2019 Montway Auto Transport Review

Bottom line: Montway has all the expertise, services, and availability you’d expect with a top-tier car shipping company—plus the price it quotes you is the price you’ll actually pay.

Whether you’re moving to the other side of the country or sending your kid off to college, Montway Auto Transport makes car shipping a total breeze. 

All you have to do is give Montway your keys and it’ll take care of the rest—saving you time, energy, and car mileage. When we moved with Montway, we experienced just that. The company handled everything from start to finish with fantastic customer service along the way (even when we switched the car we wanted to ship a couple days before the move). 

As a seasoned auto transport company with over 12 years in the business, Montway has a reputation for being one of the best in the biz. It has over 40,000 truck drivers plus an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Read on to see why we give it a gold star in our Montway review.

How much does Montway cost?

Your final bill will depend on a variety of factors, but in general, Montway’s rates are competitive. For our move, we looked at quotes from several car shipping companies, and Montway offered the best bang for our buck.

Montway’s quotes include all taxes and fees, so you don’t need to worry that an additional $50–$80 will be added to your bill. Not every car company can boast up-front, honest pricing—we love that Montway can.

Montway’s quotes don’t spell out everything you’re being charged for, though, so you’ll need to ask a customer service rep for a full breakdown. Luckily, the company’s customer service is great, so we’re confident you’ll get the answers you’re looking for. 

Your quote (and your final bill) will depend on the specifics of your shipment, but here are the numbers on our move, including taxes and fees.

Montway pricing

Montway doesn’t make you pay until it has assigned you a carrier and scheduled your pickup. It also scores points for how easily and quickly it generates online quotes. To get one, all you need to do is take 15 seconds to provide basic information on your travel plans and car.

Montway cost factors

Location is huge. Metro areas have lots of trucks which helps lower costs and increase availability. Montway—like most auto transport companies—has fewer routes in rural areas, making it more expensive and difficult to find a driver near your route whose schedule matches your desired timetable.

Because of this, pickup deadlines aren’t guaranteed unless you request premium service

That said, if you have a tight schedule and need your car delivered on your timetable, there are some workarounds to cut down the cost. For example, if you live in a more secluded area that’s far away from a main highway, you can meet the driver somewhere closer to them.

Here are the main factors that impact your final bill:

• Shipping distance 
  • This has the greatest pull in determining the total cost of your move. Longer routes will have a higher overall cost but will end up costing less per mile.

• Year, make, and model of the car 
  • Larger, longer, and heavier vehicles will cost more to ship since they’ll take up more space in the truck. Large tires or racks on your car will also increase your price. We moved a lifted truck, which cost us an additional $150.

• Vehicle condition 
  • Costs fluctuate depending on if your car is in running condition or not. Montway gives running cars the best prices—if your car is inoperable, it’ll cost more to ship since it’ll require specialized equipment to load and unload.

• Type of transport
  • This depends on whether or not you choose open transport or enclosed transport. Most people go with open transport, which we have a whole spiel about down below.

• Time of year 
  • Similar to how moving companies charge more during peak moving season, auto transport companies charge more during snowbird season (a.k.a. the time of year when people move from colder destinations to warmer ones).

When should I book my shipment?

Montway prefers to have a week’s notice prior to your shipment date, but if you end up booking with less advance time, “it shouldn’t be a problem,” according to one Montway representative we spoke with.

When we moved with Montway, a tight turnaround and last-minute changes to our reservation weren’t a problem. We booked about a month out but then switched our vehicle type from “running” to “non-running” days before our scheduled pickup.

Montway was accommodating and happy to make the request work even though our new car was significantly bigger. We just had to pay the price difference to move a larger vehicle.

Montway features and services

Montway is both an auto transport broker and motor carrier, meaning it uses its own trucks for some moves but outsources to car carrier fleets and storage facilities in areas it doesn’t reach. Every hauler it picks is required to meet insurance standards, so you can be sure you’re getting reliable and safe assistance. 

Here’s a full list of Montway’s features and services:

*Only if you choose enclosed transport

Of all the services Montway offers, here are the ones we feel are most noteworthy:

• • 1. Door-to-door transport

    2. Expedited shipping and guaranteed pickup

    3. Transparent customer service

Why we recommend Montway

Curbside service

Montway offers door-to-door transport, as opposed to terminal-to-terminal shipping, which is slower.

The difference is this: With terminal shipping, you’re responsible for dropping off and picking up your car at a designated location. Door-to-door transport makes it easy for you by picking up your vehicle and dropping it off for you—even if you’re at work, for example.

See which companies offer door-to-door service in our Best Car Shipping Companies article.

Expedited transport and guaranteed pickup

Expedited transport means Montway prioritizes your pickup—if there’s a queue of 10 customers ahead of you, Montway would try to bump your car to the front of the line. 

And if your move is 200 miles or less, you can purchase guaranteed pickup and have your car picked up within 24 to 48 hours of making your reservation.

If you’re on a time crunch and have a precise pickup window, expedited transport and guaranteed pickup speed up your service and get your car on its way more quickly. 

Something else we like about expedited transport? If you decide you don’t need it before Montway has assigned you a carrier, Montway will completely refund you.

Crunch the numbers
See how much expedited transport and guaranteed pickup will increase your bill and get an estimate (it takes all of two minutes!).

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Stellar customer service

Montway kills it on the customer service front, which means you’ll get your questions answered and feel prioritized. We spoke with three different representatives and all were equally friendly and helpful—easing the stress and work of searching for answers. 

Montway gets the biggest praise, though, for how up front it is about exact pickup windows. Instead of sugarcoating things or making false promises, Montway gets real about the logistics that go into matching drivers with routes, both on its website and in person. 

Between road conditions and varying transport routes, exact dates and times aren’t guaranteed unless you choose premium service—and Montway makes this very clear. And we like how if Montway can’t meet your exact needs itself, it’ll enlist a licensed and insured auto carrier from its network to help. 

Plus, Montway’s website is easy to navigate, its instant quotes are actually instant, and its support department is open seven days a week. And don’t even get us started on its fantastic live chat feature. You get answers in real time from real-life customer reps (not some automated robots).

Montway’s door-to-door process is straightforward, low-hassle, and smooth—especially in comparison to terminal-to-terminal moves. Here’s the rundown of what you can expect:

• • 1. Start by getting an online quote.
    2. Book your order online or by speaking with a representative over the phone or live chat. We did the live chat with Morgan the “shipping ninja,” and he was as adept as his title suggests. 
    3. Discuss a pickup date, time, and location with the truck driver you’ll be working with. From there, you’ll exchange phone numbers and coordinate the key handoff. If you’re receiving the vehicle from another state, you’ll need to coordinate with someone near the car to do the handoff. 
    4. The truck driver will contact you prior to pickup and do a detailed inspection of the car upon arrival.
    5. While on the road, your truck driver will touch base with you by phone and email so you can know when to expect their arrival.
    6. The truck driver will call you once they’re almost at the destination. You’ll meet them there, inspect the vehicle, then sign and accept the delivery before taking your bad boy out for a spin.

What’s the difference between open and enclosed transport?

Prior to hitting the road, Montway lets you choose between open car transport and enclosed car transport. Let’s talk about the difference.

Open car transport is what you see when you’re driving on the highway and there’s a truck hauling anywhere from 5 to 10 cars that are strapped in on two-level ramps. This is the fastest, cheapest, and most common option, and it’s usually the one car dealerships go with.

If you’re moving via open car transport and want extra protection, you can make sure no other cars sit above yours by paying to have your car sit on a top loading spot.

On the other hand, enclosed car transport is basically a garage that’s pulled behind a truck. This option offers more protection from road debris and highway grime that can stick to your car in open transport, but it’s 35% more expensive since only 2% of all carriers have enclosed trailers. 

Enclosed car transport could be a good option if you’re trying to move an antique car or if you’re stressed about your baby getting a little dirty on the ride.

Our recommendation

So, do we recommend Montway? The short answer is yes. Here’s who we think will find extra value in booking auto transport with the company:

Those moving on a tight schedule: Montway’s guaranteed pickup means your car could arrive at your destination as quickly as 24 hours from when it’s loaded onto the truck (if it’s traveling under 200 miles).

Those who want extra protection: If you’ve got a rare, antique, expensive, or otherwise special vehicle, Montway’s enclosed transport option protects your car from the elements.

Those who move back and forth a lot: Snowbirds and others who are moving often can benefit from Montway’s return customer discounts.

Regardless of your situation, Montway does customer service right by walking you through every step to get your car to your next destination.

Eager to send your ride on its way?

Get the numbers on how much it’d cost to transport your wheels with Montway.

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Still want more help after reading our Montway review? Read up on our How to Move Your Car Cross-Country guide and see how our Find-a-Mover tool can help you.

Other car shipping picks

If Montway doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, we have good news. We know a host of other solid car shipping companies worth checking out.

Sherpa Auto Transport

Sherpa’s price-matching policy and free car wash offer put it right up there with the very best car shipping companies.

AmeriFreight

AmeriFreight has all the services and expertise you need for your car shipment—plus it offers killer discounts to make your move more affordable.

Ship a Car Direct

If you’re worried you’ll have to cough up an extra couple hundred bucks if your car gets dinged in transit, Ship a Car Direct has a killer damage policy worth checking out.