Our top pick: This year, Sherpa Auto Transport wins our top spot. The car shipping company offers some pretty competitive pricing, delivers unparalleled customer service (and free car washes), and even promises to cover any cost increase within $300 with their Price Lock Promise. In short, Sherpa Auto Transport is doing everything right.

There are lots of things that you should look for in a car shipping company:

• Low prices. Avoid overpaying by taking the extra time to compare multiple quotes. Beware of pricing that seems too good to be true, though.

• Guaranteed quotes. We’ve often seen car shipping prices go up about 25% between the initial estimate and the final price. So consider it a green flag if a company guarantees even a portion of your shipping quote.
• Years of experience. Longevity is generally a huge trust signal in the auto transport industry. So we recommend looking for a car transport company that’s been around for a while.
• Extra insurance. Accidents are rare—but in logistics, anything can happen. The best car shipping companies will offer you more than a bare-bones insurance policy. Keep in mind though, most policies will cover damage to the vehicle, and is not considered 'cargo insurance' for items shipped inside the car.
• Customer reviews. We take customer reviews pretty seriously at Move.org, and though we understand reviews are subjective, we generally feel safe using a shipping service that has above-average customer reviews of at least 4.6 out of 5 stars when you're looking to ship a car.

This year, Sherpa Auto Transport takes our top spot as the best car shipping company. Low pricing aside, Sherpa Auto Transport now offers its customers a Price Lock Promise. That means it’ll cover any price increase up to $300—and in an industry where final prices are often 25% higher than the original quote, you could be saving yourself the headache of a last minute payment during your move by choosing Sherpa.

And as if that’s not enough, auto transport company is famous for its unmatched customer service and free car washes. It even puts each potential carrier through an exhaustive background check to ensure you get the best drivers. In sum, Sherpa Auto Transport is not afraid to innovate and challenge the status quo—which has, in turn, made them one of the best companies in the industry. No wonder they are our pick for the best car shipping company.

While Sherpa has an impressive online quote calculator, it’s the Price Lock Promise that really sells its customers. With the Price Lock Promise, customers can rest easy knowing that Sherpa Auto Transport will cover up to $300 in potential price increases. And if you’ve ever received a car shipping quote before, you know it’s not uncommon for your final price to be up to 25% higher than your initial quote. This is a big deal—especially because we don’t see any of Sherpa’s competitors offering something similar.

Hiring the best drivers is one of Sherpa Auto Transport’s priorities. Between reviewing publicly available government and transportation records, and analyzing driver performance, this car shipping company makes sure to avoid cutting any corners. Plus, they actively maintain a “do not use” list of carriers who provide negative customer experiences. And Sherpa requires all of its carriers to add them as a policy holder on their insurance policies to make it easier for customers to file a claim if something happens to your vehicle in transit.

Sherpa prides itself on delivering exceptional customer service during the shipping process. Customers consistently rave about the Price Lock Promise, professional customer service reps, and free car washes—offers that many other companies are now trying to emulate.

But what we really appreciate is that many of the company’s innovations come straight from the company’s owner, who understands that a positive customer experience is the most important part. And as a result, Sherpa has maintained an average customer review rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars for the last 2 years.

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There’s a lot to like about AmeriFreight. Customers give the car shipping company an average review rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Plus, it's available in all 50 states. AmeriFreight even has military discounts. Oh yeah, and it offers some of the lowest pricing for larger vehicles of any company on this list.

AmeriFreight is another auto transporter that carefully vets all of its drivers and maintains a “do not use” list for low-quality drivers. But it offers a cherry on top that other companies don’t: a gap coverage plan that lets you take two days to look for damage and pays up to $2,000 toward your deductible if you need to file a claim.

Ultimately, the company has given customers a safe shipping experience for more than 17 years and it’s clear that’s a promise they’ll continue to deliver on for many more years to come.

AmeriFreight has three car shipping pricing options that help you fine-tune your shipment. The lone downside is that it can be confusing to know which one you need. Thankfully, we’re about to clear that up for you:

1. Economy Saver Rate. This is the best option if you’re determined to get the lowest price (even if it takes a month). AmeriFreight lets thousands of carriers bid on your shipment for several weeks. It starts with a super low rate and gradually increases the amount until an affordable driver comes along.
2. First Class Rate. This is the best option if you need your car shipped fast. AmeriFreight can guarantee your quote if you need the job done within 24 hours. Since car shipping costs notoriously rise upwards of 25% by the time your final bill arrives, this guaranteed option can save you hundreds of dollars on the average shipment. However, it’s also likely to be your most expensive option (rush jobs don’t come cheap).
3. Priority Preferred Rate. This is the best option if you don’t need to ship your car immediately but also can’t wait several weeks for the lowest possible price. It’s the way most car shipping companies estimate your costs. You give AmeriFreight the details of your shipment, and it lets the carriers bid against each other to drive down the price. When a few days have passed, AmeriFreight picks the lowest-priced shipping option.

AmeriFreight puts each of its carriers through a rigorous vetting process. The company’s five-pronged approach weeds out the bad drivers so you end up with a car carrier that will keep your car safe on the road:

1. License and registration. AmeriFreight does a background check on every carrier to ensure your drivers are appropriately licensed and registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
2. Interstate authority. Since many drivers can only transport cars within a single state, AmeriFreight verifies that carriers crossing state lines have the appropriate interstate authority.
3. Insurance. AmeriFreight won’t use a carrier unless it meets minimum liability insurance requirements. While the federal government requires carriers to have at least $750,000 in coverage, AmeriFreight says that most of its drivers are in the neighborhood of $1 million–$2 million.
4. Driver rating. AmeriFreight uses only those carriers with a rating of at least 95 percent on Central Dispatch.

“Do not use” list. A bad apple occasionally sneaks through even though AmeriFreight carefully vets its carriers. When that happens, AmeriFreight tosses it faster than you can say, “Annie ate eight Arctic apples.” The company keeps an internal “do not use” list for rotten carriers to make sure you work with only the best drivers.

AmeriFreight has a gap insurance coverage plan that is next level. For $50–$100, you get up to $2,000 towards your insurance deductible (if the carrier’s insurance won’t pay)—and a 48-hour window to look for damage to your vehicle. Since most companies require you to document damage at the time of delivery or forever hold your peace, the two extra days afforded by the gap coverage is incredible.

For example, if you don’t find damage until the next day because your car gets delivered at night, you can still file a claim. The gap coverage can even be applied toward a rental vehicle if there’s a significant delay in your delivery timeline.

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SGT Auto Transport is one of the most reliable car shippers on the market, and so it’s no surprise that it has made it onto our list of best car shipping companies. As a company that’s been in business for almost a decade (and boasts over 30K happy customers), we’ve got a lot of reasons to like SGT. From offering extremely competitive prices, to providing fully customizable services and 24-hour customer service, SGT is a titan in its industry—and it’s here to stay.

Online quoting tools are not necessarily a given in the auto transportation industry, so we find this to be a pretty incredible feature—especially because SGT stands by the pricing offered in those quotes. We’ve been able to confirm that the price you’ll receive (whether using the online tool or by phone) are guaranteed, and good for 7 calendar days.

Additionally, you can expect your quote to be all-inclusive … meaning you won’t have to be on the lookout for hidden fees. You can ask for discounts, including ones for the military. And the cherry on top? It price matches any direct competitor, as long as you can provide the written quote.

You know your vehicle is in safe hands with SGT, because it provides full-coverage insurance at no additional cost for each of its door-to-door shipments. Insurance is not a given in this industry, so the fact that SGT will guarantee coverage for any damage incurred during transit is a big deal. Keep in mind though, that this coverage does not apply to items inside the vehicle, so it’s best to remove any possessions that could be damaged during transit.

SGT Transport offers many services that their competitors shy away from, including guaranteed pickup dates and express shipping and delivery. Plus, its dedicated shipping advisors can help you customize your quote to match your needs, and your budget. SGT even allows their customers to ship up to 100 lb. of personal belongings in their vehicle.

It’s not hard to get in touch with someone at SGT, and that’s completely by design. The company prides itself on delivering happy customers, and we’d bet this has a lot to do with its emphasis on customer service. Its experienced car shipping advisors are able to assist you 24/7, 365 days a year, so you know your shipment is being monitored closely at all times. And although it doesn’t offer GPS-tracking like some competitors, its 24/7 availability makes it easy to check in on your vehicle’s progress throughout the shipment process. It's even willing to provide free cancellation for missed pick-up dates. SGT is committed to providing a positive customer experience every time, and it's got the customer reviews to prove it.

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Ship A Car Direct has quickly risen to the top of the industry. Aside from a comprehensive carrier vetting process (to make sure you’re always getting the best drivers), Ship A Car Direct now offers some of the lowest car shipping prices around. How low? Well, its pricing comes in around 11% lower than the industry average—which means around $130 in savings for the average customer. And pricing is even better for customers shipping with enclosed transport, which offers even more protection for your vehicle against damage in transit. Not to worry though, Ship A Car Direct also provides a damage-free guarantee worth up to $500. Not bad at all.

Ship A Car Direct scrutinizes potential truck drivers to make sure your vehicle is in safe hands. The auto shipper operates with a “hire slow, fire fast” mentality, which means Ship A Car Direct takes its time hiring the best drivers and immediately cuts ties with those that produce negative experiences for its customers. With this method, you can rest easy knowing that the company works hard to protect you against disreputable drivers. 

In the auto transport industry, it’s not uncommon for a company to offer zero additional insurance for their customers, putting most of the liability on the carriers. But that’s not the case with Ship A Car Direct. The broker is so confident in the quality of their drivers that it offers a damage-free guarantee of up to $500 towards your insurance deductible in the unlikely event your car experiences damage during transit.

Ship A Car Direct receives an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars for customer service across multiple platforms, and for good reason. Customers usually refer to fast and helpful customer service in their reviews, and many negative reviews are even followed up by responses from the company’s owner. Ship A Car Direct cares for their customers, and their customer reviews reflect that.

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Montway Auto Transport has been on our top five list for some time, and it consistently proves that it belongs there. With Montway, you know you’ll be getting some of the lowest prices in the industry, and you won’t even have to worry about up-front payments. It’s the innovator of an online price calculator that many of its competitors now use, and they even offer something many cannot: guaranteed pick up dates . . . which means you don’t have to fret about last minute changes to your travel plans.

A service that most other companies don’t offer, guaranteed pickup is something Montway offers to each one of its customers—at an extra price. That said, having control over your move timeline is an immense luxury in the car transport industry, as prices and pickup/delivery dates are often subject to change. But with Montway, you can feel confident that your vehicle will be picked up on the day of your choosing, so you can keep your travel itinerary intact.

Although Montway cannot guarantee GPS tracking for every shipment (because the carrier must first agree to be tracked), it does its best to find compliant drivers for each customer. This effort is more than most companies are willing to exert, and as a result GPS tracking is not the easiest service in the industry to come by.

Montway has one of the most user-friendly online chat experiences around, because instead of connecting you to a bot, you’re likely to reach a real person within 60 seconds. From there, knowledgeable customer service reps can help you get an auto shipping quote, respond to inquiries about existing quotes or orders, and answer any other questions you may have.

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Easy Auto Ship gives customers a free rental car if their vehicles don’t arrive within two weeks. The company fully guarantees its phone quotes (prices may change if you reserve online), kicks in an extra $100,000 insurance coverage, and gets excellent customer reviews. Easy Auto Ship doesn’t even charge you until it assigns a carrier.

On the downside, the website is a hot mess. A pop-up ad gets in your way no matter where you seem to go, and the “live chat” is really just a way to start an email dialogue. But those are small details, and Easy Auto Ship is clearly a company with big aspirations. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Easy Auto Ship climb the rankings in future years.

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uShip isn’t a transport broker as much as it is an online marketplace where you can find truck drivers. That makes it different from any other company on this list. uShip gives you control over your pricing and lets you see each carrier’s driving history. It also reimburses you up to $500 if there’s an accident and is available in all 50 states. While uShip’s prices aren’t guaranteed, the company’s rates are lower than they’ve ever been. It takes a minute to learn how to use uShip’s website to find auto shipping services, but it’s worth the effort more often than not.

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Sherpa Auto Transport is our number one car shipping company, but each of these transport brokers brings something special to the table:

• Sherpa Auto Transport. Our best all-around company. Sherpa has made great strides to deserve its spot at the top of the mountain.
• AmeriFreight. Flexible pricing options. And one of those options includes guaranteed pricing.

• SGT Auto Transport. Money back guarantee. Need we say more?
• Ship A Car Direct. Lowest industry pricing. The average customer saves around $130, and they even offer a $500 damage-free guarantee.
• Montway Auto Transport. The customer favorite. Low prices, no up-front payments, and guaranteed pickup availability are some of its most popular features.

Move.org calculates industry averages and identifies pricing trends by following a fourfold research approach:

1. Compare quotes. We collected nearly 700 quotes from 10 different companies. The car shipping quotes included prices for a motorcycle, car, SUV, and truck across 11 distances on both open and enclosed transport.
2. Mystery shopping. We contacted auto transport companies posing as customers to gather pricing data and learn how the brokers formulate their prices.
3. Site visits. We invited several industry leaders to visit our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, and explain what goes into their pricing. We then compared their answers to information we independently obtained to verify accuracy.
4. Annual calendar. We repeat this process every year and save our data so that we can compare trends over time.