Best Open Car Shipping Companies in 2026

Open transport, also called open carrier car shipping, is the standard way to move a car in the U.S. Your vehicle rides on a two-level trailer with several other vehicles, often 7 to 10 in total depending on the trailer, exposed to the weather like any car on the highway. It’s the cheapest way to ship a car and the easiest to book, which is why most people choose it. If you’re new to it, our guide on how open auto transport works covers the basics.

This guide compares the five companies on what matters most for open transport: how the price is set, when you pay, and what happens if the quote turns out too low.

Key Takeaways

Open transport is usually the most affordable choice for everyday cars. Before you book, compare quotes for the same route, vehicle, and pickup window, and check the payment, cancellation, and insurance terms.

Want to see open transport prices for your route? Compare quotes from licensed shipping companies on our open car shipping page, or call +1 (321) 641-0549 and we’ll collect offers for you.

In this guide

Best Open Car Shipping Companies at a Glance

The best open car shipping companies pair fair, predictable pricing with clear booking terms and the six below are a solid starting point for most routes. Each one stands out for a different reason, from locked-in quotes and price matching to flexible carrier types and discounts for eligible customers. Use the table to compare what each company is best for, its key pricing feature, and the one detail worth checking before you book. 

Company	Best for	Pricing feature	What to check
Montway Auto Transport	Overall choice	TruePrice Guarantee: price fixed for 30 days after booking	Whether your vehicle qualifies; terms after 30 days
Sherpa Auto Transport	Price protection	Price Lock Promise: covers up to $300 if the quote is too low	What the initial payment includes
SGT Auto Transport	Low prices and price matching	Lowest quote in a 2026 Cars.com test on one route; matches competing quotes	Time limit and quote requirements
Mercury Auto Transport	Flexible transport options	Open, enclosed and flatbed transport	Final price for your own route
AmeriFreight	Discounts	25–50 off for eligible groups; one discount per order, plus $50 per extra vehicle	Which discount applies to your order

The table gives you the quick version below, each company is broken down in full, with how its pricing actually works and what to ask before you book. Start with the one whose strength matches your priority, whether that’s a locked-in price, the lowest quote, or flexible carrier options.

How We Evaluated Open Car Shipping Companies

We didn’t book test shipments with each company. Instead, we compared the terms each company publishes on its own website and the results of independent price tests, such as the 2026 Cars.com comparison of eight companies on the same route. We focused on five points:

We checked all terms in October 2026. The Cars.com test covers one route and one vehicle, so it isn’t a ranking of each company’s prices on every route. Policies change, so confirm the current terms with any company before you book.

Top Open Car Shipping Companies Reviewed

The open car shipping companies below each earn their spot for a specific strength price protection, low quotes, flexible carrier types, or discounts rather than being best at everything. For each one, here’s what it does well, how its pricing works, and the questions worth asking before you commit. Read them side by side to match a company to what matters most for your move.

Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

Montway is one of the largest auto transport brokers in the country, with a wide network of trucking companies. That size helps most on open transport, where availability on your route decides how fast your car gets picked up.

Its main selling point is the TruePrice Guarantee. Once you book and an agent confirms the order, the price is fixed for 30 days. Montway says it won’t raise it because of changes in fuel prices, driver rates, or market demand. For open transport, where rates move with the season, that’s useful if your pickup is a few weeks out.

Good to know: the guarantee starts after booking is confirmed, not at the moment you get a quote, and it may not apply to every vehicle. Ask whether your car qualifies, especially if it’s modified or doesn’t run. Ask what happens if your pickup date moves past the 30-day window.

Sherpa Auto Transport: Best for Price Protection

Sherpa built its pitch around one problem: a quote that’s too low to attract a driver. Under its Price Lock Promise, the quoted price is meant to be the total you pay. If that price isn’t enough to secure a reputable trucking company, Sherpa contributes up to $300 from its own initial payment, under the program’s terms, so the shipment can go ahead at the original price.

This matters most for open transport, because low quotes that never get picked up are the most common complaint in this segment.

Good to know: the protection has a $300 cap. Ask how the initial payment works and what happens to it if you cancel.

SGT Auto Transport: Best for Low Prices and Price Matching

In a 2026 Cars.com price test on a roughly 1,500-mile open transport route from Florida to Maine, SGT gave the lowest quote of the eight companies compared, at $834. It also promises to match a lower quote for comparable service. SGT’s own site doesn’t list a deadline, but FreightWaves reports that the competing quote has to be sent within 24 hours of booking, come from another licensed broker or trucking company, and match your vehicle, route, transport type, and pickup window.

SGT also doesn’t charge anything at booking. A deposit is due once a driver is dispatched, and the rest is paid at delivery.

Good to know: ask SGT about the time limit before you book, and collect your other quotes first, not after.

Mercury Auto Transport: Best for Flexible Transport Options

Mercury offers open, enclosed, and flatbed transport, so it can handle cars that don’t fit a standard trailer as well as everyday drivers. In the same 2026 Cars.com test, it quoted $1,287 for open transport on the Florida to Maine route, close to the middle of the eight quotes. Mercury also has discounts for military members, students, and seniors, and has been in business since 2007. Cars.com reports that its price includes bumper-to-bumper insurance coverage. Ask for the limits and exclusions before you book.

Good to know: one test on one route doesn’t show how a company prices your trip. Compare Mercury’s quote with others for your own route and dates.

AmeriFreight: Best for Discounts

AmeriFreight stands out for its discount list. Military members, first responders, and medical workers get $35 off. Students and seniors get $25 off, and returning customers get $50 off. Only one of these discounts applies per order, but the $35 Early Bird discount for booking within 48 hours of your quote can be added to one other eligible discount. Shipping more than one car takes $50 off each additional vehicle.

No payment is required until a driver is assigned. AmeriFreight also sells an optional protection plan that pays up to $2,000 when the trucking company’s insurance doesn’t fully cover damage.

Good to know: cancellation fees may apply once a driver is assigned or close to the pickup date. Ask for the cancellation terms in writing.

How Much Does Open Car Shipping Cost?

Open transport for a standard car usually costs somewhere between a few hundred dollars for a short regional trip and $1,500 or more for cross-country state-to-state car shipping. As a reference point, here are the sample prices SGT Auto Transport publishes for open transport:

Distance	Sample trip	SGT sample price
0-500 miles	385 miles	$599-$699
500-1,000 miles	722 miles	$699-$799
1,000-1,500 miles	1,387 miles	$899-$969
1,500-2,000 miles	1,647 miles	$999-$1,099
2,000-2,500 miles	2,030 miles	$999-$1,099
2,500-3,000 miles	2,811 miles	$1,199-$1,299
3,000+ miles	3,227 miles	$1,499-$1,599

How the price is calculated: open transport is priced by total distance, but the rate per mile falls as the trip gets longer carriers spread fixed costs (pickup, loading, paperwork) over more miles. That’s why a 1,647-mile and a 2,030-mile move can both fall in the $999-$1,099 range, even though the longer one is cheaper per mile. 

These are SGT’s sample prices for standard open transport, checked in October 2026. They’re one company’s estimates, not fixed rates or market averages. Larger vehicles such as SUVs and pickups usually cost more. Your quote will depend on:

For a full breakdown, see our guide on how much it costs to ship a car to another state. If you’re shipping a truck, our pickup truck shipping cost guide covers size and lift surcharges.

Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping: Which Fits Your Budget?

Open transport is the right choice for most daily drivers, family cars, and used cars bought out of state. Enclosed auto transport keeps the car under cover, away from rain, road salt, and gravel, but there are fewer enclosed trailers, and each one holds fewer cars. That’s why it costs noticeably more, often around 30% to 60% above an open quote, depending on the vehicle and route.

	Open transport	Enclosed transport
Price	Lower	Higher
Protection	Exposed to weather and road debris	Protected by an enclosed trailer
Availability	Easy to book on most routes	Fewer trucks, longer scheduling
Best for	Everyday cars, used cars, leases	Classic, exotic and high-value cars

If you’re shipping a classic, a new luxury car, or anything with custom paint, read 5 reasons to choose enclosed shipping and our list of the best enclosed car shipping companies.

Compare Open Car Shipping Quotes on Compare The Carrier

Start with what matters most to you. If you want a fixed price, compare the guarantees from Montway and Sherpa. If you already have quotes in hand, SGT’s price match can bring the cost down, and AmeriFreight’s discounts help if you qualify. If your car may need a flatbed, add Mercury to your list.

Open transport prices move with the market. Rates shift with the season and driver availability, and two brokers can quote very different prices on the same day. A quote that’s well below the rest may sit unbooked because no driver will take it, and your pickup date slips.

Comparing offers solves both problems. You see the realistic price range for your route, and you can spot a quote that’s too good to be true. On Compare The Carrier, several licensed brokers send offers for the same shipment, so you can compare prices, payment terms, and pickup windows in one place, without calling each company.

When you compare, make sure every quote covers the same things:

Our guide on how to read a car shipping quote explains what to look for line by line, and our tips on ways to lower your shipping cost cover the rest.

Ready to book open transport? Get an estimate with the car shipping cost calculator or call +1 (321) 641-0549. Share your route, vehicle, and dates, and we’ll gather offers from licensed brokers so you can compare them side by side.

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