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
- AmeriFreight is the best overall choice, with the highest customer rating and gap protection up to $2,000.
- Montway suits long-distance transport, with service across all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Guam.
- Sherpa suits classic and luxury cars, with a Price Lock Promise and coverage up to $1 million.
- SGT Auto Transport suits customer service, with total-refund cancellation and additional insurance up to $250,000.
- RoadRunner suits motorcycle shipping, with real-time GPS tracking.
- uShip suits comparing transporters, with a marketplace model that lets carriers bid.
- Ship a Car Direct suits damage protection, with a damage-free guarantee.
- Easy Auto Ship suits delay protection, with a rental car if delivery is delayed.
- Prices vary sharply by route and vehicle. Cross-country open transport runs about $0.60 to $1.20 per mile, or $1,200 to $2,400 for a 2,000-mile trip, while enclosed transport runs $1.00 to $2.00 per mile. Broker and deposit scam warning: never pay a deposit before a carrier is assigned, verify FMCSA authority, treat the lowest quote as a red flag, and expect pickup windows rather than exact dates.
Quick comparison
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The best companies to ship a car to another state
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
AmeriFreight is the best overall car shipping company, with a 4.9 customer rating across 4,802 reviews and a sample quote of $969. It offers gap protection up to $2,000 on top of carrier insurance, same-day lead time, and service across all 50 states. The AFta PLAN protection adds coverage for gaps that carrier insurance leaves.
The limits are cancellation and tracking. Cancellation costs loss of deposit, and tracking runs via phone or email rather than live GPS. For overall value and protection, AmeriFreight is the best pick.
What we like- Highest customer rating at 4.9
- Gap protection up to $2,000
- Same-day lead time
Watch out for- Cancellation costs loss of deposit
- Tracking via phone or email only
- Sample quote $969 varies by route
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Montway suits long-distance transport, with service across all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Guam, a rare reach that most rivals lack. It has been in business 19 years, offers instant quotes, and handles over 1 million cars shipped. A sample quote runs $1,219, and a 900-mile trip estimate runs $1,029 to $1,299 depending on source.
The trade off is cancellation and tracking. Cancellation costs $249, tracking requires contacting the company rather than live GPS, and quotes tend higher than rivals, though final price depends on carrier bids. For long-distance and territory shipping, Montway is the best choice.
What we like- Service across all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Guam
- 19 years in business
- Instant quotes
Watch out for- Cancellation fee $249
- Tracking requires contacting the company
- Quotes tend higher than rivals
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Sherpa suits classic and luxury cars, with a Price Lock Promise that holds your quoted price and coverage from $100,000 to $1 million. It rates 4.8 across 5,451 reviews, offers same-day lead time, and has shipped over 1 million cars. Cross-country pricing runs $1,250 to $1,500.
The limits are cancellation and tracking. Cancellation costs loss of deposit, and no tracking is listed in comparison tables. For classic and luxury cars with price certainty, Sherpa is the best pick.
What we like- Price Lock Promise
- Coverage from $100,000 to $1 million
- 4.8 rating across 5,451 reviews
Watch out for- Cancellation costs loss of deposit
- No tracking listed
- Sample quote $1,350 is higher than rivals
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SGT Auto Transport suits customer service, with total-refund cancellation, a rare policy in this industry, plus full insurance and an additional $250,000 offered. A sample quote runs $1,192, and cross-country pricing runs $1,100 to $1,300. Price-match and no-deposit options appear in some guides.
The trade off is rating and lead time. The customer rating is 3.7, lower than rivals, minimum lead time is 2 weeks, and service covers 49 states rather than all 50. For flexible cancellation, SGT is the best choice.
What we like- Total-refund cancellation
- Fully insured plus additional $250,000 offered
- Dedicated service focus
Watch out for- Lower rating at 3.7
- 2-week minimum lead time
- Serves 49 states, not all 50
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
RoadRunner suits motorcycle shipping, with a specialty in bikes plus real-time GPS tracking that many rivals lack. Coverage runs from $50,000 to $1 million, and a sample quote runs $1,075. Cross-country pricing runs $1,200 to $1,350.
The limits are cancellation and scale. Cancellation costs $135, and the review base is smaller than Montway or Sherpa. For motorcycle shipping with live tracking, RoadRunner is the best pick.
What we like- Motorcycle shipping specialty
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Coverage from $50,000 to $1 million
Watch out for- Cancellation fee $135
- Sample quote $1,075 varies by route
- Smaller review base than Montway or Sherpa
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
uShip suits comparing transporters, with a marketplace model where carriers bid on your job. It has been in business 20 years, covers all 50 states, and suits shippers who want several quotes in one place. A 900-mile trip estimate runs $936 to $976 depending on source.
The trade off is consistency. A comparison-table sample quote runs $1,625, the highest here, terms vary by carrier, and the rating is 3.5, the lowest here. For comparing quotes across carriers, uShip is still the best marketplace.
What we like- Marketplace model lets carriers bid
- 20 years in business
- Good for comparing quotes
Watch out for- Sample quote $1,625 is highest here
- Terms vary by carrier
- Rating 3.5 is lowest here
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Ship a Car Direct suits damage protection, with a damage-free guarantee that covers claims if your vehicle arrives damaged. A mobile app tracks shipments, and cross-country pricing runs $1,150 to $1,400 with delivery in 5 to 8 days.
The limits are scale and timing. The review base is smaller than top rivals, and delivery times run 5 to 8 days cross-country. For damage protection, Ship a Car Direct is the best choice.
What we like- Damage-free guarantee
- Mobile app for tracking
- Cross-country pricing $1,150 to $1,400
Watch out for- Smaller review base than top rivals
- Delivery times 5 to 8 days cross-country
- Terms vary by carrier
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Easy Auto Ship suits delay protection, with a rental car provided if delivery is delayed, a unique perk in this list. Cross-country pricing runs $1,200 to $1,400, with delivery in 4 to 7 days, among the fastest here.
The trade off is track record. Easy Auto Ship is newer than Montway or AmeriFreight, terms vary by route, and the review base is smaller. For fast delivery with delay backup, Easy Auto Ship is the best pick.
What we like- Rental car if delivery is delayed
- Cross-country pricing $1,200 to $1,400
- Fast delivery at 4 to 7 days
Watch out for- Newer brand than Montway or AmeriFreight
- Terms vary by route
- Smaller review base
How we chose
We compared customer ratings, sample quotes, insurance limits, cancellation terms, tracking, lead times, and service areas. Companies with high ratings and transparent terms scored higher than companies with low ratings or vague terms. We favored companies with price-lock or total-refund policies and noted where sample quotes vary by route. We did not test any company hands-on, and prices here reflect published sample quotes that vary by route, vehicle, and timing.
Buying guide: what to check before you pay
Start with broker versus carrier. Brokers offer wider networks and flexible scheduling, while carriers offer direct service on limited routes. Either way, verify FMCSA authority, since every legitimate broker and carrier is registered there. Next, never pay a deposit before a carrier is assigned. Legitimate companies such as AutoStar, Navi, and Ship a Car Inc charge no deposit until booking, while others charge $100 to $200 only after assignment. Treat the lowest quote as a red flag rather than a bargain, since lowball quotes often rise later when no carrier accepts the job. Ask about insurance in writing too, confirming cargo coverage, deductibles, and whether you need additional coverage from your auto policy, and request a copy of the insurance certificate. Check open versus enclosed transport as well, since open suits normal vehicles while enclosed suits luxury and classic cars. Finally, expect pickup windows rather than exact dates, photograph your car before pickup, and read reviews for patterns in timely delivery, communication, and claims handling.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to another state?
Open transport costs about $0.60 to $1.20 per mile, so a 2,000-mile trip averages $1,200 to $2,400. Enclosed transport costs $1.00 to $2.00 per mile. Final price depends on distance, vehicle size, transport type, and timing.
Should I use a broker or a carrier?
Brokers offer wider carrier networks and flexible scheduling, while carriers offer direct service on limited routes. Verify FMCSA authority for either, and confirm the assigned carrier is licensed and insured before pickup.
Do I need to pay a deposit to book car shipping?
No, not before a carrier is assigned. Some companies charge no deposit at all, while others charge $100 to $200 only after assignment. Never pay a deposit before a carrier is assigned, and treat that demand as a scam warning.
How long does interstate car shipping take?
Cross-country delivery typically takes 5 to 10 days, depending on route and carrier. Shorter interstate trips take fewer days. Expect pickup windows rather than exact dates, since carrier schedules shift with load and weather.
Is my car insured during shipping?
Carrier cargo insurance covers your vehicle during transport, with limits from $50,000 to $1 million depending on company. Ask for a copy of the insurance certificate, check deductibles, and consider gap protection such as AmeriFreight $2,000 coverage for gaps carrier insurance leaves.
Sources we checked (0)
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.
AmeriFreight
Montway
Sherpa
SGT Auto Transport
RoadRunner
uShip
Ship a Car Direct
Easy Auto Ship