Find out how to ship a car by reading our guide and learn about the auto transport process, shipping costs and which companies offer the best services.
Updated:
Nov 22, 2023
Written by:
Alex Carver
Alex Carver
Writer
Edited by:
Rashawn Mitchner
Rashawn Mitchner
Senior Editor
Whether you’re planning a big move or think one might be in your future, it’s good to know how to ship a car. While shipping your vehicle can seem daunting, the process is fairly simple and straightforward.
In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides Team break down the vehicle shipping process and share tips to help keep your auto transport costs in check. We’ve also reviewed the best car shipping companies to give you an edge in finding the right shipper for your needs.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
How To Ship a Car: The Basics
The easiest way to arrange a car shipment is to use an auto transport broker. These companies work with large networks of trusted carriers that bid on posted auto transport jobs, which helps brokers find the best rates for customers.
You can also use shipping marketplaces like uShip to reach out to carriers directly, but this can be more of a hassle. Brokers vet carriers for you, so when you use a marketplace, you have to do all the research and verify providers’ credentials yourself.
Although brokers don’t all work in the same way, you can expect to follow this basic step-by-step process for shipping a car:
#1 Research Companies and Compare Quotes
You should research the services offered by multiple vehicle transport brokers and gather car shipping quotes online before booking your shipment. With instant quotes, brokers typically ask for this information:
- 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
Each broker offers different auto transport services, but most can ship your car on an open trailer and have access to carriers with enclosed trailers. Enclosed auto transport ensures your car is better protected from hazards like road debris and bad weather.
#2 Get Assigned a Carrier
Once you’ve requested a shipment, most brokers contact you directly to settle details such as the pickup and drop-off times. You may need to pay a shipping deposit, and some brokers may give you the option to pay everything up front.
It could take a few days for the broker to find the lowest-priced bid for your job. Once you have an assigned carrier, you should receive the contact information. If you want to cancel your shipment, most brokers will only let you do this before a carrier is assigned.
#3 Prepare Your Vehicle
Once your shipment has been scheduled, it’s time to prepare your car for its journey. Remove any personal items and leave no more than a quarter tank of gas to reduce its shipping weight. It’s also good to wash your car so you can easily see any existing damage.
#4 Drop Your Vehicle Off
The carrier will pick your vehicle up from either your address (if you chose door-to-door service) or a shipping terminal. There are few things that will happen before your car is loaded onto a trailer:
- You and the transport driver will inspect your vehicle for existing dents, scratches or issues. Make sure to take pictures of the vehicle.
- Your carrier should have a form called the bill of lading to record any damage or issues with the vehicle before it’s shipped. Document any unseen mechanical problems if there are any.
- You and your carrier will both sign the bill of lading, which you can think of as the official receipt of your shipment.
It’s important to get a copy of the bill of lading from your carrier because you’ll use it to file a claim if your car arrives with any new damage.
#5 Stay Updated on Your Shipment
Brokers may have ways to track your shipment, but it varies by company. Some common ways of tracking are through apps or with emails or phone calls to the carrier or broker representatives.
Professional drivers can typically travel between 400 and 500 miles per day, but with bad weather, car accidents or closings of major highways, carriers can arrive later than planned.
6. Meet Your Carrier at the Pickup Destination
Your carrier should contact you 12 to 24 hours before reaching your delivery destination. If you’ve chosen door-to-door transport, your carrier will park as close to your address as legally and safely possible. If your road is tight or has lots of cars, powerlines or trees, your carrier may have to park farther away.
After your car is delivered to its final destination, you’ll inspect it for damages and sign the bill of lading again. It’s common to pay carriers during this time, usually with cash, a money order or a cashier’s check. If you notice any damages, keep your bill of lading copy and contact the carrier and your broker.
How Much Does Car Shipping Cost?
Shipping a car can generally cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, but it depends on a number of factors. To give you a good idea of car shipping costs, our team sourced the following quotes from three brokers for an operable 2018 Honda Civic with door-to-door shipping:
| Auto Shipping Broker | Approximate Shipping Distance | Type of Transport | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montway Auto Transport | 550 miles | Open | $669 |
| AmeriFreight | 1,600 miles | Open | $944 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 1,600 miles | Enclosed | $1,679 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 2,900 miles | Open | $1,625 |
Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs
Distance is the biggest factor that affects the cost of shipping a car, especially for cross-country shipments to urban areas like New York or Los Angeles.
Car Shipping Best Practices
Here are some key strategies you can use for a smooth and affordable car shipping experience:
- Book in advance: Booking at least two weeks in advance gives carriers time to bid on your auto transport job and schedule it. This gives your broker time to find the cheapest price.
- Consider terminal-to-terminal transport: Not every auto shipper offers this service, but if it’s available, you can cut down on costs by having your car picked up from and dropped off at a shipping terminal.
- Look for discounts: Many brokers have discounts for military members, students or federal employees. You may also get a discounted rate by paying cash or in full up front.
- Choose open transport: Shipping your car on an open carrier is significantly cheaper than booking an enclosed trailer. Enclosed trailers can sometimes be worth the extra protection, though.
Before booking, make sure each car carrier you consider is reputable and follows all shipping and insurance laws. Every auto shipper should have a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) identification number. You can use this number to check an auto transport company’s standing on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website.
Our Top Car Shipping Companies
You have a lot of options when it comes to car shipping providers. These are a few of our top-rated picks in the auto transport industry:
| Provider | Overall Rating | Cost Rating | Shipping Methods Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montway Auto Transport | 9.5 | 10.0 | 9.5 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| AmeriFreight | 8.9 | 8.5 | 9.8 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.
#1 Montway Auto Transport: Editor’s Choice
Along with competitive prices, Montway Auto Transport offers shipping to all 50 states. The company has established its reputation for strong customer service by serving over 1 million customers. Montway has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars on Trustpilot.
Keep reading: Montway Auto Transport review
#2 Sherpa Auto Transport: Locked-in Cost
Sherpa Auto Transport carries an A+ rating from the BBB to go with its average customer rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars. The company also has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 stars on Google. Sherpa Auto Transport is best known for its Price Lock Promise, which adds extra peace of mind by locking in your shipping rate with the initial quote. The company will also reimburse you for a car wash if your vehicle is dirty when it arrives.
Keep reading: Sherpa Auto Transport review
#3 AmeriFreight: Best Add-On Insurance Options
AmeriFreight receives 4.7 stars from over 3,200 Google customer reviews, along with an average customer rating of 4.9 stars and an A+ from the BBB. This company offers AFta gap protection that can reimburse you for up to $2,000 of your deductible if your car gets damaged during the shipping process.
Keep reading: AmeriFreight review
How To Ship a Car: FAQ
Montway Auto Transport is the best cheap company to ship your car with, according to our research. We sourced shipping quotes from the shipping broker for a 2018 Honda Civic using open transport and door-to-door service. The estimated cost for a 550-mile shipment was $669. For a 1,600-mile shipment, we received a quote of $1,179.
You begin the car shipping process by comparing quotes and shipping options from car transport services. You then arrange pickup and delivery times with your carrier and pay any necessary deposit. After inspecting your car for existing damage, you sign a bill of lading and send the car on its way. When your car arrives, you and the driver inspect it again and sign the bill of lading again. Finally, you pay any remaining balance to your carrier.
When you ship your car, your company may allow you to put up to 100 pounds of stuff in it, but we don’t recommend this. The personal items will likely not be covered by your carrier’s cargo insurance policy, and the extra weight makes your shipment more expensive.
It can be worth it to ship a car if you’re transporting the vehicle more than 500 miles. When you drive it, you can pack your car with more personal items, but driving puts miles on your vehicle. The costs of food, gas and lodging on the road can also outweigh shipping costs.
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 (30% of total score): Auto shipping companies with affordable rates, locked-in pricing and discount opportunities scored highest in this category.
- Services (25% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for car transport, strong insurance coverage and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Customer Experience (25% of total score): This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings and availability of extras like GPS tracking. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each transporter’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Reputation (20% of total score): Our research team considered availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.
