Best Companies to Ship a Car to Another State in 2026: 8 Companies Compared

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By the Ainotely Editorial Team.
Updated November 2026. 9 min read. Prices and features researched from each vendor's official pages and app store listings at time of writing.
Best Companies to Ship a Car to Another State
Quick picks
  1. 1Montway Auto Transport logo
    Montway Auto Transportbroad availability and long-distance shipping
    Visit
  2. 2Sherpa Auto Transport logo
    Sherpa Auto Transportprice certainty and responsive support
    Visit
  3. 3Nexus Auto Transport logo
    Nexus Auto Transporttiered service from economy to expedited
    Visit
  4. 4Ship A Car Direct logo
    Ship A Car Directcompetitive long-distance open transport
    Visit
  5. 5SGT Auto Transport logo
    SGT Auto Transportenclosed and premium transport options
    Visit
Short version:
In this guide Quick comparisonThe best companies to ship a car to another stateHow we picked theseHow to choose a car shipping companyFrequently asked questionsSources

Quick comparison

ProductIdeal forPrice fromFree version
Montway Auto Transportbroad availability and long-distance shippingSee websiteNoVisit
Sherpa Auto Transportprice certainty and responsive supportSee websiteNoVisit
Nexus Auto Transporttiered service from economy to expeditedSee websiteNoVisit
Ship A Car Directcompetitive long-distance open transportSee websiteNoVisit
SGT Auto Transportenclosed and premium transport optionsSee websiteNoVisit
Easy Auto Shipsimple booking with guaranteed pickup optionsSee websiteNoVisit
AmeriFreightdiscounts and gap coverage optionsSee websiteNoVisit
American Auto Shippingfull-service shipping with enclosed optionsSee websiteNoVisit

The best companies to ship a car to another state

Shipping a car to another state usually means working with a broker that assigns your vehicle to a carrier, and prices vary by route, vehicle size, season, and open or enclosed transport. Get quotes from several companies, verify the carrier, and read the contract before paying a deposit.

Montway Auto Transport logo
#1

Montway Auto Transport

Ideal for: broad availability and long-distance shipping

Montway Auto Transport website
montway.com homepage

Montway Auto Transport works best for broad availability and long-distance shipping. Montway runs one of the largest broker networks, which helps find carriers on busy routes and in all 50 states. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. This is the option to look at first if that description matches your situation.

Quotes can rise if carrier availability tightens, and a cancellation fee applies after a driver is assigned, so confirm terms before booking. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, Montway Auto Transport stands out for broad availability and long-distance shipping, while asking you to accept that Quote may change if carriers are scarce. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Large carrier network
  • All 50 states
  • GPS tracking where available
  • Quote may change if carriers are scarce
  • Cancellation fee after assignment
Sherpa Auto Transport logo
#2

Sherpa Auto Transport

Ideal for: price certainty and responsive support

Sherpa Auto Transport website
sherpaautotransport.com homepage

Sherpa Auto Transport works best for price certainty and responsive support. Sherpa locks your quoted price for 30 days, which removes the common surprise of a price increase after booking. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. Put this one near the top of your shortlist when the fit sounds right.

Prices run higher than budget brokers, and pickup dates are not guaranteed, so flexible timing helps. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, Sherpa Auto Transport stands out for price certainty and responsive support, while asking you to accept that Higher prices than some rivals. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Car wash reimbursement
  • 24/7 support
  • Higher prices than some rivals
  • No guaranteed pickup dates
Nexus Auto Transport logo
#3

Nexus Auto Transport

Ideal for: tiered service from economy to expedited

Nexus Auto Transport website
nexusautotransport.com homepage

Nexus Auto Transport works best for tiered service from economy to expedited. Nexus lets you choose a service tier, from economy to expedited with guaranteed pickup, which suits both budget and urgent moves. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. This choice makes the most sense for readers who match the description above.

Standard tier prices can rise with market rates, and GPS tracking depends on the assigned driver. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, Nexus Auto Transport stands out for tiered service from economy to expedited, while asking you to accept that Price can rise if market rates spike. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Multiple service tiers
  • Guaranteed pickup on premium tiers
  • Instant quotes
  • Price can rise if market rates spike
  • GPS tracking varies by driver
Ship A Car Direct logo
#4

Ship A Car Direct

Ideal for: competitive long-distance open transport

Ship A Car Direct works best for competitive long-distance open transport. Ship A Car Direct posts competitive rates on long open-transport routes, which makes it worth a quote for coast-to-coast moves. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. Consider this option closely if you want the balance it offers.

As a broker, the assigned carrier varies, so inspect the vehicle carefully at pickup and delivery and document its condition. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, Ship A Car Direct stands out for competitive long-distance open transport, while asking you to accept that Broker model. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Competitive cross-country rates
  • Damage-free guarantee claims
  • Broad coverage
  • Broker model
  • Carrier quality varies
SGT Auto Transport logo
#5

SGT Auto Transport

Ideal for: enclosed and premium transport options

SGT Auto Transport works best for enclosed and premium transport options. SGT covers open and enclosed transport with express options for tighter timelines. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. This is a strong candidate when your priorities line up with its strengths.

Enclosed prices run high, and quotes vary sharply by route and season, so compare enclosed quotes carefully. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, SGT Auto Transport stands out for enclosed and premium transport options, while asking you to accept that Higher enclosed prices. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Open and enclosed options
  • Express shipping
  • Broad coverage
  • Higher enclosed prices
  • Quote varies by route
Easy Auto Ship logo
#6

Easy Auto Ship

Ideal for: simple booking with guaranteed pickup options

Easy Auto Ship works best for simple booking with guaranteed pickup options. Easy Auto Ship offers guaranteed pickup options and handles many vehicle types, including motorcycles and boats. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. Keep this one in mind if the trade-offs below are acceptable to you.

Prices sit above the cheapest brokers, so it suits buyers who value pickup certainty over the lowest quote. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, Easy Auto Ship stands out for simple booking with guaranteed pickup options, while asking you to accept that Prices above budget brokers. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Guaranteed pickup options
  • Broad vehicle types
  • Online quotes
  • Prices above budget brokers
  • Fees vary by service
AmeriFreight logo
#7

AmeriFreight

Ideal for: discounts and gap coverage options

AmeriFreight works best for discounts and gap coverage options. AmeriFreight offers discounts for military, students, and first responders, plus an optional gap coverage plan. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. This option earns its place for the specific audience named above.

As a broker, final carrier quality varies, and the quote depends on current carrier market rates. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, AmeriFreight stands out for discounts and gap coverage options, while asking you to accept that Broker model. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Military and student discounts
  • Gap coverage option
  • Long track record
  • Broker model
  • Quote depends on carrier market
American Auto Shipping logo
#8

American Auto Shipping

Ideal for: full-service shipping with enclosed options

American Auto Shipping works best for full-service shipping with enclosed options. American Auto Shipping offers door-to-door open and enclosed service across the country. Pricing starts at See website, and there is no free plan. Round out your shortlist with this option if its approach appeals to you.

Prices on some routes run above budget rivals, and as a broker it assigns carriers rather than running its own trucks. That trade-off matters most if you were hoping for a single tool that covers every situation without compromise. Compared with the other options here, American Auto Shipping stands out for full-service shipping with enclosed options, while asking you to accept that Higher prices on some routes. Weigh that honestly against your budget and your patience for setup before you commit.

The good and the bad
  • Open and enclosed transport
  • Door-to-door service
  • Broad coverage
  • Higher prices on some routes
  • Broker model

How we picked these

We compared official feature pages, pricing pages, app store listings, privacy policies, and public reviews for each option, and we kept only products that exist and work today and that truly fit the topic. We gave weight to clear pricing, a usable free or trial option where one is offered, and honest limits stated on the vendor site. We did not claim hands-on testing we did not do, and where a price could not be verified on the vendor site we wrote See website instead of guessing. Our pick for most people is usually the option that covers the core job well at a fair price, not the one with the longest feature list. That said, the right answer depends on your situation, so use the comparison table to narrow the list to two or three options, then check the current pricing page before you pay.

How to choose a car shipping company

Start with three quotes for the same route, vehicle, and transport type. Open transport suits most cars, while enclosed transport suits classic, luxury, and high-value vehicles.

Next, verify the company before paying. Check its Motor Carrier number with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and confirm whether the price is locked or can change.

Finally, document the car at pickup and delivery with dated photos, remove personal items, and keep the bill of lading. That record is what protects you if damage appears later.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best company to ship a car to another state?

Sherpa is best for price certainty, Montway is best for availability, and Nexus is best for tiered service. Get three quotes, since route and season change prices sharply.

How much does it cost to ship a car to another state?

Open transport for a standard sedan typically runs about $550 to $850 for 500 miles and $1,400 to $2,000 cross-country, with SUVs, enclosed transport, and inoperable vehicles costing more.

Should I choose open or enclosed transport?

Open transport suits most cars and costs less, while enclosed transport suits classic, luxury, and high-value vehicles. Enclosed typically adds 60 to 100 percent to the price.

How long does car shipping take?

Most interstate moves take a few days to two weeks, depending on distance, route demand, and carrier availability. Ask for a pickup window, not just a single date.

Is a broker or carrier better for car shipping?

Most large companies are brokers that assign your car to a carrier, which gives more availability and lower prices. Direct carriers cost more but give you one company throughout.

Sources

  1. https://www.montway.com
  2. https://www.sherpaautotransport.com
  3. https://nexusautotransport.com
  4. https://www.shipacardirect.com
  5. https://sgtautotransport.com
  6. https://www.easyautoship.com
  7. https://www.amerifreight.net
  8. https://www.americanautoshipping.com