Best Car Shipping Companies In Kentucky
While the best Kentucky 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, whether it’s just for a short time or forever, shipping your car to or from Kentucky should be easy. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best auto transport companies in Kentucky that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also explain the costs of shipping for both open and enclosed transport services and give you instructions on how to ship your car without any difficulties.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Kentucky 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 Kentucky is $922 for open car shipping services and $1,291 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Kentucky depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Kentucky
To help people know the best car shipping companies, we did over 300 hours of research in the auto transport industry and wrote an honest review. If you’re moving a car to or from Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville, or beyond, check out our list of the best Kentucky car shipping companies.
1. Montway Auto Transport: Best Reputation
Montway Auto Transport is our top choice among the best auto transport companies in 2024 due to its reliable service and reasonable rates. While Montway may not have the lowest prices, its exceptional customer service and multitude of options put it ahead of the competition.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and well-liked company that transports vehicles all over the country, serving every state and even shipping internationally. Because they have many carriers to rely on, Montway is able to offer customers lower prices than other companies.
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 4.6 stars out of 5 for its great prices, happy customers, and wide range of services. On top of that, Sherpa also gives customers $20 back for a car wash with their Clean Car Guarantee.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping simple and guarantees a fair price through their Price Lock Promise. This means that the price you are initially quoted is the price you will pay – they will even assist with 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 give SGT Auto Transport a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars because they have different shipping choices at good prices. The company got a high score for their services because they have options like open, enclosed, and door-to-door auto transport. They also offer fast delivery and guaranteed pickup dates.
You don’t have to pay with SGT Auto Transport until the carrier comes to get your vehicle. If you find a cheaper price from another company, SGT Auto Transport will offer the same price. Our team discovered that many 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 ensure your vehicle reaches its destination. With an outstanding rating of 5.0 in the services category, this provider offers convenient door-to-door shipping, both open and enclosed auto transport, shipping to Hawaii, motorcycle shipping, military vehicle shipping, as well as heavy equipment transport.
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 charges rates that are in line with what other companies in the industry charge. But, customers can pay less by taking advantage of AmeriFreight’s discounts and different pricing levels. These discounts are available to people who have used AmeriFreight before, those who are shipping multiple vehicles, first responders and medical personnel, seniors, students, and more.
AmeriFreight is one of the top five companies for shipping cars. They offer a variety of discounts, price-matching, and great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and make sure that each one is licensed and insured by doing background checks.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Kentucky Car Shipping Companies
Although we mentioned five reputable national providers earlier, there are also excellent regional options for car shipping in Kentucky. Take a look at the provider below as an additional option to consider.
Direct Connect Auto Transport
Direct Connect Auto Transport is headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL. Learn more about this provider on the Direct Connect Auto Transport website.
Kentucky Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in Kentucky can differ a lot based on a few things. Some things that affect the price depend on what you need, like the type of transportation you choose. Most people use open or enclosed trailers to transport their vehicles. We have listed the average costs for shipping using both methods to and from Kentucky in the sections below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Kentucky
Open car shipping is when multiple vehicles are transported together on a trailer that doesn’t have walls or a roof. It is a cheaper way to ship cars, but it comes with more risks compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Kentucky using open car shipping is $922, which is 9 percent cheaper than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Kentucky car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Louisville to Chicago | $459 |
| Lexington to Chicago | $489 |
| Bowling Green to Miami | $629 |
| Lexington to Miami | $699 |
| Lexington to New York | $719 |
| Louisville to New York | $739 |
| Owensboro to New York | $749 |
| Louisville to Miami | $799 |
| Louisville to Los Angeles | $1,029 |
| Owensboro to Los Angeles | $1,149 |
| Louisville to San Francisco | $1,199 |
| Lexington to San Francisco | $1,249 |
| Lexington to Los Angeles | $1,299 |
| Bowling Green to Seattle | $1,449 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Kentucky
Enclosed auto transport services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Kentucky 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 Kentucky using enclosed car shipping is $1,291, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Kentucky. The table below has average costs of popular Kentucky car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Louisville to Chicago | $639 |
| Lexington to Chicago | $689 |
| Bowling Green to Miami | $879 |
| Lexington to Miami | $979 |
| Lexington to New York | $1,009 |
| Louisville to New York | $1,039 |
| Owensboro to New York | $1,049 |
| Louisville to Miami | $1,119 |
| Louisville to Los Angeles | $1,439 |
| Owensboro to Los Angeles | $1,609 |
| Louisville to San Francisco | $1,679 |
| Lexington to San Francisco | $1,749 |
| Lexington to Los Angeles | $1,819 |
| Bowling Green to Seattle | $2,029 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Kentucky?
Your exact auto transport expenses for Kentucky will likely depend on various factors. When you ship a car, several factors can influence the cost. These factors include the type of transportation, where the car is being delivered, fuel prices, the distance of shipping, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the car.
How To Ship A Car To And From Kentucky
Are you trying to transport a car in Kentucky but don’t know how to get started? Moving your vehicle might seem difficult at first, but we have explained the process of auto transport 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 enclosed vs. open auto transport will help you determine which best fits your needs.
Compare Kentucky Car Shipping Quotes
After you decide how you want to transport your vehicle, you should compare quotes from different auto transport companies in Kentucky. 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 although certain companies promise to honor the price they quoted for transporting your car in Kentucky, others may raise their shipping rates because of market conditions. If it is important to you to have a fixed price for your car shipping service in Kentucky, select a provider that offers this guarantee.
Select A Transport Provider
Once you’ve compared different quotes for auto transport, you’ll probably have a smaller list of options for car shipping services to Kentucky. At this point, you’ll need to decide if you prefer working with a car shipping broker or an online shipping marketplace. Brokers will handle finding a car carrier for you, while shipping marketplaces expect you to directly communicate with carriers.
Make sure you do your research using online review websites and discussion boards, no matter what you decide. It’s really helpful to read about real experiences that customers have had with shipping companies when you’re deciding which one to use for transporting cars in Kentucky.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you have scheduled a service to transport your vehicle, you need to prepare your car for shipment. Remove any personal belongings from your vehicle because some transporters in Kentucky take into account the weight of the car 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. Make sure to take pictures of your car before it gets put onto the trailer so that you have proof of its condition. 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 Kentucky.
Pick Your Car Up
If the car transport company you choose has GPS tracking, you can watch your car’s journey to or from Kentucky live. Even if they don’t have GPS, the carrier will contact you about when they will pick up your car.
When you arrive at the scheduled pickup spot and time to meet your carrier, make sure to check your vehicle for any damage. This is particularly crucial if you have chosen 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 Kentucky Car Shipping
If you want to ship a car to or from Kentucky, there are certain things about the state that can affect your car shipping experience. These include the size of the city, how many people live there, the traffic patterns, and bad weather. It’s a good idea to know about these things ahead of time so you’re not surprised when you ship your car.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Kentucky 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 Bowling Green and Lexington.
In addition, many cities in Kentucky have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Bad weather like storms or flooding might make it more likely for Kentucky auto transport to be late, so it’s a good idea to think ahead and be open to different delivery times during shipping.
Kentucky Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
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 Kentucky, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Kentucky 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.
