Car Shipping Discounts & Deals

Here’s the bottom line: Hiring one of the best car shipping companies will save you a lot of time and hassle, especially if you’re moving internationally, but it can get expensive. Car shipping discounts can help lower the cost.

Best for accurate pricing Sherpa Auto Transport rating 4.5 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Price lock promise Free car wash Check prices (833) 775-1461

Best cross-country shipper Montway Auto Transport rating 4.5 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Established in 2007 No upfront payment Check prices (224) 206-5633

Best for quick pickup Easy Auto Ship rating 4.9 / 5 Licensed Insured Price No deposit Quick pickup Check prices (888) 259-6046

Best for discounts AmeriFreight Car Transport rating 4.3 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Services all 50 states Ships most vehicles Check prices (770) 501-9057

Best for overall value SGT Auto Transport rating 4.9 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Transparent pricing Fully insured Check prices (864) 492-1221

The auto transport industry charges anywhere from $600 to more than $2,000 for a single transport, depending on your vehicle, the distance, and the add-ons you buy.

Fortunately, plenty of the best car shipping companies offer car shipping discounts. Even if it’s just $50, that’s money you can spend on packing materials or other moving expenses.

In this guide, we’ll explain how auto transport discounts work, recommend a few car shipping providers that offer discounts, and share pro tips to help you get the best deal moving your car.

Why companies offer car shipping discounts

Nearly every car shipper offers discounts of some kind. Here’s why:

• Attract customers: Auto transport companies offer discounts to incentivize you to choose them over their competitors. If you can get the same level of service from a provider with cheaper pricing, you’re more likely to choose that provider.
• Increase order volume: Auto shipping companies aren’t really missing out on money when they offer discounts. Lower prices lead to an increase in order volume, which offsets the cost of the discounts. Higher volumes are easier on their margins, so offering discounts makes financial sense for auto shippers.
• Target specific demographics: Military discounts often cover both active duty military members and veterans. If a car shipping company offers an enticing discount tailored to this demographic, they’re much more likely to win more business from military families. The same goes for students and seniors.

Companies that offer car shipping discounts and deals

Some of the top car shipping companies offer discounts that make their services more affordable. In our research, we found that Amerifreight and SGT Auto Transport offer the most car shipping discounts.

Here’s an overview of the discounts offered by the best car ship companies:

• Sherpa Auto Transport: First responders discount, military discount, returning customers discount, multiple vehicle discount
• Montway Auto Transport: Cash payment discount, military discount, multiple vehicle discount
• EasyAutoShip: Cash payment discount, military discount, multiple vehicle discount
• AmeriFreight: Military, first responder, and medical personnel discount, returning customer discount, multiple vehicle discount, student discount, senior discount, and early bird discount
• SGT Auto Transport: Snowbird discount, multiple vehicle discount, Sunday savings discount, senior discount, military discount, and student discount

Best for accurate pricing Sherpa Auto Transport rating 4.5 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Price lock promise Free car wash Check prices (833) 775-1461

Best cross-country shipper Montway Auto Transport rating 4.5 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Established in 2007 No upfront payment Check prices (224) 206-5633

Best for quick pickup Easy Auto Ship rating 4.9 / 5 Licensed Insured Price No deposit Quick pickup Check prices (888) 259-6046

Best for discounts AmeriFreight Car Transport rating 4.3 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Services all 50 states Ships most vehicles Check prices (770) 501-9057

Best for overall value SGT Auto Transport rating 4.9 / 5 Licensed Insured Price Transparent pricing Fully insured Check prices (864) 492-1221

Types of car shipping discounts

You don’t need to be a veteran to score a decent moving discount on car shipping. There are several types of auto shipping discounts, including:

• Student: College students tend to live on a ramen noodle budget. Shippers will usually offer discounted car transport services to students who need to ship cars between their university and home.
• Senior: Many providers offer a senior discount, which helps senior citizens on a fixed income. Just note that the minimum age differs for each car shipping company, usually between 55 and 65. Confirm your shipper’s policy and be prepared to provide your ID to verify your age.
• Military: Shippers offer discounts to veterans and active-duty military on the move as a thank-you for their service. Asking about military discounts could save you thousands of dollars in moving expenses over time. Be prepared to show your military ID or other proof of service.
• First-time movers: While it’s less common, some car shipping companies offer incentives for first-time customers. They tend to offer these first-time discounts during off-peak seasons like fall and winter, which is the best time to move cost-wise.
• Snowbirds: Speaking of off-peak seasons, many shippers offer “snowbird” discounts for folks migrating south for the winter. Fewer people move in the winter in general, so shippers offer this discount to drum up business during slower times of the year.
• Multiple vehicles: Are you shipping more than one vehicle? You’ll probably get a break on vehicle shipping costs. Many auto shippers are happy to offer multi-car discounts in the 5%–10% range.
• Early bird: Some auto transport companies offer discounts if you book well in advance of your move date. This is usually around three months, but it depends on the shipper.

How to get the best car shipping deals

Scoring a discount is one way to spend less on car shipping, but there are other ways to score a better deal on car shipping. Follow these quick tips to get the best car shipping deals.

Ask for at least three free quotes

Never go with the first quote you see. You should always request instant quotes online or over the phone to secure fair pricing.

Don’t be afraid to shop around. Before you make a decision, collect at least three car shipping quotes for comparison, but remember that the cheapest option isn’t always the best option.

Look at what you get for the money for a true apples-to-apples comparison. Maybe one shipper throws in $100,000 of guaranteed coverage on all shipments but charges a smidge more. You might be willing to pay a little more for peace of mind.

Choose a flexible pickup date and delivery location

The more flexible you can be, the less you’ll pay to ship your car. Some shippers might have routes that match up with your needs as long as you’re flexible. They’ll often reward your flexibility with better rates.

If possible, try to avoid door-to-door delivery. This is a super convenient option to save time, but you’ll pay much more for white-glove services.

Instead, opt for terminal-to-terminal shipping to save money. Sure, you’ll need to drop by a car shipping terminal for pickup and drop-off, but you could save hundreds of dollars by doing so.

Know the difference between open versus enclosed carriers

Enclosed carriers ship your car inside a protected trailer that guards your car against weather, road damage, and theft. The downside is that the car shipper can’t transport as many cars on an enclosed trailer, so they charge more. But if you have a luxury car or an antique vehicle, it might make sense to pay the premium.

Open carriers are generally more cost-effective, so if you’re looking for the absolute best option for the money, this is generally the way to go. The downside is that open containers expose your car to wear and tear. If you go with an open carrier vs an enclosed carrier, you can always buy shipping insurance to protect your car.

Learn more: Check out our list of the best enclosed car shipping companies to get started.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate

Everything is negotiable. If you have several transport quotes, use them as leverage. Some car shipping services offer price matching, which could help you score better pricing for a higher level of service with your preferred moving company.

Even if a car shipping company doesn’t promote discounts, it never hurts to ask if they offer any ways to reduce the cost of shipping your car.

FAQs about car shipping discounts