Top 12 Car Shipping Companies In The US
If you ever bought a car an auction or out of state you have probably use auto transport companies. If you’ve ever moved cities or countries, then you know how big of a hassle it is to move when the car does not run. Hiring a trailer to ship you car can be a tiring process. Furthermore some trailers doesn’t even get the job done because of the weight and is no cost effective. But this one big job is better handle by auto shipping companies. Car hauling companies helps with those bigger hassle of shipping your automobile. Something which most people don’t seem to remember even though it’s quite hard to miss it: your car.
Auto transport companies is a big business in the US and for good reason. It’s hard to drive your vehicle for long distances and almost impossible if you’re shifting countries or continents. For this reason, it is a great idea to let a professional car shipping companies to deal with your four-wheeler, while you can stress over all of the other things that need to be packaged and delivered. In this article, we’re going to talk about the top 12 car shipping companies operating in the US, the criteria used for selecting them, and all of the details about their operations.
Why Choose Car Shipping Companies
- Cost of using car shipping companies – Although at first auto transport companies may seem very expensive, when you compare the cost of it with the cost of driving your vehicle there, you’re getting a great deal along with additional safety.
Driving a car to a certain location requires taking time off of work, money for food and lodging along the way, emergency money, and of course, money for fuel. All of this combined can rack up quite a bill and if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, it’ll be extremely hard to get it fixed. - Safety of car moving companies – As mentioned above, driving your car to the location of your choice is costly as well as dangerous. There are many different things you could encounter, such as poor road conditions, breakdowns, wildlife, bad driving from other drivers, or perhaps even some criminal activity. To be safe from all this we recommend hiring a car shipping company, since they know how to deal with all on-road troubles, and your car stays extra safe with them.
- Protection of Luxury Cars with a dedicated vehicle shipping companies – If you want to maintain the value of your luxury or expensive car, it is not a good idea to drive it over long distances. A car shipping company is a service that can protect the vehicle and save you from the repair costs and the cost of the new car you may have to bear out of damage which can be either costly or impossible to repair.
- Time-Saving with an auto transport companies – Car Shipping Services are capable of transporting a vehicle within a short time period. This is why auto shipping companies are the best choice when you want to get a car to its destination within a short window. Not only does it take a lot of time to drive the car over the long distance but also demands breaks during the journey, maintenance and traffic wait. There are many other factors which can cause delays when you drive. Auto transport services can save you a lot of time that you can spend on other more demanding
Prepare your Car Before you Call a Car Moving Companies
While auto transport companies take care of your car’s transportation, they don’t generally drive the vehicle to your new home. It is typically loaded on a carrying truck or ship and shipped to the new location or the company’s storage depot. Here are some things to consider while preparing your car for shipping.
Wash – Dirt can cover dings, scratches and dents. If your car is clean, you can easily notice the damage done by the car moving companies caused during transportation, if any.
Clean Inside – Your vehicle may be placed in different angles when moving. This is why it is a great idea to clean the car’s inside to remove stuff which is not secure like electronics and chargers.
Auto shipping companies will ask to disconnect the alarm. Though it seems to be obvious, it can be easily ignored and it can help you stay on the shipper’s side.
Don’t Fill up the Fuel – A full tank of fuel can make the car heavier and add to the risk and cost of shipment. So remember not to get a lot of gas or fuel prior to shipping.
Check for Leaks – Your car may be rejected by the auto transport companies if there are any leaks so check the undercarriage and get any leaks repaired before transporting it.
Check Tire Pressure – Under or over-inflated tires of a car while shipping are as risky as they are when driving. It is important to inflate the tires well to reduce the risks of tire damage.
Remove Accessories – If your car contains any custom accessories like a spoiler, you should remove them before shipping. Modified vehicles can be often heavier and bulky and can make it difficult to fit onto a truck.
Auto Transport Companies Criteria
Choosing the best car shipping company is essential to enjoy a stress-free experience. There are some important qualities which an auto transporter should possess to be able to live up to the consumer’s expectations. Here are some of the criteria we have taken into consideration while ranking the shipping companies.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings
- Types of Services Offered
- Years of Experience
- Prices for Shipping
- Available Range of Shipping
- Payment Options
- Insurance Offers
- Guarantee of Service
- Technology for Shipment Tracking
- Relevant Licenses
- Transparency in Service
We have ranked the car shipping companies in the order they perform on the above-mentioned criteria to help you select the best one for your vehicle transportation needs.
Top 12 Best Car Shipping Companies
Below are our top picks for the best Car Shipping Companies in the United States.
Based in Florida, eShip uses a network of efficient auto carriers to provide a lot of shipping options to customers while acting as an agent during the car transport process. You can choose from an open or enclosed trailer option for shipping your car. The live tracking feature on the website lets you track your car as it is being shipped. The Platinum Protection Plan of eShip included with each contract gives an additional insurance of up to $300 to cover minor damage and a rental reimbursement of $300 if the vehicle is delayed more than 48 hours of the scheduled time.
Though a new auto transport companies in comparison to others, Sherpa checks all the boxes when talking about customer satisfaction. Right from free car wash to transparency of moving quotes, this company does customer service the way it is expected. Sherpa Auto Transport can ship across any town or even across the country. Whether you own a sedan, SUV, collectible, inoperable or online purchased car, Sherpa can move anything safely. It follows a ‘no-surprise policy’ which means you pay the price that you were quoted. Another bonus feature of the company is the ‘clean car guarantee’ where it pays for the car wash within seven days of shipment.
One of the best car shipping companies of the US of all time, AmeriFreight is known for transporting various types of vehicles around the world. It offers all the services and guarantees you can expect from a top-rated auto transport service. This car moving company also has attractive discounts as compared to other auto transport companies . It does not only offer door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal car shipping but also provides other services like insurance, customs clearance and transportation of other automobile.
Founded in 2010, Ship your Car Now provides domestic and international car shipping. This company offers the ability to track the shipped vehicles online. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with a large number of positive auto transport reviews from customers. This car moving companies has a licensed ocean transport facility and freight forwarder. It is popular for flexible shipping time frames and options. You can either choose a pick up or drop off at shipping port or get the company transport it to and from the door. Ship your Car Now also does not charge any upfront fees. You need not make payment until the carrier is confirmed.
Started in 2008, Ship a Car Direct has grown to be one of the largest and highest-rated car shipping companies. If the other shippers on our list don’t fit your requirements, this one is a great option for open as well as enclosed shipments. The best part about this company is that it offers a damage-free guarantee. All the carriers it uses are insured and licensed and in case something happens, the carrier takes care of it. Ship a Car Direct also provides rough estimate of your car shipping without asking for any personal information.
The UK-based auto transport companies offer a worldwide service covering different parts including the United States and New Zealand. You can select standard shipping RoRo or container options and even the advanced R-Rak service. This is an innovative option where cars are loaded onto special racks is recently gaining popularity among car manufacturers. This method allows up to four cars to be stored safely in a shipping container.
It is not just any auto transport companies, uShip is actually a shipping marketplace. It lets you move everything from your cat to your car. This saves you from the hassle of dealing with multiple companies to accomplish the move. UShip is one of the few car moving companies that show quotes from different carriers to help you select the best option. It provides you a variety of comparison points. It shows transport type, vehicle pick up date, customer reviews and company background apart from price. It connects you with other carriers to help you ship almost everything for a move.
One of the largest auto transport companies with options for everybody from students to car aficionados, Montway Auto Transport is a worthy choice. It offers guaranteed pickup dates and multiple payment options which most other companies don’t provide. It can even pick up your car within 24-48 hours if you want to get it shipped in a hurry.
The Danish company is one of the giants in the shipping world and transports vehicles international across 120 countries of the world. They have an enormous fleet of more than 600 ships and car shipping is one of their key areas. Maersk offers an intermodal door-to-door shipping service across the land and sea.
Offering a complete range of services from vehicle storage to door-to-door shipping. King of the Road Transport is accredited with A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can choose from a variety car moving companies options like enclosed shipping that provides the best protection and open transporters ideal for those on a budget. It allows easy tracking of the shipping using the online service.
If you are in search of an auto shipping companies which can take care of each and every aspect of your cross-country move right from packing to car shipping, MoveCorp is a great choice. It has a huge network spanning across Canada, United States, Australia, China, South Africa, Russia and the UAE. They offer an amazing customer service and a personalized Removal Co-ordinator to enhance the experience.
CARS is dedicated to offering unique services that luxury cars demand. It is specially intended for classic and luxury car owners and offers international car transportation. The company employs skilled mechanics covering some of the best car racing events. This mean that they know how to deliver the vehicles on time. CARS has offices in the US, UK, Japan and Middle East and cover a range of locations offering a marine insurance and door-to-door delivery. They also broker with customs to ensure a smooth shipping of your car.
Conclusion
Choosing a car shipping company which is reliable and professional in delivering the service is critical to ensuring the safety of your car and a pleasant experience. We hope this guide helps you pick the best auto transporter for your vehicle haulage. Do share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section below of which auto shipping companies you choose.