Auto transport doesn’t have to be expensive if you know where to look. Our team has thoroughly researched every major shipping provider to uncover the best choices for cheap car shipping. In this article, we’ll dive into our top five options for low-cost vehicle transport before looking into how to keep costs down.
One of the best ways to find cheap car shipping is by getting free, no-hassle quotes from some of the industry’s best car shipping companies before making your final choice.
Cheap Car Shipping Companies |
Our Rating |
Cost Rating |
|---|---|---|
Easy Auto Ship |
4.4 |
4.0 |
Montway Auto Transport |
4.7 |
4.5 |
AmeriFreight |
4.5 |
4.6 |
Sherpa Auto Transport |
4.6 |
4.5 |
uShip |
4.5 |
4.5 |
Cheap Car Shipping Companies
While no provider has a complete lock on cheap car shipping, certain ones tend to rise to the top. Our review team examined every major affordable car shipping company in the industry, looking at their average cost for open transport of a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. As you can see, Golden Key Express has the cheapest car shipping rates for these specifications.
Cheapest Car Shipping Companies
| Company | Average Cost per Mile |
|---|---|
| Golden Key Express | $0.78 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $0.84 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $0.85 |
| American Auto Shipping | $0.93 |
| AmeriFreight | $0.94 |
| Gartho Logistics | $0.94 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $0.95 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $0.99 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | $1.00 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1.02 |
Best Car Shipping Rates
After looking at the cheapest car shipping companies, we will break them down by different variables. Here, we will compare the cheapest car shipping rates for short and long-distance shipments.
Cheap Long-Distance Car Transport
The table below shows the most affordable car shipping companies for a 2,761-mile shipment of a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. At only $0.40/mile, AmeriFreight is our choice for long-distance car shipping.
| Provider | Approx. Mileage | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | 2,761 miles | $0.40 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | 2,761 miles | $0.44 |
| Gartho Logistics | 2,761 miles | $0.46 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 2,761 miles | $0.52 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 2,761 miles | $0.56 |
| Golden Key Express | 2,761 miles | $0.61 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 2,761 miles | $0.62 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 2,761 miles | $0.63 |
| American Auto Shipping | 2,761 miles | $0.63 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 2,761 miles | $0.65 |
Cheap Short-Distance Car Transport
Mercury Auto Transport is the cheapest option for short-distance car shipping at only $0.97/mile. Similar to long distance, these are rates for a 2018 Hyundai Elantra, but this shipment is 515 miles.
| Provider | Approx. Mileage | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | 515 miles | $0.97 |
| Ship a Car Direct | 515 miles | $0.97 |
| Ship a Car Inc | 515 miles | $0.97 |
| Golden Key Express | 515 miles | $1.00 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 515 miles | $1.10 |
| American Auto Shipping | 515 miles | $1.22 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 515 miles | $1.28 |
| uShip | 515 miles | $1.32 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 515 miles | $1.36 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 515 miles | $1.41 |
Cheap Car Shipping Services
The two most popular car shipping services are open and enclosed car transport. Open transport will expose your vehicle to the outside world, and enclosed transport will cover your vehicle. As you will see in the tables below, open transport is typically cheaper than enclosed transport.
Cheapest Open Car Transport
Our research shows that Golden Key Express is the cheapest provider of open car transport. See how its $0.74/mile rate compares to other companies.
| Provider | Approx. Mileage | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Key Express | 1,504 miles | $0.74 |
| AmeriFreight | 1,504 miles | $0.81 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $0.81 |
| Gartho Logistics | 1,504 miles | $0.82 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $0.88 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $0.94 |
| American Auto Shipping | 1,504 miles | $0.94 |
| Ship a Car Inc | 1,504 miles | $0.96 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $0.99 |
| Easy Auto Ship | 1,504 miles | $1.01 |
Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport
For enclosed car transport, AmeriFreight, at $0.94/mile, is the cheapest company. See how AmeriFreight’s prices compare to others for a 1,504-mile shipment.
| Provider | Approx. Mileage | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | 1,504 miles | $0.94 |
| Gartho Logistics | 1,504 miles | $0.95 |
| Ship a Car Inc | 1,504 miles | $1.13 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.13 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.17 |
| A-1 Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.18 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.18 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.21 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.23 |
| Door to Door Transport | 1,504 miles | $1.23 |
Cheapest Way To Ship A Car
The cheapest way to ship a car is through open auto transport instead of enclosed auto transport. Our research shows open transport costs around $1,350 on average for a 1,500-mile shipment, while enclosed carriers average to $2,015. Here are the different ways you can ship your vehicle:
Types Of Car Shipping
Open vehicle transport |
While this is the most common transport service, open auto transport means your vehicle will be exposed to the elements. This shipping process is best for budget conscious-drivers. |
|---|---|
Door-to-door |
Drivers moving from one home to another may prefer door-to-door transport, in which the vehicle is picked up and dropped off as close as possible to the customer’s home. |
Terminal-to-terminal |
Alternatively, terminal-to-terminal transport means your vehicle pickup and drop-off occurs at a predetermined location along with other auto shipments. Keep in mind though that not all major providers offer terminal-to-terminal shipping. |
Expedited |
Rather than waiting one to two weeks for carrier availability, drivers with time constraints might choose expedited shipping for an additional cost. Vehicles can usually ship within a few days. |
Single-car |
If you don’t want your luxury or classic car shipped with other vehicles, you can choose to have it shipped by itself–often in a closed container. This is an expensive option for car shipping. |
How To Ship A Car Cheap
Finding the industry’s best cheap car shipping options doesn’t have to be difficult. Follow the guidelines below and you’ll save considerable money on your next auto shipment.
- Book early: It’s never too soon to lock down below-average quotes.
- Open up your delivery time frame: Save money by adding flexibility with the dates.
- Choose open transport: Unless you have a classic car or luxury vehicle, open carriers are generally fine.
- Pick terminal-to-terminal delivery: Home delivery is nice, but the price is often higher. Keep in mind though that not all shippers offer terminal-to-terminal transport, especially if you don’t live near a major hub.
- Consider guaranteed pricing: Your original quote will stand throughout the process.
- Seek multiple free quotes: Compare prices from various providers before choosing.
With these guidelines in mind, you may discover some of the best available options for cheap car shipping.
Best And Cheapest Car Shipping Company
Our choice for the best cheap car shipping company is Montway Auto Transport. Along with Montway, we found that Easy Auto Ship, AmeriFreight, Sherpa Auto Transport, and uShip offer the best value for customers–along with standout service. Below, we’ll take an up-close look at the five best cheap car shipping options and explain what makes them worthy of your consideration.
Easy Auto Ship: 4.4 Stars
Easy Auto Ship offers customers a full array of car transport services at well-below-average rates. The auto transportation company is widely considered to have some of the industry’s best prices–a claim illuminated by Easy Auto Ship’s guarantee not to add hidden fees once an agreement has been reached.
Easy Auto Ship Quotes
Quotes we received from Easy Auto Ship ranged from $704 for a 500-mile trip to $1,407 for a 1,500-mile shipment. On average, we found Easy Auto Ship’s prices about $100 cheaper than those of its competitors.
Easy Auto Ship Reviews
The cheap car shipping provider earns 4.6 out of 5.0 stars from over 3,000 Google reviews, and it receives an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Easy Auto Ship offers reduced rates without sacrificing much on service quality. While reviews do reflect slightly lower customer satisfaction scores than those of some competitors, the actual difference is minimal.
Easy Auto Ship Perks
Our review team gives Easy Auto Ship the award of Best Customer Experience for offerings such as a free car wash for a vehicle that arrives dirty. In addition, the cheap car shipping company provides a complimentary rental car when delivery time exceeds two weeks. Between these nice add-ons and impressively low prices, Easy Auto Ship is a cheap shipping option worth reaching out to for a free car shipping quote.
Read more: Easy Auto Ship reviews
Montway Auto Transport: 4.7 Stars
Because Montway Auto Transport is established enough to offer low rates without decreasing service quality, customers can expect reliable and efficient service at cheap car shipping prices.
Montway Auto Transport Cost
Our rates averaged $599 for a 500-mile shipment and around $1,399 for a 1,500-mile open vehicle shipment.
Montway Auto Transport Reviews
While 4.6 stars from the BBB make for a solid customer review rating, other cheap car shipping companies do score higher in some areas. However, Montway Auto Transport still deserves strong consideration from anyone looking for affordable shipping. As cheap car shipping companies go, Montway–with its combination of low rates and satisfactory service–is hard to beat.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport reviews
AmeriFreight: 4.5 Stars
With AmeriFreight having slightly higher than average quotes upfront, including it on a list of cheap car shipping providers may not make sense at first glance. It’s here for a reason, however. Along with exceptional customer service standards, AmeriFreight wins our recognition as the provider that is Best for Discounts.
AmeriFreight Discounts
When you’re looking for cheap car shipping options, additional savings go a long way. AmeriFreight offers some of the industry’s most extensive markdowns, which may make the auto shipping company your cheap car shipping choice.
Discount opportunities include:
- Military: $35 off
- First responders: $35 off
- Medical personnel: $35 off
- Students: $25 off
- Senior citizens: $25 off
- Early Bird: $35 off
- Returning customers: $50 off
- Multiple vehicles: $50 off per vehicle
AmeriFreight Quote
Our quotes from AmeriFreight show that 500-mile shipments may cost around $723 on average, while a 1,500-mile open vehicle shipment costs $1,054. AmeriFreight also promises to price match any auto transport company that both carries an A+ rating from the BBB and has positive customer reviews.
Read more: AmeriFreight reviews
Sherpa Auto Transport: 4.6 Stars
Sherpa Auto Transport is another company with more of a reputation for high-end service than cheap car shipping. However, with what’s known as its Price Lock Promise, Sherpa Auto Transport promises to never raise customers’ rates once they’ve signed a contract. Since prices can frequently change in the vehicle shipping industry, Sherpa’s policy of giving you a static price may provide some peace of mind.
Sherpa Auto Transport Prices
In researching prices from Sherpa Auto Transport, we found that quotes for open transport ranged from $600 for a 500-mile trip to $1,725 for a 2,700-mile trip. These quotes were for a 2018 Hyundai Elantra with door-to-door shipping.
If you choose Sherpa Auto Transport, expect quality service. The car transport company’s transparent pricing, commitment to customers, and efficient way of doing business make it a top provider for cheap car shipping.
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport reviews
uShip: 4.5 Stars
There aren’t many providers like uShip in the vehicle transport space. Instead of working as a car carrier or broker, uShip runs an online marketplace where transporters bid on your shipment. Because of this, prices on the platform run the gamut from high to low. Our research found that rates averaged around $638 for a 500-mile open vehicle shipment to $1,596 for a 1,500-mile shipment.
How Does uShip Work
Customers need to be careful on uShip, though. Virtually any transporter can bid on uShip’s marketplace, so it’s important to read the fine print before signing any contracts. Still, if you choose carefully, you may end up with spectacular service at rock-bottom rates.
Make sure your auto transporter has a cargo insurance policy and holds a valid number from the U.S. Department of Transportation. As long as you’re willing to do a bit of homework, the uShip marketplace is a great place to go in search of cheap car shipping.
Read more: uShip reviews
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car?
Costs in the auto transport industry can vary by provider and shipment, which is why it’s important to compare companies when you shop. Our research shows a 1,500-mile open transport between cities generally costs around $1,350. However, depending on the company you choose, you could end up paying anywhere between $1,054 to $1,596 for that distance.
Here are the average price ranges we received from providers for distances of 500, 1,500, and 2,700 miles.
Car Shipping Cost
Open Car Shipping Distance |
Average Price Range |
|---|---|
500 miles |
$599 to $723 |
1,500 miles |
$1,054 to $1,596 |
2,700 miles |
$1,386 to $1,725 |
Average Cost To Ship A Car Per Mile
Additionally, data from Easy Auto Ship and Montway Auto Transport shows you can expect to pay between 40 cents and $2 per mile when shipping a car. Bear in mind that these companies focus on cheap car shipping, so your car shipping cost could end up significantly higher elsewhere.
Car Shipping Survey Cost
In our 2021 car shipping survey that polled 1,000 respondents, we found that 41 percent paid between $1,000 and $2,000 for their vehicle shipment. This range of car shipping prices was the most common in our survey, though other prices were reported.
Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs
A few outside factors play a role in determining how much you’ll pay for transport. To find the best cheap car shipping options, keep these elements in mind.
- Time of year: The summer months and January tend to be more expensive.
- Type of car: The larger or newer the car, the more expensive it will generally be to move.
- Urgency: The sooner you need the delivery, the pricier your car shipment will likely be.
- Competition: The more auto transport services that serve a route, the cheaper your rate will be.
- Transport type: Open car transport is usually cheaper than enclosed car transport.
- Distance: Cross-country and long-distance car shipping, such as from California to New York or Hawaii, costs more overall than regional routes but less per mile.
- Delivery method: Door-to-door service is pricier than terminal-to-terminal.
- Price of fuel: If fuel is expensive, expect your car shipping services to be as well.
While you may not be able to check all of these boxes, keeping them in mind will help you discover some of the best available options for cheap car shipping. We recommend getting free quotes from multiple cheap car shipping companies and comparing their overall services to find the provider that best meets your needs.
Cheap Auto Transport: Conclusion
In this article we discussed car shipping pricing, how to find cheap car shipping, and the cheapest car shipping companies. Our research showed that Easy Auto Ship, Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Sherpa Auto Transport, and uShip are the best cheap car shipping companies.
Cheapest Car Shipping: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about cheap car shipping:
How We Rate Auto Shippers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of car shipping companies. While there are multiple qualities that make an auto transport provider successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact auto shipping rates. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and routes.
- Services: Our team of experts looks at the types of services available, as well as insurance coverage and the ability to guarantee pickup and drop-off dates. Ratings also take into account whether the transport company is a broker or a carrier.
- Reputation: It’s important that a car shipping provider is able to deliver your vehicle in a safe and timely manner. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Customer Experience: We comb through consumer reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Car transport companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area.
*Data accurate at time of publication