Best Car Shipping Companies In Connecticut
Montway Auto Transport is the top Connecticut car shipping choice, and we 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 Connecticut, whether it’s for a short time or long-term, the process of shipping your car should be straightforward. In this article, we’ll provide a look at the five best car shipping companies in Connecticut that offer peace of mind and competitive costs. We will also explain the costs of shipping for both open and enclosed transport services and show you how to easily ship your car.
The Gist:
- Our team found that Montway Auto Transport is the best Connecticut 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 Connecticut is $966 for open car shipping services and $1,353 for enclosed auto transport.
- Your car shipping cost in Connecticut depends on factors like a city’s size, nearby traffic patterns, and weather conditions.
5 Best Car Shipping Companies In Connecticut
We have thoroughly researched the auto transport industry for more than 300 hours to offer an honest assessment of the top car shipping companies in the field. If you’re moving a car to or from Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, or beyond, check out our list of the best Connecticut 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 provide dependable service and fair rates. While they may not have the lowest prices, their excellent customer service and wide array of options make them stand out from their competitors.
Montway Auto Transport is a big and widely liked company that moves vehicles. They operate in every state in the U.S. and even ship cars internationally. Montway has many carriers they work with, which helps keep their prices lower than what most other companies charge.
Read more: Montway Auto Transport review
2. Sherpa Auto Transport: Best For Locked-In Rates
According to our research team’s own rating scale, Sherpa Auto Transport gets a score of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. This high rating is because of their fixed rates, high customer satisfaction, and range of services. Another bonus is that Sherpa offers customers a reimbursement of $20 for a car wash through their Clean Car Guarantee program.
Sherpa Auto Transport makes shipping simple and offers dependable pricing with a Price Lock Promise. This means that the original quote you receive is the exact price you’ll pay – and if needed, the company will even cover up to $300 to prevent any increase in cost.
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 ways to ship vehicles at prices that are competitive with other companies. They got a high score for their services because they offer options like open, enclosed, and door-to-door transportation, as well as faster delivery and guaranteed pickup dates.
You don’t need to pay for SGT Auto Transport until they send someone to pick up your vehicle. If you find a cheaper price from another company, SGT Auto Transport will match it. Most customers say they have a good experience with this provider, according to our research.
Read more: SGT Auto Transport review
4. American Auto Shipping: Best Service Availability
American Auto Shipping provides a variety of auto transport services to help you deliver your vehicle to where it needs to go. They have an excellent rating of 5.0 in the category of services. This company offers door-to-door shipping, both open and enclosed auto transport options, 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 gives customers prices that are typical for the industry. But customers can pay even less by using AmeriFreight’s discounts and pricing tiers. Some of the discounts include lower rates for returning customers, shipping multiple vehicles, being a first responder or medical personnel, seniors, students, and more.
AmeriFreight is one of the best car shipping companies because they offer lots of discounts, match prices, and have great customer service. They work with over 10,000 car carriers and only partner with licensed and insured shippers.
Read more: AmeriFreight review
Other Connecticut Car Shipping Companies
Although we mentioned five well-known car shipping providers on a national level, there are also some excellent local options to consider when shipping a car in Connecticut. Take a look at the information below for an additional provider to consider.
A-AAA Auto Transport
A-AAA Auto Transport is headquartered in Stamford, CT . Learn more about this provider on the A-AAA Auto Transport website.
Connecticut Car Shipping Costs
The price of shipping a car in Connecticut can be different based on a few things. Some factors that affect the cost depend on what you need, like the type of car transport you choose. When you ship your vehicle, you will probably use either an open or enclosed trailer, so we have given the average prices for both methods of shipping to and from Connecticut below.
Open Car Shipping Costs In Connecticut
Open car shipping is when multiple vehicles are transported together on a trailer without walls or a roof. It is less expensive but also riskier compared to enclosed transport services.
The average cost to ship a car to and from Connecticut using open auto transport is $966, which is 4 percent cheaper than the national average of $1,010. We gathered cost estimates for open car transport along popular Connecticut car shipping routes, which you’ll find below:
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Hartford to New York | $459 |
| Hartford to Los Angeles | $1,249 |
| Hartford to Chicago | $969 |
| San Francisco to Hartford | $1,499 |
| Miami to Hartford | $1,179 |
| Stamford to New York | $319 |
| Stamford to Los Angeles | $1,199 |
| Stamford to Chicago | $719 |
| San Francisco to Stamford | $1,449 |
| Miami to Stamford | $999 |
| New Haven to New York | $459 |
| New Haven to Los Angeles | $1,399 |
| New Haven to Chicago | $819 |
| San Francisco to New Haven | $1,449 |
| Miami to New Haven | $999 |
Enclosed Car Shipping Costs In Connecticut
Enclosed auto transport services utilize an enclosed carrier that provides the ultimate level of protection from road hazards during transport. While it makes Connecticut 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 Connecticut using enclosed auto transport is $1,353, which is 40 percent more than the average cost of open car shipping in Connecticut. The table below has average costs of popular Connecticut car shipping routes using enclosed transport.
| Auto Shipping Route | Total Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Hartford to New York | $639 |
| Hartford to Los Angeles | $1,749 |
| Hartford to Chicago | $1,359 |
| San Francisco to Hartford | $2,099 |
| Miami to Hartford | $1,649 |
| Stamford to New York | $449 |
| Stamford to Los Angeles | $1,679 |
| Stamford to Chicago | $1,009 |
| San Francisco to Stamford | $2,029 |
| Miami to Stamford | $1,399 |
| New Haven to New York | $639 |
| New Haven to Los Angeles | $1,959 |
| New Haven to Chicago | $1,149 |
| San Francisco to New Haven | $2,029 |
| Miami to New Haven | $1,399 |
What Affects Car Shipping Costs In Connecticut?
Your exact auto transport expenses for Connecticut will likely depend on various factors. When you ship a car, several factors will influence the cost you pay. These include the type of transportation, where the delivery is taking place, fuel prices, 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 Connecticut
Do you want to send a car in Connecticut but don’t know where to begin? Even though it might seem confusing at first, we’ve explained how to transport cars below to make it easy and stress-free.
Choose Your Shipping Method
First, you must choose how you will 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 Connecticut Car Shipping Quotes
After you have decided on how to transport your vehicle, it is time to compare quotes for auto transport in Connecticut. 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 certain companies will uphold the price they initially quoted you for shipping your car in Connecticut, while others may raise the shipping rate due to market changes. If it’s important for you to have a fixed price for your car transportation service in Connecticut, choose a provider that offers this assurance.
Select A Transport Provider
After you compare quotes from different companies that transport cars, you will probably reduce your options for shipping services in Connecticut. At this point, you need to determine if you prefer to use a car shipping middleman or an online marketplace. Brokers will find a car carrier for you, while shipping marketplaces let you handle carriers directly.
No matter what you decide, make sure you look at reviews on the internet and talk to others on discussion boards. Hearing about people’s personal experiences with shipping providers is extremely helpful when choosing someone to transport your car in Connecticut.
Prepare Your Car And Meet The Carrier
After you have scheduled a vehicle transportation service, you need to prepare your car for shipping. Remove any personal belongings from your vehicle because some transporters in Connecticut 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. Make sure to take pictures of your car before it gets put on the trailer, so you have proper records. 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 Connecticut.
Pick Your Car Up
If the company you choose to transport your vehicle offers GPS tracking, you can watch your car as it goes to or from Connecticut in real time. Even if they don’t offer GPS tracking, they will send you a message about when they will pick up your vehicle.
After you meet the person who will transport your vehicle at the agreed-upon location and time, make sure to carefully check your vehicle for any damages. This is especially crucial for those who choose 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 Connecticut Car Shipping
When you ship a car to or from Connecticut, there are certain things about the state that could impact your car shipping experience. These include factors like the size of the city, the number of people, the traffic patterns, and the bad weather. It’s a good idea to know about these things beforehand so you won’t be surprised during the shipping process.
Population density can also have an impact on the availability of door-to-door transport. Connecticut 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 Hartford and Stamford.
In addition, many cities in Connecticut have higher-than-average rainfall and greater chances of extreme weather. Bad weather like storms or flooding might cause shipping delays for Connecticut auto transport. To avoid any issues, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and be flexible with delivery times.
Connecticut Car Shipping: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions customers have about Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
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 Connecticut, you’ll meet the car carrier for pickup.
How We Rate Connecticut 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.
