Open car transport is how most vehicles move across the country. It costs less than enclosed shipping, carriers are widely available, and it works for nearly every standard vehicle on the road. Here are the six best open car transport companies right now, plus what separates each one from the rest.
1. Dispatch Dudes , Our Top Pick for Open Car Transport
Dispatch Dudes is our top pick for affordable open car transport because it combines genuine flexibility with the trust signals that matter most. The company is BBB accredited, has been recognized by Forbes Business Council, and earned a Newsweek Readers Choice award. That’s not decoration , it means consistent service standards that customers can verify before they book.
We ship cars, motorcycles, and boats nationwide via open and enclosed trailers. Door-to-door service is standard, and expedited options are available when you need faster pickup. Every shipment runs through fully insured carriers, so your vehicle is protected from the moment it leaves your driveway.
The booking process is direct. Get an instant quote online, confirm your pickup and drop-off dates, and we can have your car scheduled for transport in as little as 24 hours. Our dedicated advisors stay with you through the process , you’re not handed off to a call center after booking.
Open carriers in our network can hold up to 10 vehicles at once, which keeps per-car costs low without cutting corners on how vehicles are loaded and secured. That efficiency is why most new vehicles shipped from manufacturers to dealerships use open transport , it’s the industry standard for a reason.
The one honest caveat: open transport does expose your vehicle to weather and road debris. That’s true of every open carrier, not just ours. For a daily driver or a standard vehicle, this is not a real concern. If you have a classic or exotic car, enclosed transport is the safer call.
2. Montway Auto Transport , Large Carrier Network
Montway is one of the largest auto transport brokers in the US. The company works with a network of thousands of carriers, which gives it strong coverage on busy routes and the ability to find a pickup quickly in most metro areas.
For open transport, Montway posts instant quotes online and its prices tend to be competitive on popular corridors like California to Texas or Florida to the Northeast. The company has a well-reviewed customer service team, and most customers report clear communication from booking through delivery.
Because Montway operates as a broker rather than a direct carrier, the quality of your experience can vary depending on which carrier is assigned to your shipment. Most are fully vetted, but you have less visibility into exactly who shows up than you would with a company that manages its own carrier relationships more tightly.
Montway also offers an app for shipment tracking, which is genuinely useful if you’re moving cross-country and want to monitor progress. Transit times on open transport are typically in line with industry averages , roughly one to five days for regional moves and up to ten days for coast-to-coast routes.
If you’re shipping on a tight budget and your route is a common one, Montway is worth getting a quote from. Just compare it against other options before you commit, because broker pricing can shift quickly based on carrier availability.
3. Sherpa Auto Transport , Price Lock Guarantee
Sherpa’s main differentiator is its Price Lock Promise. When Sherpa gives you a quote, that number is what you actually pay , no last-minute price increases from carriers trying to renegotiate at pickup, which is a real problem in this industry.
The company also includes a free car wash with every shipment. That’s a small touch, but it matters for open transport specifically. Your car will collect road dust and grime on an open trailer, so arriving at the destination with a clean vehicle is a usable benefit, not a gimmick.
Sherpa works as a broker, so it connects customers with independent carriers rather than running its own fleet. The company is selective about which carriers it uses, which helps keep quality consistent. Customer reviews generally highlight clear communication and accurate pickup windows.
Pricing at Sherpa tends to run slightly above the cheapest quotes you’ll find on the market. The premium is for that price lock and a more curated carrier experience. If you’ve had a bad experience with a company that changed the price at pickup, Sherpa’s model solves that specific problem.
One thing to note: Sherpa focuses on standard vehicles. It handles open transport well for cars, trucks, and SUVs but may not be the right fit for boats or non-standard vehicles.
4. Easy Auto Ship , Budget-Friendly Open Transport Option
Easy Auto Ship markets itself on competitive pricing, and its quotes are often among the lower ones you’ll see when comparing open transport. For budget-conscious shippers moving a standard daily driver, it’s a reasonable option to have on your comparison list.
The booking process is straightforward. You enter your route and vehicle details, get a quote quickly, and confirm pickup. The company works with a broad carrier network, which helps with availability on most domestic routes.
Customer reviews are mixed. Plenty of customers report smooth, on-time deliveries. Others have noted communication gaps during transit, particularly on longer hauls where multiple handoffs can create uncertainty. If you choose Easy Auto Ship, be proactive , confirm your pickup window a day ahead and ask specifically about the assigned carrier before the move.
Easy Auto Ship is best suited for people who’ve done this before and are comfortable managing the logistics themselves. First-time shippers or anyone moving a vehicle with sentimental or financial value above a typical daily driver might want a service with more hands-on support.
Cost varies by route and season, as it does across all open transport providers. Getting a quote from Easy Auto Ship alongside two or three other companies is the fastest way to see whether its pricing advantage applies to your specific shipment.
5. AmeriFreight , Best for Military and Student Discounts
AmeriFreight stands out for its discount programs. It offers reduced rates for active military, veterans, students, senior citizens, and first responders. If you fall into any of those categories, AmeriFreight is worth checking because the savings can be meaningful on a standard open transport shipment.
The company also has an AFta Protection Plan, an optional add-on that covers your deductible if you need to file a damage claim. Standard carrier insurance covers cargo, but deductibles can be a surprise. AmeriFreight’s protection plan addresses that gap directly.
AmeriFreight operates as a broker. It pulls from a large carrier network and has been in business long enough to have established processes for vetting the carriers it works with. Quotes come quickly online, and the company provides a rate range rather than a single fixed price , which is an honest reflection of how auto transport pricing actually works.
The discount structure is AmeriFreight’s real edge. Without a qualifying discount, its pricing sits in the mid-range , not the cheapest on the market, but not the most expensive either. If you don’t qualify for a discount program, Dispatch Dudes or the other options on this list may offer better overall value for your specific route.
Military families relocating frequently use AmeriFreight because PCS (permanent change of station) moves often happen on short timelines. The combination of discounts and the protection plan makes it a usable choice for that audience specifically.
6. uShip , Best for Flexible Bidding on Open Transport
uShip works differently from every other option on this list. Rather than giving you a fixed quote or matching you with a pre-vetted carrier, it runs a marketplace where carriers bid on your shipment. You post your vehicle details and route, and transporters compete for your business.
According to uShip’s vehicle shipping platform, average car shipping costs range from $250 to $1,000 for shorter routes and $500 to $2,000 or more for longer cross-country moves, depending on the vehicle, route, and season. The bidding model can push prices toward the lower end of that range when carrier availability is high.
The platform shows carrier profiles, customer ratings, and feedback history before you commit. That transparency is genuinely useful , you can see how many shipments a carrier has completed, s, and compare multiple bids side by side. It’s more research work upfront, but you get more information than most booking processes provide.
The downside is variability. Carrier quality on a marketplace can range widely, and the lowest bid is not always the best choice. uShip provides tools to evaluate carriers, but you need to use them. Customers who book on price alone without checking carrier ratings report a higher rate of issues than those who vet carefully.
uShip also offers instant rates on eligible routes if you don’t want to wait for bids. That’s a useful middle ground for shippers who want some price competition without the full waiting period.
This platform works best for flexible shippers , people who aren’t locked to a specific pickup date and can wait a few days for competitive bids to come in. If you need pickup within 24 to 48 hours, the bidding model may not give you enough time to choose well.
Open Car Transport Cost Ranges and Transit Times
Cost on open transport depends on four main factors: distance, vehicle size, the time of year, and how flexible you are on pickup timing. Routes with high carrier traffic , think Florida to New York or California to Texas , tend to price lower because there are more carriers competing for those loads.
Peak shipping seasons , generally winter snowbird moves and summer relocations , push prices up because demand outpaces carrier availability. Booking two to three weeks out gives carriers enough time to plan routes efficiently, which often results in a better price than last-minute booking.
If you’re weighing open versus enclosed transport, open typically costs 30 to 50 percent less for the same route. That gap exists because open trailers carry more vehicles per load, spreading the cost further. For most everyday vehicles, the price difference makes open transport the clear choice. Curious about when enclosed makes more sense? The enclosed vs. open transport comparison breaks down exactly which vehicles and situations call for the upgrade.
What to Look for When Choosing Open Car Transport
Choosing the right company comes down to a few things that are easy to verify before you book. Start with FMCSA registration. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains a public database where you can confirm a broker or carrier’s MC number, licensing status, and safety record. Any reputable company will have this number on its website.
Check insurance carefully. Every licensed carrier is required to carry cargo insurance, but coverage limits vary. Ask specifically what the liability cap is and whether there’s a deductible you’d be responsible for if something goes wrong. Some companies, like AmeriFreight, offer supplemental protection plans that cover your deductible. Others, like Sherpa, lock in your quoted price so there are no surprises at pickup.
s on third-party platforms. The specific things to watch for: customers reporting that the final price differed from the quote, vehicles arriving with new damage that wasn’t documented, or communication going dark during transit. A few negative reviews on any service is normal , a pattern of the same complaint across many reviews is a real warning sign.
Before your vehicle is picked up, document its condition thoroughly. Take photos of all four sides, the roof, the underside if accessible, and the odometer. This gives you a clear baseline if anything needs to be addressed after delivery. A bill of lading signed at pickup captures the pre-transport condition officially , read it before you sign and flag anything that isn’t accurately recorded.
Preparation also matters. Keep the fuel tank under a quarter full, remove personal items from the car, disable your electronic toll pass, and make sure the battery and tires are in good shape. Carriers won’t accept a vehicle with a non-functional emergency brake, and a car that won’t start at pickup may incur extra fees.
“The cleanest pre-transport documentation saves the most headaches , photograph everything before the carrier arrives, not after.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is open car transport safe for my vehicle?
Yes. Open transport is the standard method for shipping vehicles in the United States , the vast majority of new cars shipped from manufacturers to dealerships travel on open carriers. Vehicles are secured with straps and wheel chocks, and all licensed carriers carry cargo insurance. The main exposure is weather and road dust, which affects appearance but rarely causes damage on a properly loaded trailer.
How long does open car transport take?
Transit time depends on distance. Regional moves under 500 miles typically take one to three days. Cross-country shipments from coast to coast usually run seven to ten days. Rural pickup or delivery locations can add one to three days. These are estimates , weather, route traffic, and carrier schedules all affect the final timeline. Your carrier will give you a delivery window at the time of booking.
What’s the difference between a broker and a carrier?
A carrier owns and operates the actual transport trucks. A broker is an intermediary that matches your shipment with a carrier from its network. Most companies on this list , including Montway, Sherpa, AmeriFreight, and uShip , operate as brokers. Dispatch Dudes manages its own carrier relationships and coordinates the full process directly. Brokers add a layer of flexibility but also a layer of variability in carrier quality.
Can I put personal items in my car during transport?
Most carriers prohibit personal items in the vehicle during open transport. The main reason: items in the cabin or trunk are not covered by carrier cargo insurance if they’re damaged or lost. Some carriers allow up to 100 pounds in the trunk as a usable exception, but you should confirm this with your specific carrier before loading anything. Remove anything irreplaceable before pickup.
How do I get the best price on open transport?
Get quotes from at least three companies and compare them on the same pickup date and route. Flexibility on timing helps , if you can wait a few days for a carrier going your direction, prices tend to drop. Booking two to three weeks in advance rather than last-minute also helps. Avoid peak season if possible: winter snowbird moves and summer relocations both push prices up due to high demand.
What happens if my car is damaged during transport?
Document the vehicle’s condition before pickup with dated photos and confirm everything on the bill of lading. At delivery, inspect the car before signing any completion paperwork. If you find new damage, note it on the delivery receipt and take photos immediately. Then contact the carrier’s insurance provider directly. Filing a claim within 24 to 48 hours of delivery gives you the strongest documentation position.
Conclusion
For most people shipping a standard vehicle, Dispatch Dudes is the right call , fast scheduling, door-to-door service, fully insured carriers, and real accountability backed by BBB accreditation and verified industry recognition. If you’re ready to move your vehicle, get an instant quote and we can have it on a carrier in as little as 24 hours. The process is simpler than most people expect, and we’re here to make it straightforward from start to finish.