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Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, and Easy Auto Ship are three great options for cheap car shipping services.
Planning your next move? We’ll show you how to get cheap car shipping by comparing providers and shopping for affordable services. Auto shipping is a supply-and-demand business, so prices can fluctuate widely. Using a shipping broker is often the easiest way to secure a carrier at a reasonable cost.
In this article, we’ll detail the factors that go into the cost of car shipping services, provide recommendations for transport companies, and give tips on how to lower costs. You can also read about the best car shipping companies and start comparing free quotes right away from our top picks.
According to our research, a 1,500-mile open transport shipment typically costs around $1,056. Depending on the company, you could pay anywhere from $884 to $1,598 for that distance, which is why it’s important to compare providers when you shop.
Below are average price ranges for distances of 500, 1,500, and 3,000 miles.
Our team surveyed 1,000 people who had shipped a car, and we learned that 41 percent paid between $1,000 and $2,000 for their shipment. This range of car shipping prices was the most common in the survey.
The price of long-distance car transport services isn’t set in stone. According to Montway Auto Transport, car shipping costs are usually around $1.96 per mile for distances under 500 miles. The rate decreases to 93 cents per mile for distances between 500 and 1,500 miles and drops to 58 cents per mile for distances over 1,500 miles.
Many auto movers work through a bidding process, so prices are typically not fixed, which means it’s possible to get cheap car shipping rates from multiple companies.
In our analysis, we received multiple quotes for shipping a vehicle on an open carrier from New York to San Francisco. Shipping across the country costs about $1,541 between major cities. Quotes ranged from $1,160 to $1,820, with AmeriFreight offering the cheapest cross-country option on average.
Shipping a car long distance, from California to Florida for example, costs more than shipping a car between states. However, it costs less per mile.
Whether you’re shipping a car to a neighboring state or halfway across the country, it’s cheapest to use a shipping broker that offers open car transport. The good news is that most carriers provide this as a standard option and will deliver your vehicle to your door.
The easiest and most cost-effective way to ship a car is through open auto transport (instead of enclosed auto transport). Open-air transporters can fit 10 or more vehicles at once. According to our quote data, the average 1,500-mile open car shipment costs $1,056. Enclosed carriers cost about $1,645 for the same distance.
The most common pickup and delivery option is door-to-door shipping. Most car shipping calculators online default to this service. With door-to-door service, the carrier will meet you at or near your pickup and drop-off locations. Be aware that you may need to meet the carrier on a nearby street or in a parking lot if your neighborhood has limited truck access.
Another cheap vehicle shipping option is terminal-to-terminal transport, where you drop off your car at an auto shipping terminal in one location and pick it up at a terminal at the destination.
Not all car transport companies offer terminal-to-terminal transport, and this type of shipping only makes sense if both cities have a terminal. Also, you may have to wait days or even weeks for an auto carrier to pick up your vehicle.
The extra protection offered by enclosed car shipping is the way to go if you’re shipping a classic or luxury vehicle. You can expect to pay more for enclosed transport, but you can also find lower rates by comparing your options early. Shop at least two weeks in advance to get the best price on an enclosed carrier for your car.
The best way to save money on shipping a car is to compare open car transport quotes at least two weeks before you plan on moving. You can also choose terminal-to-terminal shipping for cheaper service if it’s available on your route.
You can get cheap car shipping quotes from providers in the following ways:
Many factors affect your car shipping cost, including:
Cost is among the most important factors when choosing a car shipping company. However, you certainly want to make sure your carrier is reliable as well as cheap. Only pick an auto shipper that is registered and licensed. Also, make sure your shipper has the proper insurance policies for peace of mind in case your vehicle suffers damage during transport.
The table below shows several of our recommendations for cheap car shipping.
Founded: 2006 Headquarters: Schaumburg, Illinois Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating: A+ with accreditation
Montway Auto Transport is an auto shipping broker that works with over 15,000 motor carriers across the United States. Montway rates are competitive, and customers can ship anywhere in the U.S. The company has no listing fees but does impose a minimum $199 fee if you decide to cancel after a carrier accepts your shipment.
When we reached out to Montway for a car shipping quote, we found lower average costs for open vehicle transport than with almost every other company we contacted.
Montway has a 4.6-star rating from customers on the BBB. For more information about this auto transport company, read our full Montway Auto Transport review.
Our No. 1 choice for auto shipping with low rates and great service. Montway offers low rates, 15 years of industry experience, and 15,000 vetted carriers.
Founded: 2017 Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina BBB Rating: A+ with accreditation
Sherpa Auto Transport has an excellent customer reputation and an A+ rating from the BBB. While the initial quotes you receive from Sherpa may be slightly higher than some competitors, the company offers a Price Lock Promise that ensures you won’t pay more for shipping than your initial quote indicates.
With other auto shipping providers, your initial quote is just an estimate and your final rate may be higher. Sherpa rates may ultimately end up lower than other shippers, and you can have peace of mind that your original quote is the maximum you’ll pay.
Sherpa has a 4.9-star rating from customers on the BBB. Read our full Sherpa Auto Transport review for more information.
Your quoted price or lower is guaranteed with this car shipping company. Sherpa Auto Transport offers a price lock promise, clean car guarantee, and vets all its carriers.
Founded: 2004 Headquarters: Peachtree City, Georgia BBB Rating: A+ with accreditation
One of our top-rated providers overall, AmeriFreight partners with over 10,000 car shipping companies to transport vehicles cross-country. AmeriFreight carefully vets all of its truckers to verify they are fully insured and consistently meet customer expectations.
The AmeriFreight website says the cost to ship a vehicle ranges from $450 to $2,500, with increased fees for shipping to Alaska and Hawaii. Many auto transport brokers do not offer special discounts, but AmeriFreight is an exception. Customers can find the following discounts:
The Early Bird is the only discount AmeriFreight allows you to use in combination with another discount on the same order. Customers can get locked-in pricing by choosing AmeriFreight’s First Class Rate.
AmeriFreight has a 4.9-star rating from customers on the BBB. Read our full AmeriFreight review for more information.
This provider offers more discount options than any other auto shipping broker. Amerifreight also offers 17 years of industry experience, and shipping for motorcycles, RV’s, and ATVs.
Founded: 2013 Headquarters: Youngstown, Ohio BBB Rating: A+ with accreditation
Easy Auto Ship specializes in low-cost auto shipping and relocation services. Rates with Easy Auto Ship average around $1.20 per mile, though this depends on your shipping distance and the other factors mentioned above. Easy Auto Ship offers discounts for military members and veterans, as well as for paying in cash.
Another perk of Easy Auto Ship is vehicle tracking and periodic alerts throughout the transportation process. For example, you get an alert when your car is assigned a driver and when it’s picked up. You can also call the company for a real-time update on the location of your vehicle. In addition to vehicles, Easy Auto Ship can ship RVs, motorcycles, golf carts, and more.
Easy Auto Ship has a 4.6-star rating from customers on the BBB. Read our Easy Auto Ship review for more information.
You can get a discount for paying in cash and great benefits with this shipper. Easy Auto Ship offers low rates, fast pickup times, and shipping options for RVs.
Founded: 2003 Headquarters: Austin, Texas BBB Rating: A+ with accreditation
If you want car shipping for cheap, you can let auto transporters bid directly for the job. uShip is a marketplace where independent carriers bid against each other to transport your vehicle. When reaching out for a quote, you can request an instant quote or post your shipping request to the marketplace for bidding. Instant quotes can be more expensive, so if time allows, we recommend posting your job to find cheap car shipping rates.
In addition to shipping costs, uShip charges a service fee that ranges from $25 to $150. Some shippers carry insurance, but if your carrier doesn’t have insurance, you can purchase it separately.
uShip has a 4.6-star rating from customers on the BBB. Learn more in our complete uShip review.
You can book instantly or let shippers compete for your business. uShip has 18 years of industry experience, instant quotes, and a military discount.
The best way to find affordable car shipping costs is to plan ahead and compare multiple quotes. The earlier you can book, the better chance you have of securing your ideal time frame and finding low rates. We recommend comparing quotes from at least three providers to find the best option.
According to Montway Auto Transport, shipping a 2020 Honda Accord from Raleigh, North Carolina to Austin, Texas through open transport costs $1,289. Your price will depend on vehicle type and size, your shipping time frame, and other factors.
Our research found that AmeriFreight and Montway Auto Transport tend to have some of the cheapest prices in the auto transport industry. The cost of car shipping services varies based on distance and numerous other factors.
The cheapest way to ship a car is to use open car transport services. Other ways to find the lowest vehicle shipping prices include reviewing multiple quotes from providers, being flexible on drop-off and pickup dates, and paying with cash on delivery.
It’s often worth it to ship your car if you are moving over 500 miles. However, if you’re doing a shorter in-state move, you’d save money by driving the vehicle or having someone else drive it.
The cheapest way to ship a car across the country is to use an open car transport service and book at least two weeks in advance. Also, pay the driver with cash upon delivery for a slightly lower price (instead of by credit card online).
The shipping price for a 1,000-mile move could be anywhere from $750 to $1,000 or more. Factors such as the season of the year, distance, transport method, and type of car all affect shipping costs.
Car carriers such as AmeriFreight and Montway offer discounts for transporting multiple vehicles. Montway says vehicles need to be on the same transport carrier and heading to the same location to receive the discount.
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of car shipping companies to formulate rankings of the best transporters. Providers receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
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