Cheap Car Shipping
The best cheap car shipping companies in 2024 are Easy Auto Ship, Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, and uShip.
From our #1 rated provider, 
The Gist:
- AmeriFreight offers the cheapest open car shipping service for only $0.40 per mile for shipments of 2,500 miles or more.
- It is cheapest to ship your in between December and February when there is less demand for auto carriers.
- Open shipping is cheaper than enclosed transport and is more commonly available.
Auto transport doesn’t have to be expensive if you know where to look. Our team has thoroughly researched every major shipping provider to uncover the best choices for cheap car shipping. In this article, we’ll dive into our top five options for low-cost vehicle transport before looking into how to keep costs down.
One of the best ways to find cheap car shipping is by getting free, no-hassle quotes from some of the industry’s best car shipping companies before making your final choice.
Cheapest Car Shipping
We received the cheapest car shipping rate from AmeriFreight to transport an operable 2018 Hyundai Elantra more than 2,500 miles, at $0.40 per mile. Long-distance shipping is generally cheaper per mile, but short distances are more reasonable overall. The most affordable rate we found for shipping a vehicle about 500 miles was $500.
Cheapest Car Shipping Companies
Our industry-wide auto shipping study found that Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, SGT Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, uShip, and American Auto Shipping offer the most affordable shipping options.
You can compare our top-rated car shipping companies’ affordability ratings in the table below.
| Provider | Affordability Rating |
|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | 4.6 |
| Montway Auto Transport | 4.5 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 4.5 |
| uShip | 4.5 |
| American Auto Shipping | 4.4 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 4.4 |
During our research, our review team considered each company’s affordability, services, customer experience, and industry reputation when determining which companies offer the cheapest car shipping options.
While no provider has a complete lock on cheap car shipping, certain ones tend to rise to the top. For example, during our intensive review process, AmeriFreight received 4.6 out of 5 stars for its affordability, the highest score we gave out for average cost ratings. In a close second, we awarded Montway Auto Transport 4.5 out of 5 stars and the best overall score of 4.8 stars.
Cheapest Car Shipping Rates By Distance
The most affordable car shipping rates offered by car transport carriers are open transport over short distances. While the total cost is lower, the cost per mile for shorter distances is typically higher versus long-distance shipments. Below we will highlight the cheapest prices quoted to our review team for short- and long-distance loads.
Cheap Short-Distance Car Transport
Mercury Auto Transport is the cheapest option for short-distance car shipping at only $0.97 per mile. According to our research, the average lowest cost to transport a vehicle short distances is $1.16 per mile. Mercury Auto Transport’s cost per mile is $0.19 cheaper than the average of 10 of the industry’s lowest car shipping rates for short distances.
Cheap Short-Distance Car Shipping Rates
Below, you can see the 10 cheapest short-distance rates provided to us by each car transport company in our industry review.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury Auto Transport | $500 | $0.97 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $500 | $0.97 |
| Ship a Car Inc | $500 | $0.97 |
| Golden Key Express | $515 | $1.00 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $565 | $1.10 |
| American Auto Shipping | $629 | $1.22 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $659 | $1.28 |
| uShip | $679 | $1.32 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $700 | $1.36 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $725 | $1.41 |
*Rates are based on prices we received to ship an operable 2018 Hyundai Elantra 515 miles using an open-air carrier.
Cheap Long-Distance Car Transport
AmeriFreight offers the most affordable long-distance car transport service at only $0.40 per mile for a 2,761-mile shipment. This is well below the average for the cheapest long-distance shipping rate of $0.55 per mile.
Cheapest Long-Distance Car Shipping Rates
Below, you can see the 10 cheapest rates provided to us by each of the car transport companies included in our research.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,100 | $0.40 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | $1,225 | $0.44 |
| Gartho Logistics | $1,280 | $0.46 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,446 | $0.52 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,559 | $0.56 |
| Golden Key Express | $1,680 | $0.61 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | $1,700 | $0.62 |
| American Auto Shipping | $1,749 | $0.63 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,749 | $0.63 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,808 | $0.65 |
*Rates are based on the prices we received to ship an operable 2018 Hyundai Elantra 2,761 miles on an open trailer.
Cheapest Car Shipping Services
Open transport will expose your vehicle to the outside world, usually on a truck with at least a few other cars. Meanwhile, enclosed transport will cover your vehicle in a trailer with one or two other cars maximum. As you will see in the following sections, open transport is typically cheaper than enclosed transport.
Cheapest Open Car Transport
Our research shows that Golden Key Express is the cheapest provider of open car transport. The company provides open transport for $0.74 per mile for shipments between 500 and 1,500 miles. Golden Key Express’s open transport rate is a great deal and can save you up to $0.15 per mile compared to the average cheapest rates for open shipping provided to us during our review process.
Cheapest Open Car Transport Rates
You can compare the 10 cheapest open car shipping rates we received in the table below.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Key Express | $1,110 | $0.74 |
| AmeriFreight | $1,214 | $0.81 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | $1,225 | $0.81 |
| Gartho Logistics | $1,230 | $0.82 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,325 | $0.88 |
| American Auto Shipping | $1,419 | $0.94 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,419 | $0.94 |
| Ship a Car Inc | $1,440 | $0.96 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,488 | $0.99 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,516 | $1.01 |
*The rates above are the prices we received to ship an operable 2018 Hyundai Elantra 1,504 miles.
Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport
AmeriFrieght offers the industry's most affordable enclosed transport service, with rates as low as $0.94 per mile. That's $0.17 cheaper than the average lowest rates quoted to our review team.
Cheapest Enclosed Car Transport Rates
You can compare how AmeriFreight stacks up against the cheapest enclosed car shipping prices in the table below.
| Provider | Transport Rate | Rate Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | $1,414 | $0.94 |
| Gartho Logistics | $1,430 | $0.95 |
| Ship a Car Direct | $1,500 | $1.00 |
| Ship a Car Inc | $1,695 | $1.13 |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,705 | $1.13 |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | $1,757 | $1.17 |
| A-1 Auto Transport | $1,778 | $1.18 |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,779 | $1.18 |
| Nexus Auto Transport | $1,825 | $1.21 |
| Door to Door Transport | $1,850 | $1.23 |
Car Shipping Deals
The best cheap car shipping companies have several deals that can lower the cost of shipping your vehicle. Car shipping companies will often offer discounts, including deals for active duty military members, students, and cash payments.
Car Shipping Discounts
Below, you can compare our top-rated car shipping companies and the discounts offered by each.
| Provider | Military | Students | Cash | Return Customer | Multiple Vehicles | Snowbirds | First Responders | Medical Personel | Early Bird | Senior Citizens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Montway Auto Transport | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| SGT Auto Transport | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| Sherpa Auto Transport | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||||
| Easy Auto Ship | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
*Montway Auto Transport only offers student discounts for faculty and alumni of the University of Michigan.
Best Cheap Car Shipping Companies
Our choice for the best cheap car shipping company is Montway Auto Transport. Along with Montway, we found that Easy Auto Ship, AmeriFreight, Sherpa Auto Transport, and uShip offer the best customer value and standout service. Finding the industry’s best cheap car shipping options doesn’t have to be difficult.
| Provider | Affordability Rating | Reputation | Customer Service | Services Rating | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montway Auto Transport | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Sherpa Auto Transport | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| SGT Auto Transport | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 5 | 4.6 |
| American Auto Shipping | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 5 | 4.6 |
| uShip | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 5 | 4.5 |
| AmeriFreight | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.5 |
Consumer Experience When Shipping A Car
Our October 2021 car shipping survey found that 68 percent of the 1,000 respondents surveyed were satisfied with their car shipping experience.
However, while the majority were happy overall, several reported experiencing issues during shipping. Here’s a closer look at the reported issues in our survey:
- 41 percent stated their vehicle was damaged upon delivery
- 36 percent said the carrier’s cargo insurance policy did not cover damages
- 35 percent reported that prices increased after booking
- 31 percent mentioned that their shipment was extended a week or more beyond the original delivery date
- 29 percent claimed guaranteed pickup dates were not fulfilled
There are a lot of variables to be aware of when shipping a car. You will likely have a more positive experience if you're flexible in your expectations.
Below, we’ll look at the five best cheap car shipping options and explain what makes them worthy of your consideration.
Cheapest Way To Ship A Car
The cheapest way to ship a car is through open auto transport instead of enclosed auto transport. Our research shows open transport costs around $1,350 on average for a 1,500-mile shipment, while enclosed carriers average $2,015.
Follow the guidelines below and save considerable money on your next auto shipment.
- Book early: It’s never too soon to lock down below-average quotes.
- Open up your delivery time frame: Save money by adding flexibility to the dates.
- Choose open transport: Open carriers are generally fine unless you have a classic car or luxury vehicle.
- Pick terminal-to-terminal delivery: Home delivery is nice, but the price is often higher. Not all shippers offer terminal-to-terminal transport, especially if you don’t live near a major hub.
- Consider guaranteed pricing: Your original quote will stand throughout the process.
- Seek multiple free quotes: Compare prices from various providers before choosing.
With these guidelines in mind, you may discover some of the best available options for cheap car shipping.
How Much Should It Cost To Ship A Car?
After a careful analysis of the rates we received during our industry review, the average cost to ship a car ranges from $1.48 per mile to ship a vehicle 500 miles or less or $0.64 per mile for long distances of 2,500 miles or more.
The table below contains the average cost per mile to ship a car.
| Distance | Transport Type | Average Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| 500 miles or less | Open | $1.48 |
| 500 miles to 1,500 miles | Open | $.0.98 |
| 500 miles to 1,500 miles | Enclosed | $1.19 |
| 2,500 miles plus | Open | $0.64 |
Cheap Car Transport: Conclusion
This article discussed car shipping pricing, how to find cheap car shipping, and the best affordable car shipping companies. Our research showed that Easy Auto Ship, Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight, Sherpa Auto Transport, and uShip are the best cheap car shipping companies.
Cheapest Auto Shipping: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about cheap car shipping:
What is the cheapest company to ship your car?
According to our research, Golden Key Express tends to be the cheapest company to ship a car. Car shipping quotes we received from Golden Key Express ranged from $515 for a 515-mile trip to $1,680 for a 1,500-mile shipment, which was lower than the competition.
Is it worth it to ship a car?
In our research, we’ve found that it is always more cost-effective to ship your vehicle rather than purchase a new one. However, before settling on this decision, you’ll want to take stock of how much it will cost to sell your vehicle, ship it, or buy a new one.
How can I save money on car shipping?
There are several ways to save money on car shipping, including choosing open transport instead of enclosed and choosing terminal-to-terminal shipping. You can also save on car shipping costs by choosing flexible delivery dates.
What is the cheapest car shipping service?
The cheapest way to ship your car is with open vehicle shipping. The only downside to choosing this option is that your vehicle will be exposed to the elements during transport.
How can I ship my car cheaply?
Some of the best ways to find cheap car shipping include booking early, being flexible with dates, avoiding enclosed transport and door-to-door shipping, and reaching out to multiple providers for instant quotes.
What types of vehicles can be shipped?
Car shippers can generally transport any type of vehicle including sedans, SUVs, luxury cars, and motorcycles to your delivery location. Automobiles that are not operable or not in good vehicle condition can also be shipped for an additional fee.
How much does it cost to ship a car 1,000 miles?
The going rate for a 1,000-mile shipping job could range from $750 to $1,000 or more depending on the provider. Other factors to consider that can impact pricing are the time of year, the type of vehicle being transported, and the transport method.
How We Rate 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 drop-off 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
