Best Car Shipping Companies In Tennessee
While the best Tennessee 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 to or from Tennessee, whether it’s just for a little while or forever, shipping your car should be easy. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best auto transport companies in Tennessee that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. In addition, we will discuss and simplify the shipping costs for both open and enclosed transport services. We will also provide guidance on how to easily ship your car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Tennessee 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 Tennessee is $892 for open car shipping services and $1,248 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Tennessee depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Tennessee
We have dedicated more than 300 hours to researching the auto transport industry in order to write an unbiased review of the top car shipping companies. If you’re moving a car to or from Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, or beyond, check out our list of the best Tennessee car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
Montway Auto Transport is our top choice among the best auto transport companies of 2024 because they offer dependable service and fair prices. While they don’t receive the highest rating for affordability, their excellent customer service and variety of options make them stand out ahead of other companies in the industry.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and well-liked company that moves cars. They work in all 50 states and ship internationally. Because they have many carriers to rely on, Montway can offer lower prices than most other companies.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
According to our research team’s own rating system, Sherpa Auto Transport has earned a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. This high rating is due to their guaranteed rates, positive customer feedback, and range of services. In addition to all of this, Sherpa also provides customers with a $20 reimbursement for a car wash through their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping simple and gives you fair prices that won’t change. With our Price Lock Promise, the initial quote is the final price. If needed, we will even cover up to $300 to keep your rate from going up.
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport review
3. SGT Auto Transport: Best Price-Match Guarantee
We gave SGT Auto Transport a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars because they offer different ways to ship cars at good prices. The company got a high score for their services because they have options like open, enclosed, and door-to-door car transportation, as well as fast delivery and promised pickup dates.
You won’t have to pay for SGT Auto Transport until they send someone to pick up your vehicle. If you find a lower price from another company, SGT Auto Transport will match it. Our team discovered that most customers have good things to say about this provider.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping provides a variety of vehicle transportation services to help your car reach its desired location. This provider has excellent ratings in the services category, offering door-to-door shipping, both open and enclosed auto transport, shipping to Hawaii, motorcycle shipping, military vehicle shipping, heavy equipment transport, and many other services.
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’s prices are typical for the industry, but customers can get lower rates with their discounts and different pricing options. Some of the discount opportunities they offer are for returning customers, shipping multiple vehicles, first responders and medical personnel, seniors, students, and others.
AmeriFreight is one of the top five companies for shipping cars. They offer many discounts, price-match services, and have great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and make sure each one is licensed and insured by doing background checks.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Tennessee Car Shipping Companies
In addition to the five national reputable car shipping providers mentioned earlier, there are also some excellent regional options available in Tennessee. Here is one more provider you should consider.
Coastal Auto Shipping
Coastal Auto Shipping is headquartered in Medley, FL. Learn more about this provider on the Coastal Auto Shipping website.
Tennessee Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in Tennessee can vary a lot depending on certain factors. Some of these factors are based on what you need, like the type of auto transport you choose. Most likely, you will use either an open or enclosed trailer to transport your vehicle. We have given the average costs for both methods of shipping to and from Tennessee in the following sections.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Tennessee
Open car shipping is when cars are transported together on a trailer without any walls or roof. It is a cheaper way to ship cars but has more risk compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Tennessee using open car shipping is $892, which is 12 percent cheaper than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Tennessee car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Knoxville to New York | $819 |
| Knoxville to Los Angeles | $1,049 |
| Knoxville to Chicago | $609 |
| San Francisco to Knoxville | $1,399 |
| Miami to Knoxville | $689 |
| Memphis to New York | $869 |
| Memphis to Los Angeles | $1,029 |
| Memphis to Chicago | $559 |
| San Francisco to Memphis | $849 |
| Miami to Memphis | $819 |
| Nashville to New York | $869 |
| Nashville to Los Angeles | $1,129 |
| Nashville to Chicago | $499 |
| San Francisco to Nashville | $1,229 |
| Miami to Nashville | $609 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Tennessee
Enclosed auto transport services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Tennessee car shipping much pricier than open car shipping services, owners of classic or luxury cars should consider it.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Tennessee using enclosed auto transport is $1,248, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Tennessee. The table below has average costs of popular Tennessee car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Knoxville to New York | $1,149 |
| Knoxville to Los Angeles | $1,469 |
| Knoxville to Chicago | $849 |
| San Francisco to Knoxville | $1,959 |
| Miami to Knoxville | $959 |
| Memphis to New York | $1,219 |
| Memphis to Los Angeles | $1,439 |
| Memphis to Chicago | $779 |
| San Francisco to Memphis | $1,189 |
| Miami to Memphis | $1,149 |
| Nashville to New York | $1,219 |
| Nashville to Los Angeles | $1,579 |
| Nashville to Chicago | $699 |
| San Francisco to Nashville | $1,719 |
| Miami to Nashville | $849 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Tennessee?
Your exact car shipping costs for Tennessee will likely depend on various factors. When you ship a car, different things can influence the cost. These include the type of transport, where it’s being delivered, the price of fuel, the distance it’s being shipped, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Tennessee
Do you need to ship a car in Tennessee but don’t know where to start? It may seem difficult at first, but we have broken down the process of transporting your vehicle below to make it easier and stress-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
To start, you should 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 open vs. enclosed car shipping will help you determine which best fits your needs.
Compare Tennessee Car Shipping Quotes
After you have chosen a way to transport your vehicle, it is time to compare quotes for auto transport in Tennessee. 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 will keep the price they initially quoted you for shipping your car in Tennessee. Some may raise the price due to changes in the market. If having a fixed price for your Tennessee car shipping service is important to you, choose a provider that guarantees it.
Select A Transport Provider
After looking at different auto transport quotes, you will probably have fewer options for shipping your car to Tennessee. This is when you need to decide if you prefer a car shipping broker or an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will find someone to transport your car for you, while shipping marketplaces let you handle the process of working directly with carriers.
Make sure you do some research before you make a decision. Look at online reviews and discussions to find out about people’s experiences with different shipping providers. It’s really helpful to hear directly from customers when you’re trying to choose a provider to transport your car to Tennessee.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you have arranged for a service to transport your vehicle, it is important to prepare your car for shipment. Remember to remove any personal belongings from your vehicle, as some transporters in Tennessee factor in the weight of the vehicle when determining the cost. 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 putting your car on the trailer, make sure to take pictures of it to keep a record. 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 Tennessee.
Pick Your Car Up
If the vehicle transport carrier you choose has GPS tracking, you can watch your car travel in real time from or to Tennessee. If they don’t have GPS tracking, the carrier will still inform you about the pickup date of your vehicle.
When you go to get your car from the assigned place and time, make sure to carefully check for any damages. This is especially crucial if you choose open auto transport. 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 Tennessee Car Shipping
When you ship a car to or from Tennessee, there are certain things related to the state that can impact your car shipping experience. These include factors like the size of the city, the population, traffic patterns, and bad weather. It’s a good idea to know about these things in advance so that you won’t be surprised when you’re actually shipping your car.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Tennessee 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 Knoxville and Memphis.
In addition, many cities in Tennessee have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Bad weather like storms or floods may cause delays in shipping Tennessee auto transport. So, it’s important to plan ahead and be flexible with the delivery time frames during the shipping process.
Tennessee Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Tennessee 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.
