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Cheap Car Shipping

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The best cheap car shipping companies in 2024 are Mercury Auto Transport, Ship a Car Direct, and SGT Auto Transport, according to our research.

Crash Course:

  • The cheapest car shipping provider in our 2024 study is Mercury Auto Transport, with an average overall cost of $760 across all distances and transport types.
  • Auto transport costs typically range from around $565 to around $2,685 in total, but costs are highly variable and depend on a number of factors.
  • Keeping your dates flexible, booking well in advance, and choosing open transport services can help you to get affordable rates.
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Featured Car Shipping Companies

We reviewed the industry’s top car shipping providers. Here are our featured picks:

Best Service Options
Montway

Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0

Explore Plans

On Montway’s Website

(844) 601-0286

Or Call Montway Directly

Best Customer Experience
SGT

Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0

Locked-In Pricing
Sherpa

Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0

Easy Online Quotes
Nexus

Our Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0

Like many things these days, cheap car shipping seems harder and harder to find. To help you find the best price for your upcoming car shipment, our research team pulled cost and provider data from our wide-ranging study of the auto transport industry.

In the following article, our car transport experts included pricing estimates from some of the best and most affordable car shipping companies. You’ll also find helpful information about how pricing works for car transport services and some tips to help you get the cheapest rates you can.

Cheapest Car Shipping

Car shipping costs vary widely, with rates typically ranging from $565 to $2,685. Our researchers found per-mile shipping rates as cheap as $0.47 up to as much as $2.03. In general, auto shippers charge less per mile as shipping distance increases. Other variables such as whether you choose open or enclosed transport to ship your car also factor into shipping costs.

In the following sections, we included real quotes from our car shipping research and industry averages to offer a better idea of which provider may have the cheapest prices for your needs.

Cheap Car Shipping Secret Shopping Methodology

The Automoblog research team conducted secret shopper research as part of our 2024 car shipping industry study. To ensure an accurate comparison, we requested quotes for identical shipping jobs for a 2020 Nissan Rogue. Here are the details of the jobs we requested:

  • 535-mile shipment in an open container from Orlando, FL to Durham, NC
  • 1,500-mile shipment in an open container from San Francisco, CA to Austin, TX
  • 1,500-mile shipment in an enclosed container from San Francisco, CA to Austin, TX
  • 2,445-mile shipment in an open container from New York, NY to Los Angeles, CA

What Are The Cheapest Car Transport Companies?

Based on the results of our 2024 secret shopping study, Mercury Auto Transport, Ship a Car Direct, and SGT Auto Transport are the cheapest options for reliable car shipping. The table below shows our top providers for 2024 and their average quote across all shipments we requested.

Car Shipping CompanyAverage Per-Mile Cost
(All Shipments)
Average Total Cost,
All Shipments
Mercury Auto Transport$0.86$760
Ship a Car Direct$0.91$788
RoadRunner Auto Transport$1.02$865
SGT Auto Transport$1.02$886
AmeriFreight$1.09$898
Montway Auto Transport$1.09$944

If you’d like to learn more about these providers, you can read our summaries at the end of the article.

Cheapest Open Car Transport

Open transport is the most common and typically the cheapest way to ship a car. In our 2024 secret shopper study, Mercury Auto Transport gave us the cheapest average quotes for open container shipping across all distances. The table below shows average open shipping rates from our study.

Car Shipping CompanyAverage Cost Per Mile,
Open Shipping
Average Total Cost,
Open Shipping
Mercury Auto Transport$0.85$888
Ship a Car Direct$0.89$950
SGT Auto Transport$1.01$1,045
RoadRunner Auto Transport$1.02$975
AmeriFreight$1.07$998
Industry average$1.12$1,181
Montway Auto Transport$1.09$1,306
Sherpa Auto Transport$1.14$1,158
Nexus Auto Transport$1.14$1,252
Easy Auto Ship$1.29$1,318

Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport

Mercury Auto Transport also gave us the cheapest quotes for a 1,500-mile shipment in an enclosed container. See quotes for enclosed shipping in the table below.

Car Shipping CompanyPer-Mile Cost
(1,500 Miles, Enclosed Transport)
Total Cost
(1,500 Miles, Enclosed Transport)
Mercury Auto Transport$0.88$1,325
Ship a Car Direct$0.95$1,425
RoadRunner Auto Transport$1.03$1,542
SGT Auto Transport$1.04$1,559
Montway Auto Transport$1.10$1,649
AmeriFreight$1.15$1,732
Industry average$1.25$1,877
Easy Auto Ship$1.28$1,924
Nexus Auto Transport$1.31$1,965
Sherpa Auto Transport$1.33$2,000

Cheap Short-Distance Car Transport

While overall costs are lower for short-distance car shipments, the per-mile cost can be much higher than for longer shipping jobs. For our 535-mile car shipping request, Mercury Auto Transport gave us the cheapest quote. See other quotes in the table below.

Car Shipping CompanyCost Per Mile
(535 Miles, Open Shipping)
Total Cost
(535 Miles, Open Transport)
Mercury Auto Transport$1.06$565
Ship a Car Direct$1.12$600
A-1 Auto Transport$1.18$629
SGT Auto Transport$1.29$691
Nexus Auto Transport$1.36$725
RoadRunner Auto Transport$1.37$735
Montway Auto Transport$1.42$759
Industry average$1.43$764

Cheap Long-Distance Car Transport

Even small differences in per-mile costs between carriers add up across the thousands of miles in long-distance shipments, such as the cross-country New York to Los Angeles shipment we requested for our Nissan. Mercury Auto Transport gave us the most affordable quote for our shipment, at a few cents per-mile cheaper than the other providers listed in the table below.

Car Shipping CompanyCost Per Mile
(2,445 Miles, Open Shipping)
Total Cost
(2,445 Miles, Open Transport)
Mercury Auto Transport$0.47$1,145
RoadRunner Auto Transport$0.49$1,195
AmeriFreight$0.49$1,199
Ship a Car Direct$0.52$1,275
SGT Auto Transport$0.56$1,364
uShip$0.56$1,359
National Express Auto$0.57$1,400
Sherpa Auto Transport$0.59$1,450
Industry average$0.63$1,553
Nexus Auto Transport$0.68$1,665
Easy Auto Ship$0.70$1,718
Montway Auto Transport$0.83$2,029

Is Shipping a Car Expensive?

If you find the right provider and service, shipping a car will be less expensive than you think. All of the estimates we received in our research fell between $565 to $2,685. The average quote for a 1,500-mile shipment between two urban areas was $1,227. However, your cost could easily be cheaper or more expensive, depending on your needs and preferences.

Car Shipping Cost Factors

There are many factors that go into the rates auto transporters charge for shipping. Some of these are out of your control. However, you can get cheaper car shipping by choosing less expensive options when you can. The variables that go into your auto transport rates include:

  • Vehicle condition: Operable vehicles are more likely to get cheap vehicle shipping rates.
  • Fuel cost: Gasoline is one of the biggest costs for car carriers, so when gas prices go up, you can expect your auto shipping rates to go up, too.
  • Type of vehicle: Larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs tend to cost more to ship than smaller cars like sedans. In many cases, more expensive vehicles may also cost more to ship than cheaper ones.
  • Delivery time frame: Some shippers offer guaranteed delivery windows for an extra fee. If you want cheap car shipping, you’ll need to be flexible about your delivery time.
  • Time of year: Car shipping prices are seasonal to reflect demand. January and the summer months are typically the most expensive.
  • Delivery method: When available, terminal-to-terminal shipping is usually cheaper than shipping your car door-to-door.
  • Pickup and delivery locations: Auto transport companies tend to charge less for pickup and delivery locations that are near urban centers or along major transport routes. If your location is in a more rural area, you may be able to get a cheaper shipping rate by meeting your driver in a more convenient location.
  • Shipping distance: While long-distance moves like a cross-country shipment usually cost more than shipping a car short distances, you’ll usually pay less per mile the longer the shipment.
  • Transport type: Shipping your vehicle on an open carrier is typically more affordable than transporting it in an enclosed trailer.
  • Route competition: Market conditions play a major role in setting car shipping prices. The more auto transport carriers that serve a route, the cheaper your shipment should be.
  • Service options: Additional auto transport services like expedited shipping and extra insurance add to the cost of your shipment.

Types of Car Shipping

Most providers offer several options when you book a car shipment. If you’re looking for cheap car shipping, you’ll need to stick to the more budget-friendly options. However, if you have more specialized needs, it may be worth considering the added cost of alternative options.

The types of auto shipping you’ll find include:

  • Open carrier shipping: Transporting your car in an open-air container is the least expensive option, but it exposes your vehicle to damage from road debris, inclement weather, and more.
  • Enclosed trailer shipping: You can choose to ship your vehicle in an enclosed container. This option offers more protection from damage, but also costs more than open shipping.
  • Expedited shipping: If you need to transport your car in a hurry, many companies offer faster shipping options for an additional fee.
  • Terminal-to-terminal shipping: When available, the option to ship a vehicle from one central location to another is a good way to save money on auto transport.
  • Door-to-door transport: Most providers offer the option to ship your car from your old address to your new address, but it’s more expensive than terminal-to-terminal shipping, when you have the choice.
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Cheapest Ways To Ship a Car

Over the course of our research, we found a few things you can do to get cheaper car shipping rates. These include:

  • Booking in advance: When you book your shipment ahead of time, you’ll have more time to shop around for options. If you’re using a shipping broker, this also leaves more time for carriers to get competitive for your business.
  • Being flexible about your timeline: You’ll open bidding to more vehicle movers with a wider pickup and dropoff window, which could bring your final price down in the process. If you need a specific delivery date, you’ll have to pay extra.
  • Choosing terminal-to-terminal shipping: When possible, it’s cheaper to drop your car off and pick it up at a shipping terminal than the door-to-door shipping option.
  • Opting for open auto transport: If you are shipping a classic car or other high-value vehicles, the additional protection of an enclosed carrier may be worth the extra cost. If you want to save money, using an open carrier tends to be cheaper.
  • Traveling to a convenient pickup or delivery location: If you live in an out-of-the-way rural area or are moving to one, you may want to consider meeting your driver in a more convenient place. Transporters usually charge less when pickup and drop-off locations are near urban centers or along major highways.
  • Shopping around: As you can see from the rate tables above, shipping rates vary between providers even for the same shipment. Getting free quotes from several providers allows you to see which one offers the best prices for your needs.

Top Cheap Car Shipping Companies

While cheap rates are important, prices aren’t the only thing that matter. Not every car transport company is as dependable and trustworthy as the next.

Our team evaluated providers based on the ease of their shipping process, the services they offer, and their reputations among industry rating organizations and car shipping customers. Below, you’ll find three of the top performers in our most recent auto transport study.

#1 Mercury Auto Transport: Best Overall

Mercury Auto Transport gave the cheapest quotes for a majority of the jobs we requested. In addition to those cheap rates, Mercury also tied for the highest overall score in our 2024 car shipping study, thanks in part to its broad selection of shipping options.

The company’s stellar reputation for customer service also helped it reach the top spot for 2024. Mercury Auto Transport currently has a 4.8- out of 5.0-star rating from customers on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Its guaranteed pricing policy virtually eliminates the sticker shock of price increases – one of the most common complaints from car shipping customers throughout the industry.

#2 AmeriFreight: Best Value

AmeriFreight ships to all 50 states and offers a wide selection of discounts. The company offers reduced rates to first responders, students, active-duty military members, health care workers, and older adults. AmeriFreight ships motorcycles, RVs, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and even boats.

On the BBB website, AmeriFreight receives 4.7 out of 5.0 stars from previous customers. The company also boasts a 4.7- out of 5.0-star rating based on more than 3,700 customer reviews on Google.

Continue reading: AmeriFreight Review

#3 Montway Auto Transport: Best Service Options

Montway Auto Transport works with over 30,000 verified carriers across the U.S. to provide you with competitive car shipping costs on most routes. The company offers expedited shipping, guaranteed pickup dates, and door-to-door services. Montway Auto Transport ships to all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii and to international locations as well.

Customers give Montway Auto Transport high marks on various review sites. The company has 4.5 out of 5.0 stars from over 1,700 customer reviews on the BBB website. Montway Auto Transport also earns 4.7 out of 5.0 stars on Google with over 18,000 reviews.

Continue reading: Montway Auto Transport Review


Cheap Auto Transport: Conclusion

You can find cheap car shipping compared to average transport costs if you know where to look and what your options are. Choosing cheaper vehicle transport options, planning ahead, and being flexible can help you get the lowest rates available.

However, the most important step is getting car shipping quotes from multiple providers and comparing them. Most providers offer instant quotes online.

But remember: price isn’t everything. Choosing a reputable provider can help ensure peace of mind while your car is being transported to its new home.

Cheap Car Transport: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about cheap car shipping services.

What is the cheapest company to ship your car?

Mercury Auto Transport, Ship a Car Direct, and SGT Auto Transport were the cheapest companies to ship a car in our 2024 study. However, car shipping costs are highly variable and depend on a multitude of factors. That means that another provider may end up being the cheapest for you.

How can I save money on car shipping?

It’s much easier to save money on car shipping if you compare quotes from multiple providers, book early, and opt for terminal-to-terminal transport using an open shipping method. While getting enclosed auto transport and having the car delivered to your house is nice, you’ll have a much tougher time finding cheap car shipping.

Is it cheaper to ship or drive a car?

It’s typically cheaper to drive a car if you only need to move it a few hundred miles. However, it’s probably cheaper to ship your vehicle for longer moves, where you’d need to factor in costs such as food, lodging, and lost wages.

How much will it cost to ship my car?

The average cost to ship a car varies greatly. In addition to shipping distance, factors such as the type of transport you choose, the time of year, and where your pickup and dropoff points are can all affect the cost of your shipment.

Can I ship personal items with my car?

Some carriers allow you to ship personal items inside your car. However, they typically have weight restrictions and requirements about how these items are packed.

Our Methodology

Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best car shipping companies.

  • Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, services, and shipping routes to give this rating.
  • Shipping Options: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that an auto transport company offers an array of services. We take into account the availability of services, ability to guarantee pickup and drop-off dates, and insurance coverage options.
  • Operations: We take a close look at how each auto transport company operates, including how quickly vehicles get picked up, average transit times, insurance coverage options, and more.
  • Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, a company’s history of service, and years in business when giving this score.
  • Customer Service: Reputable car shippers operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.

*Data accurate at time of publication.