Diesel Auto Express 2020 Review
Bottom line: Diesel Auto Express is one of the most expensive auto transport companies, but it gives you a single point of contact for all your questions and gets near-perfect customer reviews.
Most car shipping companies are either brokers (which help you find a transport truck) or carriers (which have their own trucks). Diesel Auto Express is a little of both.
The family-owned company started as a carrier and has racked up over 100 million auto transport miles. That’s like driving from Miami to Los Angeles about 40,000 times.
Diesel Auto Express also works as a brokerage. If it can’t get the job done for you, Diesel Auto Express will find a truck and a driver who can.
Win-win.
Diesel Auto Express prides itself on making it easy for customers to understand how car shipping works, and it gives you a single point of contact for all your questions and offers free GPS tracking. Customers love the company and give it near-perfect reviews.
But it’s also expensive—about 20% higher than the average auto transport company.
We’ll walk you through the pros and cons in our Diesel Auto Express Review.
How Diesel Auto Express compares to the car shipping industry
| Diesel Auto Express | Industry averages |
| $$$$$ | $$$ |
| 11 | 16 |
| 28,000 | 20,400 |
How much does Diesel Auto Express cost?
Diesel Auto Express is expensive: its average price of $1,100 per transport is about 20% more expensive than an average car shipping company. The average cost per 100 miles to ship a car with Diesel Auto Express is $170—although prices vary depending on the distance, route, vehicle type, and seasonality.
Diesel Auto Express car shipping pricing
| 2008 Dodge Charger | 2011 Toyota Highlander | 2012 Chevrolet Silverado |
| $120 | $140 | $160 |
| $190 | $210 | $230 |
Data as of 5/19/2020. Average cost calculated by comparing costs for three car sizes across five distances. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change.
We asked Diesel Auto Express to give us quotes for three different car sizes and five different routes for both open and enclosed shipping.
What was the result?
The average Diesel Auto Express cost is about $1,100—or $170 per 100 miles. To put that in context, a trip of 1,000 miles would cost about $1,700.
How Diesel Auto Express pricing compares
Diesel Auto Express is one of the most expensive auto transporters
We compared Diesel Auto Express’s pricing to 10 other car shipping companies. Almost without exception, Diesel Auto Express was the most—or second-most—expensive. It never had prices lower than the industry average.
The average auto transport with Diesel Auto Express is $200 more expensive than the competition.
Diesel Auto Express costs by transport type
| Diesel Auto Express | Industry average | Amount above industry average |
| $870 | $730 | $140 |
| $1340 | $1140 | $200 |
Data as of 5/19/2020. Average cost calculated by comparing costs for three car sizes across five distances. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change.
Diesel Auto Express has competitive pricing for distances of 1,050 miles
Diesel Auto Express has competitive pricing for one specific type of transport: trips of about 1,050 miles on an enclosed carrier. In this case, Diesel Auto Express actually matches the industry average with a cost of $1,200.
Diesel Auto Express enclosed transport costs
| Diesel Auto Express | Industry average |
| $1,300 | $960 |
| $1,200 | $1,200 |
| $1,700 | $1,500 |
Data as of 5/19/2020. Average cost calculated by comparing costs for three car sizes across five distances. Offers and availability may vary and are subject to change.
Want a price for enclosed shipping that isn’t too high or too low?
Diesel Auto Express cost factors
It would be nice if the cost to ship a car were the same today as it was yesterday. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. The cost to transport a vehicle varies not only day to day but also depends on several other factors:
- Region
- Route
- Season
- Transport type
- Vehicle condition
- Vehicle type
When you get a quote with Diesel Auto Express, it’s good for seven days. After that, you’ll need to call the company again and obtain a new quote.
Diesel Auto Express coverage options
Diesel Auto Express is both a broker and a carrier—meaning sometimes it uses its own trucks, and sometimes it connects you with a driver from another company. In both cases, Diesel Auto Express ensures your car has insurance coverage.
Diesel Auto Express at a glance
| Company information |
| 679452 |
| 1885300 |
| Both |
| ✔ Yes |
| 4.8/5 |
| 11 |
| 28,000 |
Diesel Auto Express features and services
Pros
- Excellent customer reviews
- Single point of contact
- GPS tracking
- Availability in all 50 states
Cons
- High prices
- No instant quotes
Diesel Auto Express has been in business for more than a decade. Its customers can choose from a wide variety of auto transport services:
- Shipping to/from Alaska and Hawaii
- Antique vehicle shipping
- Auto shows
- Classic car shipping
- College shipping
- Corporate relocations
- Dealer trades
- Door-to-door auto transport
- Enclosed auto transport
- Exotic car shipping
- Expedited auto transport
- Luxury car shipping
- Military shipping
- Open auto transport
- Salvage vehicle shipping
- Snowbird shipping
- Terminal-to-terminal auto transport
Things to know about Diesel Auto Express
Diesel Auto Express has high prices
Diesel Auto Express is 20% more expensive than the average car shipping company. A trip that costs $800 with another company will set you back about $960 with Diesel.
If that seems confusing, we understand. Diesel Auto Express claims its customers save up to 30% over other companies. While it doesn’t provide any data to back up its claims, there are two reasons to think you may be able to get a lower price:
- A bidding process determines prices. Car shipping companies give you a quote and then ask drivers to bid on it. If they give you a low price, but no one accepts the job, they have to raise the price—meaning your initial quote isn’t valid. It’s possible Diesel Auto Express initially has higher rates, but that they hold more steady throughout the bidding.
- Customers like the company. Diesel Auto Express gets near-perfect scores in customer reviews. It’s unlikely hundreds of customers would give the company such high ratings if the costs were too high.
Of course, we can’t say for sure that you’ll save with Diesel Auto Express over another car shipper, as our research shows that the company is generally on the pricey side. That’s why it’s important to shop around and get at least three quotes.
Diesel Auto Express has GPS tracking
Beyoncé has a Jaguar named Honeybee. The Obamas refer to their Ford Escape as the Beast. Whether your vehicle has a better name (or no name at all), your car is like your baby. You have a lot invested, and it can feel a bit nerve-racking to watch a truck driver take it away.
Diesel Auto Express eases your anxiety by offering no-charge GPS tracking. You can call the company up anytime, and it will tell you exactly where your baby is.
Diesel Auto Express gives you a single point of contact
Car shipping companies are often big brokerages with lots of employees. If you call three times, chances are you’ll talk to three different people. It can be frustrating to feel like you’re starting over each time.
(We know. We make a lot of mystery shopping calls.)
Not with these folks. Diesel Auto Express is family-owned and prides itself on giving you a single point of contact. Whoever you work with at the beginning is the same person who will walk you through the entire process.
It’s likely one reason the average customer gives the company a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
FAQ about Diesel Auto Express
Does Diesel Auto Express offer express auto shipping?
Yes. Diesel Auto Express offers express auto shipping. Contact the company to get a quote for expedited car shipping.
Can Diesel Auto Express ship a car from Hawaii to Seattle?
Yes. Diesel Auto Express ships cars to and from all 50 states—including Hawaii and Alaska. The company can ship your vehicle from Hawaii to Seattle on an open or enclosed transport truck.
Is Diesel Auto Transport the same company as Diesel Auto Express?
No. Diesel Auto Express and Diesel Auto Transport are two different companies. Be sure to double-check the company name when getting quotes for your car shipment.
Our recommendation
We can’t come right out and recommend Diesel Auto Express for every reader, but if you’re willing to pay a little more to know your car is in reliable hands, look no further.
When it’s time to ship a car, we recommend you call four or five companies to compare quotes—and Diesel Auto Express is worth making one of your choices. The customer service is through the roof, GPS tracking allows you to always know where your car is, and customers routinely sing the company’s praises.
Ship your car with a company that scores 4.8/5 on customer reviews.
Other car shipping picks
Are you looking for a car shipping company that is a bit more affordable? Here are a few of our recommendations:
About Kurt Manwaring
