There are so many options when it comes to auto transport, but many consumers still choose the wrong option. That’s not because of any sort of failure on the part of consumers. The auto shipping industry simply lacks clear, honest explanations of the differences between broker companies and carrier companies. Auto shipping reviews don’t always make clear if the auto mover a consumer is considering is actually running the trucks, or if it’s just organizing truckers to do so. The result is that auto consumers frequently find themselves disappointed with their car transport company. They’ll either end up with delayed shipments, surprise fees, and zero accountability when things go sideways.

Brokers have so much marketing and advertising money at their disposal that they tend to come out on top of the search engine results. Carriers don’t have that money, so they rarely end up in the top spot, despite being in control of the shipping process and the ability to provide guarantees.

We reviewed firms by fleet ownership, years in market, service breadth (open, enclosed, specialty vehicles), customer satisfaction policies, and nationwide coverage guarantees. The top 5 car transport companies on our list have service guarantees, and they’re competitively priced. Here’s a quick summary of each of the top 5 auto shipping companies:

How to choose the right auto transport companies

One of the biggest differentiators of whether you’ll get a smooth, reliable delivery service from A to B vs. having to wait weeks to have your shipment delivered is ownership. It’s important to find companies that own the process vs. those who just broker your delivery.

Top 5 Auto Transport Companies

Ownership of the fleet, established market presence, and a pickup guarantee are what separate an established carrier from a mere middleman.

These five top-rated national carriers own their own trucks or carefully hand-select trucking partners, have coast-to-coast operations, and provide a money-back or best-price guarantee on service. They each have been in the business for 10+ years or more.

1. SGT Auto Transport

Established in 2014, SGT Auto Transport is one of the best auto transport companies, operating as a US DOT and FMCSA-licensed broker that has served more than 150,000 customers. Instead of operating its own fleet, the company works with a network of more than 25,000 vetted and insured carriers. That model gives SGT broad nationwide reach and more flexibility when matching customers with available carriers for interstate moves.

For customers working with a tighter schedule, SGT offers a guaranteed pickup date option as well as express transport that can arrange pickup within approximately one to two business days when available. Standard delivery windows can still vary with traffic, weather, route conditions, and carrier schedules, so customers should treat estimated delivery timing separately from the pickup options available at booking.

The range of services is another reason SGT Auto Transport fits this general comparison. Customers can choose open or enclosed transport, door-to-door delivery, Hawaii shipping, military and PCS transport, motorcycle transport, and services for classic, luxury, exotic, inoperable, and oversized vehicles. A free instant quote is also available without requiring personal information.

SGT does not require an upfront payment when a customer first books, and it offers a price-match guarantee for qualifying quotes. Discounts may also be available for military members, students, seniors, snowbirds, repeat customers, and multi-vehicle shipments. For shoppers who are comfortable using a broker rather than a fleet-owning carrier, the combination of a large vetted network, multiple service options, and transparent booking terms makes SGT a strong nationwide option to compare.

2. Reliable Carriers

As the largest enclosed auto transport company in North America, Reliable Carriers maintains a fleet of more than 400 enclosed vehicles and never subcontracts to third-party trucking companies. Established in 1960, the company has built up over 66 years of trusted relationships with some of the top automakers in the world, top-tier luxury auto auctions and renowned private automotive collections.

Every vehicle is covered by a $5 million policy, which speaks to the kind of high-end and luxury cars that Reliable Carriers transports: exotic supercars, vintage classics worth millions and car manufacturer prototypes. These vehicles are simply too valuable for open trailers and third-party brokers.

Unlike traditional brokerages that hand your vehicle over to the cheapest transport company they can find, all the vehicles are loaded by our own fleet of highly qualified truck drivers who have undergone specialized training in luxury vehicle transport, exotic car transport, and collector car transport. We do not advertise our pricing but rather give out quotes only. After all, you would not want a Porsche worth $300,000 sharing a trailer with a cheap sedan. Your expensive car, however, is not only going to share with other luxury cars, but they are also going to get the best service in the business.

3. Rapid Auto Shipping

Since its founding in 2010, Rapid Auto Shipping has been operating nationwide, with 14 years of experience and 98% of its customers happy with the service. Patented vehicle rankings and a special schedule are the key elements that set Rapid Auto apart from other brokers and carriers. This system matches vehicles to drivers that have perfect service and safety ratings. As such, it offers 24/7 real-time vehicle tracking.

Rapid Auto is great for those who appreciate advanced corporate technology and hands-on customer service. Their shipping options are numerous. They offer:

• open and enclosed car transport
• door-to-door shipping
• motorcycle, exotic and classic car shipping
• electric car transport
• heavy equipment haulers

This diversity makes them a one-stop shop for anything from family sedans to antique classics. Their system is what makes it possible for shippers to receive the best results: patented software to assign vehicles to drivers.

Rapid Auto is active now. Their quotes are completely transparent, and they provide insurance for their services on everything they offer. If you prefer to use a broker that uses advanced shipping software to assign shipments, and wants the highest quality and safety, Rapid Auto Shipping should be on your short list of shipping companies.

4. Ship A1 Auto Transport

A1 Auto Transport is a licensed, fully insured carrier, having proudly transported and delivered customers’ vehicles for 16+ years. With A1, you are not paying a broker that will ship your vehicle to the lowest bidder. We have our own nationwide network of drivers that transport all types of vehicles, heavy equipment, and other freight and have 24/7 active tracking so you can follow your vehicle. With A1, you know where your vehicle is at all times (there are no black box shipments).

A1 Auto Transport has affordable quotes and full insurance support. It is ideal for first-time shippers, as well as corporate fleets. Remote shipping is also available so you can schedule any time from anywhere, and there is no need for you to coordinate a drop-off location. Active shipments (and other types of content) indicate consistency and dependability. Good for expedited timelines.

5. Speedy Car Shipping

What sets Speedy Car Shipping apart from the typical broker is that Speedy has a dedicated dispatch team whose only job is to look for and talk to carriers. Speedy doesn’t have someone trying to both find and book the carrier while also quoting prices to clients. This means there’s always someone dedicated to ensuring the success of your order rather than trying to close the next deal.

They handle open and enclosed shipping for all states in the U.S., but their focus is on getting things done rather than on sales volume. Plus, Speedy offers both a money-back guarantee and a best-price guarantee, a rarity in a sea of brokers with no real focus on pricing transparency. Speedy takes the pain out of booking. Getting an instant quote is free and requires no deposit to book.

With its focus on good customer service and safe car shipping for clients, Speedy may be a good option for first-time shippers who are nervous about transporting their cars. A happy customer noted, “The team shipped my Toyota Corolla last minute. I needed to transport from Arizona to Florida, and we had a driver 24 hours later. My car arrived in Florida five days later.”

Speedy hasn’t published any articles since November 2022, which gives us pause. Perhaps Speedy is less focused on investment in its services. But Speedy seems to have a dedicated and focused staff to help make orders happen.

How to shortcut this list

There are three types of auto transport shoppers:

• those looking to preserve their valuable cars or collectors
• those on a strict budget prioritizing speed and cost
• those who need guaranteed pickup dates

The order of whom to call for service will depend on what your most pressing need is.

Conclusion

Most car shipping listicles won’t highlight the differences between brokers and carriers, forcing consumers to determine which company is actually going to haul their car. However, the auto transport market is built for companies that control their fleet and make their services guarantee-backed; these five best car shipping companies illustrate that cost and quality aren’t mutually exclusive.

With direct control over their own fleets, guaranteed car pickups, and a wide range of services, these companies offer some of the most reliable auto shipping available in the industry. Your next step should be to obtain multiple quotes from at least two companies on this list, verify that these companies are indeed fleet owners, and analyze their guarantee policies against one another. Remember, your ideal car shipping company is one that actually owns the trucks, not just the telephone number.