Best Car Shipping Companies In Michigan
While the best Michigan 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 Michigan temporarily or permanently, it should be easy to transport your car there. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best car shipping companies in Michigan that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also explain the costs of shipping for both open and enclosed transport options and teach you how to easily ship your car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Michigan 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 Michigan is $897 for open car shipping services and $1,256 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Michigan depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Michigan
We have dedicated more than 300 hours researching the auto transport field in order to present an unbiased review of the top car shipping companies in the industry. If you’re moving a car to or from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, or beyond, check out our list of the best Michigan 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 reasonable rates. While they may not have the lowest prices, their excellent customer service and diverse options put them ahead of the competition.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and well-liked company that transports cars across the country. They serve all 50 states and also ship internationally. Montway has many carriers in their network, so they can offer prices lower than what is usually found.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
According to our own rating system, Sherpa Auto Transport gets a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars for its fixed prices, high customer satisfaction, and wide range of services. Furthermore, Sherpa also gives customers a $20 refund for a car wash with their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping simple and guarantees fair prices with their Price Lock Promise. This means that the price you’re quoted is the price you’ll pay – they’ll even give you up to $300 if needed to keep your rate from going up.
Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport review
3. SGT Auto Transport: Best Price-Match Guarantee
We have given SGT Auto Transport a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars because they provide different ways to ship vehicles at prices that are fair compared to others. The company got a high score for their services because they offer different transportation options like open and enclosed trailers, door-to-door delivery, and the option for faster delivery with guaranteed pickup dates.
You don’t need to make a payment for SGT Auto Transport until they send a carrier 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 a good experience with this provider.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping provides various auto transport services to help you send your vehicle to where it needs to go. With an impressive rating of 5.0 in the services category, they offer convenient door-to-door shipping, both open and enclosed auto transport, shipping to Hawaii, motorcycle shipping, military vehicle shipping, heavy equipment transport, and many other options.
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 bring down their rates by taking advantage of AmeriFreight’s discounts and pricing levels. They have various opportunities for discounts, such as lower rates for customers who have used their services before, those who ship multiple vehicles, first responders and medical personnel, seniors, students, and more.
AmeriFreight is one of the top five companies for shipping cars because they offer different kinds of discounts, services that match prices, and excellent customer service. They work with more than 10,000 car carriers and have a thorough vetting process to make sure each carrier is licensed and insured.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Michigan Car Shipping Companies
Although we mentioned five trustworthy car shipping companies on a national level earlier, there are also excellent local choices for car shipping in Michigan. Take a look at one more provider below that you should consider.
Reliable Carriers
Reliable Carriers is headquartered in Canton, MI. Learn more about this provider on the Reliable Carriers website.
Michigan Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in Michigan can vary a lot based on a few things. Some factors that affect the cost depend on what you want, like the type of car transport you choose. Most likely, you’ll use either an open or enclosed trailer when shipping your car. We have average costs for both methods of shipping to and from Michigan.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Michigan
Open car shipping means using a trailer without walls or a roof to move many vehicles together. It is cheaper but riskier than enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Michigan using open auto transport is $897, which is 11 percent cheaper than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Michigan car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Detroit to New York | $719 |
| Detroit to Los Angeles | $1,129 |
| Detroit to Chicago | $479 |
| San Francisco to Detroit | $1,229 |
| Miami to Detroit | $819 |
| Ann Arbor to New York | $719 |
| Ann Arbor to Los Angeles | $1,129 |
| Ann Arbor to Chicago | $559 |
| San Francisco to Ann Arbor | $1,149 |
| Miami to Ann Arbor | $969 |
| Flint to New York | $719 |
| Flint to Los Angeles | $1,149 |
| Flint to Chicago | $559 |
| San Francisco to Flint | $1,199 |
| Miami to Flint | $949 |
| Grand Rapids to New York | $719 |
| Grand Rapids to Los Angeles | $1,099 |
| Grand Rapids to Chicago | $559 |
| San Francisco to Grand Rapids | $1,099 |
| Miami to Grand Rapids | $919 |
| Lansing to New York | $819 |
| Lansing to Los Angeles | $1,129 |
| Lansing to Chicago | $559 |
| San Francisco to Lansing | $1,199 |
| Miami to Lansing | $1,129 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Michigan
Enclosed auto shipping services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Michigan 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 Michigan using enclosed car shipping is $1,256, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Michigan. The table below has average costs of popular Michigan car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Detroit to New York | $1,009 |
| Detroit to Los Angeles | $1,579 |
| Detroit to Chicago | $669 |
| San Francisco to Detroit | $1,719 |
| Miami to Detroit | $1,149 |
| Ann Arbor to New York | $1,009 |
| Ann Arbor to Los Angeles | $1,579 |
| Ann Arbor to Chicago | $779 |
| San Francisco to Ann Arbor | $1,609 |
| Miami to Ann Arbor | $1,359 |
| Flint to New York | $1,009 |
| Flint to Los Angeles | $1,609 |
| Flint to Chicago | $779 |
| San Francisco to Flint | $1,679 |
| Miami to Flint | $1,329 |
| Grand Rapids to New York | $1,009 |
| Grand Rapids to Los Angeles | $1,539 |
| Grand Rapids to Chicago | $779 |
| San Francisco to Grand Rapids | $1,539 |
| Miami to Grand Rapids | $1,289 |
| Lansing to New York | $1,149 |
| Lansing to Los Angeles | $1,579 |
| Lansing to Chicago | $779 |
| San Francisco to Lansing | $1,679 |
| Miami to Lansing | $1,579 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Michigan?
Your exact auto transport expenses for Michigan will likely depend on various factors. When shipping a car, the cost you pay can be influenced by factors like the type of transportation, where the car is being delivered, the price of fuel, the distance the car needs to be shipped, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Michigan
Are you trying to send a car in Michigan but don’t know where to begin? Moving your vehicle might seem difficult, but we have explained the process of transporting cars below to make it easy and stress-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
First, you will need to choose how you want to move 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 Michigan Car Shipping Quotes
After you have chosen a way to transport, you should compare quotes for auto transport in Michigan. 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 promise to keep the price they quote you for shipping your car in Michigan. Some may raise the rate because of changes in the market. If it is important to you to have a fixed price for shipping your car in Michigan, select a provider that offers this guarantee.
Select A Transport Provider
Once you have looked at different quotes for auto transport from different companies, you will probably start to choose between different Michigan car shipping services. This is the moment to decide if you prefer to work with a car shipping broker or an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will help you find a car carrier, while shipping marketplaces expect you to negotiate with carriers on your own.
Make sure to do some research before making a choice. Use online review platforms and discussion boards to gather information. It’s really helpful to hear directly from other people about their experiences with shipping providers when you’re deciding on one for car transport in Michigan.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you schedule a service to transport your vehicle, it’s important to prepare your car for shipment. Remove any personal items from your vehicle, as some transporters in Michigan may use the vehicle weight to determine 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 on the trailer to have the right evidence. 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 Michigan.
Pick Your Car Up
If the vehicle carrier you pick has GPS tracking, you can watch your car travel to or from Michigan as it happens. Even if they don’t have GPS, the carrier will send you a message about when they’ll 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 damage. This is especially crucial if you have chosen an open auto transport option. 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 Michigan Car Shipping
If you’re shipping a car to or from Michigan, there are things about the state that could affect your car shipping experience. Factors like the size of the city, number of people, traffic patterns, and bad weather can impact how long it takes to ship your car in Michigan. It’s a good idea to know this in advance so you’re not surprised during the shipping process.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Michigan 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 Detroit and Ann Arbor.
In addition, many cities in Michigan have less-than-average rainfall and less chances of extreme weather. Bad weather like storms or flooding might make your auto shipment to Michigan take longer. So, it’s a good idea to prepare and be willing to adjust your delivery schedule if necessary.
Michigan Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan?
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 Michigan, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Michigan 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.
