Worth over $12 billion a year, car shipping is a huge industry in the US, most often used by people moving to another part of the country on a medium or long-term basis. Whatever your needs, the choices are almost endless.
(Photo: Montway Auto Transport)
While most possessions can be taken with you when travelling long distances, one thing that can’t be easily moved around if you’re already stacked with worldly belongings is your car – especially when it would require several days on the road to drive it to your final destination yourself. Whether you’re moving to another state for a few months for work or travel, upping sticks permanently, or simply looking to transport a brand new car over land or sea, there are a huge number of car shipping companies in the US offering services that cater to every budget and need.
The benefits of using a car shipping service extend beyond the freedom to travel without being behind the wheel. It also avoids wear and tear on your car, not to mention fuel costs. And because the insurance requirements are so strict, you can leave your car in their hands with absolute peace of mind. But that’s not to say that picking your preferred shipping company is an easy task, as there’s simply so much choice in the market. So we’ve dug through the weeds so you don’t have to and picked out 3 that we’d happily recommend.
Montway Auto Transport
Founded in 2007, Montway is our preferred choice for domestic car shipping in the US. A national leader in the auto transport industry, they arrange shipments for over 200,000 vehicles every year to and from all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. They’ve gained a reputation for their transparency and commitment to service, with guaranteed pickup dates so you can plan ahead. Montway tries to find GPS-enabled drivers so you can check on the whereabouts of your vehicle during transit, while a dedicated team ensures the skill and experience of potential drivers too.
They also claim to be the first broker to offer instant online quoting with accurately forecasted real-time rates, and were the inventors of a pricing calculator that gives you quotes in seconds. As a result, the company says their prices are about 5% below the industry average, with no upfront payment due at booking and no hidden fees, either. Other notable services include an allowance of one piece of luggage up to 100 pounds to be placed in the trunk and shipped for free with a customer’s vehicle. And for a premium price, Montway offers expedited service including priority pickup. Finally, Montway prides themselves on exceptional customer service, evidenced in the fact that they have more online customer reviews than any of their competitors – over 72,000 across 21 platforms with an average 4.7/5-star rating.
CFR Rinkens
Our top pick for international car shipping, CFR Rinkens have more than 25 years of experience in the business, and today ship around 2,000 cars every month out of all major US and Canadian ports to destinations across the world. They pride themselves on having their own domestic trucking department that can pick up cars from anywhere, usually within days. All you need to do is provide the address and contact information where the vehicle needs to be collected – and they’ll do the rest. They can ship cars from your location to the port in an open carrier truck or an enclosed transporter. And for maximum peace of mind, a dedicated team of expert auto transport agents are ready to assist you every step of the way.
WC Shipping
Another recommended pick for international car shipping, WC Shipping offer door-to-door international relocation services for transporting vehicles and personal items wherever they need to go. Based in California (the WC stands for West Coast) the company has established a global presence since its founding in 2007, with additional offices in New Jersey, Berlin and Melbourne. Since then, they’ve continued to optimise the car shipping process by introducing a variety of online tools, such as an instant shipping calculator which makes it easy to get a quote. There’s also a dedicated tracking tool that provides information and documents related to your shipment. Underpinning all of this cutting edge technology is an experienced logistics team and dedicated account managers for all customers.