Best Car Shipping Companies In Washington
While the best Washington car shipping company is Montway Auto Transport, we’d also recommend Sherpa Auto Transport, SGT Auto Transport, and American Auto Shipping.
From our #1 rated provider, 
If you need to move your car to or from Washington, whether it’s a temporary or permanent relocation, the process should be easy. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best auto transport companies in Washington that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also analyze the costs of shipping for both open and enclosed transportation services, and provide guidance on how to easily ship your car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Washington 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 Washington is $1,192 for open car shipping services and $1,669 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Washington depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Washington
We have conducted extensive research for more than 300 hours to give an honest review of the top car shipping companies in the auto transport industry. If you’re moving a car to or from Seattle, Spokane, Yakima, or beyond, check out our list of the best Washington car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
Montway Auto Transport is our top choice among the best auto transport companies of 2024 due to its dependable service and fair prices. While it may not have the absolute best prices, Montway surpasses its competitors with excellent customer service and a variety of options to choose from.
Montway Auto Transport is a really big and well-liked auto transport company in the country. They serve all 50 states and also do international shipping. Montway can offer lower prices to customers because they have a lot of carriers in their network.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
According to our research, Sherpa Auto Transport receives a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars on our special rating scale. This is because of their fixed prices, high customer satisfaction rating, and range of services. In addition, Sherpa provides a $20 reimbursement for car washes with their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping simple and offers guaranteed pricing with their Price Lock Promise. This means that the price you are quoted is the price you’ll pay, and in case it needs to be higher, the company will cover up to $300 so that your rate doesn’t go up.
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport review
3. SGT Auto Transport: Best Price-Match Guarantee
SGT Auto Transport receives a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars from us because it provides many choices for shipping at good prices. They are highly rated for their services, as they offer various options such as open, enclosed, and door-to-door auto transportation, along with fast delivery and guaranteed pickup dates.
SGT Auto Transport allows you to pay only when the carrier comes to get your vehicle. Plus, if you find a cheaper price elsewhere, SGT Auto Transport will match it. Based on our research, the majority of customers have had a good experience with this provider.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping provides a variety of car shipping services to help you transport your vehicle. They have a great rating of 5.0 for their services. They offer door-to-door shipping, both 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 has prices that are typical for the industry, but customers can pay less by taking advantage of discounts and pricing options. Some of these discounts are available for returning customers, people shipping multiple vehicles, first responders, medical personnel, seniors, students, and others.
AmeriFreight is one of the best auto shipping companies on our list because they offer lots of ways to save money, they match prices with competitors, and they give great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and carefully check to make sure each one is licensed and insured.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Washington Car Shipping Companies
Even though we mentioned five well-known car shipping companies that operate nationwide, there are also excellent local options for shipping cars in Washington. Take a look below to find another provider worth considering.
Diesel Auto Express
Diesel Auto Express is headquartered in Vancouver, WA. Learn more about this provider on the Diesel Auto Express website.
Washington Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car to Washington can vary a lot depending on different things. Some things that affect the cost of shipping depend on what you want, like the type of transport you choose. Most people use either open or enclosed trailer transport, so we’ve given the average costs for both types of shipping to and from Washington below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Washington
Open car shipping is when multiple vehicles are transported together on a trailer that doesn’t have walls or a roof. It’s a cheaper way to ship cars, but it carries more risk compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Washington using open auto transport is $1,192, which is 18 percent more expensive than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Washington car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Seattle to New York | $1,229 |
| Seattle to Los Angeles | $819 |
| Seattle to Chicago | $1,129 |
| San Francisco to Seattle | $969 |
| Miami to Seattle | $1,439 |
| Spokane to New York | $1,799 |
| Spokane to Los Angeles | $919 |
| Spokane to Chicago | $1,189 |
| San Francisco to Spokane | $1,129 |
| Miami to Spokane | $1,739 |
| Yakima to New York | $1,359 |
| Yakima to Los Angeles | $919 |
| Yakima to Chicago | $1,149 |
| San Francisco to Yakima | $849 |
| Miami to Yakima | $1,299 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Washington
Enclosed auto transport services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Washington 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 Washington using enclosed auto transport is $1,669, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Washington. The table below has average costs of popular Washington car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Seattle to New York | $1,719 |
| Seattle to Los Angeles | $1,149 |
| Seattle to Chicago | $1,579 |
| San Francisco to Seattle | $1,359 |
| Miami to Seattle | $2,009 |
| Spokane to New York | $2,519 |
| Spokane to Los Angeles | $1,289 |
| Spokane to Chicago | $1,669 |
| San Francisco to Spokane | $1,579 |
| Miami to Spokane | $2,439 |
| Yakima to New York | $1,899 |
| Yakima to Los Angeles | $1,289 |
| Yakima to Chicago | $1,609 |
| San Francisco to Yakima | $1,189 |
| Miami to Yakima | $1,819 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Washington?
Your exact car shipping costs for Washington will likely depend on various factors. When you ship a car, several factors will influence the cost. These include the type of transportation, the delivery location, fuel prices, the distance of shipping, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Washington
Are you trying to send a car in Washington but don’t know where to begin? Transporting your vehicle may seem difficult at first, but we have simplified the process for you below, making it easy and stress-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
First, you must choose how you want to 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 enclosed vs. open auto transport will help you determine which best fits your needs.
Compare Washington Car Shipping Quotes
After you have chosen a way to transport, you should now compare quotes for getting your car shipped in Washington. 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 certain companies will promise to keep your quoted price for shipping your car in Washington, while others may raise your shipping rate because of market changes. If it’s important to you to have a fixed price for your car shipping service in Washington, make sure to choose a company that provides this guarantee.
Select A Transport Provider
After you compare quotes for transporting your car from different providers, you will probably reduce your options for car shipping services in Washington. Now you need to decide if you prefer working with a car shipping broker or an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will help you find a car carrier, while shipping marketplaces will expect you to handle the carriers on your own.
Make sure to do your homework by checking online review sites and discussion boards, regardless of what you decide. Hearing about others’ experiences with shipping companies is extremely helpful when selecting a provider for transporting your car to Washington.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you’ve scheduled a service to transport your vehicle, it’s important to prepare your car for shipment. Remove any personal belongings from your vehicle because some transporters in Washington take the weight of your vehicle into account when determining the costs. 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. Make sure to take pictures of your car before it gets put onto the trailer so that you have the right documents. 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 Washington.
Pick Your Car Up
If the company you choose to transport your vehicle has GPS tracking, you can watch your car travel to or from Washington live. Either way, the carrier will send you a message about the pickup date of your vehicle.
When you meet the person who will transport your vehicle at the agreed location and time, make sure to check your vehicle for any damage. This is especially important if you are using an open auto transport method. 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 Washington Car Shipping
If you’re sending a car to or from Washington, there are factors specific to the state that could impact your car delivery. The size of the city, number of people, traffic, and bad weather can affect how quickly your car gets transported in Washington. It’s smart to know about these things beforehand, so you won’t be surprised during the shipping process.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Washington 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 Seattle and Spokane.
In addition, many cities in Washington have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Bad weather, like storms or flooding, can make it more likely for deliveries of vehicles in Washington to be delayed. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to prepare in advance and be willing to adjust your delivery schedule.
Washington Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington?
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 Washington, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Washington 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.
