Cheapest Car Transport Companies (2024)
The Gist:
- Mercury Auto Transport offers the cheapest open car shipping service for only $0.71 per mile on average across open and enclosed shipping services and varying distances.
- It is cheapest to ship your vehicle between December and February when there is less demand for auto carriers.
- Open shipping is cheaper than enclosed transport and is more commonly available.
Auto transport doesn’t have to be expensive if you know where to look. Our team has thoroughly researched every major shipping provider to uncover the best choices for cheap car shipping. In this article, we’ll dive into our top five options for low-cost vehicle transport before looking into how to keep costs down.
One of the best ways to find cheap car shipping is by getting free, no-hassle quotes from some of the industry’s best car shipping companies before making your final choice.
Cheapest Car Shipping
We received the cheapest car shipping rates from Mercury Auto Transport to ship an operable 2020 Hyundai, with quotes averaging out at around $0.71 per mile. This average includes quotes for both open and enclosed car shipping and distances of 500 to 2,800 miles. Long-distance shipping is generally cheaper per mile, but short distances are still reasonable overall.
Cheapest Car Shipping Companies
Our industry-wide auto shipping study found that Mercury Auto Transport, Ship a Car Direct, AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport, and Easy Auto Ship offer the most affordable shipping options.
You can compare our top-rated car shipping companies’ affordability ratings in the table below.
| Provider | Price Rating |
|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | 5.0 |
| Ship a Car Direct | 4.8 |
| AmeriFreight | 4.7 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 4.6 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 4.3 |
During our research, our review team considered each company’s affordability, services, customer experience, and industry reputation when determining which companies offer the cheapest car shipping options.
While no provider has a complete lock on cheap car shipping, certain ones tend to rise to the top. For example, during our intensive review process, Mercury Auto Transport received a perfect 5.0-star rating for its affordability, the highest score we gave out for average cost ratings out of 21 providers. In a close second, we awarded Ship a Car Direct 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.
Cheapest Car Shipping Rates By Distance
The most affordable car shipping rates offered by car transport carriers are open transport over short distances. While the total cost is lower, the cost per mile for shorter distances is typically higher versus long-distance shipments. Below we will highlight the cheapest prices quoted to our review team for short- and long-distance loads.
Cheap Short-Distance Car Transport
Mercury Auto Transport is the cheapest option for short-distance car shipping at only $0.88 per mile. According to our research, the average cost to transport a vehicle short distances of around 500 miles is $1.32 per mile. Mercury Auto Transport’s cost per mile is $0.44 cheaper than the average of short-distance car shipping quotes we received.
Cheap Short-Distance Car Shipping Rates
Below, you can see the cheapest short-distance rates provided to us by reputable car shipping companies.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $455 | $0.88 |
| AmeriFreight | $495 | $0.96 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $500 | $0.97 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $585 | $1.14 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $650 | $1.26 |
*Rates are based on prices we received to ship an operable 2020 Hyundai Elantra 515 miles using an open-air carrier.
Cheap Cross-Country Car Transport
AmeriFreight offers the most affordable long-distance car transport service at only $0.43 per mile for a 2,761-mile shipment. This is well below the average for the cheapest cross-country shipping rate of $0.59 per mile.
Cheapest Long-Distance Car Shipping Rates
Below, you can see the cheapest rates provided to us by reputable car shipping companies we reviewed.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,174 | $0.43 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,242 | $0.45 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,245 | $0.45 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,285 | $0.47 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,379 | $0.50 |
*Rates are based on the prices we received to ship an operable 2020 Hyundai Elantra 2,761 miles on an open trailer.
Cheapest Car Shipping Services
Open transport will expose your vehicle to the outside world, usually on a truck with at least a few other cars. Meanwhile, enclosed transport will cover your vehicle in a trailer with a maximum of one or two other cars. As you will see in the following sections, open transport is typically cheaper than enclosed transport.
Cheapest Open Car Transport
Our research shows that Mercury Auto Transport is the cheapest provider of open car transport. The company provides open transport for $0.66 per mile for shipments between 500 and 2,800 miles. Mercury’s open transport rate is a great deal and can save you up to $0.33 per mile compared to the average cheapest rates for open shipping provided to us during our review process.
Cheapest Open Car Transport Rates
You can compare the cheapest open car shipping rates we received in the table below.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $898 | $0.66 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $883 | $0.67 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,008 | $0.80 |
| AmeriFreight | $895 | $0.69 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,136 | $0.90 |
*The rates above are the prices we received to ship an operable 2020 Hyundai Elantra between 500 and 2,800 miles.
Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport
Mercury Auto Transport offers the industry’s most affordable enclosed transport service, with rates as low as $0.84 per mile. That’s $0.61 cheaper than the average rates quoted to our review team.
Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport Rates
You can compare how Mercury Auto Transport stacks up against the cheapest enclosed car shipping prices in the table below:
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,265 | $0.84 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $1,350 | $0.90 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,699 | $1.13 |
| AmeriFreight | $1,726 | $1.15 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,852 | $1.23 |
Car Shipping Deals
The best cheap car shipping companies have several deals that can lower the cost of shipping your vehicle. Car shipping companies will often offer discounts, including deals for active duty military members, students, and cash payments.
Car Shipping Discounts
Below, you can compare our top-rated car shipping companies and the discounts offered by each.
| Provider | Military | Students | Cash | Return Customer |
Multiple Vehicles |
Snowbirds | First Responders |
Medical Personnel |
Early Bird | Senior Citizens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Montway Auto Transport | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Easy Auto Ship | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Mercury Auto Transport | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Ship a Car Direct | ✓ |
*Montway Auto Transport only offers student discounts for faculty and alumni of the University of Michigan.
Best Cheap Car Shipping Companies
Our choice for the best cheap car shipping company is Mercury Auto Transport. We found that Ship a Car Direct, AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport, and Easy Auto Ship also offer the best customer value and standout service.
| Provider | Price Rating |
Reputation | Customer Experience |
Services Rating |
Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| Ship a Car Direct | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| AmeriFreight | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.5 |
Consumer Experience When Shipping A Car
In August 2023, our team conducted a survey of 1,000 car shipping customers to learn about which shipping companies they chose, how much they paid, and other feedback on their experiences. Here’s what we found:
Which car shipping company did you choose?
- Easy Auto Ship: 16 percent
- AmeriFreight: 11 percent
- RoadRunner Auto Transport: 9 percent
- Sherpa Auto Transport: 6 percent
- Montway Auto Transport: 6 percent
- SGT Auto Transport: 1 percent
- Other: 51 percent
Customers who chose the companies above had the following responses about their experiences:
Did you compare quotes from multiple shipping providers?
- Yes: 90 percent
- No: 10 percent
Approximately how many miles was your transport?
- 501 to 1,000 miles: 34 percent
- 1,001 to 1,500 miles: 24 percent
- 500 miles or less: 19 percent
- 1,501 to 2,000 miles: 14 percent
- More than 2,000 miles: 9 percent
All respondents who chose one of the providers above indicated the most important determining factor when choosing a car shipping company was cost.
There are many variables to be aware of when shipping a car. You will likely have a more positive experience if you’re flexible in your expectations.
Below, we’ll look at the five best cheap car shipping options and explain what makes them worthy of your consideration.
Cheapest Way To Ship A Car
The cheapest way to ship a car is through open auto transport instead of enclosed auto transport. Our research shows open transport costs around $1,459 on average for a 1,500-mile shipment, while enclosed carriers average $2,177.
Follow the guidelines below and save considerable money on your next auto shipment.
- Book early: It’s never too soon to lock down below-average quotes.
- Open up your delivery time frame: Save money by adding flexibility to the dates.
- Choose open transport: Open carriers are generally fine unless you have a classic car or luxury vehicle.
- Pick terminal-to-terminal delivery: Home delivery is nice, but the price is often higher. Not all shippers offer terminal-to-terminal transport, especially if you don’t live near a major hub.
- Consider guaranteed pricing: Your original quote will remain valid throughout the process.
- Seek multiple free quotes: Compare prices from various providers before choosing.
With these guidelines in mind, you may discover some of the best available options for cheap car shipping.
How Much Should It Cost To Ship A Car?
After a careful analysis of the rates we received during our industry review, the average cost to ship a car ranges from $1.40 per mile to ship a vehicle 500 miles or less or $0.58 per mile for long distances of 2,500 miles or more.
The table below contains the average cost per mile to ship a car.
| Distance | Transport Type | Average Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| 500 miles or less | Open | $1.40 |
| 500 miles to 1,500 miles | Open | $0.97 |
| 500 miles to 1,500 miles | Enclosed | $1.51 |
| 2,500 miles plus | Open | $0.58 |
Cheap Car Transport: Conclusion
This article discussed car shipping pricing, how to find cheap car shipping, and the best affordable car shipping companies. Our research showed that Mercury Auto Transport, Ship a Car Direct, AmeriFreight, Montway Auto Transport, and Easy Auto Ship are the best cheap car shipping companies.
Cheapest Auto Shipping: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about cheap car shipping.
What is the cheapest company to ship your car?
According to our research, Mercury Auto Transport tends to be the cheapest company to ship a car. Car shipping quotes we received from Mercury ranged from $455 for a 515-mile trip to $955 for a 1,500-mile shipment, which was lower than the competition.
Is it worth it to ship a car?
In our research, we’ve found that it is always more cost-effective to ship your vehicle rather than purchase a new one. However, before settling on this decision, you’ll want to take stock of how much it will cost to sell your vehicle, ship it, or buy a new one.
How can I save money on car shipping?
There are several ways to save money on car shipping, including choosing open transport instead of enclosed and choosing terminal-to-terminal shipping. You can also save on car shipping costs by choosing flexible delivery dates.
What is the cheapest car shipping service?
The cheapest way to ship your car is with open vehicle shipping. The only downside to choosing this option is that your vehicle will be exposed to the elements during transport.
How can I ship my car cheaply?
Some of the best ways to find cheap car shipping include booking early, being flexible with dates, avoiding enclosed transport and door-to-door shipping, and reaching out to multiple providers for instant quotes.
What types of vehicles can be shipped?
Car shippers can generally transport any type of vehicle including sedans, SUVs, luxury cars, and motorcycles to your delivery location. Automobiles that are not operable or not in good vehicle condition can also be shipped for an additional fee.
How much does it cost to ship a car 1,000 miles?
The going rate for a 1,000-mile shipping job could range from $750 to $1,000 or more depending on the provider. Other factors to consider that can impact pricing are the time of year, the type of vehicle being transported, and the transport method.
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
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