American Auto Transport Reviews: Cost And Services

Key Points:

• American Auto Transport offers open and enclosed shipping for businesses and consumers across the U.S., plus internationally.
• There aren’t many reviews on American Auto Transport, which shows that it isn’t a popular provider, despite its age. 
• Customer reviews for American Auto Transport are mixed. 

If you’re looking to ship a car, you may have come across American Auto Transport in your search. The provider has been around for nearly 20 years, but how does it compare to other auto transport companies?

Our reviews team has researched the best car shipping companies in the country. We’ve analyzed hundreds of online reviews and surveyed customers ourselves to learn about their experiences. In this article, we take an in-depth look at American Auto Transport’s costs, services, reputation, and reviews to help you determine whether it’s a good choice to ship your vehicle.

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American Auto Transport Review

American Auto Transport has a long history and it provides numerous shipping services. However, it doesn’t score well for customer experience. Overall, we rate it 3.9 out of 5.0. You can see how we reviewed American Auto Transport in different categories below.

Below are a few pros and cons of American Auto Transport.

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About American Auto Transport

Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Downers Grove, Illinois
Service area: United States and international
BBB rating: A+

Located in Downers Grove, Illinois, near Chicago, American Auto Transport Inc. has been in the car shipping industry for two decades. The company offers a variety of auto shipping services for both individuals and car dealers.

Note that the company we are reviewing is the website American-Auto-Transport.com. There are a few other companies with the name American Auto Transport around the country.

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American Auto Transport Customer Reviews

American Auto Transport doesn’t have many reviews online. The company has an A+ rating from the BBB but has only five reviews from customers on the website. Unfortunately, all of the reviews are negative, resulting in an average rating of 1.0 out of 5.0 stars. 

One review mentions that not being able to contact their driver was their main source of frustration. Another cites constant sales calls after submitting their contact information as their main issue.

It’s worth noting that American Auto Transport has zero complaints filed through the BBB over the last three years.

American Auto Transport does have a few more reviews on Google with an average rating of 2.0 out of 5.0. We’ll summarize trends from these below.

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American Auto Transport Services

The American Auto Transport website doesn’t share many details about the car shipping services the company offers. However, the company offers at least the following service options:

• Door-to-door transport: American Auto Transport offers door-to-door shipping services, meaning you can get your vehicle picked up and delivered close to the locations you choose.
• Tracking on all shipments: A full-time transit clerk tracks each shipment, allowing you to check your car’s status during transit.
• Auto auction shipping: American Auto Transport can help arrange shipping for cars bought at auction.
• Multi-vehicle shipping: The company provides shipping options for car dealerships and other businesses that need to move whole fleets of vehicles.
• Oversize shipping: American Auto Transport offers shipping services for oversized loads, something not all providers offer.
• Expedited shipping: The company’s website mentions that the company can ship vehicles sold at auction within one or two days.
• Alternative vehicle shipping: The company allows customers to ship alternative vehicles like 4x4s and motorcycles.

Because we were unable to reach anyone at American Auto Transport, we couldn’t confirm whether the provider offers other shipping options. If you don’t see a service for your transport needs listed above, it’s possible that the company offers it, so it may be worth calling to find out.

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How Much Does American Auto Transport Cost?

Our team reached out to American Auto Transport for quotes for open and enclosed transport services. We submitted requests through the site’s quote tool and called the company’s service phone number. In both cases, we didn’t get quotes or a response.

Average Car Shipping Costs

While we didn’t receive a quote from American Auto Transport, it might be helpful to know what other providers charge for car shipping services. The table below shows the car shipping quotes we’ve received for an open car shipment for a 2019 Mazda CX-5 from Phoenix to Minneapolis (1,640 miles).

Our team conducted an auto shipping consumer survey that polled 1,000 people who had experience shipping cars or shopping for auto transport services. When asked how much they paid for their vehicle shipments, 49 percent of respondents said they paid between $1,001 and $2,000.

Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs

Car shipping quotes can only give a general idea of how much you might pay for vehicle transport services. That’s because many factors go into calculating your car shipping costs, including:

• Shipping distance: The vast majority of car shippers charge by the mile. The per-mile rate tends to go down as the distance increases. That means that while cross-country shipments cost more overall, the per-mile rate is less than for short shipments.
• Shipping time: Many auto shippers can expedite your shipment, but doing so will cost extra. Customers who can be flexible and book further in advance typically find better rates.
• Transport type: You can save money by shipping your car via open carrier, but doing so leaves your car at higher risk of being damaged by road debris. Enclosed carrier shipping offers greater protection for an additional fee.
• Delivery method: Some shippers offer terminal-to-terminal shipping, which is cheaper but requires you to drop the car off at a shipping terminal. Door-to-door shipping is more convenient but usually a bit more expensive.
• Vehicle type: Larger vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs, cost more to ship than smaller cars, like sedans and coupes.
• Time of year: Car shipping is a seasonal industry. Rates tend to be at their highest in January and during the summer months.
• Insurance: Car carriers have insurance policies to cover damages during transit. However, you can often purchase additional coverage for peace of mind.

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How To Ship A Car With American Auto Transport

American Auto Transport’s website doesn’t list specific steps for how to ship a car. However, using an auto transport company to move a car is a relatively straightforward process.

1. Get a quote: You can request a free quote from American Auto Transport through its quote tool or by calling the company directly. We were unable to get a quote using either method, however.
2. Book a shipment: Once you receive an auto transport quote that works for you, you can book your shipment with a representative from your shipping provider. This typically requires a deposit.
3. Prepare your vehicle: To get your vehicle ready for shipping, remove all your belongings. Some shippers allow you to pack personal items in the vehicle as cargo but may have weight restrictions. Take photos of your vehicle’s exterior for your records in case it’s damaged during transit.
4. Meet your driver for pickup: On the day of your shipment, you or a representative who’s authorized to sign paperwork need to meet your driver at the time of pickup. The two of you will go over details, note any existing damage to your vehicle, and sign the bill of lading (a receipt that documents your car from pickup to drop off).
5. Meet your driver for delivery: You or a representative will meet the truck driver at the point of delivery. Once again, you’ll inspect your vehicle and note any new damage. You’ll also need to sign the bill of lading upon delivery and pay the remainder of your shipping fee.

Some car movers accept credit cards or online payments like PayPal, but many only accept cash upon delivery. Confirm what payment methods are available before meeting with your driver.

What To Know For A Successful Shipment

Unfortunately, shipping a car isn’t as simple and easy as sending a package in the mail. If this is your first experience with auto shipping, there are some things you should know. First, the industry is made up of brokers (like American Auto Transport) and carriers, which are independent businesses that own hauling trucks.

Carriers Vs. Brokers

Transport carriers can choose not to do a job if the rate isn’t high enough or if the customer starts being difficult to work with. The carrier will give you a window of a few hours for pickup and delivery, but they can’t give an exact time down to the minute. A shipping schedule with a carrier is also somewhat unpredictable because the carrier will be moving other vehicles at the same time.

It’s usually much easier to ship your car when you do it through a broker because a broker will have access to an entire network of carriers. This way, the broker can find a suitable carrier that can work for your particular shipping dates and needs. Brokers manage the entire shipping process for you, and some even have special tracking services to keep you updated on shipments.

Door-To-Door Shipping

Door-to-door shipping is only approximate. You may need to meet the truck driver at a nearby parking lot if they can’t drive a semi into your neighborhood comfortably. The driver will make the final decision on where to park the truck–not the customer. Carriers would rather drop your car off in a safe location than risk their neck violating any parking or street laws, so it’s important to be flexible.

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American Auto Transport Review: Our Take

American Auto Transport is somewhat difficult to pin down as a shipping provider. The company’s website is short on details, making it hard to know exactly what it offers. The car transport company’s lack of response when we requested quotes is also concerning.

We have a hard time recommending American Auto Transport to individuals. However, the company may be a good source of shipping solutions for businesses that deal with fleets or large inventories of vehicles.

Other Recommendations For Car Shipping

While we don’t give an enthusiastic recommendation for American Auto Transport, there are plenty of great options for auto transport providers. Montway Auto Transport and AmeriFreight are two of the companies that made our list of the best car shipping companies in our industry-wide review. We recommend getting car shipping quotes online from providers so you can compare and find the best car shipping rates.

Montway Auto Transport: 4.7 stars

Montway Auto Transport topped our rankings of the best car shipping companies for its low shipping rates and celebrated customer service. After 16 years in the shipping industry, this broker has served over one million customers and delivered over one million vehicles. Combined with many useful shipping options, these factors were enough to earn Montway the title of Best Overall in our industry-wide review.

Read more: Montway Auto Transport review

AmeriFreight: 4.6 stars

AmeriFreight is one of the biggest car shipping providers in the country. While the company’s competitive rates, excellent customer service reputation, and wide range of shipping options are selling points, our team loved AmeriFreight’s numerous discount opportunities. You can find saving opportunities for students, first responders, active-duty military, and more.

Read more: AmeriFreight review

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American Auto Transport Review: FAQ

Below are the most frequently asked questions about American Auto Transport and car shipping in general:

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How We Rate Auto Shipping Companies

Our review team extensively researches car shipping providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: Providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a long history in the auto transport industry score well in this category.
• Services: We take a look at what types of transport services are available through each company, including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, and more. Those with wider service selections are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis to get quotes for a variety of shipping routes and services. We compare each company’s costs to industry average prices to see how it stands up to the competition.
• Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to better understand the consumer experience. Car shipping companies with convenient quote processes also perform well in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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