RoadRunner Auto Transport
RoadRunner Auto Transport ships nearly half a million vehicles across the country to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean annually. With open and enclosed shipping prices often lower than competitors, Roadrunner is a great fit for car shipping on a budget.
Our rating: 4.2
Best for: Shipping to the Caribbean
USDOT#: 3124544
RoadRunner Auto Transport at a glance
If you’re looking to transport a car, motorcycle, boat or RV across the United States, Roadrunner Auto Transport is a reliable option that earned high marks in our data collection for its transport options and reasonable quotes.
Fast facts
- RoadRunner Auto Transport is a New York-based transport company that has been in the vehicle transport business for 30 years.
- Today, it serves 50 states, including Puerto Rico and many Caribbean countries.
- It offers open and enclosed transport and can provide door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal shipping.
- Its volume exceeds 450,000 cars annually.
What we like
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers lower quotes than many other auto shipping companies. We appreciated how easy it was to get a quote — all you have to do is plug in an origination city, destination city, travel dates and the car make and model. We also like that the company has extensive shipping options and GPS tracking.
RoadRunner can ship everything from standard vehicles to larger options like RVs and boats. If you’re looking to move a luxury or exotic car, RoadRunner can handle it through the added protection from its enclosed transport units.
What we don’t like
RoadRunner Auto Transport doesn’t provide international auto shipping beyond the Caribbean, making it more limited than some competitors. Many customers have complained about long wait times for customer service, and complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reference poor communication. Unlike other providers in this industry with A and B ratings from the BBB, Roadrunner comes in last with an unaccredited F.*
* BBB ratings are accurate as of July 2024.
RoadRunner Auto Transport pros and cons
RoadRunner provides fast, fair quotes and extensive shipping options for all states. The choice between open and enclosed shipping is a nice touch, and door-to-door shipping is offered to ease the burden on customers. However, reported issues with arrival dates and vehicle damage during transport are worrisome.
Pros
- Has lower quotes than many other auto-shipping options
- Available in 50 states
- Provides door-to-door shipping and open and enclosed shipping
Cons
- Some customers complained about cars arriving with damage
- BBB comments reveal inaccurate arrival dates
- Our experience showed that customer service was not always easy to reach
How much does RoadRunner Auto Transport cost?
Below are quotes for moving different vehicles to different parts of the country with open transport. If you choose to top-load your car, there is an additional cost of $99.
RoadRunner Auto Transport determines the cost of transporting a vehicle primarily based on the mileage between the origin and the destination. It also factors in the type and condition of the vehicle. The date you are looking to move will also play a factor in the price, as RoadRunner may have more or less availability during that time frame. Lastly, add-ons like enclosed shipping or top-loading add protection but would increase your costs.
|
Origin
|
Destination
|
Total cost
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| SUV | New York |
Boston |
$395 |
| SUV | New York |
Austin |
$1,085 |
| SUV | New York |
Los Angeles |
$1,195 |
| Sedan | New York |
Boston |
$395 |
| Sedan | New York |
Austin |
$1,025 |
| Sedan | New York |
Los Angeles |
$1,145 |
*Quotes were gathered in April 2024. Actual costs may vary.
Enclosed shipping costs more, which is standard in this industry. Below are the quotes for the same trips priced with an enclosed transport.
|
Origin
|
Destination
|
Total cost
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| SUV | New York |
Boston |
$612 |
| SUV | New York |
Austin |
$1,682 |
| SUV | New York |
Los Angeles |
$1,852 |
| Sedan | New York |
Boston |
$612 |
| Sedan | New York |
Austin |
$1,589 |
| Sedan | New York |
Los Angeles |
$1,775 |
*Quotes were gathered in April 2024. Actual costs may vary.
Customers can pay for everything upfront or pay a deposit with a credit card and pay the balance upon delivery. If you choose to pay upon delivery, you’ll have to pay the driver in cash, with a check or a certified money order.
RoadRunner recommends planning two to three weeks in advance. As a rule, the company notes that every 500 miles will add a day to your car’s arrival date. For example, a 1,000-mile trip usually takes two to three days.
Savings and discounts
As a veteran-owned company, RoadRunner acknowledges that it will provide a discount for service members and military veterans when there is room. RoadRunner Auto Transport also offers a price-match guarantee if you find a better price for your vehicle shipment.
What services does RoadRunner offer?
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers standard and specialized vehicle shipping options, like antique and classic car shipping, boats, RVs, trucks and vans. The company also provides military shipping. Roadrunner has door-to-door (when possible) and terminal-to-terminal shipping.
RoadRunner Auto Transport services
|
Offered?
|
|
|---|---|
| Standard car | ? |
| Antique/classic/luxury car | ? |
| Boat | ? |
| Motorcycle | ? |
| Recreational vehicle (RV) | ? |
| GPS tracking | ? |
| Truck | ? |
| Van | ? |
| Door-to-door | ? |
| Terminal-to-terminal | ? |
| Military shipping | ? |
RoadRunner add-ons and optional features
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers standard pricing through the quote service, but each quote also shows the cost of several different add-ons.
Top load
Top loading refers to placing the car on the highest deck of a trailer, which has added protective benefits. For example, it ensures that no liquids from other cars drip down onto the car. Top loading also keeps the cars further away from the ground and any debris from the road. In the quotes we received, top loading costs an extra $99.
Enclosed carrier
RoadRunner offers enclosed carrying, fully protecting the vehicle from the elements while offering security and overall product safety. This is a particularly enticing choice for people shipping antique or exotic cars. In the quotes we received, selecting enclosed transport can cost $600 more than standard shipping.
Expedited shipping
If you’re in a time crunch, RoadRunner can expedite your shipment, though the company recommends calling in advance to ensure these options are available when you request them.
Insurance
Every auto shipment with RoadRunner features basic liability coverage, but you can add more insurance during the booking process.
What does RoadRunner Auto Transport not cover?
Despite having vast services and territory coverage, RoadRunner has a handful of features that it doesn’t offer:
- No international shipping aside from the Caribbean
- No freight shipping
- No multi-car discounts
- No service guarantees
RoadRunner Auto Transport customer experience
RoadRunner’s website is easy to navigate and includes phone numbers to gather price quotes, make reservations and talk to customer support. It also has a fax number and a main phone number.
Company representatives are accessible from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. There is no Sunday availability. In our experience, getting in touch with customer service was difficult. Hold times often exceeded 30 minutes, and we couldn’t reach a representative.
RoadRunner’s website doesn’t feature a live chat feature. However, the quote feature is easy to use and provides an immediate quote directly on the site.
The fine print: What you need to know
Though more affordable than other auto shipping companies and able to provide a quick quote, RoadRunner has received some harsh reviews on the BBB, with people complaining about customer service. In our experience, waiting on the phone with customer service took as long as 30 minutes.
Importantly, RoadRunner Auto Transport does not offer multi-car discounts or service guarantees. It guarantees a price match should you find a better price from a competitor. It also offers expedited shipping, though you should request this in advance to ensure availability. Importantly, if you want to cancel an order and a driver has been assigned, you will incur a $135 fee. However, if the customer’s ready date passes and no driver has been assigned, RoadRunner will waive the fee.
RoadRunner Auto Transport vs. competitors
RoadRunner Auto Transport is a solid auto transport choice for people seeking fair and reasonable quotes throughout the United States and the Caribbean. It has GPS tracking, which other top-tier moving companies, like Easy Auto Ship, may not. However, Easy Auto Ship, A-1 Auto Transport and We Will Transport It all offer better international shipping options than RoadRunner, going to many more countries than the Caribbean.
RoadRunner Auto Transport competitor comparison
|
Our score (out of 5)
|
States available
|
Shipment types available
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| RoadRunner Auto Transport | 4.2 |
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 |
| Amerifreight | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
| American Auto Shipping | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed, freight |
| eShip | 4.5 |
50 |
Open, enclosed |
| SGT Auto Transport | 4.5 |
49 (excludes AK) |
Open, enclosed |
Methodology
The CNN Underscored editorial staff diligently compares each auto transport company on weighted criteria. Our analysis of RoadRunner Auto Transport is based on the variety of pricing and discounts (30%) and the company’s service options (31%). Other factors that we factored in include the company’s reputation and experience (15%), its availability and overall options for accessing customer support (8%) and its availability across the country and globe (7%). Lastly, we awarded points to companies that featured more insurance options (6%), and we used our own editorial judgment to award further points (3%).
Bottom line
RoadRunner Auto Transport is a car shipping service that can handle upward of 450,000 car moves annually and transfers larger vehicles like boats and RVs. It services 50 states and offers service to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Customers are offered the choice of either open or enclosed shipping, with top loading available for open choosers for $99 extra.
RoadRunner is a good choice for people seeking reasonable prices and a quote without having to get on the phone, as RoadRunner’s quoting process is straightforward, quick and immediate.
We recommend options like We Will Transport It or Easy Auto Ship if you want to move internationally. Similarly, if you’re seeking a better customer service experience, we recommend A-1 Auto Transport, which carries a B+ rating from the BBB.
