Cheapest Way To Ship A Car in 2024
Key Takeaways
- Open car shipping costs less than enclosed car shipping because more vehicles can be transported simultaneously using a single trailer.
- Being flexible with your delivery dates and booking your car shipment as far in advance as possible will also help to keep your price low.
- Compare quotes from multiple shipping companies to find the lowest price for your shipment.
While shipping a car can be pricey, there are a handful of things you can do to keep it as affordable as possible.
In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team cover the cheapest ways to ship a car. We’ll also help you find the best car shipping company for your needs, whether you’re shipping the family car or looking to get a luxury vehicle from one place to another.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car?
The cheapest way to ship a car is open transport, terminal-to-terminal shipping with flexible pickup and delivery dates. The table below highlights the differences in open and enclosed auto transport for a 1,588-mile shipment of a Honda Civic. For the companies shown in the table, open transport is an average of $578 cheaper than enclosed transport.
If you need enclosed transport, want the car delivered right to your front door and have a hard deadline, your costs will increase.
| Company | Open | Enclosed | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Auto Shipping | $1,199 | $2,099 | $900 |
| AmeriFreight | $909 | $1,545 | $636 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,389 | $1,889 | $500 |
| Guardian Auto Transport | $1,685 | $2,705 | $1,020 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $925 | $1,255 | $330 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,279 | $1,799 | $520 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,075 | $1,136 | $61 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,093 | $1,579 | $486 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $1,275 | $2,025 | $750 |
Cheapest Car Shipping
Open car shipping is usually cheaper than enclosed car shipping by at least 30 cents per mile, according to our research. While it may not seem like much initially, that additional 30 cents adds up over long distances. Enclosed car shipping comes at a higher cost because it involves specialized trailers and is often used for transporting expensive, luxury vehicles which requires higher levels of insurance coverage. Because there’s less trailer room with enclosed car shipping, fewer vehicles can be transported at once, driving up the cost for each vehicle owner.
Below, we’ll compare the cheapest open and enclosed car shipping services we found in our research. All quotes below were collected for a 2020 Honda Civic.
Cheapest Open Car Shipping
Roadrunner Auto Transport is the cheapest for an open shipment of 549 miles at $545. AmeriFreight is the cheapest for an open shipment of 2,877 miles at $1,068.
| Shipping Company | Shipping Distance | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 549 miles | $545 |
| AmeriFreight | 549 miles | $590 |
| Ship a Car Direct | 549 miles | $625 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 549 miles | $679 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 549 miles | $779 |
Cheapest Enclosed Car Shipping
We reached out to top shipping providers in the industry for quotes on enclosed car shipping services. Each quote represents a 1,588-mile shipment from Reno, Nev., to Kansas City, Mo. Mercury Auto Transport offers the cheapest rates on enclosed shipping at $1,255 on average.
| Shipping Company | Quote | Price per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,255 | $0.79 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $1,350 | $0.85 |
| AmeriFreight | $1,545 | $0.97 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,666 | $1.05 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $2,025 | $1.28 |
Cheapest Short-Range Car Shipping
If you’re planning a short shipment of less than 600 miles, uShip and Mercury Auto Transport are your cheapest options at $464 and $435 respectively for open shipments of 549 miles. The following quotes are for an operable 2020 Honda Civic being shipped from El Paso, Texas to San Antonio:
| Shipping Company | Quote | Price per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| uShip | $464 | $0.84 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $435 | $0.79 |
| AmeriFreight | $675 | $1.22 |
| A-1 Auto Transport | $590 | $1.07 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $679 | $1.2 |
Cheapest Mid-Range Car Shipping Companies
Mercury Auto Transport offers the cheapest open or enclosed long-range car shipping costing an average of $1,090. The further you ship a car, the more you can expect to pay.
In this table, we averaged open and enclosed car shipping costs for a transporting a 2020 Honda Civic 1,588 miles from Reno, Nev., to Kansas City, Mo.:
| Shipping Company | Average Quote | Average Price per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,090 | $0.69 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $1,200 | $0.76 |
| AmeriFreight | $1,227 | $0.77 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,371 | $0.86 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $1,650 | $1.04 |
Cheapest Cross-Country Car Shipping Costs
If you’re looking to ship your car cross country, Ship a Car Direct and AmeriFreight are some of the most affordable car shipping providers.
Below are the average costs for open transport at a distance of 2,877 miles for a 2020 Honda Civic.
| Shipping Company | Quote | Price per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,068 | $0.37 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,145 | $0.40 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $1,150 | $0.40 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,176 | $0.41 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,568 | $0.55 |
Factors That Affect Auto Shipping Costs
Many aspects factor into the cost of shipping a car. Some factors are controllable, while others aren’t.
Here are the main things that affect car shipping prices:
Transport service: Enclosed and single-car shipping methods cost significantly more than open car transportation.
Delivery method: Door-to-door shipping will cost more than terminal-to-terminal shipping.
Miles traveled: You’ll pay more overall for long-distance car shipping, though the rate per mile tends to be lower.
Vehicle operability: If your vehicle isn’t safe to drive or requires special equipment to move, expect to pay more for car shipping.
Price of fuel: As you might expect, the average price of fuel plays a direct role in the cost of car shipping.
Vehicle size: Larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs cost more to ship than smaller vehicles like sedans or hatchbacks because of their size and weight on trailers.
Time of year: The summer months and January are peak season for moves, so car shipping companies are busier and more expensive to hire during these times.
Cheapest Auto Shipping Companies
We averaged the costs of enclosed and open car shipping for short (549 miles), long (1,588 miles) and cross-country (2,877 miles) distances to find the cheapest providers available.
| Our Overall Rating* | Quote | Price per Mile | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | 9.6 | $1,028 | $0.62 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 8.6 | $1,108 | $0.67 |
| Ship a Car Direct | 9.3 | $1,045 | $0.63 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 9.7 | $1,244 | $0.75 |
#1 AmeriFreight
AmeriFreight offers the most affordable overall average rates as well as the best prices for long-range and enclosed auto transport. Customers can save even more money with AmeriFreight’s many discounts, especially if they’re senior citizens, first responders, students or military members.
AmeriFreight also offers additional insurance protection for shipping services. Customers can choose from basic, standard and comprehensive cargo insurance coverage that pays up to $2,000 for major damages that occur during transport. This is one of the reasons we named AmeriFreight the Best for Cross-Country Shipments in our 2024 review.
Read more: AmeriFreight Review
#2 RoadRunner Auto Transport: Great for Tracking Shipments
RoadRunner Auto Transport is a licensed and bonded shipping broker that offers affordable rates for long-distance car shipping. The company’s services include open, enclosed and door-to-door transport.
In addition to destinations within the continental U.S., car owners can also ship their vehicles to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. RoadRunner’s real-time tracking system helps car owners know exactly where their vehicle is at any point in the shipping process.
Read more: RoadRunner Auto Transport Review
#3 Ship a Car Direct: Best for Enclosed Shipping
Ship a Car Direct consistently offers some of the most affordable rates, especially for enclosed shipping. We like this company for long-distance shipping service due to its Damage Free Guarantee that helps cover the cost of applicable insurance deductibles and repairs.
Ship a Car Direct also earns outstanding ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and positive customer reviews online. Consider it one of your top choices when searching for affordable, reliable car shipping services.
#4 Montway Auto Transport: Best Customer Experience
In our industry-wide review, we gave Montway Auto Transport our Best Customer Experience award for its excellent customer service, broad range of available shipping discounts and broker/carrier insurance coverage. The company has proven itself a leader in the auto transport industry with its 24/7 online chat system, extended service hours for car shippers and strong customer satisfaction ratings.
Montway Auto Transport offers open, enclosed, door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal services. Montway offers more affordable transport costs than many other companies on average and can be a solid choice for shipping a car short distances.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport Review
How To Save on Car Shipping Costs
While shipping a car can be pricey, there are a handful of things you can do to keep costs low.
Know When to Ship
Plan to ship your car outside the car shipping industry’s busy seasons if possible. Avoid shipping your vehicle in January and during the summer months when carriers and brokers are typically at their busiest. Rates will be more expensive during these months because of the high demand.
Compare Quotes
Each car shipping company calculates rates differently. That’s why it’s important to compare car shipping quotes from multiple companies before committing to a service.
Make sure to verify the reputation of each company and avoid accepting low quotes from providers with limited insurance policies or poor customer feedback.
You can also verify that a company is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) by seeing whether it displays a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number and a Motor Carrier (MC) number. These numbers are usually displayed on the bottom of the main website page and help to establish that a company is legitimate.
Schedule Your Pickup Date Early
When you work with car shipping brokers, many carriers will bid on your job. The longer the bidding time, the more likely you’ll receive a low price that suits your budget.
If you can, schedule your car shipping reservation at least two weeks before the shipment date to let car transport companies compete for the best offer. Scheduling a shipment for a date that’s a few days or a week away will usually cost a lot more because of limited time availability for carriers.
Opt for Cheaper Shipping Services
While enclosed transport offers additional protection from the elements, open shipping could save you hundreds of dollars. Open transport seems riskier, but this shipping method is tried and true and accounts for most vehicle shipping done today.
Not all brokers offer terminal-to-terminal shipping options, but these types of shipments are often cheaper than door-to-door shipping. However, with terminal-to-terminal shipping, you may have to drive quite a distance to pick your car up, depending on terminal locations.
Look for Upfront Pricing
When you get quotes from car shipping companies, look for upfront or guaranteed pricing. In the auto transport industry, it’s not uncommon for your initial quote to increase after a car shipping company secures a carrier. Some companies like Sherpa Auto Transport guarantee that what you pay won’t be higher than your initial quote.
While shopping for affordable car shipping rates, remember that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for the signs of a vehicle transport scam, including few or extremely poor customer reviews online, fake phone numbers and suspicious payment method requests.
Types of Car Shipping Services
If you’re not sure which kind of car shipping services you need or should budget for, consider the different methods of car shipping below.
Open Car Transport
In the U.S., most car shipping is done through open transport. You’ve probably seen carrier trucks transporting multiple vehicles on the interstate or highways. These trucks are designed to provide adequate vehicle protection while reducing overall shipping costs for companies and customers.
Open auto transport is typically the most affordable, least customized option for car shipping and delivery. However, it’s not the ideal choice if you don’t want your car potentially exposed to bad weather or road debris.
Enclosed Car Transport
Enclosed car shipping uses enclosed trailers or shipping containers to reduce exposure to the elements and other risks during transportation. As mentioned, this shipping method costs more than open transport but is an excellent option for luxury cars, classic cars and those with extra room in their budget.
Single-Car Shipping
One of the most expensive options available, single-car shipping gives luxury and classic car owners peace of mind during shipping. Cars are shipped one at a time in closed shipping containers.
Types of Car Shipping Delivery
When shipping your vehicle, you can either have your vehicle picked up from and delivered to a location of your choosing, or you can have your vehicle dropped off and picked up at a shipping terminal. Below, we will highlight the pros and cons of each option.
Door-to-Door Car Shipping
With door-to-door service, carriers pick up and drop off a car as close as possible to the customer’s home or other desired location. This shipping method is considered highly customized and will cost more than terminal-to-terminal shipping because it can be more difficult for the carrier and typically requires extra driving time.
Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping
This shipping method uses predetermined pickup and drop-off locations (usually warehouses) to handle a large volume of auto shipments at once. Costs for terminal-to-terminal shipping are some of the lowest available. However, terminal locations are limited, and shipping schedules tend to be restrictive. Customers may need to wait longer for vehicle delivery with terminal-to-terminal shipping.
Affordable Car Shipping Alternatives
If you’re not interested in hiring a car shipping service, consider towing your car with a dolly or arranging to drive it yourself.
Rent a Tow Dolly
Tow dollies are available from select moving companies and allow you to tow your car behind an appropriate truck or moving vehicle. Remember that when towing your car using a dolly or other towing device, you assume responsibility for transport damages and other problems.
Drive
Depending on the cost of fuel and lodging, it may be cost-effective to drive your car to its new location. However, longer distances can put significant wear and tear on your engine and other vehicle components, and, of course, you assume all responsibility for any damage that occurs during the drive.
Read more: Should You Ship a Car or Drive It?
Cheap Ways To Ship a Car: The Bottom Line
The cheapest way to ship a car is open transport and terminal-to-terminal, while the most expensive is enclosed transport directly to your front door. You can also save money on your vehicle shipping by planning ahead and being flexible with your delivery date.
AmeriFreight and Mercury Auto Transport offer some of the best rates in the business, but we recommend getting quotes from at least two or three carriers to find the cheapest price on the shipping services you need.
Affordable Ways To Ship a Car: FAQ
Below are the most frequently asked questions about the cheapest way to ship a car:
Yes, shipping a car is worth it for longer distances. Choosing this service can reduce the personal risk you assume when transporting a vehicle long-distance and will prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
The cheapest way to ship a car long distances is open car shipping. Companies like AmeriFreight and RoadRunner Auto Transport offer this service for as low as 62 and 67 cents per mile on average, respectively.
Open car shipping is consistently the most affordable way to ship a car long or short distances. Choosing the right delivery method also matters. Opt for scheduled car pickup at a terminal instead of door-to-door transport to save more on car shipping costs.
Most car shipping customers work with brokers. Brokers give customers access to a network of carriers, which provide the actual car shipping services. Since carriers have vastly different schedules, service locations, routes and regulations, working with a broker greatly simplifies shopping for a car shipping service.
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:
- Reputation (22% of total score): Our research team considered availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Cost (33% of total score): Auto shipping companies with affordable rates, locked-in pricing and discount opportunities scored highest in this category.
- 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.
- Customer experience (25% of total score): This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings and the availability of extras like GPS tracking. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each transporter’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 200+ hours researched
- 20 companies reviewed
- 2,000+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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