Cheap Car Shipping: Cheapest Car Transport Companies (2024) (2024)

Dash Lewis

Dash Lewis Content Writer

01/04/2024 12:52 pm

The Gist:

• AmeriFreight offers the cheapest open car shipping service for only $0.40 per mile for shipments of 2,500 miles or more.
• It is cheapest to ship your in between December and February when there is less demand for auto carriers.
• Open shipping is cheaper than enclosed transport and is more commonly available.

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.

We received the cheapest car shipping rate from AmeriFreight to transport an operable 2018 Hyundai Elantra more than 2,500 miles, at $0.40 per mile. Long-distance shipping is generally cheaper per mile, but short distances are more reasonable overall. The most affordable rate we found for shipping a vehicle about 500 miles was $500.

Cheapest Car Shipping Companies

Our industry-wide auto shipping study found that Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, SGT Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, uShip, and American Auto Shipping offer the most affordable shipping options.

You can compare our top-rated car shipping companies’ affordability ratings in the table below.

During our research, our review team considered each company’s affordability, services, customer experience, and industry reputation when determining which companies offer the cheapest car shipping options.

While no provider has a complete lock on cheap car shipping, certain ones tend to rise to the top. For example, during our intensive review process, AmeriFreight received 4.6 out of 5 stars for its affordability, the highest score we gave out for average cost ratings. In a close second, we awarded Montway Auto Transport 4.5 out of 5 stars and the best overall score of 4.8 stars.

The most affordable car shipping rates offered by car transport carriers are open transport over short distances. While the total cost is lower, the cost per mile for shorter distances is typically higher versus long-distance shipments. Below we will highlight the cheapest prices quoted to our review team for short- and long-distance loads.

Cheap Short-Distance Car Transport

Mercury Auto Transport is the cheapest option for short-distance car shipping at only $0.97 per mile. According to our research, the average lowest cost to transport a vehicle short distances is $1.16 per mile. Mercury Auto Transport’s cost per mile is $0.19 cheaper than the average of 10 of the industry’s lowest car shipping rates for short distances.

Cheap Short-Distance Car Shipping Rates

Below, you can see the 10 cheapest short-distance rates provided to us by each car transport company in our industry review.

Cheap Long-Distance Car Transport

AmeriFreight offers the most affordable long-distance car transport service at only $0.40 per milefor a 2,761-mile shipment. This is well below the average for the cheapest long-distance shipping rate of $0.55 per mile.

Cheapest Long-Distance Car Shipping Rates

Below, you can see the 10 cheapest rates provided to us by each of the car transport companies included in our research.

Open transport will expose your vehicle to the outside world, usually on a truck with at least a few other cars. Meanwhile, enclosed transport will cover your vehicle in a trailer with one or two other cars maximum. As you will see in the following sections, 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. The company provides open transport for $0.74 per mile for shipments between 500 and 1,500 miles. Golden Key Express’s open transport rate is a great deal and can save you up to $0.15 per mile compared to the average cheapest rates for open shipping provided to us during our review process.

Cheapest Open Car Transport Rates

You can compare the 10 cheapest open car shipping rates we received in the table below.

*The rates above are the prices we received to ship an operable 2018 Hyundai Elantra 1,504 miles.

Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport

AmeriFrieght offers the industry’s most affordable enclosed transport service, with rates as low as $0.94 per mile. That’s $0.17 cheaper than the average lowest rates quoted to our review team.

Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport Rates

You can compare how AmeriFreight stacks up against the cheapest enclosed car shipping prices in the table below.

The best cheap car shipping companies have several deals that can lower the cost of shipping your vehicle. Car shipping companies will often offer discounts, including deals for active duty military members, students, and cash payments.

Car Shipping Discounts

Below, you can compare our top-rated car shipping companies and the discounts offered by each.

*Montway Auto Transport only offers student discounts for faculty and alumni of the University of Michigan.

Consumer Experience When Shipping A Car

Our October 2021 car shipping survey found that 68 percent of the 1,000 respondents surveyed were satisfied with their car shipping experience.

However, while the majority were happy overall, several reported experiencing issues during shipping. Here’s a closer look at the reported issues in our survey:

• 41 percent stated their vehicle was damaged upon delivery
• 36 percent said the carrier’s cargo insurance policy did not cover damages
• 35 percent reported that prices increased after booking
• 31 percent mentioned that their shipment was extended a week or more beyond the original delivery date
• 29 percent claimed guaranteed pickup dates were not fulfilled

There are a lot of variables to be aware of when shipping a car. You will likely have a more positive experience if you’re flexible in your expectations.

Below, we’ll look at the five best cheap car shipping options and explain what makes them worthy of your consideration.

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 $2,015.

Follow the guidelines below and 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 to the dates.
• Choose open transport: Open carriers are generally fine unless you have a classic car or luxury vehicle.
• Pick terminal-to-terminal delivery: Home delivery is nice, but the price is often higher. 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.

How Much Should It Cost To Ship A Car?

After a careful analysis of the rates we received during our industry review, the average cost to ship a car ranges from $1.48 per mile to ship a vehicle 500 miles or less or $0.64 per mile for long distances of 2,500 miles or more.

The table below contains the average cost per mile to ship a car.

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