If you’re looking into shipping your car, staying within your budget is likely a top priority. Along with picking the right company to facilitate your vehicle shipment, there are some things you can do to cut down on the final cost of your auto transport job.
As important as it is, though, cost isn’t the only consideration when choosing a car shipping partner. Steve Yariv, the owner of Dealers Choice Auto Transport, told us that industry reputation should also be a major deciding factor. He explained that customers should hire companies with 5-star ratings and long-standing reputations.
Below, we highlight some of the best car shipping companies and provide a few simple tips for cost-effective auto transport.
Cheapest car shipping companies
The table below summarizes the cheapest car shipping companies in 2024:
Cheap auto transport reviews
We’ll break down each of these companies in the sections below, focusing on customer reviews, auto transport services and overall pros and cons.
For pricing, we’ll consider the average shipping quote we received from each company for both open and enclosed transport. To arrive at these figures, we averaged the cost estimates for shipping an operable 2019 Toyota Camry on various routes between 500 and 2,500 miles.
Mercury Auto Transport
Mercury Auto Transport has some of the lowest rates in the auto transport industry.
What we like
Mercury’s vehicle transport services include open and enclosed car shipping, door-to-door delivery and terminal-to-terminal service. The company ships to all 50 states as well as international destinations. Low car shipping prices round out Mercury’s winning profile.
What we don’t like
Unlike many of its competitors, Mercury Auto Transport doesn’t offer instant online quotes. You have to fill out a form and get an estimate through email, which isn’t a deal breaker but isn’t ideal. Mercury also has a slightly lower rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) than other companies on this list. This rating shows how well a company responds to complaints and customer concerns.
Cost
The average quote we received from Mercury Auto Transport was $778. This is significantly lower than any other vehicle shipping company we’ve reviewed.
- Deposit: Yes
- Discounts: Military, students, seniors
- Payment methods: Broker fee payable by credit card; remainder payable to driver in cash or money order
Services
Along with open and enclosed auto transport services, Mercury allows you to have your car picked up from and delivered to centrally located shipping terminals. Although this requires some extra driving, it’s also a cheaper option than door-to-door delivery.
Availability
Mercury is available in all 50 states and international destinations.
Customer reviews
Online customer reviews of Mercury Auto Transport tell an encouraging story. The company has a 4.7 out of 5 stars from customer reviews on BBB and an even better rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Excellent communication during transport and low car shipping rates are recurring themes in these positive reviews.
Sherpa Auto Transport
Sherpa Auto Transport’s Price Lock Promise gives it an edge in the competitive auto shipping industry.
What we like
Sherpa’s Price Lock Promise means your initial quote won’t change during the course of your auto shipment. If, for some reason, your quoted price can’t secure a carrier, the company will kick in up to $300 to help finalize a deal.
What we don’t like
Sherpa only ships within the continental U.S., so those looking to ship cars to Alaska or Hawaii will need to look elsewhere. It’s also fair to consider that Sherpa has the shortest track record of any company listed here, having only been in business since 2017.
Cost
Sherpa’s average quote was $1,069, the second cheapest next to Mercury Auto Transport.
- Deposit: $250 to $300 once carrier is assigned
- Discounts: Military, multi-vehicle, returning customer
- Payment methods: Credit card for deposit; cash or certified check to driver upon delivery
Services
Along with open and enclosed auto shipping through door-to-door delivery, Sherpa offers expedited service. There’s also the company’s clean car guarantee, which reimburses you for a car wash if your vehicle arrives at its destination looking road-weary.
Availability
Sherpa is available in 48 states but does not offer shipping in Alaska or Hawaii.
Customer reviews
Customer reviews of Sherpa Auto Transport inspire confidence. The company holds an impressive average customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on BBB. Over 1,800 Google reviews offer praise for the company, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Timely deliveries and smooth communication during auto shipments are often referenced in these positive Sherpa reviews.
Montway Auto Transport
Montway Auto Transport is a top car shipping company for its competitive rates and sterling industry reputation.
What we like
Montway gives customers a well-rounded experience. The car shipping broker ships to all 50 states and international locations with affordable vehicle transport rates. We also like how thoroughly Montway vets the carriers in its wide network.
What we don’t like
You won’t get a guaranteed price with Montway, so you may see some additional charges and fees added to your initial quote. The company also doesn’t have a terminal-to-terminal shipping option.
Cost
The average quote we received from Montway was $1,104, and you can get a discount for paying upfront with cash.
- Deposit: When paying in cash, $249 or less to secure a spot on the carrier
- Discounts: Cash discount, military, multi-vehicle
- Payment methods: Credit card or PayPal when paying online; cash, cashier’s check or money order when paying upon delivery
Services
Montway offers open car transport and enclosed auto shipping services with door-to-door delivery. There’s no terminal-to-terminal shipping option. Through our secret shopping experience, we found that Montway features transit times of between three and nine days. Many companies provide ranges of up to 10 or even 14 days.
Availability
Montway serves all 50 states as well as international destinations.
Customer reviews
Montway receives mostly positive feedback from customers online. The company has an A+ rating from BBB, which indicates that it replies to customer complaints on the site.
You’ll also see praise for Montway on Trustpilot, where the company holds an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on more than 1,400 reviews.
SGT Auto Transport
SGT Auto Transport’s price-match guarantee complements its variety of car shipping services.
What we like
SGT features a price-match guarantee that helps it stand out in the industry. The company will match any written quote from a direct competitor. SGT also offers instant quotes online and requires no deposit up front.
What we don’t like
You won’t find Alaska car shipping or terminal-to-terminal service with SGT. Additionally, the company’s rates aren’t quite as cheap as the others in this article.
Cost
The average quote we received from SGT Auto Transport was $1,161. This is the priciest among our top cheap car shipping companies.
- Deposit: None
- Discounts: Military, multi-car, seniors, Sunday savings, student
- Payment methods: Small partial payment by credit or debit card once a carrier is assigned; cash, cashier’s check or money order to pay the remaining balance to the driver
Services
SGT offers open and enclosed auto transport, door-to-door service and expedited vehicle shipping. Along with its price-match guarantee, SGT also provides guaranteed pickup dates.
Availability
SGT serves every state except Alaska.
Customer reviews
You’ll find strong customer reviews for SGT Auto Transport. The company has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on BBB and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Reviews often mention responsive customer service reps and well-executed shipments.
Affordable car shipping: What you need to know
The first step toward finding cheap car shipping costs is to compare quotes from multiple companies. Most auto transport brokers allow you to get a free quote either instantly online or quickly through email.
What are the best ways to get cheap car shipping rates?
These are a few reliable strategies for locking in the lowest auto shipping rates:
- Book in advance: If you book your vehicle shipment several weeks in advance, you’ll give your car transport company more time to sort through car carriers and find the best rate. Shipping a vehicle in a tight time frame will lead to higher transport costs.
- Choose open transport: It’s always easier to find an open trailer for your car shipment than an enclosed carrier. If you can do without the extra peace of mind that enclosed transport offers, open shipping is the cheapest way to go.
- Use shipping terminals: If possible, using shipping terminals located near major highways can get you the best price on your vehicle shipment.
- Take advantage of discounts: Most auto shipping brokers offer discounts to members of the military and students. You can also save by paying in cash upfront. Some companies also give discounts to returning customers.
What determines car shipping rates?
The cost of shipping a car depends on a host of factors. These are some of the key criteria that determine car shipping rates:
- Shipping route: Although a cross-country car shipment will have a lower per-mile rate than a shorter route, it will cost more overall.
- Transport type: Shipping your car on an open-air trailer is cheaper than having it transported in an enclosed hauler. Enclosed auto transport offers more protection from bad weather conditions and road debris and is best for exotic cars, classic cars and luxury vehicles.
- Pick-up and drop-off locations: Door-to-door shipping uses specific addresses at either end of a shipment. This is more convenient but also more expensive than using centrally located shipping terminals.
- Type of vehicle: A standard-size car costs less to ship than a large SUV or pickup truck.
- Vehicle condition: Inoperable vehicles involve extra hassle to load and unload, which makes them more expensive to ship than running cars.
- Time of year: Auto shipping rates are at their highest during the summer (when many families are relocating) and in January (when snowbirds head south to escape harsh winters).
- Fuel costs: When gas prices go up, so does the cost of car transport services.
What information do you need to get a car shipping quote?
You can typically access a car shipping quote with the following information:
- Your car’s make and model
- Your vehicle’s condition (Is it operable?)
- Desired pick-up and delivery dates
- Pick-up and delivery locations (door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal)
- Transport type (open carrier or enclosed trailer)
- Your email address and phone number
Final take: Get quotes from multiple car shippers to find the cheapest rate for your shipment
According to our extensive research into auto transport companies and our rating methodology, these are our top choices, with average shipment cost being the biggest factor influencing rank:
- Mercury Auto Transport: $778
- Sherpa Auto Transport: $1,069
- Montway Auto Transport: $1,104
- SGT Auto Transport: $1,161
Our recommendations for cheap auto transport provide reliable vehicle shipping and competitive pricing. If you compare quotes, book your shipment well in advance and fully explore discount opportunities, you can secure the best possible price for your vehicle shipment.
The companies below are good places to begin finding cheap car shipping quotes:
Our rating methodology for auto shipping companies
We base our auto shipping ratings and recommendations on our proprietary detailed methodology. We’ve assessed key aspects of the customer experience, including pricing, breadth of services offered and overall reputation, to determine which auto shipping companies offer the best service.
Auto shipping providers that meet our standards carry the required licensing and registration as a prerequisite. Each company has also maintained a good reputation via high customer ratings, which cite clear pricing, timely service and multiple shipping options for different vehicle types.
BBB, Google Reviews and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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