How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Sherpa and Montway are the strongest all-around picks for cross-country moves, thanks to price-lock guarantees and large carrier networks.
- AmeriFreight suits budget-conscious shippers who want discounts and extra gap coverage for damage claims.
- Ship a Car Direct fits owners of higher-value cars, with strict carrier screening and a damage-free guarantee.
- uShip works best for flexible shippers who want to compare bids from many carriers in one place.
- Get every quote in writing and confirm whether it is binding, since estimates from some brokers can rise before pickup.
Quick comparison
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The best companies to ship car across country
#1
Montway Auto Transport
Best for: Large network and price protection
Visit montway.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Montway is one of the largest names in consumer car shipping, and scale is its main advantage. With tens of thousands of carriers in its network, it can usually find a truck for common routes faster than smaller brokers, and it ships to all 50 states plus Alaska and Hawaii. You can book online end to end, get an instant quote, and reach support by chat or phone into the evening.
The TruePrice Guarantee is the feature that sets Montway apart: your booked price is locked for 30 days, and Montway covers increases if rates rise during that window. On top of the carrier's cargo insurance, Montway adds $250,000 of contingent cargo coverage at no charge, and you may put up to 100 pounds of personal items in the trunk. The honest catch is delivery timing: Montway does not guarantee delivery dates, and expedited service buys a pickup window rather than a delivery promise. It fits movers who want a big network and price protection on a standard cross-country route.
What we like- Huge carrier network
- TruePrice Guarantee for 30 days
- $250,000 contingent cargo coverage
Watch out for- No guaranteed delivery dates
- Cancellation fee once a carrier is dispatched
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Sherpa built its name on one promise: the price you are quoted is the price you pay. Its Price Lock Promise means no hidden fees and no last-minute increases, which is the complaint that drives most negative reviews in this industry. Sherpa reports a 4.9-star rating across more than 8,000 reviews and a BBB A+ rating, and it has shipped more than 100,000 vehicles since its founding in 2017.
Service is nationwide and door-to-door, with open and enclosed options plus motorcycle, Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping. Sherpa uses a preferred carrier network and keeps customers updated through each step of the shipment. The trade-off is price: Sherpa is rarely the cheapest quote you will receive, and you pay a bit more for the certainty. It fits shippers who would rather pay a fair price once than gamble on a low estimate that rises later.
What we like- Price Lock Promise with no hidden fees
- Strong review record
- Vetted preferred carrier network
Watch out for- Prices run higher than budget brokers on some routes
- No terminal-to-terminal option highlighted
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
AmeriFreight has shipped cars for more than 20 years and stands out for value. It offers discounts for military members, first responders, students, seniors, and returning customers, plus an early-booking discount, and it does not take payment information until you accept a carrier offer. Its published route estimates put a California to Florida open shipment around $1,148 and a Texas to New York run around $1,049, with enclosed running roughly 70 percent higher on those routes.
The optional AFTA plan adds gap protection of up to $2,000 if the carrier's insurance does not fully cover a damage claim, which is useful on open transport where minor damage is harder to spot at delivery. AmeriFreight also ships motorcycles, boats, RVs, and golf carts, not just cars. The drawbacks are the lack of GPS tracking, so you rely on dispatcher updates, and no international service. It fits budget-minded shippers who want discounts and extra claim protection.
What we like- Many discounts
- No upfront payment until a carrier is chosen
- Optional AFTA gap plan
Watch out for- No GPS tracking
- No international shipping
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
uShip works differently from the brokers on this list: it is a marketplace. You list your shipment, carriers bid on it, and you compare prices, reviews, and credentials before choosing. Listing is free with no obligation to book, and uShip Payments holds your money until delivery is confirmed. The platform also offers a protection plan at checkout and a Ship with Confidence Guarantee that may reimburse unrefunded payments up to $500 if a provider fails to complete the job.
That control is also the catch. uShip connects you with carriers but does not vet each one the way a broker screens its network, so you need to read carrier profiles, reviews, and insurance details yourself. Prices vary widely, and the lowest bid is not always the best carrier. uShip fits flexible shippers who enjoy comparing options and are willing to do their own carrier homework in exchange for competitive bids.
What we like- Compare many carrier bids in one place
- Secure hold-and-release payments
- Protection plan available
Watch out for- UShip does not vet every provider itself
- Service quality varies by carrier
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Ship a Car Direct, in business since 2003, screens carriers harder than most brokers: it says it rejects more than 80 percent of carriers that do not meet its standards, and it assigns one carrier for door-to-door pickup and delivery rather than handing your car between terminals. Its damage-free guarantee contributes up to $500 toward your insurance deductible if the carrier's insurance does not cover a claim, and a free app helps you document your car's condition before and after shipping.
The company suggests enclosed transport for cars valued around $70,000 or more, and it publishes a general range of about $300 for short open moves to more than $1,800 for long enclosed moves. The honest catch is pricing: Ship a Car Direct warns that its quotes are estimates, and research has found final carrier prices can run higher than the initial quote. It fits owners of classic, luxury, or high-value cars who care more about carrier quality and damage protection than the lowest price.
What we like- Damage-free guarantee up to $500 toward your deductible
- Strict carrier screening
- No upfront deposit
Watch out for- Quotes are estimates and the final carrier price can differ
- Premium pricing on some routes
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SGT Auto Transport has delivered more than 150,000 vehicles and offers two features that matter when timing is tight: guaranteed pickup dates and a price-match guarantee. If you find a lower quote for the same service from another licensed broker or carrier within 24 hours of booking, SGT will match it. Door-to-door service is standard, online tracking shows order progress, and you may put up to 100 pounds of personal items in the trunk.
Published estimates put a cross-country sedan shipment around $1,100 to $1,400 open and $1,600 to $1,900 enclosed, with enclosed typically 30 to 60 percent more than open. The drawbacks are that quotes expire after 7 days, a $199 cancellation fee can apply in several situations, and SGT does not serve Alaska. It fits shippers with a firm pickup date who want a price-match safety net.
What we like- Price-match guarantee
- Guaranteed pickup dates available
- $0 due at booking
Watch out for- Quotes expire after 7 days
- $199 cancellation fee can apply
- No Alaska service
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Nexus lets you choose how much speed and service you want to pay for. Its economy, standard, and expedited tiers let you trade cost against pickup speed, and an online estimator gives an instant quote from your ZIP codes and vehicle details. Nexus reports more than 500,000 vehicles delivered through 20,000 vetted carriers, with GPS tracking available on most shipments and support throughout the process.
Sample pricing shows a sedan traveling 500 miles around $600 open, while a 2,000-plus mile luxury shipment runs around $1,300 open and $1,800 or more enclosed. The catches are a 25 percent deposit at booking and no guaranteed pricing, so the final cost can shift with driver availability. Nexus also does not offer international shipping. It fits shippers who want clear service tiers and tracking, and who are comfortable with a deposit.
What we like- Economy, standard, and expedited tiers
- GPS tracking on most shipments
- Instant quote estimator
Watch out for- 25 percent deposit required at booking
- No guaranteed pricing
- No international shipping
How we chose
We compared companies that ship cars across the country today, using their own pricing pages, service descriptions, and documentation. We checked public reviews on Google, BBB, Trustpilot, Transport Reviews, and Reddit to see how quotes, pickup timing, and damage claims hold up in practice. We favored companies with clear published terms, a real price protection or guarantee feature, and a mix of large brokers, a marketplace, and mid-size specialists, so the list covers different ways of booking rather than one model repeated seven times.
What to check before you book a car shipment
Car shipping prices are quotes, not fixed prices, unless the company guarantees them in writing. Treat every estimate as a starting point until you confirm the terms.
Open or enclosed transport
Open transport is the standard choice and the cheapest: your car rides on an open trailer with up to nine other vehicles. Enclosed transport shields the car from weather and road debris and typically costs 30 to 60 percent more. For a daily driver, open transport is usually the right call. For a classic, luxury, or freshly painted car, enclosed is worth the premium.
Binding price and cancellation terms
Ask whether the quote is binding or an estimate, how long it stays valid, and what happens if the carrier price rises. Sherpa and Montway lock prices for a set period, while other brokers allow changes. Also ask about cancellation fees and when a deposit is due: some companies charge nothing until a carrier is assigned, while others require a deposit at booking. This article is general information, not financial or legal advice, so read the contract and confirm insurance limits before you sign.
Insurance and inspection
Confirm the carrier's cargo insurance limit and whether the broker adds any gap coverage of its own. Photograph your car from every angle at pickup, note existing damage on the bill of lading, and inspect the car at delivery before you sign. Remove toll tags, keep the tank around a quarter full, and take personal items out unless the company allows a stated weight in the trunk.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car across the country?
For a standard sedan on an open carrier, cross-country shipping typically runs $1,000 to $1,800, while enclosed transport for the same route often runs $1,600 to $2,200 or more. Distance, vehicle size, route popularity, season, and whether the car runs all affect the final quote. Always get quotes from at least three companies for your exact route.
How long does cross-country car shipping take?
Most coast-to-coast shipments take 7 to 10 days in transit, plus a pickup window of a few days. Carriers generally travel 250 to 300 miles per day, and weather, route, and carrier schedules can add time. Book at least two weeks ahead when you can, and build buffer into your plans if you need the car by a fixed date.
Is open or enclosed transport better?
Open transport is better for most cars: it is cheaper, widely available, and safe for daily drivers. Enclosed transport is better for classic, luxury, exotic, or freshly restored cars, where protection from weather and debris justifies the higher cost. If your car is worth around $70,000 or more, most shippers recommend enclosed.
Do car shipping companies offer tracking?
Some do and some do not. Montway notes that online tracking is not available and asks customers to contact the carrier for updates, while Nexus and SGT offer online tracking on most shipments. Ask about tracking before you book if live updates matter to you, and get the carrier's contact details at pickup.
Should I use a broker or a carrier directly?
Most customers book through a broker, which matches your shipment with a vetted carrier from a large network and handles problems if one falls through. Booking a carrier directly can work on common routes, but you take on the vetting and backup planning yourself. Either way, verify the company's USDOT number and insurance before you pay anything.
Can I put personal items in my car during shipping?
Most companies allow up to 100 pounds in the trunk, in a single box or suitcase, but rules vary and carriers are not liable for personal items. Remove valuables, electronics, and loose items, and keep the front seats and floorboards clear. If you need to move more, ask for an all-inclusive price that covers the extra weight.
Sources we checked (7)
- https://www.montway.com
- https://www.sherpaautotransport.com
- https://www.amerifreight.net
- https://www.uship.com
- https://www.shipacardirect.com
- https://sgtautotransport.com
- https://www.nexusautotransport.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Sherpa Auto Transport
AmeriFreight
uShip
Ship a Car Direct
SGT Auto Transport
Nexus Auto Transport