Best Car Shipping Companies In South Carolina
Montway Auto Transport is South Carolina’s top car shipping choice, with Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, and American Auto Shipping as solid options.
From our #1 rated provider, 
If you need to move to South Carolina temporarily or permanently, shipping your car should be an easy process. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best auto transport companies in South Carolina that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also explain the costs for shipping cars using open transport and enclosed transport, and show you how to easily ship your own car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best South Carolina car shipping company, though it’s best to compare rates with those from Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, American Auto Shipping and AmeriFreight.
- The average cost to ship a car to or from South Carolina is $956 for open car shipping services and $1,339 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in South Carolina depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In South Carolina
We have dedicated more than 300 hours to thoroughly researching the auto transport industry in order to offer an unbiased review of the top car shipping companies in the market. If you’re moving a car to or from Charleston , Columbia, Greenville, or beyond, check out our list of the best South Carolina car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
Montway Auto Transport is our favorite choice among the top auto transport companies of 2024 because they offer dependable service and reasonable prices. While Montway may not have the lowest prices, their excellent customer service and diverse options make them stand out from other companies.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and well-liked auto transportation company in the country. They serve all 50 states and also do international shipping. Montway can provide customers with lower prices because they have a lot of carrier options.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
According to our research team’s special rating system, Sherpa Auto Transport gets a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. This is because they have fixed rates, good customer satisfaction, and a wide range of services. On top of that, Sherpa also gives customers a $20 reimbursement for a car wash through their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping easy and guarantees a fixed price with their Price Lock Promise. This means that the initial quote is the final price, and if needed, the company will cover up to $300 to prevent any rate increases.
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport review
3. SGT Auto Transport: Best Price-Match Guarantee
SGT Auto Transport is given a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars because it provides different shipping choices at good prices. The company scored high for its services, which include open, enclosed, and door-to-door car transport, as well as fast delivery and guaranteed pickup dates.
You don’t have to pay for SGT Auto Transport until they send someone to pick up your vehicle. If you find a cheaper price from another company, SGT Auto Transport will offer the same price. Our team found that most customers had a good experience with this provider.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping provides various services to transport your vehicle to its destination. They have a strong rating of 5.0 in the services category. This provider offers door-to-door shipping, open and enclosed auto transport, shipping to Hawaii, motorcycle shipping, military vehicle shipping, heavy equipment transport, and more.
American Auto Shipping strives to offer customers a pleasant experience with perks like a covered rental car if your shipment is delayed over 14 days past the delivery date. Another benefit is your choice of pickup times from three different options–standard, priority, or expedited.
Read more: American Auto Shipping review
5. AmeriFreight: Best For Discounts
AmeriFreight provides prices that are typical for the industry, but customers can reduce their rates by taking advantage of AmeriFreight’s discounts and pricing levels. Some of the available discount options include reduced rates for customers who come back, shipping multiple vehicles, first responders and medical staff, senior citizens, students, and more.
AmeriFreight is one of the top five car shipping companies because they offer many discounts, price matching, and great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and carefully check that each one is licensed and insured.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other South Carolina Car Shipping Companies
We mentioned five well-known car shipping companies earlier, but there are also some excellent local choices in South Carolina. Check out the additional option below.
Auto Carriers Transport
Auto Carriers Transport is headquartered in Spartanburg, SC. Learn more about this provider on the Auto Carriers Transport website.
South Carolina Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in South Carolina can vary a lot based on a few things. Some things that affect the cost depend on what you want, like what type of transport you choose. Most people use either open or enclosed trailers to transport their cars, so we give you the average prices for both methods in the sections below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In South Carolina
Open car shipping involves using a trailer without walls or a roof to transport multiple vehicles together. It is a cheaper way to ship cars, but there is more risk involved compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from South Carolina using open car shipping is $956, which is 5 percent cheaper than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular South Carolina car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Charleston to New York | $1,029 |
| Charleston to Los Angeles | $1,349 |
| Charleston to Chicago | $719 |
| San Francisco to Charleston | $1,599 |
| Miami to Charleston | $659 |
| Columbia to New York | $719 |
| Columbia to Los Angeles | $1,399 |
| Columbia to Chicago | $719 |
| San Francisco to Columbia | $1,299 |
| Miami to Columbia | $659 |
| Greenville to New York | $669 |
| Greenville to Los Angeles | $1,109 |
| Greenville to Chicago | $699 |
| San Francisco to Greenville | $1,429 |
| Miami to Greenville | $769 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In South Carolina
Enclosed auto transport services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes South Carolina car shipping much pricier than open auto transport services, owners of classic or luxury cars should consider it.
The average cost to ship a car to and from South Carolina using enclosed auto transport is $1,339, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in South Carolina. The table below has average costs of popular South Carolina car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Charleston to New York | $1,439 |
| Charleston to Los Angeles | $1,889 |
| Charleston to Chicago | $1,009 |
| San Francisco to Charleston | $2,239 |
| Miami to Charleston | $919 |
| Columbia to New York | $1,009 |
| Columbia to Los Angeles | $1,959 |
| Columbia to Chicago | $1,009 |
| San Francisco to Columbia | $1,819 |
| Miami to Columbia | $919 |
| Greenville to New York | $939 |
| Greenville to Los Angeles | $1,549 |
| Greenville to Chicago | $979 |
| San Francisco to Greenville | $1,999 |
| Miami to Greenville | $1,079 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In South Carolina?
Your exact car shipping costs for South Carolina will likely depend on various factors. Different factors can influence the cost of shipping a car. These factors include the type of transportation, where the car is being delivered, fuel prices, the distance traveled, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From South Carolina
Are you trying to send a car in South Carolina but don’t know where to begin? Even though it might seem difficult at first, we have explained how to transport your vehicle below to make it easy and without trouble.
Choose Your Shipping Method
First, you must choose how you will transport your vehicle. As previously mentioned, enclosed and open carrier car shipping are the most common types used across the industry. Both have their pros and cons, so comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping will help you determine which best fits your needs.
Compare South Carolina Car Shipping Quotes
After you have chosen how you will transport your vehicle, it is time to compare the quotes for auto transport in South Carolina. It’s easy to get car shipping quotes online, and we recommend providing vehicle details to various car shipping companies to find the best price.
Remember that not all companies promise to keep the price they quote you for shipping your car in South Carolina. Some may increase the rate because of changes in the market. If it’s important to you to have a fixed price for your car shipping service in South Carolina, choose a provider that offers this guarantee.
Select A Transport Provider
Once you’ve looked at different quotes for transporting cars, you’ll probably start to narrow down your options for car shipping services in South Carolina. At this point, you’ll need to decide if you prefer working with a car shipping broker or using an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will help you find a car carrier, while shipping marketplaces expect you to handle the carriers directly.
Make sure to do some research using online review websites and discussion forums, no matter what option you decide to go with. Hearing from other customers about their experiences with shipping providers is really helpful when picking a provider to transport a car to South Carolina.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you have reserved a service to transport your vehicle, you need to prepare your car for shipment. Remove any personal belongings from your vehicle, as some transporters in South Carolina factor in the weight of the vehicle when determining the expenses. It’s also wise to leave your gas tank no more than a quarter full.
It’s now time to meet your carrier at a predetermined time and location. Whether you opted for door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal shipping, you’ll inspect your vehicle for prior damages such as dents, scratches, and dings. Before your car is loaded onto the trailer, make sure to take pictures of it for the right documentation. All you need to do now is sign the bill of lading, which is a receipt that follows your vehicle as it travels to or from South Carolina.
Pick Your Car Up
If the vehicle transport company you choose has GPS tracking, you can watch your car’s journey to or from South Carolina live on a map. If not, the carrier will notify you about when they will pick up your vehicle.
When you meet the person who will transport your vehicle at the agreed-upon place and time, make sure to check your vehicle for any damages. This is especially important if you choose an open auto transport service. If you find any damages, report them on the bill of lading and take photos for potential claims. However, if everything looks good, you’ll just sign the bill of lading one last time and drive the car away.
What To Expect With South Carolina Car Shipping
If you want to ship a car to or from South Carolina, there are certain factors that are specific to the state that can impact your car shipping experience. These factors include the size of the city, the number of people living there, traffic patterns, and bad weather. It’s a good idea to know about these things ahead of time so that you’re not surprised during the shipping process.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. South Carolina is less densely populated than other states in the U.S., which may make door-to-delivery less of a hassle. However, availability may differ in major cities such as Charleston and Columbia.
In addition, many cities in South Carolina have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Bad weather like storms or flooding could make it more likely for there to be delays in shipping cars to South Carolina. So, it’s a good idea to be prepared and willing to be flexible with the delivery schedule.
South Carolina Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about South Carolina car shipping.
Why would a person want to ship their car?
If you’re moving more than a few hundred miles away, a long-distance road trip might not be worth it. Cross-country car shipping can provide peace of mind while offering protection from risks associated with long drives, such as mechanical breakdowns and car accidents. Getting your car to South Carolina from far away states is much easier with auto transport.
What are the benefits of car shipping?
Car shipping is a safe way to get your car to and from South Carolina without wasting the time and expenses associated with a long road trip. Choosing to ship your car rather than drive it will also protect your car from the wear and tear that comes along with extended driving periods.
How do I ship a car to South Carolina?
You’ll start the shipping process by researching various car shipping companies and getting free quotes online. Next, you’ll choose a provider, book your shipment, and prepare the car for transport. Once your car has made it to or from South Carolina, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate South Carolina 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 dropoff 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.
*Read more about our methodology.
