Best Military Car Shipping (2024)

The Gist:

• Montway holds our award for Best Reputation and offers a full range of car shipping services as well as competitive prices.
• Mercury Auto Transport offers discounts for active-duty service members and earned our award for Best Value.
• Do your research and compare several car shipping companies to find the provider that best fits your situation and needs.

Moving your car from one military base to another can be stressful and time-consuming. In some cases, it makes sense to drive your car yourself to save on moving costs associated with a permanent change of station (PCS). But if you own multiple vehicles or need to report for duty immediately, it might make sense for you to have your vehicle shipped.

Below, our experts explain how military car shipping works and recommend five top best car shipping companies in the auto transport industry to help you get started. It’s best to get instant quotes online from multiple companies to compare options before deciding.

Shipping Your Car With The Military

Military car shipping generally involves transporting your privately owned vehicle (POV). The United States government may pay all, some, or none of your shipping costs, depending on the circumstances of your military move.

The Cost To Ship Your Car Via The Military

The military will generally cover the cost to ship one car from a military base outside the contiguous U.S. (OCONUS) to a continental base (CONUS) or vice versa. However, if you’re sending more than one, you’ll need to pay for shipping for additional vehicles out of your own pocket. 

Additionally, if you’re shipping your vehicle within the continental U.S., you’ll likely have to pay all expenses yourself. The government typically doesn’t cover costs if you’re sending your car within the lower 48 states, even if you must report for active duty on short notice.

The military will, however, reimburse you for mileage and some travel costs if you drive your car to your new duty station.

Military Car Shipping Companies

We reviewed every major auto transport provider, comparing reputation, cost, services, and customer reviews to determine the five best military car shipping companies. Based on our research, the leading providers are:

#1 Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation

Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A+
Average cost per mile estimate: $0.50-$1.30 
Hawaii and Alaska shipping: Yes
Door-to-door transport: Available

Montway Auto Transport is a popular auto shipping company that works with over 30,000 carriers nationwide. The company provides several shipping services for your POV, including:

• Open and enclosed transport
• Door-to-door delivery
• Guaranteed pickup dates
• Expedited shipping
• Hawaii car shipping

The broker transports vehicles to all 50 states and can help coordinate shipping abroad. Montway also offers insurance coverage up to $100,000 for any on-land shipment at no additional cost.

Montway Auto Transport holds above-average ratings, with an A+ from the BBB and an average customer review score of 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.

See our Montway Auto Transport review for a more detailed look at this provider.

#2 Mercury Auto Transport: Best Value

BBB rating: A
Average cost per mile estimate: $0.46-$0.88
Hawaii and Alaska shipping: Yes
Door-to-door transport: Available

In business since 2008, Mercury Auto Transport offers a wide range of shipping options and a military discount for service members. The car hauling company ships to all 50 states and includes door-to-door service and bumper-to-bumper insurance with every shipment. 

Mercury has an A rating and accreditation from the BBB along with 4.7 out of 5.0 stars from 600+ customer reviews. Additionally, in our in-depth study of car hauling companies, Mercury earned 5.0 out of 5.0 stars in the “price” category, earning it the award for Best Value. 

Check out our Mercury Auto Transport review for more information.

#3 AmeriFreight: Best For Discounts

BBB rating: A+
Average cost per mile estimate: $0.43-$1.15
Hawaii shipping: Yes
Door-to-door transport: Available

AmeriFreight vets all car carriers for full insurance coverage and high satisfaction ratings from customers. The broker also offers add-on coverage called AF Total (AFta), covering any gaps in protection that the carrier’s policies won’t cover. In addition, AmeriFreight offers several discount opportunities, including savings for military members,return customers, early bookings and more. 

AmeriFreight holds an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB along with an average of 4.7 stars from customer ratings. The company also has a 4.7-star average rating out of 5.0 on Google, backed by over 3,700 reviews. Customers praise the company’s stress-free process and timeliness.

Learn more about the provider in our in-depth AmeriFreight review.

#4 Easy Auto Ship: Best for Locked-In Rates

BBB rating: A+
Average cost per mile estimate: $0.56-$1.48
Hawaii and Alaska shipping: Yes
Door-to-door transport: Available

Easy Auto Ship is a reputable auto transport company that offers a wide range of services at competitive prices. Additionally, the company earns high marks from customers for its price transparency. On its website, Easy Auto Ship pledges “no hidden costs or surprises” by giving accurate quotes up front, so customers always know what to expect. 

The auto shipper has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB and a 4.6-star rating from customers on the platform. Easy Auto Ship  also offers a handful of perks and extras, including a car wash if your vehicle arrives dirty and a free rental car if your delivery takes more than two weeks.

#5 Ship a Car Direct: Best Online Experience

BBB rating: A+
Average cost per mile estimate: $0.46-$0.97
Hawaii shipping: Yes, no Alaska shipping
Door-to-door transport: Available

Ship a Car Direct is a reliable and trustworthy car hauler offering competitive rates on numerous shipping options, including open and enclosed transport, express transport and military PCS vehicle shipping. It’s one of the few shipping companies to offer a damage-free guarantee and, as part of its online experience, the company offers a damage tracking app, which is highly rated by customers. 

Ship a Car Direct has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB and 4.8 out 5.0 stars from customer reviews–a testament to the company’s commitment to delivering a high level of service.

Learn more about the provider in our review. 

Military Car Shipping Discounts

Many companies offer car shipping discounts for members of the military. Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Easy Auto Ship, and Ship a Car Direct all provide military discounts. Below is a breakdown of each:

Montway Auto Transport Military Discount

Montway Auto Transport offers discounts for military personnel to help them save on car shipping costs. These discounts are based on your vehicle’s route during transport–no set amount is taken off per order.

Mercury Auto Transport Military Discount

Mercury offers military discounts for all active-duty service members. If you’re a veteran, you may also qualify for the discount–although you may need to show military identification. 

AmeriFreight Military Discount

AmeriFreight is an auto transporter known for its car shipping discounts, including a $35 deduction for all military members. The company ships to all 50 states, allowing you to transport your vehicle quickly when you receive PCS orders.

Easy Auto Ship Military Discount

Easy Auto Ship can arrange international shipping for any military member, whether you’re returning stateside or headed overseas. The broker also has discounts for active military members and veterans. You can save up to 15 percent by booking a shipment over the phone.

Ship a Car Direct Military Discount

Ship a Car Direct offers service members a $50 military discount through vetted carriers that offer PCS military shipping services. On its website, the company claims to have the most heavily vetted military car transporters in the industry.

How To Ship A Car In The Military

Auto shipping companies help vehicle owners move their cars or motorcycles domestically and internationally. There are two main types of auto transport companies: brokers and carriers.

Brokers connect customers to their networks of auto carriers that do the actual transporting. Most people looking for auto shipping will want to work with established brokers that can coordinate their shipments and negotiate prices with car carriers on their behalf.

Many brokers and carriers specialize in military PCS vehicle shipments, so be sure to shop around and find the company that best suits your needs.

Factors That Affect Military Car Shipping Costs

Car shipping costs can vary greatly and are most affected by the following factors:

• Distance: Cross-country shipments have lower rates per mile than shorter-distance trips, but cost more overall.
• Seasonality: It’s more expensive to ship vehicles during the summer and January due to higher demand.
• Vehicle size: Larger vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, cost more to ship than sedans. Higher costs will also apply to specialty vehicles like RVs and ATVs.
• Type of transport: Enclosed carrier transport is more expensive than open carrier transport.
• Type of delivery: Door-to-door delivery is more costly than terminal-to-terminal shipping since the service usually requires drivers to go further out of their way.

How To Prepare Your Vehicle For Shipping

You can make the vehicle shipping process easier with a bit of preparation:

• Documentation: Having the proper documentation readily available for shipping is important. This includes proof of identity and proof of ownership of the vehicle.
• Clean the vehicle: Before handing over the vehicle to the shipper, make sure to remove personal items from inside the vehicle. Vacuuming the interior and washing the exterior are also good ideas.
• Fuel: Leave only a quarter-tank of gas in the tank–this will minimize weight, but still give the shippers the ability to operate the vehicle in case they have to move or adjust it.

What To Look For In A Military Car Shipping Company

When shopping for a military shipping company, be sure to get quotes only from vetted and insured auto transport companies. Reliable shipping companies often have positive customer service ratings, offer free quotes, and provide additional insurance coverage for losses or damage.

It may also help to consider the auto mover’s years in business, industry ratings, and the number of vehicles shipped yearly. This ensures the company has a proven track record of delivering vehicles safely and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. 

We recommend getting online quotes from multiple vehicle shipping companies to ensure you find the best fit for your situation. This will allow you to compare services and costs across the board.

Military Car Shipping: Our Take

For reliable and affordable military car shipping, we recommend Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Easy Auto Ship, and Ship a Car Direct. All of these companies offer great rates on vehicle shipping and military discounts to boot. But to ensure you find the best price on the best shipping options for you, try to get quotes from at least two or three providers before booking.

Military Car Transport: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about military car shipping:

How We Rate Auto Shippers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car shipping companies. While there are multiple qualities that make an auto transport provider successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact auto shipping rates. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and routes.
• Services: Our team of experts looks at the types of services available, as well as insurance coverage and the ability to guarantee pickup and drop-off dates. Ratings also take into account whether the transport company is a broker or a carrier.
• Reputation: It’s important that a car shipping provider is able to deliver your vehicle in a safe and timely manner. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
• Customer Experience: We comb through consumer reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Car transport companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area.

*Data accurate at time of publication.