Top 6 Best Auto Transport Companies | 2017 Ranking | Most Popular Auto Shipping Companies

2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST AUTO TRANSPORT COMPANIES

A Guide to Moving Your Car Through Auto Transport Services

Are you moving across the country and unable to drive both vehicles at the same time? Maybe you purchased a new car and need to find a way to transport a vehicle to your current home from a few states over.

Many individuals are faced with the dilemma of how to go about finding vehicle transport at some point in their lives.

Auto transport companies have sometimes earned a bad reputation for being unreliable when it comes to getting your car to its destination safely. It isn’t difficult to find consumer reviews of unreliable shipping, unlicensed providers, and more.

Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Auto Transport Companies

When you need to make use of vehicle transport companies, you want to ensure that you’re working with the very best. A properly licensed and insured carrier can offer auto transport services that move your vehicle in a timely and cost-effective way without damage to your automobile.

AdvisoryHQ wants to prepare you to make a wise decision when it comes to auto shipping during an upcoming move or purchase. We compiled this ranking of the best auto shipping companies in the country to take your car from coast to coast or across the ocean. To find out more of what these best auto transport companies have to offer, you can review the detailed breakdowns below.

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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Auto Transport Companies

List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the transport company names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that auto transport company):

• AmeriFreight
• Automobile Guy
• eShip
• King of the Road
• Ship a Car Inc.
• Stateway Auto Transport 

Top 6 Best Auto Transport Companies | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Table: Top 6 Best Auto Transport Services | Above list is sorted alphabetically

What You Need to Know Before Hiring Any Vehicle Transport Companies

Getting your vehicle from one location to another can be a tricky endeavor, no matter why you happen to be looking for an auto transport. Moving, purchasing a new car, and having mechanical work completed are all prime reasons for needing to investigate what auto transport services can offer you. Before you hire any of the “best auto transport companies,” what do you really need to know about them?

You first need to understand what types of auto transport services a company has to offer. Auto transport companies typically have two main methods of moving a car from one place to another: open and enclosed transportation.

Image Source: Pixabay

Open vehicle shipping is when your car (along with many others) is loaded onto a truck to be moved. You’ve likely seen these large trucks made for reliable auto transport on the highway, around town, and pulling into new car dealerships. This is typically the least expensive method of vehicle shipping.

These can also have two distinct options, being covered or uncovered on the open road. Coverage protects your vehicle from debris and wear and tear during the journey.

Enclosed shipping can mean a number of things. First, it could mean that you need to transport a vehicle across the ocean. You could be paying automobile transport companies to load your car into a container for overseas or long-distance shipping.

Alternatively, enclosed shipping could also mean loading your car onto an airplane. The best auto transport companies may offer this service in order to provide faster delivery times to customers.

Before you hire any of the best auto transport companies, you need to ensure that you are hiring a reliable service. Edmund’s recommends checking with at least three different vehicle transport companies for quotes before making a decision.

Once you have your quotes in hand, you should consider these items when making your final decision on one of the auto shipping companies:

• Be wary of quotes that seem far too low in comparison to competitors.
• Check the reviews on reputable consumer reviews pages, such as the Better Business Bureau.
• Find out what the initial deposit is to hire these vehicle transport companies.
• See what their insurance policy is in case you find damage on your vehicle after the transport.

Moving your car from one location to another doesn’t have to require you to do it yourself. Many of the best auto shipping companies can provide this service for a reasonable fee that may outweigh the time and cost of driving cross-country yourself.

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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology

What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top rated lists?

Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.

Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Auto Transport Companies

Below, please find the detailed review of each company on our list of auto transport services. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these transport vehicle companies to score so highly in our selection ranking.

AmeriFreight Review

One of the best auto shipping companies according to reviews from the Better Business Bureau, AmeriFreight is a broker that can help to facilitate your vehicle transport. Like some of the other auto transport services available on our ranking, AmeriFreight does not actually transport vehicles on its own.

Instead, it has a selection of carefully vetted auto shipping companies that can provide solutions to customers who contact them. They ensure that each carrier under their umbrella is legally vetted to provide auto transport services.

All vehicle transport companies that work through AmeriFreight are required to carry full insurance for driver error.

Features that make them one of the best auto shipping companies include their ratings with the Better Business Bureau and the AFta PLAN, which provides gap coverage for vehicle owners. They also claim to be the “preferred car shipper” for military members, emergency services, students, and the elderly.

You can receive discounts on your auto transport services if you fall into any of the following categories:

• Military members or first responders
• Students
• Senior citizens
• Early bird (24 hours after quote is provided)
• Return customers
• Multiple vehicles

In their rate examples, you can find reliable auto shipping from California to Florida for a base rate of $850. California to New York is slightly higher at $1,050 roughly.

Image Source: AmeriFreight

AmeriFreight provides both domestic and international shipping anywhere in the world. This broker can help to facilitate auto transport services to wherever you need your vehicle to go.

Automobile Guy Review

Automobile Guy is one of the best auto shipping companies because of the numerous methods of transportation that they can provide. For consumers who may be looking to transport a vehicle on more than one occasion, Automobile Guy has plenty of services to cover each unique situation.

Consumers can choose from any of their most popular auto transport services, which include:

• Enclosed trailer shipping to protect vintage vehicles or luxury models from damage
• Open top trailers for warmer weather
• Motorcycle trailer to keep your motorbike stable during transport
• Trailers with lift gates instead of tows and chains

While some of the best auto shipping companies may offer terminal to terminal shipping options for a discount, Automobile Guy specializes in door-to-door auto transport services. This means that you can receive your new car (or be reunited with your vehicle) from the convenience of your home or office.

Top ratings company Autogistics.co ranked Automobile Guy in the top two best auto transport companies.

Consumers can benefit from the numerous auto transport services available, including moving classic or collector cars, corporate relocation, and international shipping. Snowbirds can also benefit from having these best auto shipping companies move their car cross-country at the beginning and end of each season.

Rates will vary based on vehicle size, time of year, and locations. Some discounts are offered for organized groups. Inquire for more details regarding discounts when you receive your free quote for their auto shipping.

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eShip Review

If you’re looking for one of the best auto transport companies, you may be satisfied with what eShip has to offer consumers. On their intuitive and modern website, they offer suggestions for customers on how to transport a vehicle, which methods are best, and more. They are a great resource not only for auto transport services but for education.

Much like AmeriFreight, eShip is actually a broker that arranges auto transport services with a third-party carrier. They are licensed by the Department of Transportation to help facilitate vehicle shipping. All of the best auto shipping companies that work with eShip are rated based on:

• Packing quality
• Transit times
• Delivery success

Most of the vehicles that will be heading on a long journey to get where they need to be will be loaded onto an eight to ten car carrier. Vehicle shipping for more localized destinations will carry just two or three vehicles at a time.

If possible, their vehicle transport companies strive to offer door-to-door auto shipping. For consumers who live or work in an area where this will not be possible, a driver may request that you meet them in a different location nearby to unload.

They ensure that all of the transport vehicle companies they recommend carry up-to-date insurance coverage that will be primary in the event of an accident.

Average transport times for their coast-to-coast auto transport services are typically between seven to ten days.

If you’re looking to move across the country, you may want to consider eShip because of the convenience that they offer. You can use them as a broker to ship household goods as well as your automobiles all in one easy location.

Image Source: eShip

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King of the Road Review

King of the Road is another contender for one of the best auto transport companies in the United States. Fully licensed, bonded, and insured, they offer vehicle transport that is convenient and cost-effective for consumers in need. They have top ratings for their auto transport services from the Better Business Bureau and are recognized by the AFta PLAN.

One of the best aspects of these automobile transport companies is that they do not require a deposit upfront. No money must be exchanged in order to engage their auto transport companies. 

This auto shipping company also has great flexibility when it comes to the services they can offer. You can either have a car shipped or relocated, as well as moving a number of other items on wheels:

• Motorcycles
• SUVs
• RVs
• Limousines
• Boats
• ATVs

Vehicle shipping is made simple by making use of door-to-door services from fully insured car shipping companies. They specialize in worldwide vehicle transport for both domestic and international deliveries. Within their various auto transport services, you can select either open auto shipping or enclosed.

With enclosed, you will find a fully closed-in vehicle for “VIP” vehicle transport that protects your car. You may receive a quote for either a hard or a soft-sided trailer depending on your preferences and availability.

If your car reaches your destination before you do, vehicle storage may be available near your destination. King of the Road can help to find secure yards and facilities for short-term or long-term storage. Prices for this service start at $15 per day.

Ship a Car, Inc. Review

Consumers who need reliable auto transport will want to consider using Ship a Car, Inc. for their vast network of auto transport services. Much like many of the other companies on our ranking, Ship a Car is a broker that helps to arrange transport for vehicles through other carriers. They are considered to be one of the top brokers, and they claim to dispatch through one of the largest networks of DOT-licensed carriers in the country.

They are a Central Dispatch member and have been since May of 2012. Their score is an incredible 100%, which would indicate great relationships between this broker and all of their carriers that they create contracts with. With all of the vehicle transport companies at their disposal, they are able to offer a number of services:

• Nationwide auto relocation with door-to-door delivery
• Classic and collector vehicle shipping
• RV shipping
• Heavy equipment shipping
• Snowbird car shipping seasonally
• Motorcycle shipping

You may also be able to earn discounts. For example, snowbirds who travel seasonally as a group could earn a truckload special when they can fill up an entire trailer.

Enclosed auto shipping is also available with hard-sided trailers to keep collector or luxury vehicles in pristine shape during transit. These trailers are equipped with lift gates instead of tows and chains for more cautious handling and less chance of damage to your car.

Similar to King of the Road, consumers can expect to keep all of their money in their pocket until the car is actually dispatched.

In a recent ranking, Ship a Car was ranked in the top spot among all of the best auto shipping companies that were reviewed.

Stateway Auto Transport Review

Stateway Auto Transport has been an industry leader over the course of the past 24 years in business. During this time, they have shipped more than 470,000 vehicles and still maintain a 99.3% customer satisfaction rating. Both Transport Reviews and Consumer Affairs have given it their top five-star rating.

Being both a carrier and a broker, this best auto transport company has a lot of flexibility when it comes to pricing. They guarantee competitive rates and that they can beat your lowest quote. In addition, customers can benefit from their lack of upfront deposits and hidden fees.

All of their shipping services utilize door-to-door delivery instead of terminals.

They are fully licensed through the FMSCA, and all of their carriers are licensed, bonded, and insured. When you ship directly through Stateway Auto Transport, you are covered by a $1,000,000 carrier policy.

Auto transport services offered by Stateway include:

• Standard shipping in an open carrier with five to ten cars per load
• Enclosed shipping with two to six cars per load
• Express shipping in one to three business days with two to ten cars per load

Consumers can expect efficient auto transport services when they decide to hire one of the best auto transport companies through Stateway. They make note that the industry standard for delivery from coast to coast is between seven and fourteen business days. These transport vehicle companies attempt to cut that number in half for a more efficient turnaround time.

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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Auto Transport Companies

When you need a reliable auto transport company to get your car to its destination, you don’t want to leave it to chance. Finding one of the best auto transport companies can make the difference between receiving your car as you left it and a disastrous event.

Keep in mind that all of the top automobile transport companies should maintain some form of insurance on the cars they carry. When you hire one of the best auto shipping companies, especially through a broker, you will want to inquire what the policy is if damage should come to your car.

Your vehicle is likely one of the most expensive possessions you own. Make sure that it’s taken care of in style with a reliable auto transport and one of the best auto shipping companies in the country. Whether you need auto transport to the next state over or across the ocean, one of these best auto transport companies can assist you.