Featured Partners
Vehicle types: Cars, motorcycles
Availability: All 50 states, international shipping
Vehicle types: Cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, RVs, trailers, golf carts, heavy equipment
Availability: All 50 states, international shipping
Vehicle Types: Cars, motorcycles
Availability: 49 states, international (excludes Alaska)
AmeriFreight
AmeriFreight is a Georgia-based vehicle shipping broker that coordinates services with a network of third-party companies to pick up and transport your vehicle. The company has some of the best discounts in the auto shipping industry, including discounts for military, students, medical personnel and more.
Our rating: 4.5
Best for: Customizable pricing
USDOT#: 2238770
AmeriFreight at a glance
In addition to excellent discounts, AmeriFreight has overwhelmingly positive reviews, making it one of our best car shipping companies and a reliable choice for anyone looking to ship a car.
Fast facts
- Founded in 2004, AmeriFreight has an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and receives four-star or higher reviews across third-party websites, including Trustpilot and Google Reviews.
- It offers impressive gap coverage through the Allied Freight Transportation Assistance (AFTA) Plan, which covers up to $2,000 in damages to your vehicle should it be damaged during transit and the carrier’s insurance does not cover it.
What we like
AmeriFreight offers many discounts other providers don’t have, including early-bird, military, first responder, medical personnel, student and senior citizen discounts. This provider has 20 years of experience in the industry and an impressive 4.79-star customer rating from the BBB, which is practically unheard of and indicative of its strong reputation.
What we don’t like
AmeriFreight doesn’t book international shipping services. You can book services only within the United States. This broker provides a rental car reimbursement if the carrier doesn’t deliver your vehicle within 15 days of the promised delivery. However, the rental reimbursement covers only up to $20 daily. Most rental car providers charge $30 or more per day for an economy vehicle, so this isn’t nearly enough to cover this expense.
* BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
AmeriFreight pros and cons
Because AmeriFreight is a broker, you work with a third-party company and driver, so the level of service you receive may vary. Still, we think the pros outweigh the cons.
Pros
- AFTA gap coverage (up to $2,000)
- No upfront payment
- Excellent discounts (both the variety and savings)
Cons
- Service varies based on carrier
- No GPS tracking
- No international shipping
How much does AmeriFreight cost?
pro tip
- Enclosed shipping costs around 80% more than open transport when booking with AmeriFreight. The provider recommends choosing this option only if your vehicle is very expensive, such as a custom or a motorsports car.
During our secret shopping, AmeriFreight quoted us between $1,099 and $1,600 to ship a sedan from New York City to San Diego, which falls within the national average car shipping cost of $600 to $1,800. However, the price will vary significantly based on multiple factors, including economic conditions, the time of year, pickup and delivery locations, the size of your vehicle and the type of shipping you choose.
The economy is a critical factor as it often affects fuel prices. For example, AmeriFreight estimates that customers pay between $100 and $300 moreduring an economic downturn.
What services does AmeriFreight offer?
As a broker, AmeriFreight offers a wide range of vehicle shipping services through its carriers. However, it doesn’t coordinate terminal-to-terminal, freight or international shipping options. If you want a company that can provide these services, consider a more comprehensive provider such as Easy Auto Ship.
A notable service is AmeriFreight’s expedited transportation service. Since AmeriFreight works with an extensive network of carriers, it can coordinatefast, last-minute deliveriesif you need to relocate your vehicle quickly.
AmeriFreight vehicle shipping services offered
|
Offered?
|
|
|---|---|
| Standard car | ? |
| Antique/classic/luxury car | ? |
| Boat | ? |
| Motorcycle | ? |
| Recreational vehicle (RV) | ? |
| Truck | ? |
| Van | ? |
| Door-to-door | ? |
| Terminal-to-terminal | - |
AmeriFreight add-ons and optional features
Certain factors, such as the size of your vehicle, whether it’s operable and where you prefer it to be loaded, may increase the base cost of shipping your vehicle.
For example, larger vehicles will cost more to ship as they weigh more and take up more space. AmeriFreight charges $75 to $125 more for an SUV, $150 more for a full-size truck and $250 more for a heavy-duty, upgraded truck like a dually.
If you prefer that your car is top-loaded, meaning it is on the second level of an open carrier and not under another vehicle, it will cost up to $100 more
AmeriFreight add-on costs
|
Estimated cost
|
|
|---|---|
| AFTA gap protection coverage | $48 to $98 |
| Expedited shipping | Call for quote |
| Inoperable vehicle (requiring a forklift or winch) | $200 to $500, depending on size |
| Inoperable vehicle (steering or brake issue) | $100 |
| Large vehicle charge | $75 to $250 more |
| Time of year (summer is busiest) | $100 to $800 extra |
| Top-loading | Up to $100 more |
What does AmeriFreight not cover?
AmeriFreight doesn’t cover damage to items inside your vehicle other than necessary things like jumper cables, one spare tire or a jack. Always remove all personal items from the vehicle before drop-off; AmeriFreight’s carriers won’t transport them.
You’re also not covered if you double-book with another car shipping company, so schedule only one vehicle shipment to avoid paying for vehicle shipping twice. Don’t try to game the system by scheduling multiple vehicle shipments and seeing which company calls to pick up your vehicle first.
AmeriFreight customer experience
AmeriFreight provides multiple points of contact, including customer support via a contact form on its website and a live chat and phone service. Both are available seven days a week.
During secret shopping, we found customer service to be responsive and knowledgeable. Another bonus is we never experienced a wait time of more than a minute during the three times we called, which is excellent. Our customer service experience was top-notch, with a user-friendly website and professional customer service agents willing to help.
The reviews we found online largely echoed this.
The fine print: Terms and conditions you should know
One of AmeriFreight’s standout features is its unique and comprehensive AFTA Plan gap protection coverage, which offers up to $2,000 for out-of-pocket expenses if a carrier’s insurance fails to pay. However, this coverage costs an extra $48 to $98. Still, this coverage protects you for up to 48 hours after delivery if you find damage. Most providers allow you to bring up damage only at the time of delivery, making this a nice add-on for peace of mind.
AmeriFreight offers three shipment categories: Economy Saver, Priority Preferred and First Class rates. The First Class price is locked in and won’t increase, but the Economy Saver and Priority Preferred prices may fluctuate. The cost for Economy Saver may fluctuate from 5% to 30%, dramatically changing the initial rate you quoted. Priority Preferred is less unpredictable, with a possible price increase of only 5%.
How does AmeriFreight compare to competitors?
pro tip
- AmeriFreight allows you to stack the early-bird discount with other deals, enabling you to save even more.
If you are a first responder, medical personnel, student, senior citizen, active-duty military or veteran, you qualify for a discount with AmeriFreight. You can also receive a discount as a return customer, an early bird (book within 48 hours of receiving a quote) or if you arrange transport for multiple vehicles. If you fall into any of these categories, you can save money by booking with AmeriFreight over many of its competitors.
AmeriFreight doesn’t book freight or international shipping services, so if you need your vehicle shipped anywhere outside of the United States or by train, book with a company like A-1 Auto Transport or Easy Auto Ship.
AmeriFreight vs. competitors
|
Our score (out of 5)
|
No. states available
|
Shipment types available
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
| Easy Auto Ship | 5.0 |
50 |
Open, enclosed, freight |
| We Will Transport It | 4.8 |
50 |
Open, enclosed, freight |
| A-1 Auto Transport | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed, freight |
| American Auto Shipping | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
| eShip | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
| SGT Auto Transport | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 4.2 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
Methodology
While creating our rankings, the CNN Underscored team reviewed 36 vehicle shipping companies and analyzed 3,276 data points. Then, we evaluated each company on weighted criteria, including service options, pricing, customer support, reputation, availability, insurance and editorial judgment. Our detailed methodology ensures our ratings, including this AmeriFreight car shipping review, are fair and unbiased, giving you the highest-quality information as you choose a vehicle shipper.
