Best Car Shipping Companies In Maine
While the best Maine 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 temporarily or permanently, getting your car shipped to or from Maine should be easy. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best auto transport companies in Maine that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also explain the costs of shipping for both open and enclosed transport services, and help you understand how to easily ship your car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Maine 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 Maine is $1,343 for open car shipping services and $1,880 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Maine depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Maine
We have invested more than 300 hours researching the field of auto transport in order to give an unbiased review of the top car shipping companies in the industry. If you’re moving a car to or from Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston, or beyond, check out our list of the best Maine car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
Montway Auto Transport is our top choice among the best auto transport companies of 2023 due to their dependable service and reasonable rates. While Montway doesn’t receive the highest score for pricing, their exceptional customer service and diverse options give them an edge over their competitors.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and well-liked company that moves cars. They operate in all 50 states and also ship cars internationally. Montway can offer customers cheaper prices than most other companies because they have many carriers in their network.
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 receives a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars for its fixed rates, high customer satisfaction rating, and range of services. Moreover, Sherpa also provides a $20 reimbursement for car washes as part of their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping your vehicle simple and guarantees a fair price with their Price Lock Promise. This means that the initial quote you receive is the exact amount you will pay – the company will even chip in up to $300 if needed, to prevent any increase in your rate.
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 provide different shipping choices at good prices. The company received a high score for their services because they offer open, enclosed, and door-to-door auto transportation, as well as fast delivery and guaranteed pickup dates.
You don’t need to pay for SGT Auto Transport until they send someone to pick up your vehicle. Plus, if you find a cheaper price from another company, SGT Auto Transport will match it. Our team discovered that most 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 transportation services to help you move your vehicle to where it needs to go. They have a good rating of 5.0 for their services. Some of the services they offer include door-to-door shipping, both open and enclosed auto transport options, shipping to Hawaii, motorcycle transportation, shipping for military vehicles, and heavy equipment transport, among others.
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 reduce their rates with AmeriFreight’s discounts and pricing levels. They offer various discount opportunities, such as lower rates for customers who have used their service before, those who ship multiple vehicles, first responders and medical personnel, seniors, students, and more.
AmeriFreight is one of the best car shipping companies according to our rankings. They offer many discounts, price-matching services, and have great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and make sure that every carrier is licensed and insured by doing background checks.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Maine Car Shipping Companies
Although we mentioned five well-known national providers earlier, there are also several excellent regional choices for car shipping in Maine. Take a look below for an additional provider that you may want to consider.
Auto Shipper’s Express
Auto Shipper’s Express is headquartered in New York, NY. Learn more about this provider on the Auto Shipper’s Express website.
Maine Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in Maine can be different based on a few things. Some factors that affect the cost depend on what you want, like the type of auto transport you choose. When shipping your vehicle, you will probably use either an open or enclosed trailer, so we have given average costs for both methods of shipping to and from Maine below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Maine
The use of open car shipping means using a trailer that doesn’t have walls or a roof to transport multiple vehicles together. This makes it a cheaper option, but it carries more risk compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Maine using open auto transport is $1,343, which is 33 percent more expensive than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Maine car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Lewiston to Miami | $999 |
| Auburn to Miami | $999 |
| Portland to Dallas | $1,149 |
| Portland to San Francisco | $1,349 |
| Lewiston to Los Angeles | $1,499 |
| Auburn to Los Angeles | $1,499 |
| Bangor to Dallas | $1,499 |
| Bangor to San Francisco | $1,699 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Maine
Enclosed auto shipping services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Maine 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 Maine using enclosed auto transport is $1,880, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Maine. The table below has average costs of popular Maine car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Lewiston to Miami | $1,399 |
| Auburn to Miami | $1,399 |
| Portland to Dallas | $1,609 |
| Portland to San Francisco | $1,889 |
| Lewiston to Los Angeles | $2,099 |
| Auburn to Los Angeles | $2,099 |
| Bangor to Dallas | $2,099 |
| Bangor to San Francisco | $2,379 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Maine?
Your exact auto transport expenses for Maine will likely depend on various factors. When you ship a car, the cost can be influenced by different factors like the type of transport, where it’s being delivered, fuel prices, the distance it’s being shipped, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Maine
Do you want to send a car in Maine but don’t know where to begin? Transportation might seem complicated, but we’ve explained how it works below to make it easy and stress-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
To start, 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 open vs. enclosed car shipping will help you determine which best fits your needs.
Compare Maine Car Shipping Quotes
Once you have chosen how you will transport your vehicle, it is time to compare quotes for auto transport in Maine. 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 while some companies promise to keep the price they initially quote you for shipping your car to Maine, others might raise the rate due to changes in the market. If it’s important to you to have a fixed price for your car shipping service to Maine, then choose a provider that offers this guarantee.
Select A Transport Provider
Once you’ve looked at prices for shipping your car from different companies, you will probably have fewer options for car shipping services in Maine. This is when you need to decide if you prefer to work with a car shipping broker or use an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will help you find a car carrier, while shipping marketplaces expect you to communicate with carriers directly.
Make sure to do your research on online review platforms and discussion boards before making a choice. It’s really helpful to hear from other consumers about their experiences with shipping providers when deciding which one to choose for transporting your car to Maine.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you have reserved a vehicle transport service, it is important to prepare your car for shipping. Make sure to remove any personal belongings from your vehicle, as some transporters in Maine take the weight of the 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. Before your car is loaded onto the trailer, make sure to take pictures of it for accurate 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 Maine.
Pick Your Car Up
If the vehicle transport carrier you choose has GPS tracking, you can see your car’s real-time journey to or from Maine. Even if they don’t offer GPS tracking, you will still get a message from the carrier about when they will pick up your vehicle.
When you arrive at the scheduled pickup location and time, make sure to check your car for any damage. 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 Maine Car Shipping
If you’re shipping a car to or from Maine, there are certain things related to the state that could impact your car shipping experience. These include factors like the size of the city, the population, traffic patterns, and bad weather. Knowing about these factors in advance is a good idea, so you’re not surprised during the shipping process.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Maine 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 Auburn and Bangor.
In addition, many cities in Maine have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Bad weather like storms or floods could make it more likely for shipments of cars in Maine to take longer. To avoid any issues, make sure to plan ahead and be open to the possibility of delivery delays.
Maine Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine?
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 Maine, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Maine 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.
