $1,090 for 500–1,000 miles and $670–$1,320 for 1,000–1,500 miles. Shipping a vehicle more than 1,500 miles can run anywhere from $870 up to $2,400 or higher.

Helpful resources:

• Car Shipping Calculator
• Car Shipping Cost
• Ultimate Car Shipping Checklist
• Car Shipping Scams
• Car Shipping Discounts & Deals

FAQ

How we chose the best car shipping companies

We analyzed 2,400 car shipping companies nationally and evaluated and rated them based on key factors using our unique system of methodology. Here’s what we considered:

• Standard services: We looked at the types and variety of services each company provides. This includes whether they offer open transport, enclosed transport, or both. We also rated companies based on whether they have door-to-door shipping or just terminal pickup and delivery and the kinds of vehicles they ship. Companies that move RVs, motorcycles, and other specialty vehicles scored higher than those that just ship cars.
• Add-on services: We gave additional points to companies that provide special optional services like expedited shipping, guaranteed pickup times, car washes, and rental car reimbursement.
• Customer satisfaction: We analyzed consumer reviews on multiple major platforms, such as Yelp, Google, and Trustpilot to see whether a car shipping company delivers services promptly with good communication and within the estimated cost. We also evaluated each company’s standing within the car shipping industry as a whole by confirming U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) licensure and checked their membership in — and reputation with — trade associations.
• Availability: We awarded points to each company based on their service areas. Companies that are available in Alaska and Hawaii, in addition to the continental U.S., scored higher than those that just service the Lower 48 or fewer states.
• Scheduling and payment: We reviewed the ease with which customers can schedule services and estimate their costs through accurate quotes, price matching, flat-rate pricing, and other perks. Car shippers that give binding quotes or a price-lock promise got more positive rankings than those that are not as transparent with pricing.