RoadRunner Auto Transport: Reviews & Cost (2024)
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Our RoadRunner Auto Transport Ratings
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers competitive rates compared with other providers and has a variety of services.
RoadRunner Auto Transport Pros and Cons
For most people, RoadRunner’s pros outweigh the cons. Here is a breakdown of what we like and don’t like about the auto-shipping broker:
Real-time tracking services
Ships to all U.S. states and the Caribbean
Many negative customer reviews
RoadRunner Auto Transport Overall Rating: 8.6 out of 10
While its negative customer reviews are somewhat concerning, keep in mind that these reflect only a small percentage of RoadRunner’s customer base, so you may have a more positive experience. It’s also worth noting that the company’s customer experience rating in our annual study has improved from 6.3 to 8.2 out of 10 stars within the past year — an indication that RoadRunner is listening to customer feedback and working to improve.
How We Rate RoadRunner Auto Transport
Overall Rating | 8.6 |
Reputation | 7.3 |
Cost | 9.2 |
Shipping Methods | 9.5 |
Logistics | 10 |
Customer Experience | 8.2 |
RoadRunner Auto Transport Customer Reviews
RoadRunner Auto Transport currently holds an F rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) due to the organization’s “opinion about [its] interactions with its customers, including interactions with local locations,” according to the BBB website.
However, the company’s customer experience scores have improved within the past year. RoadRunner’s customer rating on the BBB improved from 1 to 3.7 out of 5 stars and the auto shipping broker has fielded and responded to more than 69 complaints on the platform within the past year. RoadRunner holds a better rating on Trustpilot with a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
We reached out to RoadRunner about its low BBB score and negative customer reviews but have not yet received a response.
Positive customer reviews highlight the auto shipping broker’s convenient scheduling and real-time tracking system.
Negative reviews mention issues with customer service and carrier availability. Unsatisfied customers typically say they had difficulty contacting representatives and that carriers had not been assigned in time for their desired pickup dates.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship With RoadRunner Auto Transport?
Based on car shipping quotes we received, RoadRunner Auto Transport charges $1,075 on average for an open shipping trip of 1,588 miles. Rates can go up to $1,666 on average for enclosed shipments of the same distance.
Is RoadRunner Auto Transport Cheap?
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers affordable rates for most of its car shipping services. Just keep in mind that the initial quote you receive is an estimate of what you can expect to pay to transport your car. You’ll receive your final quote once all details have been entered and confirmed.
Here are a few sample prices we collected to ship an operable 2020 Honda Civic:
Shipping Route | Approximate Mileage | Transport Type | Cost |
El Paso, Texas, to San Antonio | 549 miles | Open | $545 |
Reno, Nev., to Kansas City, Mo. | 1,588 miles | Open | $1,075 |
Reno, Nev., to Kansas City, Mo. | 1,588 miles | Enclosed | $1,666 |
Philadelphia to San Francisco | 2,877 miles | Open | $1,145 |
RoadRunner Auto Transport accepts all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified checks for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If you owe a balance when your vehicle is delivered, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.
What Affects the Cost of Shipping a Car With RoadRunner?
When it comes to shipping your car with RoadRunner Auto Transport — or any other company — there are a few key factors that influence costs, including:
Distance: Cross-country shipments have lower rates per mile than shipments traveling shorter distances, but they cost more overall. As you might expect, the further you need to ship your car, the more it will cost.
Type of transport: Enclosed car transports are more expensive than open transports due to carrier availability.
Type of delivery: Door-to-door shipping is more costly than terminal-to-terminal shipping because your car is delivered to your preferred address, meaning your driver has to go further out of their way.
Shipping seasonality: It’s more expensive to ship your car if your delivery date is during peak season, which is in January or the summer months.
Carrier competition: The more competition between car carrier bids, the lower the shipping costs tend to be.
Vehicle operability: Inoperable vehicles take more time and resources to move, making them more expensive to ship.
Vehicle size: Larger cars, trucks and SUVs cost more to ship than smaller compact cars because they’re heavier and take up more space.
Source: Nexus Auto Transport
Roadrunner Auto Transport Shipping Services
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers auto shipping services in all 50 states and the Caribbean.
Transport options through RoadRunner include all of the following standard services:
Open vehicle transport: This is the most common cheap car shipping method, though your vehicle is exposed to the elements during transport.
Enclosed transport: This option is more expensive than open vehicle transport, but it protects your car from inclement weather and road debris.
Door-to-door shipping: With this vehicle shipping method, your car is picked up and delivered as close to your selected location as possible.
Terminal-to-terminal shipping: While less convenient than door-to-door shipping, this money-saving option allows you to ship from one terminal to another.
Cross-country car shipping: Ship your vehicle from your current location to any other state in the country.
Seasonal vehicle relocation: Known also as “snowbird” shipping, this allows you to ship your car to another state for a season.
Military car shipping: This option is for military members who need to ship a vehicle to another location.
College car shipping: If you’re moving out of state for college, this option makes it easy to relocate your vehicle as well.
RoadRunner Auto Transport also offers the following business and specialized services:
Business services
- Dealer and auction shipping
- Fleet shipping
- Corporate relocation
Specialized services
- Oversized shipping
- Motorcycle shipping
- Alaska car shipping
- Hawaii car shipping
- Puerto Rico car shipping
- Caribbean car shipping
No matter which shipping method you choose, RoadRunner Auto Transport offers real-time tracking, so you can keep an eye on your vehicle along the route.
How to Ship a Car With RoadRunner Auto Transport
Since RoadRunner Auto Transport is an auto shipping broker, you’ll need to provide your vehicle’s information to be connected with a carrier. To get a quote, you’ll need the following information:
What Documents Do You Need to Ship A Car With RoadRunner?
Your vehicle’s year, make, model and operability
Pickup and delivery dates
Pickup and drop-off locations
Shipping choices such as open or enclosed transport
Your contact information
The auto broker will provide you with an instant car shipping quote using these details. You can then discuss pickup and drop-off dates with the company, which will confirm carrier availability.
When you drop off your car, you and the driver will inspect it and note any existing damage on the bill of lading. Be sure to take clear pictures of your vehicle before it ships. On the day of delivery, the carrier will drop off your vehicle, and you’ll both inspect it again. Be sure to note any new damage that might have occurred. If you’re happy with the condition of your car, you’ll sign a bill of lading to confirm the delivery and pay the driver any remaining balance.
A bill of lading serves as an agreement between the carrier and customer on what is being transported. This ultimately keeps you from having to pay for damages caused by the car carrier.
RoadRunner Auto Transport Review: The Bottom Line
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers a wide range of shipping services and competitive prices. Despite customer reviews being historically negative, recent reviews are improving, as are the company’s overall customer satisfaction ratings. It’s always a good idea to compare quotes from several shipping companies to find the best provider for you.
Best Car Shipping Companies
We suggest getting quotes from at least three auto transport companies before selecting one for your shipment. While RoadRunner Auto Transport provides good services and affordable prices, we also recommend Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport as other great options for shipping your car.
Montway Auto Transport: 9.7 out of 10
Montway Auto Transport earned our Best Customer Experience award based on its extensive amount of services at competitive rates for the industry. The company also offers discounts for veterans, students, active-duty military personnel and more. Though Montway does not have tracking, it does have a 24/7 online chat feature where you can reach a customer service representative at any time.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport Review
Sherpa Auto Transport: 8.8 out of 10
Sherpa Auto Transport is a licensed auto broker praised by customers for its guaranteed prices. With Sherpa Auto Transport, you won’t pay more than the amount you’re quoted, thanks to the company’s Price Lock Promise. The auto broker offers many services, including open, enclosed and door-to-door delivery across 48 states (Hawaii and Alaska are excluded).
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport Review
RoadRunner Auto Transport Overview: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about RoadRunner Auto Transport:
Yes, RoadRunner Auto Transport is a legitimate auto shipping broker connecting customers with carriers. The New York-based company works with over 14,000 carriers who provide services throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.
We awarded Montway Auto Transport the title of Best Customer Experience in our 2024 review of the best auto transport companies based on its reputation, prices, customer experience and hassle-free services. To find the best car shipping company for you, it helps to compare quotes from a few providers.
One of the cheapest ways to transport your car is through open transport and terminal-to-terminal auto shipping. These options make shipping cheaper because your car is transported with others and the pickup and delivery locations are more centralized.
If you’re looking to transport your car to another state, the first thing you should do is find a reputable car shipping company. We recommend getting car shipping quotes online to find the price and services that work best for your situation.
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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