Companies & Services

9 Best Companies to Ship Car Across Country in 2026

Compare the 9 best companies to ship car across country on price, guarantees and Trustpilot ratings, with every quote checked November 4, 2026.

Shamim Mia, Founder, SerpAstraLast verified November 4, 202613 min read

We compare pricing pages, documentation and public reviews. We never accept payment for rankings.

Key takeaways

  • AmeriFreight leads this list at 4.6/5 on Trustpilot (710 reviews), Ship a Car Direct matches it at 4.6/5 (835 reviews), and SGT Auto Transport follows at 4.4/5 (1,695 reviews) — all three price per route with a free quote.
  • No company here publishes a flat price: every shipment is quoted by route, vehicle and trailer type, and typical cross-country open-transport quotes run about $800 to more than $1,500.
  • The single most important buying factor is what happens when the price changes: Sherpa locks your quote up to $300, Ship a Car Direct guarantees damage-free delivery, and American Auto Shipping puts the price in writing.
  • Brokers arrange the truck, carriers drive it, and marketplaces let carriers bid — know which one you are hiring before you compare quotes, because only the carrier is liable for damage.
On this page

Quick comparison

Starting prices checked November 4, 2026 on each vendor's pricing page
ToolBest forStarting priceFree plan
AmeriFreightRelocators who want a named agent, a vetted carrier and discounts for military members, students and seniorsCustom quoteNo (free quote)
Ship a Car DirectBuyers who will pay a little more for a damage-free guarantee and one dedicated representativeCustom quoteNo (free quote)
SGT Auto TransportMovers with a fixed date who want a guaranteed pickup window rather than a first-available slotCustom quoteNo (free quote)
RoadRunner Auto TransportShippers who want a long-established broker with strong tracking and cars that often arrive earlyCustom quoteNo (free quote)
uShipPrice-sensitive shippers happy to compare carrier bids and vet the winning carrier themselvesCustom quoteNo (free quote)
Nexus Auto TransportRelocators and dealers shipping classic or high-value cars who want a structured, tracked processCustom quoteNo (free quote)
American Auto ShippingBuyers who want a guaranteed price in writing and an expedited option for a tight moveCustom quoteNo (free quote)
Sherpa Auto TransportOwners of classic or luxury cars who want the quoted price locked, whatever the carrier chargesCustom quoteNo (free quote)
Montway Auto TransportShippers who want the largest carrier network and an instant online quote at any hourCustom quoteNo (free quote)

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The best companies to ship a car across the country

#1

AmeriFreight

Best for: Relocators who want a named agent, a vetted carrier and discounts for military members, students and seniors

Visit amerifreight.net
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free online quote)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

AmeriFreight is the best overall pick because it controls the part of the job most brokers leave to chance: which carrier gets your car. The company only dispatches to carriers holding a 95% or better internal quality rating, and it has run that way since 2004. You get a named agent who stays on the shipment from quote to delivery, and discounts apply for military members, students and seniors.

The quote is free and priced per route, with no flat rate to compare, so get quotes from two or three companies before deciding. The trade-off is the economy quote: the first number can be low, and the final price can rise if the route needs a higher carrier offer. Pick AmeriFreight when you want a real person watching the shipment and a carrier pool that has already been filtered.

What we like

  • Only dispatches to carriers holding a 95% or better internal quality rating
  • A named agent handles the shipment from quote to delivery, with callbacks rather than a call queue
  • Discounts for military members, students and seniors, plus a damage-free guarantee on covered shipments
  • Ships cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs and inoperable vehicles to all 50 states, Hawaii and Alaska

Watch out for

  • Final price can land above the first economy quote if the route needs a higher carrier offer
  • Pickup timing depends on carrier acceptance, so tight dates can slip
  • Damage claims go to the carrier, not to AmeriFreight, and take time to resolve
#2

Ship a Car Direct

Best for: Buyers who will pay a little more for a damage-free guarantee and one dedicated representative

Visit shipacardirect.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free quote from a representative)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

Ship a Car Direct sells one thing the cheapest brokers cannot: a damage-free guarantee. If the carrier will not cover damage found at delivery, the company pays for it up to the policy limit, which removes the worst part of shipping a car — arguing with a carrier you never hired. One dedicated representative handles the shipment from quote to delivery, and reviewers consistently say the quoted price is the price paid.

The price for that certainty is a higher quote. Ship a Car Direct rarely wins a race to the bottom, and there is no instant online calculator — the quote comes back from a representative. A deposit is taken once a carrier is assigned. Choose it when the car is valuable enough that a damage guarantee matters more than saving $100 on the quote.

What we like

  • Damage-free guarantee: the company pays for damage the carrier will not cover, up to the policy limit
  • One dedicated representative from quote to delivery, with direct phone and text contact
  • Reviewers consistently report the quoted price matching the price paid at delivery
  • In business since 2008 with a long record of cross-country and Hawaii shipments

Watch out for

  • Quotes run higher than the cheapest brokers on the same route
  • A deposit is taken once a carrier is assigned, and refunds need a phone call
  • No instant online price — the quote comes back from a representative, not a calculator
#3

SGT Auto Transport

Best for: Movers with a fixed date who want a guaranteed pickup window rather than a first-available slot

Visit sgtautotransport.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free quote from an agent)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

SGT Auto Transport is the pick for a move with a fixed date. Most brokers offer a pickup window of several days; SGT sells a guaranteed pickup date and time for moves that cannot wait for the next available truck. Every shipment is door-to-door, with open and enclosed trailers available, and the company has held FMCSA authority under its own name since 2014.

The guaranteed pickup is a paid option, not the standard service, and there is no instant online quote — pricing comes through an agent after a call or a form. Reviews are strong overall but split on communication when a shipment hits a delay. Book SGT when the calendar is fixed and a missed pickup would cost more than the upgrade.

What we like

  • Guaranteed pickup date and time option for moves that cannot wait for the next available truck
  • Door-to-door service on every shipment, with open and enclosed trailers available
  • BBB-accredited and A-rated, in business since 2014 with its own FMCSA authority
  • Live agents by phone and text, with a real person rather than an automated queue

Watch out for

  • Guaranteed pickup is a paid option, not the standard service
  • No instant online quote — pricing comes through an agent after a call or form
  • Reviews split on communication when a shipment hits a delay
#4

RoadRunner Auto Transport

Best for: Shippers who want a long-established broker with strong tracking and cars that often arrive early

Visit roadrunnerautotransport.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free online quote)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

RoadRunner Auto Transport has shipped cars door-to-door to all 50 states for more than 20 years, and its reviews keep coming back to the same two points: tracking that works and cars that arrive on time, often ahead of schedule. The quote is free and online, and a dedicated dispatch team coordinates the carrier rather than leaving the customer to chase one.

The weak spot is the price after booking. Some reviewers report the final price rising well above the first quote once a carrier is assigned, and support can go quiet after the order is placed. Get the quote in writing and confirm the pickup window before paying. Pick RoadRunner when a proven track record and working tracking matter most.

What we like

  • More than 20 years in business, shipping door-to-door to all 50 states
  • Reviewers praise reliable tracking and cars arriving on time, often ahead of schedule
  • Open and enclosed transport, with expedited pickup for tight timelines
  • Free online quote with a dedicated dispatch team coordinating the carrier

Watch out for

  • Some reviewers report the final price rising well above the first quote once a carrier is assigned
  • Support can be hard to reach after the order is placed, with updates slowing once payment is taken
  • Pickup windows can slip without a proactive update from dispatch
#5

uShip

Best for: Price-sensitive shippers happy to compare carrier bids and vet the winning carrier themselves

Visit uship.com
Starting priceCustom quote (carriers bid per route; free listing and quotes)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

uShip is not a broker or a carrier. It is a marketplace where carriers bid on your shipment, and on competitive routes those bids often come in below broker quotes. You list the car for free, compare bids, message the carrier inside the platform and track the shipment online. The same marketplace also moves motorcycles, boats, RVs, household goods and heavy equipment.

The trade is control for responsibility. uShip does not verify carrier licensing or insurance, so checking the winning carrier's USDOT number and reviews is your job, not theirs. Quality varies by carrier, and protection-plan claims carry a $500 processing fee. Use uShip when price matters most and you are willing to vet the carrier yourself.

What we like

  • Carriers bid against each other, so competitive routes often come in below broker quotes
  • Live online tracking and messaging with the carrier inside the platform
  • Ships cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, household goods and heavy equipment on one marketplace
  • Optional protection plan covers damage up to the selected limit

Watch out for

  • uShip does not verify carrier licensing or insurance, so vetting is the buyer's job
  • Quality varies by carrier — the platform is only as good as the bid you accept
  • Disputes go through the platform's process, and protection-plan claims carry a $500 processing fee
#6

Nexus Auto Transport

Best for: Relocators and dealers shipping classic or high-value cars who want a structured, tracked process

Visit nexusautotransport.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free online quote)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

Nexus Auto Transport has shipped more than 500,000 vehicles, and the process shows it: a structured door-to-door service with live tracking, so the shipment stays visible from pickup to delivery. The company handles classic cars well, with enclosed transport and careful loading for high-value vehicles, and it runs a dealer program for sourcing vehicles from private sellers.

The limits are the usual ones for a broker. Some reviewers report the final price rising above the first quote on tight routes, and delivery runs on a three-day window rather than a single promised day. Expedited pickup costs extra and is not available everywhere. Choose Nexus when you want a tracked, predictable process for a car worth protecting.

What we like

  • More than 500,000 vehicles shipped, with open and enclosed options and expedited timeframes
  • Live tracking and a structured door-to-door process, so the shipment stays visible throughout
  • Classic-car experience, with enclosed transport and careful loading for high-value vehicles
  • Dealer program for sourcing vehicles from private sellers across the country

Watch out for

  • Some reviewers report the final price rising above the first quote on tight routes
  • Delivery runs on a three-day window, not a single promised day
  • Expedited pickup costs extra and is not available on every route
#7

American Auto Shipping

Best for: Buyers who want a guaranteed price in writing and an expedited option for a tight move

Visit americanautoshipping.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free instant quote)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

American Auto Shipping has shipped cars since 1999, and its selling point is simple: the price is guaranteed in writing, so the quoted price is the price paid. Expedited shipping is available for tight moves, and if the carrier misses the promised time, the expedite fee is rebated. Service is door-to-door across the US and internationally, with open and enclosed trailers.

The rating needs a warning label. The Trustpilot profile holds only 21 reviews, so the 3.8 score is a weak signal either way, and some reviewers report late pickups with slow responses when dates slip. Take the guaranteed price, but confirm the pickup window in writing too. Pick it when a price in writing matters more than a big review count.

What we like

  • Guaranteed price in writing — the quoted price is the price paid
  • Expedited shipping available, with the expedite fee rebated if the carrier misses the promised time
  • In business since 1999, shipping cars across the US and internationally
  • Door-to-door service with open and enclosed trailers

Watch out for

  • Trustpilot profile is thin at 21 reviews, so the score is a weak signal
  • Some reviewers report late pickups and slow responses when dates slip
  • Expedited service costs extra, and the rebate only applies to the expedite fee
#8

Sherpa Auto Transport

Best for: Owners of classic or luxury cars who want the quoted price locked, whatever the carrier charges

Visit sherpaautotransport.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free quote with price lock)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

Sherpa Auto Transport exists to fix the most common complaint in car shipping: a quote that rises once a carrier is assigned. Its Price Lock Promise covers up to $300 of any carrier rate increase over the quoted price, and coverage runs from $100,000 to $1 million, which suits classic and luxury cars. No deposit is due until a carrier is assigned, and the quote is clean, with no haggling.

The Trustpilot score needs context. The profile holds only 25 reviews, so the 3.3 score is a thin sample — third-party roundups that track the same company report far stronger ratings. Quotes can also run above cheaper brokers on the same route. Choose Sherpa when the car is valuable and a locked price matters more than the lowest first number.

What we like

  • Price Lock Promise: Sherpa covers up to $300 of any carrier rate increase over the quoted price
  • Coverage from $100,000 to $1 million, sized for classic and luxury vehicles
  • No deposit due until a carrier is assigned to the shipment
  • Clean quote with no haggling — the price quoted is the price paid

Watch out for

  • Trustpilot profile is thin at 25 reviews, so the score is a weak signal
  • No terminal-to-terminal option — every shipment is door-to-door
  • Quotes can run above cheaper brokers on the same route
#9

Montway Auto Transport

Best for: Shippers who want the largest carrier network and an instant online quote at any hour

Visit montway.com
Starting priceCustom quote (priced per route; free instant online quote)
Free planNo — free quote, no free plan

Montway Auto Transport is the biggest name in this list by volume: more than 15,000 carriers in its network and 100,000-plus vehicles shipped a year, to all 50 states. The quote is instant and online at any hour, with live tracking from pickup to delivery and $250,000 in additional cargo insurance on covered shipments. Open and enclosed transport are both available, with expedited options.

Size has a cost. Montway holds the lowest Trustpilot score in this list at 3.2/5 across 2,104 reviews, and the complaints cluster on communication when a shipment is delayed. Delivery dates are estimates, never guarantees, and damage claims go to the carrier rather than to Montway. Pick Montway for reach and speed of quoting — and keep the tracking page open.

What we like

  • Largest network here: more than 15,000 carriers and 100,000+ vehicles shipped a year
  • Instant online quote with live tracking from pickup to delivery
  • $250,000 in additional cargo insurance on covered shipments
  • Open and enclosed transport to all 50 states, with expedited options

Watch out for

  • Lowest Trustpilot score in this list at 3.2/5, with complaints about communication during delays
  • Delivery dates are estimates, never guarantees, and tight timelines can slip
  • Damage claims are filed with the carrier, not with Montway, and take time to resolve

Shipping a car across the country means handing your keys to a stranger and hoping they arrive on the other side on time and undamaged. The nine best companies to ship car across country below are ranked by fit for the most common buyer — someone moving a daily driver coast to coast — and every quote was checked on the company's own site on November 4, 2026. None of them publishes a flat price, so this list compares what actually differs: guarantees, carrier vetting, tracking and Trustpilot ratings.

How to choose the best companies to ship car across country

  • Get three quotes for the same route. Every company prices by route, vehicle and trailer type, so a single quote tells you nothing. Compare the same pickup city, delivery city, vehicle and dates across three companies before you decide.
  • Ask who is liable for damage. Most companies here are brokers, not carriers. The carrier holds the cargo insurance, so ask for the policy limit in writing and check what happens when the carrier will not pay.
  • Check the price-change policy. Quotes rise when carriers ask for more. Sherpa locks the price up to $300, Ship a Car Direct guarantees damage-free delivery, and American Auto Shipping puts the price in writing — know which promise you are buying.
  • Match the trailer to the car. Open transport suits daily drivers and costs less; enclosed transport suits classic, luxury and low-clearance cars and costs substantially more. Do not pay for enclosed on a car that does not need it.
  • Read the pickup window, not just the delivery date. Most companies offer a pickup window of several days, and delivery runs on a window too. If the date is fixed, pay for a guaranteed pickup or an expedited option.
  • Check the Trustpilot review count, not just the stars. A 4.6 from 800 reviews means far more than a 3.8 from 21. Two companies in this list have thin profiles, and their scores are flagged as weak signals in their cards.

A quote is only the start of the comparison. Before you book, search the company by name and read its recent reviews — and if you run a transport business of your own, the free SERP snippet preview tool shows exactly how your pages look in Google search results. The cheapest quote on the first page is rarely the cheapest shipment by delivery day.

Price chart: all nine companies price per route and publish no flat starting price, so no bars are shown
Starting prices: none of the nine companies publishes a flat starting price — every shipment is quoted per route, vehicle and trailer type. Typical cross-country open-transport quotes run about $800 to more than $1,500.

Car shipping across the country pricing: what you will actually pay

Take a sedan going from New York to Los Angeles on an open trailer, with a flexible pickup window. Published cross-country quotes for that kind of move run about $800 to more than $1,500 per shipment, according to FreightWaves' September 2026 review of Montway — and every company in this list would quote that same move differently, because the price is set by the carrier market on the day you book, not by a price list.

Three choices move the number most. First, the trailer: enclosed transport costs substantially more than open, so a daily driver on an open trailer sits at the low end of the range and a classic car in an enclosed trailer sits well above it. Second, the dates: a flexible pickup window lets the broker wait for a carrier already running your route, while a guaranteed pickup date or expedited service adds a premium. Third, the car itself: a running sedan is the cheapest load, while an inoperable vehicle, an oversized SUV or a car with a roof rack costs more to load and carry.

Then there is the payment schedule. Most brokers take a deposit when a carrier is assigned and the balance on delivery, often in cash or certified funds paid to the driver. Sherpa takes no deposit until a carrier is assigned. The deposit is where the cheapest quote can turn expensive: if the carrier asks for more than the quote, some brokers pass the increase on, while Sherpa covers up to $300 of it and American Auto Shipping holds the written price. Before you pay anything, get the deposit amount, the balance amount and the price-change policy in writing.

Matrix showing what each company offers: live online tracking, free quote, AI features and white-label
What each company offers, checked November 4, 2026. A dash means the feature is not offered. Every company gives a free quote; none offers a free service tier.

Know the difference: broker, carrier and marketplace

The biggest confusion in car shipping is who you are actually hiring. A broker arranges the shipment: it takes your order, finds a carrier with space on a truck running your route, and handles the paperwork. A carrier owns the truck and drives your car. A marketplace, such as uShip, is neither: it lists your shipment and lets carriers bid on it, and you pick the winner.

That distinction matters because only the carrier is liable for damage. When a broker's customer finds a scratch at delivery, the claim goes to the carrier's insurance, not to the broker — and brokers differ in how hard they work that claim for you. Ship a Car Direct stands out here because its damage-free guarantee means the company itself pays when the carrier will not. AmeriFreight filters carriers to a 95% internal quality rating before dispatching, which is prevention rather than cure.

A second confusion is the quote itself. A broker's quote is an estimate of what a carrier will accept, not a fixed price, unless the company locks it. Sherpa's Price Lock Promise covers up to $300 of a carrier's increase, and American Auto Shipping guarantees the price in writing. On a marketplace, the bid is the price, but the carrier behind the lowest bid may be the one with the thinnest insurance. Compare the promise behind the number, not just the number.

Quick comparison: tool type by need

BuyerBest pickWhy
Best overall, wants a vetted carrierAmeriFreightNamed agent, 95%-rated carriers only, 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
Valuable car, wants damage coverShip a Car DirectDamage-free guarantee and a dedicated rep, 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
Fixed moving dateSGT Auto TransportGuaranteed pickup date option, 4.4/5 on Trustpilot
Wants the lowest price, will vet the carrieruShipCarriers bid against each other; check the winner's USDOT number first
Classic or luxury carSherpa Auto TransportPrice Lock Promise and coverage up to $1 million
Biggest network, instant quoteMontway Auto Transport15,000+ carriers and an instant online quote, 3.2/5 on Trustpilot

Mistakes to avoid

  • Comparing quotes for different moves. A quote for open transport with a flexible window and a quote for enclosed transport with a guaranteed date are different products. Compare the same route, vehicle, trailer and dates, or the comparison is meaningless.
  • Booking on the lowest first number. The cheapest quote is often an estimate a carrier will not accept. Ask what happens when the carrier asks for more — Sherpa covers up to $300, American Auto Shipping holds the written price, and most others pass the increase on.
  • Skipping the inspection at pickup and delivery. Photograph every panel, note the mileage and sign the bill of lading at both ends. Damage found after you sign a clean delivery receipt is far harder to claim.
  • Loading the car with personal items. Most carriers allow up to 100 pounds in the trunk, but the items are not insured and the carrier can refuse them. Never ship valuables, firearms or hazardous materials in the car.
  • Paying the full price before pickup. The standard pattern is a deposit when a carrier is assigned and the balance on delivery. A company demanding full payment upfront is a warning sign — walk away and get another quote.

How we chose

We checked each company's own quote page on November 4, 2026 and recorded the pricing exactly as shown — in every case a custom quote, since no company here publishes a flat price. We ranked the companies by fit for the most common buyer, a person moving a daily driver coast to coast, not by brand size. Ratings come from each company's Trustpilot page, opened on November 4, 2026; where the Trustpilot page itself would not load that day, we used Trustpilot's own search-indexed listing of the same page, and the two affected companies are uShip and RoadRunner Auto Transport. Two profiles are thin — American Auto Shipping with 21 reviews and Sherpa with 25 — and their scores are flagged as weak signals in their cards. No company paid for a place in this list, and none of the links here are affiliate links.

What to do next

Get three quotes for your exact route, vehicle and dates — AmeriFreight, Ship a Car Direct and SGT Auto Transport are the shortlist to start with — and compare the price-change policy and the insurance limit, not just the first number. Photograph the car at pickup, keep the bill of lading, and check the tracking page daily once the car is loaded. If the move is part of a bigger relocation and new customers need to find your business online, our monthly SEO service handles the visibility side — or compare providers in our guide to SEO companies for small business. Once your tools are in place, find out what's holding your rankings back.

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Sources we checked (19)
Shamim

Shamim

Founder of SerpAstra

A full-stack SEO and digital marketer who spends most days on Local SEO for dental practices, AI search visibility and lead generation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?

Typical cross-country open-transport quotes run about $800 to more than $1,500 per shipment, according to FreightWaves' September 2026 review of Montway. The exact price depends on the route, the vehicle size, open versus enclosed transport, and how flexible the pickup window is. Every company in this list prices per route, so get three quotes.

How long does it take to ship a car across the country?

Coast-to-coast transport usually takes 7 to 14 days from pickup to delivery, depending on the route and the carrier's schedule. Pickup itself usually happens 1 to 5 days after booking. Enclosed transport and rural pickup or delivery addresses can add days, so book at least two weeks ahead when the date matters.

What is the difference between a broker, a carrier and a marketplace?

A broker arranges the shipment and hires the carrier; a carrier owns the truck and drives it; a marketplace like uShip lets carriers bid on your shipment. Most companies in this list are brokers. Only the carrier is liable for damage, so ask who carries the cargo insurance and what its limit is before you book.

Is my car insured while it is being shipped?

Yes, the carrier's cargo insurance covers the vehicle in transit, and brokers such as Montway add up to $250,000 in additional coverage on covered shipments. Ask for the policy limit in writing before booking, photograph the car at pickup, and note any damage on the delivery bill of lading — claims without that note are routinely denied.

Can I put personal items in the car when I ship it?

Most carriers allow up to 100 pounds of personal items in the trunk, but the items are not insured and the carrier can refuse them. Keep the car under a quarter tank of fuel, remove toll tags and loose items, and never ship valuables, firearms or hazardous materials. Check the company's written policy before loading anything.

Should I choose open or enclosed transport?

Open transport is the standard choice: cheaper, widely available and fine for daily drivers. Enclosed transport protects the car from weather, road debris and prying eyes, and it suits classic, luxury and low-clearance vehicles. Enclosed typically costs substantially more and needs a longer booking window, so reserve it for cars worth protecting.

Do I have to pay upfront to ship my car?

Usually you pay a deposit when a carrier is assigned and the balance on delivery, often by cash or certified funds to the driver. Some companies, such as Sherpa, take no deposit until a carrier is assigned. Never pay the full price before pickup, and get the payment schedule in writing before you book.

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