Car Shipping Quotes Online

Getting car shipping quotes online is one of the easiest and fastest ways to find out how much shipping your vehicle will cost. While only some auto transport companies offer free instant quotes online, there are multiple ways to get estimates.

This article will uncover what you can expect when searching for car shipping quotes online. We’ll also explore how to find auto shipping quotes and look at some car shipping companies that create hassle-free experiences and peace of mind.

Getting car shipping quotes online takes drivers beyond initial transport rates. When you request car shipping quotes online, an auto transport company asks for detailed vehicle information, your shipping needs, and desired add-ons. The car shipping provider then calculates a shipping quote, which better reflects how much transporting your vehicle will cost.

While some car shipping providers honor this quote, most consider it a non-binding estimate. In these cases, your final price could be slightly higher or less than the original quote. Don’t expect much difference, but know that your final rate could be slightly off your first car shipping quote online.

Is It Worth It To Ship A Car?

Drivers who seek out car shipping quotes online from reputable vehicle movers are usually pleased with their experiences. Having a car shipping company transport your car reduces hassle, eliminates time spent on the road, and eliminates potential damage and wear and tear on your vehicle.

We asked motorists in our 2021 shipping survey about their satisfaction with the car shipping process, and our findings are listed below:

Suppose it’s your first time considering vehicle transport. In that case, you likely have no idea what numbers to expect when requesting car shipping quotes online. Most drivers pay between $1,000 and $2,000 for auto transport services. Still, this number varies based on the specifics of your vehicle (make, model, year, etc.) and the distance that haulers travel.

Car Shipping Company Quotes

Below are some average quotes from our top car shipping companies. These quotes are an average of the provider's 500, 1,500, and 2,700-mile shipments.

You'll find instant quotes from many of the best auto shipping companies. Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Easy Auto Ship, and uShip all have free car shipping quotes online, so be sure to find the best price using their quote calculators.

It’s easy to get car transport quotes, but most drivers also care about pricing. Luckily, there’s a pretty easy process for finding cheap car shipping quotes online from the industry’s top auto transporters.

You need to know which car shipping companies are at the top of the industry. Our 2021 car transport survey showed us which are leaders in the space, and we’ll provide our findings below:

You’ll likely notice that “other” is the most common choice among drivers. That’s because there are countless options for auto transport on the market, which ultimately leads to lower prices for motorists who seek out car shipping quotes online from at least a few providers.

Remember that one company may have better rates for shipping vehicles over short distances. At the same time, another might be more cost-effective for long-distance moves. The only way to know for sure is to compare various car shipping quotes online.

After comparing average rates, car delivery services, and customer reviews, Montway Auto Transport and Easy Auto Ship are our top choices in the auto transport industry. Both moving companies offer free car shipping quotes online, so you can easily discover your rate estimate.

Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

Average Car Shipping Cost: $1,097

Availability: US mainland, Hawaii, Alaska, and international locations

Services: Open, enclosed, international, expedited, door-to-door shipping

Montway Auto Transport has been one of the country's most popular car transportation providers since 2006, and it ships over 250,000 vehicles per year. The transporter vets each of its 30,000 auto transport partners to ensure that customers receive standout service and strong cargo insurance policies.

Positive Montway Auto Transport reviews online yield ratings of 4.7 stars out of 5.0 on Google along with 4.6 stars and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Easy Auto Ship: Best Added Benefits

Average Car Shipping Cost: $1,168

Availability: US mainland, Hawaii, Alaska, and international locations

Services: Expedited, international, door-to-door, terminal-to-terminal, open, alternative vehicle, enclosed auto transport

Easy Auto Ship holds a reputation as a low-cost car transport service that offers some unique benefits. For example, the company will pay for a car wash if your vehicle arrives at its destination dirty. The car shipping company will also reimburse you for the cost of a rental car if your vehicle takes more than 14 days to arrive.

Easy Auto Ship reviews are largely positive. The BBB awards the company an A+ rating and accreditation for its services, and customers on the BBB website give the provider an average of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. Similarly, Easy Auto Ship gets 4.6 out of 5.0 stars based on over 2,900 Google reviews.

Cost-per-mile estimates are far from the best way to estimate car transport pricing. After all, numerous variables in the car shipping process can significantly affect how much it costs to move your vehicle. See below for the main factors affecting your online car shipping quotes.

Car Transport Type

Open shipping is cheaper than enclosed shipping but exposes your vehicle to weather conditions and road hazards. Your car is better protected with an enclosed trailer, but shipping will be higher.

Pickup and Drop-Off Methods

Terminal-to-terminal shipping means your car is picked up and dropped off at a centralized location. This method is generally cheaper than door-to-door transport, where your vehicle heads to specific delivery locations.

Type of Vehicle

Larger cars typically cost more to ship than smaller ones. Vehicles like SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks may carry a premium, while motorcycles could have different rates.

Vehicle Operability

Your vehicle’s condition and operability status will significantly influence the transport prices you receive from car shipping quotes online. An inoperable vehicle will cost considerably more to ship than an operational one.

Time of Year

Vehicle shipping rates fluctuate depending on the time of the year. In general, increased demand makes the summer months and January the most expensive times to ship a car.

Fuel Costs

Fuel is one of auto transport carriers' highest car transport costs. When fuel prices go up, expect shipping prices to rise quickly.

Pickup Date and Delivery Date

Auto shippers' availability changes depending on your selected day, which easily influences the cost of shipping your car. Being open to alternate dates can save drivers considerable money compared to if the car shipment has to occur on a specific timeline.

Distance

The farther you ship your car, the more expensive your auto transport quote will likely be. However, auto transport providers reduce the cost per mile for cross-country moves such as from Boston to Los Angeles or Seattle.

Many drivers believe that the only time to get car shipping quotes online is when a long-distance move is involved. That's not the case, as a large proportion of vehicle moves are under 500 miles in total. Consider the distance results from our 2021 shipping survey:

Q & A

What's the cheapest way to ship my car?

The cheapest way to ship your car with an auto transport service is by transporting it terminal-to-terminal using open transport. Choosing an open carrier instead of enclosed car shipping and terminal-to-terminal instead of door-to-door will greatly reduce your overall costs.

Is shipping a car expensive?

The cost to ship a car varies greatly based on many factors. In general, expect to pay between $500 and $1,500 to ship a car from one point to another in the US. However, your transport cost could fall outside that range if the vehicle shipment is particularly long or short or if you own classic cars or other vehicles with specialized needs.

Does AAA offer car shipping?

A vehicle transport company called AAA Transporters does ship cars, but it is in no way affiliated with the well-known roadside assistance provider AAA.

What is the cheapest company to ship your car?

The cheapest companies to ship your car are Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, and AmeriFreight. We ranked these companies highly for their competitive car shipping rates along with for their service offerings and customer service.

Is it cheaper to ship a car or buy one there?

It's almost always cheaper to ship your car than to sell it and buy a new one later. It may not be worth shipping your car if it's nearing the end of its life, though.

Can I put stuff in my car when I ship it?

You can usually put up to 100 pounds of personal items in your car when you ship it. More than that isn't permitted, as it weighs down the truck that's moving your vehicle.