Best Car Shipping Companies In Montana
While the best Montana 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 Montana for a short time or for good, shipping your car there should be an easy process. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best car shipping companies in Montana that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also explain the costs of shipping for both open and enclosed transport services, and guide you on how to easily ship your car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Montana 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 Montana is $1,332 for open car shipping services and $1,864 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Montana depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Montana
We have devoted more than 300 hours to studying the auto transport industry in order to present an unbiased assessment of the top car shipping companies. If you’re moving a car to or from Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, or beyond, check out our list of the best Montana car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
Montway Auto Transport is the best choice among the top auto transport companies of 2024 because of its dependable service and reasonable prices. While Montway may not have the lowest prices, its excellent customer service and variety of options make it stand out from its competitors.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and well-liked company that moves cars across the country. They operate in all 50 states and also offer shipping internationally. They have many carriers in their network, which helps them provide lower prices than other companies.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
According to our research, Sherpa Auto Transport received a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on our special rating scale. This is because they have fixed prices, happy customers, and offer many services. As an extra bonus, Sherpa also gives customers $20 back for getting their car washed with their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping a breeze and provides guaranteed pricing with their Price Lock Promise. This means that the original quote is the exact final price, and if needed, the company will even 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 has received a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. This rating is based on the fact that they provide different shipping choices at affordable prices. They have earned a high score for the services they offer, which include open, enclosed, and door-to-door auto transportation. They also offer expedited delivery and guaranteed pickup dates.
You don’t have to pay for SGT Auto Transport until the carrier comes to get your vehicle. If you find a cheaper price from another company, SGT Auto Transport will match it. Most customers have a good experience with this provider, according to our team.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping provides various options for transporting vehicles to different destinations. With a strong rating of 5.0 in the services category, this provider offers door-to-door shipping, both open and enclosed auto transport, shipping to Hawaii, motorcycle shipping, military vehicle shipping, heavy equipment transport, and 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 has prices that are average for the industry. However, customers have the opportunity to reduce their rates through discounts and different pricing levels. Some of the discount options available include price reductions for customers who have used AmeriFreight before, shipping multiple vehicles, being a first responder or medical personnel, seniors, students, and more.
AmeriFreight is one of the best auto shippers on our list because they offer many discounts, price-match services, and great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and have a thorough vetting process to make sure all the shippers they work with are licensed and insured.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Montana Car Shipping Companies
Although we mentioned five trustworthy car shipping providers on a national scale, there are also excellent regional options for shipping cars in Montana. Take a look at the additional provider mentioned below.
J&S Transportation
J&S Transportation is headquartered in Billings, MT. Learn more about this provider on the J&S Transportation website.
Montana Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in Montana can be different depending on certain things. Some of these things depend on what you want, like the kind of car transport you choose. Most people use open or enclosed trailers to transport their vehicles, so we have average prices for both methods in the sections below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Montana
Open car shipping is a method of transporting multiple vehicles using a trailer without walls or a roof. It is cheaper, but also riskier, compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Montana using open auto transport is $1,332, which is 32 percent more expensive than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Montana car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Billings to New York | $1,389 |
| Billings to Los Angeles | $1,029 |
| Billings to Chicago | $1,029 |
| San Francisco to Billings | $1,399 |
| Miami to Billings | $1,399 |
| Great Falls to New York | $1,949 |
| Great Falls to Los Angeles | $1,229 |
| Great Falls to Chicago | $1,309 |
| San Francisco to Great Falls | $1,399 |
| Miami to Great Falls | $1,949 |
| Missoula to New York | $1,439 |
| Missoula to Los Angeles | $979 |
| Missoula to Chicago | $829 |
| San Francisco to Missoula | $1,249 |
| Miami to Missoula | $1,199 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Montana
Enclosed auto transport services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Montana 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 Montana using enclosed auto transport is $1,864, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Montana. The table below has average costs of popular Montana car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Billings to New York | $1,939 |
| Billings to Los Angeles | $1,439 |
| Billings to Chicago | $1,439 |
| San Francisco to Billings | $1,959 |
| Miami to Billings | $1,959 |
| Great Falls to New York | $2,729 |
| Great Falls to Los Angeles | $1,719 |
| Great Falls to Chicago | $1,829 |
| San Francisco to Great Falls | $1,959 |
| Miami to Great Falls | $2,729 |
| Missoula to New York | $2,009 |
| Missoula to Los Angeles | $1,369 |
| Missoula to Chicago | $1,159 |
| San Francisco to Missoula | $1,749 |
| Miami to Missoula | $1,679 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Montana?
Your exact auto transport expenses for Montana will likely depend on various factors. When you ship a car, the amount you pay can be influenced by factors like the type of transportation, where it’s being delivered, fuel costs, shipping distance, vehicle type, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Montana
Do you want help with shipping a car in Montana but don’t know where to start? Moving your vehicle might seem complicated, but we’ve explained the process below to make it easy and stress-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
First, you have to 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 Montana Car Shipping Quotes
After you have chosen how you want to transport your vehicle, it is important to compare the prices of different Montana auto transport options. It’s easy to get online quotes for car shipping, and we recommend providing vehicle details to various car shipping companies to find the best price.
Remember that not all companies will keep the same price for shipping your car in Montana. Some may increase the rate because of market changes. If having a set price for your car shipping service is important to you, choose a provider that guarantees it.
Select A Transport Provider
Once you’ve looked at different quotes for moving cars from different companies, you’ll probably narrow down your options for car shipping services in Montana. This is when you need to decide if you prefer a car shipping broker or an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will find a car carrier for you, while shipping marketplaces let you handle carriers on your own.
Make sure to check online review platforms and discussion boards to do your research before you make a decision. Hearing from other people who have used shipping providers for cars in Montana is really helpful when choosing which one to go with.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you have reserved a service to transport your vehicle, you need to prepare your car for shipping. Remove any personal belongings from your vehicle because some transporters in Montana take into account the weight of the vehicle when determining 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. Before your car is loaded onto the trailer, make sure to take photos of it for proper 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 Montana.
Pick Your Car Up
If the vehicle transport company you choose has GPS tracking, you can watch your car travel to or from Montana in real time. Even if they don’t have GPS tracking, the carrier will still contact you at some point to let you know the pickup date.
When you meet your carrier at the scheduled pickup spot and time, make sure to check your vehicle 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 Montana Car Shipping
When you send a car to or from Montana, there are certain things about the state that can affect how long it takes for your car to be shipped. The size of the city, how many people live there, the traffic, and bad weather can all play a role in how long it takes. It’s a good idea to know about these things beforehand so you’re not surprised when your car is being shipped.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Montana 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 Billings and Great Falls.
In addition, many cities in Montana have less-than-average rainfall and less chances of extreme weather. To avoid any problems with shipping your car in Montana, it’s important to prepare for bad weather like storms or flooding. This could cause delays, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and be flexible with the delivery timeframe.
Montana Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana?
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 Montana, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Montana 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.
