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We chose Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Ship A Car Direct and SGT Auto Transport as the best car shipping companies of the year China Freight Shipping
Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.
Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance and insurance topics.
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With the right shipping company, moving your car hundreds or thousands of miles is simple. Our experts name Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Ship a Car Direct, and SGT Auto Transport as the top car shipping companies in 2024.
Below, we talk about each auto shipper’s stats, coverage options and costs:
We like Montway because the popular company offers a wide selection of auto shipping services at budget-conscious prices, which makes them a great choice for most drivers. Montway is one of the largest auto transport brokers in the country, which makes its outstanding industry and customer review scores even more remarkable. The company currently boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a high 4.6 out of 5 stars from customers on the platform.
Montway Auto Transport’s services include:
While Montway doesn’t transport boats and recreational vehicles, Montway can ship your car from any dealership or auction to your door. This makes it easy to buy a car online and avoid the hassle of arranging transportation.
In order for Montway to provide GPS tracking to customers, drivers must agree to it. Because of this, Montway cannot guarantee that every individual shipment will include GPS tracking. However, the broker goes farther than most do to ensure carrier compliance.
Unlike most car shipping companies, Montway offers expedited shipping and guaranteed pickup dates for a small additional fee. Customers who choose guaranteed shipping should be advised that Montway has a five-day window, based on your earliest vehicle pickup date, to find a carrier for your vehicle. This simply means it could take up to five days (but no longer) to secure a carrier, even if you choose expedited shipping.
Keep reading: Montway Auto Transport Review
Quotes we received suggest drivers pay an average of $1,244 total or $0.90 per mile to ship their cars with Montway. That’s more affordable than the industry average of $1,378 total or $0.97 per mile, but some drivers may get the best price with other car shippers. These quotes reflect shipping costs for a 2020 Honda Civic, which is representative of an average sedan, over a variety of distances using different shipping methods.
Below, we break down Montway’s shipping costs for different distances and types and compare them against industry averages:
GPS tracking offers drivers peace of mind when shipping their vehicles, so we look at the availability to help us gauge a company’s customer experience. Montway doesn’t offer GPS tracking at this time, which is standard for the industry.
What isn’t standard, however, is Montway’s track record of high scores across multiple customer review websites. Montway’s ratings on the BBB, Trustpilot, and Google Reviews are all well above average. Our 2023 study of 1,000 warranty customers showed 87% of customers who purchased Montway were very satisfied with their car shipping experience. Across the board, Montway’s scores reflect a positive experience with the company’s customer service and shipping processes.
Like most of the company’s customers, we agree that Montway Auto Transport offers dependable car shipping services at reasonable prices.
In Fall 2023, we shipped a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid from Raleigh, N.C., to San Diego, Calif. using open truck shipping from Montway. Getting a quote was fast, though our final price changed because we shipped personal items in the vehicle.
We were quoted an initial $1,279 for the trip, which included up to 100 pounds of additional vehicle weight for personal items. Our vehicle was overweight by over 100 pounds, which resulted in an additional charge of $200, at a rate of $100 per additional 100 pounds. After all was said and done, we paid a total of $1,479 and shipping took nine days from vehicle pickup.
Our total price was on track with industry averages and the total shipping time fell within the window we were provided by the shipping carriers. Our car arrived undamaged and was delivered to our door as requested. Montway’s customer service was very responsive before, during and after transit, and the shipping carrier was friendly and informative.
Our best piece of advice for drivers is to invest in a personal GPS tracking device for addition peace of mind during your car’s journey.
Mercury Auto Transport is a well-known shipping company that offers dependable pricing and shipping to all 50 states. It ranked first out of the 20 providers we rated in both our cost and shipping methods categories. We like Mercury because the company is transparent about its costs and offers competitive pricing well below shipping industry averages. Unlike Montway and many other car shipping brokers, Mercury also offers guaranteed price quotes, which means you won’t encounter any hidden fees when your vehicle is picked up.
Drivers working with Mercury Auto Transport can choose from the standard open and enclosed shipping services. Flatbed shipping is also available, which works best for vehicles with dimensions that don’t fit into a standard open transport trailer or enclosed container.
Keep reading: Mercury Auto Transport Review
Based on quotes we received for Mercury’s shipping services, you can expect to pay an average of $935 total or $0.64 cents per mile when moving a vehicle with the company. That’s far below the industry average and cheaper than many other companies on this list. Quotes reflect shipping a 2020 Honda Civic between 500 and 1,600 miles using a mix of open and enclosed transport methods.
You can take a closer look at how Mercury Auto Transport’s shipping costs compare against industry averages below:
Like many car shipping companies, Mercury Auto Transport doesn’t offer GPS tracking for vehicles. However, you can call your shipping carrier or reach out by text message during the shipping process. The company does offer online quotes, though you’ll need to provide your email to be able to receive the instant quote.
Consolidated Freight As for industry reputation. Mercury holds a high A rating from the BBB and has operated in all 50 states since 2007. On the BBB, Mercury has closed 17 complaints from customers in the last year but holds an overall customer rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Customers on Trustpilot echo this positive feedback, with 98% of reviewers giving Mercury a 5-star rating. Reviews highlight friendly, fast customer service and an easy, straightforward shipping experience.