Best Car Shipping Services in 2024
Key Takeaways
- Our industry-wide review found that Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Ship a Car Direct and SGT Auto Transport offer some of the best car shipping services on the market.
- AmeriFreight offers the best additional insurance coverage thanks to its AmeriFreight Total Assurance Plan.
- When shipping your car, it’s important to compare quotes from at least two or three providers to make sure you find the right services at the right price.
Whether you’re making a cross-country move or moving just a state or two away, finding the best car shipping services from a reputable provider is essential when shipping your vehicle. We at the MarketWatch Guides team have carefully researched nearly two dozen providers to find car shipping companies that offer the best services in the industry.
In this article, we’ll closely examine our top five recommended car shipping service providers, and cover the basics of how to navigate the car shipping process.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Top 5 Car Shipping Companies
Below we’ll highlight the top five car shipping companies based on our extensive research. Our rankings were informed by each company’s services, insurance coverage and added benefits.
| Car Shipping Company | Services Offered | Additional Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Montway Auto Transport |
|
Montway provides coverage of up to $100,000 and includes additional cargo insurance coverage of up to $250,000 if the carrier fails to cover a valid claim. |
| 2. Mercury Auto Transport |
|
Mercury’s carrier insurance can cover from $100,000 to $1,000,000 of damage, depending on the type and size of the truck/trailer that is shipping your car. |
| 3. AmeriFreight |
|
The AmeriFreight Total Assurance Plan covers your personal auto insurance deductible up to a maximum amount of $2,000. |
| 4. Ship a Car Direct |
|
In addition to the standard amounts of carrier insurance, Ship a Car Direct offers a damage-free guarantee of up to $500. |
| 5. SGT Auto Transport |
|
Compare Car Shipping Services
We conducted a car shipping survey in August 2023 that polled 1,000 participants who had shipped their vehicles. Out of the top ranking providers in our comprehensive review, AmeriFreight was the third-most popular provider, with 14% of respondents having shipped their car with the company.
Montway and SGT Auto Transport also made the list of common and popular car shipping companies, with Montway taking up 8% of the respondents.
What Car Shipping Companies Offer the Best Auto Transport Services?
The following sections detail our top five picks for the best car shipping services.
Car Shipping Services Buyer’s Guide
Our review team spent over 200 hours researching car shipping services from the most reputable providers on the market to help you make a more informed decision on vehicle transport.
If you’ve never shipped your car and aren’t sure how to choose a provider to meet your needs, the following section covers:
- What makes a car shipper great
- The types of auto transport typically offered by providers
- How to find the best price
- How to ship your car depending on the shipping service
How To Find the Best Car Shipping Services
When shopping for the best car shipping service, it’s helpful to consider the following:
Years of Experience
A car shipping company that has stood the test of time is likely a good one to consider. Many years in the industry allow a provider to hone their business practices and provide you with a refined experience that’s more likely to be stress-free from start to finish.
Industry Reputation
Industry reputation means a lot for many businesses. A reputable shipping company will be trusted by the truckers it works with just as much as the customers it serves. Taking the time to read reviews about vehicle shipping providers will help you get a good sense of how a company is perceived within the industry.
Customer Service Ratings and Reviews
How a company deals with its customers says a lot. Companies with a large volume of high customer review scores on platforms like the BBB, Trustpilot and Google are generally worth considering. If you encounter more negative reviews than favorable for a shipping provider, it’s likely best to stay away.
Transparent Pricing
You don’t want to book with an auto transport provider that isn’t honest and upfront about its rates. Because the car shipping industry and its prices often depend on factors such as fuel prices and shipping demand, your quoted price may not be your final cost. If you’re concerned about a rate increase, look for providers that offer price-lock guarantees, like Sherpa Auto Transport.
Types of Auto Transport
Below are the main types of shipping generally offered within the auto transport industry.
Open Car Transport
Open transport is the cheapest and most flexible way to ship your vehicle, as it utilizes trailers that can fit from seven to 10 vehicles simultaneously. However, this cost-effective way of transportation can leave your car vulnerable to damages from severe weather, road debris or other hazards during the shipping process.
Enclosed Auto Transport
Enclosed auto transport involves using an enclosed carrier during the shipment process. This provides the highest level of protection against hazards typically associated with vehicle transport. However, enclosed container shipping often comes with a higher price tag than open transport, so it’s better used for new cars, luxury vehicles or classic cars that need the extra protection.
Door-to-Door Transport
Door-to-door transport typically involves having your vehicle picked up and dropped off as close to your home (or business) as possible. This type of shipping is typically more convenient, but it’s often more expensive than terminal-to-terminal transport.
Terminal-to-Terminal Transport
Terminal-to-terminal transport involves shipping your vehicle to and from a car storage facility. If you opt for this transport option, you’ll need to drive your vehicle to and from the designated terminals. This will require arrangements to travel to the terminal, which could be more of a hassle on your part. However, this type of transport is often cheaper than door-to-door.
How To Get the Best Price on Car Shipping
Below we offer our top tips for securing the best price for your vehicle shipment.
Shop Around
Gathering multiple quotes from different reputable auto transport companies could save you money on your total costs for vehicle shipping. The best way to find the most ideal price is to compare quotes from at least two or three companies.
After collecting quotes, ask these shipping companies about their offered discounts. Many companies offer multi-car deals, student discounts, military discounts and more.
Book Your Transport in Advance
Planning ahead, if possible, will help to lower your car shipping costs. This way, you give carriers plenty of time to bid on your shipping job and you forgo using expedited services that will drive up your total price.
Be Flexible With Shipping Dates
Just as booking in advance allows more providers to bid on your shipping job, flexible shipping dates can also reduce your final transport price.
Choose Open Auto Transport
Open auto transport is the cheapest way to ship your car, as it allows multiple vehicles to be shipped together all at once. Unless you’re shipping an expensive, classic or collector vehicle, consider open transport to get the cheapest rate possible.
Different Ways To Ship Your Car
There are several ways you can ship your vehicle, with some methods more commonly used than others. Learn more about truck, boat, plane and train transport in the sections below.
Car Shipping by Transport Truck
Shipping cars by transport truck is the most common method of shipping throughout the U.S. and Canada. Tractor trailers or trucks with modified beds specifically designed to transport vehicles are typically used, and many are often two-level trailers that allow the hauler to carry more cars at a time.
Car shipping by transport truck can either be open transport or enclosed transport. Open transport is a cheaper option but offers less protection, while enclosed shipping is more pricey but provides a high level of security.
Car Shipping by Cargo Boat
If you’re shipping your car overseas, you’ll likely ship your vehicle via a cargo ship. Roll-on/roll-off shipping involves a vessel designed to carry cargo with wheels, such as motorcycles, trucks, cars and more. Vehicles are driven up into the ship and secured to the deck during transport. This type of shipping avoids the need for a crane to lift vehicles on and off the ship, reducing overall costs.
You can also choose to ship your car on a cargo ship in an enclosed container. However, like enclosed transport via truck, this is a pricier shipping method that’s best for expensive models that warrant a high level of protection.
Car Shipping by Plane
Shipping your car by plane is the most costly way to ship your vehicle, and many reputable companies don’t offer this service. If your car isn’t worth the costs associated with shipping via air freight, it’s wise to consider another form of shipping. However, if money is no object to you and you’re looking to ship a rare or exotic vehicle, this shipping method may be worth the peace of mind it can provide.
Car Shipping by Train
Shipping by train is limited to East Coast shipments. The only rail freight company that provides car shipping for non-commercial vehicles is Amtrak’s Auto Train, and the only route available is between Washington, D.C., and Sanford, Fla.
You’ll need to factor in both the cost of shipping your vehicle and a passenger train ticket if you’re looking to use this type of transport, as you must ride along and cannot send your vehicle by train alone.
Best Car Transport Services: The Bottom Line
After extensive research on car shipping providers, we found that Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Ship a Car Direct and SGT Auto Transport are the best car transport services in the industry. These providers offer a variety of service choices, strong insurance coverage and additional benefits.
We encourage you to get car shipping quotes from each and compare to find the best price for the car transport services you need. Many providers offer free car shipping calculators on their websites that can help make the quote process easier.
Best Car Shipping Services: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about car shipping services:
The most cost-effective way to ship a car is by open trailer transport. These transport trailers can fit several vehicles at once for shipment as opposed to one or two in an enclosed trailer. This helps to lower the overall costs but leaves your vehicle more susceptible to damage from road hazards.
Montway Auto Transport earned the highest overall rating in our comprehensive review and was awarded “Best Customer Experience.” Other high-ranking providers in our review include Mercury Auto Transport and AmeriFreight.
The best way to ship a car internationally depends on the destination country as well as your budget for shipping services. Depending on the country you’re shipping to, you would ship your car by transport truck, cargo ship, plane or train.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car shipping companies. We collected data on dozens of auto transport providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost (33% of total score): Auto shipping companies with affordable rates, locked-in pricing and discount opportunities score highest in this category.
- Customer Experience (25% of total score): This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings and the availability of extras like GPS tracking. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each transporter’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Reputation (22% of total score): Our research team considers availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Shipping Methods (10% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for car transport and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Logistics (10% of total score): A smooth shipment is all about the details, which is why we look at how long it takes providers to pick up and ship vehicles, whether they include additional insurance coverage and more.
Our credentials:
- 200+ hours researched
- 20+ companies reviewed
- 2,000+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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