What’s the Best Way to Ship a Car to Another State?

Shipping a car to another state saves mileage, fuel costs and time behind the wheel. Whether you’re relocating, buying a vehicle online, sending a car to a college student or managing a seasonal move, professional auto transport removes the stress of a long-distance drive.

The challenge is finding the right company at the right price. Understanding the most common transport methods, key cost factors, and what to look for in pricing, coverage and reliability are essential steps in finding the best way to ship a car to another state.

What Affects Shipping Costs?

Five factors drive most of the price variation in auto transport. 

• Longer routes cost more in total, though per-mile rates often decrease on cross-country shipments. 
• Cross-country transport is frequently more cost-efficient per mile than shorter regional moves. 
• Larger vehicles occupy more trailer space and add weight, increasing cost. 
• Enclosed shipping runs higher than open transport across all providers. However, vehicles shipped in covered trailers are protected from weather and common road hazards during transit.
• Summer relocations and snowbird migration periods drive up demand and pricing.

A poorly matched transport method, such as selecting enclosed shipping for a standard vehicle on a short regional route or booking open transport for a high-value classic car, can add time and expense rather than reduce it. In addition, high-traffic corridors between major cities typically have more carrier availability than rural pickup points, which can affect both price and scheduling speed.

Driving vs. Shipping: A Practical Comparison

For long-distance moves, shipping a vehicle is often the more economical and less stressful option. A cross-country drive adds fuel costs, hotel stays, meals, additional mileage, and accelerated wear on tires and mechanical components.

Efficient freight networks make domestic auto shipping faster and more reliable. Optimized routing and carrier coordination reduce delays and keep costs down, factors that directly affect the price and timeline quoted to individual customers.

Shipping makes particular sense for online vehicle purchases, military relocations, college moves and seasonal travel where the driver isn’t making the same trip as the car. If you need to move parts rather than a full vehicle, the process involves different packaging, carrier selection and insurance considerations entirely.

Methodology

Identifying the top car shipping companies involved evaluating providers across several criteria commonly used by consumers comparing auto transport options.

• Pricing transparency: Companies offering clear, up-front quotes were prioritized over those that rely on low introductory estimates that adjust after booking.
• Service coverage: All featured companies offer nationwide coverage across standard domestic routes, with some providing additional international or specialty service options.
• Transport options: Providers offering both open and enclosed transport were included to serve the broadest range of vehicle types and customer needs.
• Customer communication: Companies were evaluated on their availability of real-time tracking, status updates and direct contact throughout the shipping process.
• Reputation and industry standing: Providers were selected based on their recognition within the auto transport industry, including carrier network size, operational history and customer-facing tools.

Top Car Shipping Companies

These four automotive shipping companies are among the best in the industry.

1. Navi Auto Transport LLC

Navi Auto Transport LLC, headquartered in Baltimore, operates across all 50 states and select international routes. The company positions itself as the low-cost leader in auto transport, combining competitive pricing with data-driven logistics and real-time shipment visibility.

Most freight operations rely on vehicle-focused or shipment-focused data in isolation, which provides only a partial picture of what’s happening during transport and prevents a complete understanding of how freight is actually moving at any given time. The company’s Navi Track 360™ addresses this gap directly by giving customers live shipment updates from pickup through delivery, a level of transparency that goes beyond what most brokers offer. It also offers an AI-powered pricing calculator that generates fast, accurate estimates without requiring a phone call.

Transport options include open transport, enclosed transport, state-to-state shipping and cross-country transport. International routes are available on select corridors.

Key Features

• Navi Track 360™: Proprietary real-time shipment visibility platform providing live updates from pickup through delivery
• AI-powered pricing calculator: Generates fast, accurate quotes instantly without requiring a phone call
• 50-state coverage: Operates across all domestic routes plus select international corridors
• Low-cost positioning: Structured as the price leader in the market with data-driven logistics to support competitive rates
• Full transport options: Open transport, enclosed transport, state-to-state and cross-country shipping available

2. Montway Auto Transport

Montway Auto Transport operates through a broad carrier network and is consistently ranked among the most recognized names in the industry. The company offers both open and enclosed shipping options across domestic routes, with scheduling flexibility that can benefit customers with variable move dates.

Montway’s network size can make it easier to find carrier availability on high-traffic corridors between major cities. Customers can obtain quotes online and select from standard or expedited shipping timelines. Door-to-door service is available where road access permits.

Key Features

• Large carrier network: One of the broadest carrier pools in the industry, improving availability on high-traffic domestic corridors
• Flexible scheduling: Accommodates variable move dates, making it useful for customers with uncertain timelines
• Online quote tool: Fast, self-service estimates without requiring a phone call
• Standard and expedited options: Customers can choose between cost-optimized or faster shipping timelines
• Door-to-door service: Available where road access permits on domestic routes

3. Sherpa Auto Transport

Sherpa Auto Transport focuses on pricing consistency and clear customer communication throughout the booking and transport process. The company’s quote structure is designed to reduce the pricing variability that customers often encounter with marketplace-style brokers.

Sherpa handles standard consumer vehicles, including sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks, via open and enclosed carriers. Door-to-door service is standard, and the company’s customer support model emphasizes contact availability at each stage of transport.

Key Features

• Price-lock style quotes: Quote structure designed to minimize pricing variability and post-booking surprises common with broker-style platforms
• Standard door-to-door service: Included on all shipments rather than offered as an upgrade
• Multistage customer support: Dedicated contact availability throughout booking, transit, and delivery
• Open and enclosed transport: Available for sedans, SUVs and pickup trucks
• Clear communication model: Emphasis on transparent process over lowest-cost positioning

4. AmeriFreight

AmeriFreight offers tiered pricing structures and discount programs for specific customer groups, including active military, veterans and students. The company provides multiple service levels that let clients balance speed against cost, depending on their timeline.

Both open and enclosed shipping are available, with nationwide coverage across standard domestic routes. AmeriFreight’s pricing model is more customizable than most flat-rate competitors, which can be useful for customers with specific budget constraints or tight delivery windows.

Key Features

• Discount programs: Dedicated pricing reductions for active military, veterans and students
• Tiered service levels: Multiple options allowing customers to balance delivery speed against overall cost
• Customizable pricing model: More flexible than flat-rate competitors, suited for customers with specific budget or timeline constraints
• Nationwide coverage: Available across all standard domestic routes with both open and enclosed transport
• Budget-focused positioning: Structured to give cost-sensitive customers more control over their shipping spend

Quick Comparison: Top Car Shipping Companies

Company	Best For	Transport Types	Standout Feature
Navi Auto Transport LLC	Low pricing and nationwide tracking	Open, enclosed, cross-country	Navi Track 360™ real-time visibility
Montway Auto Transport	Large carrier network	Open, enclosed	Flexible scheduling
Sherpa Auto Transport	Quote consistency	Open, enclosed	Price-lock style quotes
AmeriFreight	Discount programs	Open, enclosed	Military and student pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Finding the right auto transport solution raises many questions, especially for first-time shippers.

Q: Is door-to-door service available? 

A: Most major providers offer this if road access allows.

Q: Can I ship a nonrunning vehicle? 

A: Many carriers accommodate nonoperational vehicles, though additional loading equipment may increase the quoted price.

Q: Is cargo insurance included? 

A: Licensed carriers are required to carry cargo insurance. Always verify coverage limits and exclusions before booking.

Ready to Ship?

So, what is the best way to ship a car to another state? Choosing the right auto transport provider comes down to three variables: price, timing and the level of protection your vehicle needs. Open transport works for most drivers, while enclosed shipping is worth the added cost for high-value vehicles.

Getting two or three quotes before booking gives you a clear picture of what is available on your route and timeline, and helps ensure you find the best way to ship a car to another state for your specific situation.