Cheap Car Shipping: Cheapest Car Transport Companies (2023)

The car shipping marketplace is intimidating. Many first-time shoppers spend hours or even days comparing companies and trying to make sense of the process. That’s why our team reviewed all major car shipping companies in the industry and created various guides on car shipping. In this article, we rank car shipping companies on cost, though our overall ratings also include scores for reputation, services, and customer experience.

Reputation

When a company has a good reputation, you can count on it to help you resolve issues with the carrier if they come up. Auto shippers with a history of strong business practices and expert endorsements receive the highest scores in this category. We also consider ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), along with the nature of complaints listed on the BBB. Whether a company ships to Alaska and Hawaii also factors into our rating.

Cost

Car shipping quotes fluctuate by season and as overall conditions change in the market. That said, some companies tend to be cheaper than others. Our team compared over 400 quotes for a variety of shipping routes with different distances and vehicles. We gave the best scores to providers with low average rates.

The quotes in this article apply to shipping an operable 2018 Toyota RAV4. Since there are so many variables in the process, you may find different rates than the ones listed here.

Services

This rating is based on the types of auto transport services available and the quality of those services. Most companies offer open and enclosed options. Some also offer expedited shipping, guaranteed pickup windows, and additional insurance coverage. Our team looks at average transit time estimates when getting quotes as well.

Customer Experience

Do car shipping companies put their customers first? Our team uses a few methods to find out how companies serve their customers:

• Secret shopping:

  We get quotes from all the companies we review and make notes on our experiences with service agents.

• Customer surveys:

  To date, we’ve surveyed 2,000 people who have shipped their cars through different companies. Survey questions focus on customer experiences and the process of shipping a car from start to finish.

• Customer reviews:

  We comb through hundreds of online customer reviews from sites like the BBB, Trustpilot, and Google, and we include customer ratings in our overall customer experience score.

What’s The Cheapest Way To Ship A Car?

When you get a car shipping quote, you’ll have the option to get open or enclosed shipping.

• Open shipping:

  With this method, your car travels on a double-decker carrier that is open to the elements. One open carrier can ship eight or more vehicles at once (depending on the size), which makes this an economical option.

• Enclosed shipping:

  With this method, your car is secured in an enclosed semi-truck. It is protected from the elements on all sides. Since these carriers can only ship a few cars at a time, enclosed shipping is more expensive.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to ship a car is through open auto transport.

According to our quote data, the average 1,500-mile open car shipment costs $1,425. Enclosed carriers cost about $1,776 for the same distance.

So why get enclosed shipping? The extra protection offered by enclosed car shipping is worth it if you’re shipping a classic or luxury vehicle. During open car transport, your car will probably get dirty, and fluids from the upper vehicles may drip on yours depending on where your car is loaded on the carrier. Enclosed shipping can cost an additional $300 or more, but it can be worth it to give your car extra protection on your move.

Door-To-Door Auto Transport

The most common pickup and delivery option is door-to-door shipping. Most car shipping calculators online default to this service. With door-to-door service, the carrier will meet you at or near your pickup and drop-off locations. Be aware that you may need to meet the carrier on a nearby street or in a parking lot if your neighborhood has limited truck access.

Terminal-To-Terminal Transport

Another cheap vehicle shipping option is terminal-to-terminal transport, where you drop off your car at an auto shipping terminal in one location and pick it up at a terminal at the destination.

Not all car transport companies offer terminal-to-terminal transport, and this type of shipping is only available if both cities have a terminal. Also, you may have to wait days or even weeks for an auto carrier to pick up your vehicle. 

To summarize, you can save money with terminal-to-terminal transport in some cases, but it isn’t convenient and you can’t control the schedule.

How Can I Save Money On Shipping A Car?

The best way to save money on shipping a car is to compare open car transport quotes at least two weeks before you plan on moving. We recommend comparing at least three companies. 

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Tips For Finding Cheap Car Shipping

You can get cheap car shipping quotes from providers in the following ways:=

• Reserve early:

  If you book as soon as possible, more carriers will be available for your dates, and you’ll avoid the hassle of expedited fees.

• Be flexible with pickup and delivery dates:

  Flexibility with pickup and delivery dates will increase the number of shippers that can take your job.

• Use shipping terminals (if available):

  You can save money by dropping your car off and picking it up at a shipping terminal.

• Request open shipping:

  Open shipping is cheaper than enclosed shipping. (Low-clearance or modified vehicles may require enclosed transport.)

• Compare multiple quotes:

  Look at quotes and offers from multiple auto shipping companies to find cheap car transport.