I'm planning on buying a car out of state and getting it shipped to me. In your experience, what are the best, cheapest and most reliable companies to use?

 

I've used Uship.com with good results.

 

The only experience I've had was shipping my 600 earlier this year. Could not have been happier with Montway. They stuck to their quote even though the driver's fee was higher than anticipated. As you read reviews of companies, jacking an initial quote seems to occur with some frequency.

 

I've only had to deal with a couple car shippers, which is probably fortunate. Reliable is the only one I wouldn't completely avoid, but noting that I always contracted via TMC so the service may have been better as a result.

Acertus (previously Metrogistics) - awful communication, definitely to be avoided
Auto Shipping Group - attempted bait and switch post-quote
JP Logistics - contracted me out to a super shady amateur operator, absolute scam for the price
Roadrunner - also bait and switch post-quote

I would avoid brokers if possible, as they seem much more likely to play the bait and switch game.

 

Issue with auto shipping these days is most are brokers. You very rarely talk to the actual shipping company until you book the shipment. For example Montway mentioned above is one huge broker network. They don't actually ship the cars they are brokers. There's a huge auto shipping database board that these brokers post shipments on to be picked up. Sometimes they underbid other brokers to get the deal and then jack up the price when no actual shipper will pick up the job for their low quote.

 

I found a nice ride, but it was in another state. I had no time traveling there, so I just gave up on that car.