Montway Auto Transport Review
Montway Auto Transport earned 4.7 out of 5.0 stars in our comprehensive review thanks to its affordable rates and wide variety of car shipping services.
From our #1 rated provider, 
Key Points:
- Montway is our top-rated auto shipping provider due to its strong reputation, affordable costs, range of transport services, and strong customer experience.
- Montway offers extensive additional insurance coverage compared to competitors, with $100,000 in liability protection and a $250,000 cargo insurance policy.
- With shipping services to all 50 states and international shipping as well, Montway has an impressive amount of service options in addition to an instant quote calculator that makes gathering cost information easy.
In this article, our team takes an up-close look at Montway Auto Transport to see how it compares to other leading providers. We’ve researched the leading car shipping companies’ costs, services, customer experience, and more. Based on our findings, we give Montway Auto Transport a rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 stars and name it Best Overall for car shipping in 2024.
We believe Montway is an excellent choice for auto transport, but you might also consider any providers that landed on our list of the best car shipping companies. We encourage you to gather as many quotes as possible from reputable auto transport companies to make an informed decision for your needs.
Montway Auto Transport Ratings
After researching the company’s auto transport services, pricing, and reviews, we give Montway Auto Transport a rating of 4.7 out of a possible 5.0. The score reflects the company’s strong performance in our reliability, services, and customer experience categories.
Montway has had an A+ rating and accreditation since 2007 from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It earned one of our highest reliability ratings because of this and the company’s large service area. The company also has outstanding reviews and offers cargo insurance and shipping to Alaska and Hawaii, which isn’t common among car shipping brokers.
See how Montway Auto Transport performed in all of our rating categories below:
| Overall Rating | 4.7 |
|---|---|
| Reliability | 4.9 |
| Pricing | 4.4 |
| Services | 4.9 |
| Customer Experience | 4.7 |
Montway Auto Transport Overview
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Schaumburg, IL
Service Area: All U.S. states including Alaska and Hawaii and select international locations
Montway Auto Transport is a well-established auto shipping broker with over 18 years of experience. Montway states that it’s helped over 1 million customers over the years and is a trusted shipping broker for many auto brands. Inc. 5000 included Montway on its list of the fastest-growing private companies in 2021 and again in 2022.
Montway Auto Transport Shipping Services
Door-to-door shipping: Yes
Terminal-to-terminal shipping: No
Open transport: Yes
Enclosed shipping: Yes
Motorcycle/ATV shipping: Yes
International shipping: Yes
Expedited transport: Available for an additional fee, depending on vehicle size
Montway Auto Transport ships to and from anywhere in the country, including Alaska and Hawaii. The company offers both open shipping and enclosed shipping, providing options for drivers of most types of vehicles. It is also a car shipping broker, meaning Montway works with a number of shipping carriers to offer customers the best price.
After your vehicle ships, the company offers a live chat service you can contact between 6:00 am and midnight CST to ask about the location of your vehicle. Many customers in Montway Auto Transport reviews mention live chat as a standout feature of the company’s shipping process.
Montway also charges no fee for shipping up to 100 pounds of personal items in your vehicle’s trunk. Insurance is included as part of your shipping cost, but you can purchase contingent cargo insurance for coverage up to $250,000. Contingent cargo insurance pays for damages that your carrier’s policy may not cover.
In our latest car shipping survey, out of 1,000 respondents, the third and fourth most important considerations for choosing an auto shipping company were the delivery speed and insurance coverage. Montway satisfies these requirements with its expedited shipping service and extra insurance coverage.
Note that Montway doesn’t offer shipping services for RVs or trailers and primarily ships passenger vehicles, including SUVs and trucks.
Montway Auto Transport Cost
In 2023, we conducted a survey of 1,000 customers who had shipped their vehicle. The following data shows what respondents paid for their shipping services:
- 6 percent paid less than $500
- 27 percent paid $500 to $1,000
- 49 percent paid $1,000 to $2,000
- 13 percent paid more than $2,000
- 5 percent said someone else paid
Montway Auto Transport Quotes
To give you an idea of what it might cost to ship your car with Montway Auto Transport, we reached out for quotes to ship an operable 2019 Mazda CX-5 through open transport. Note that your rates may vary based on time of year, vehicle, route, and other factors.
Enclosed shipping uses specialty equipment and can cost 30 to 40 percent more per mile than open shipping. For example, compare the open car shipping quotes below against the cost of enclosed shipping.
Here are the car shipping rates Montway quoted us in 2023:
| Shipping Route | Type of Transport | Shipping Distance | Estimated Cost | Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Nashville | Open | 470 miles | $649 | $1.38 |
| Phoenix to Minneapolis | Open | 1640 Miles | $1,129 | $0.69 |
| Phoenix to Minneapolis | Closed | 1640 Miles | $1,549 | $0.95 |
| Boston to Los Angeles | Open | 2985 Miles | $1,469 | $0.49 |
Our car shipping cost research revealed that Montway Auto Transport is one of the cheapest options in the U.S. The auto broker also offers discounts for returning customers as well as active and former military members.
What Affects Car Shipping Costs
As noted earlier, multiple factors can impact your shipping price. Here’s a more comprehensive list:
- Vehicle size and weight: Most car shipping services will charge you based on weight, so larger vehicles cost more to transport than smaller vehicles.
- Vehicle operability: Inoperable vehicles will cost more to haul than operable vehicles because they add more labor.
- Shipping distance: Shipping a car over a long distance will cost more overall, but less per mile than shorter trips.
- Type of transport: Open transport, in which your vehicle is shipped on an open trailer with several other cars, is cheaper than enclosed transport, which involves shipping your car in an enclosed trailer that protects it from the elements.
- Destination and pickup locations: Typically, shipping to a rural location will cost more than shipping to an urban area. Along the same lines, door-to-door transport is more expensive than terminal-to-terminal transport.
- Season: January and the summer months tend to be more expensive.
Montway offers instant quotes online, taking the hassle out of budgeting for your move.
How To Ship A Car With Montway Auto Transport
If you’re wondering how to ship a car with Montway, begin by using the company’s online quote tool and enter the following information:
- Departure and delivery locations (door-to-door shipments available only)
- Transport preference (open or enclosed)
- Vehicle info (year, make, model, and operability)
- Shipping dates
- Urgency (as soon as possible, within two weeks, within 30 days, or more than 30 days)
Once you’re finished putting in your information, you can post your job for shippers to bid on, and Montway will match you with the best offer. After being paired with a car shipper, you will schedule a pickup date and location with your driver.
At pickup, you and the driver will inspect your vehicle and sign a bill of lading, which is a receipt that follows your car from pickup to drop off. After the car arrives, you will examine the car again and if you don’t see any damages you will sign off on the bill of lading.
Any order is fully refundable if you cancel before you are assigned a carrier. After being assigned a carrier, you’ll pay a minimum $249 cancellation fee. You can pay for your shipment one of two ways: a partial deposit and the rest of the payment in cash at the time of delivery, or the full cost upfront by credit card.
What To Know For A Successful Auto Shipment
Shipping a car isn’t as easy as mailing a package, and you should be aware of the following to make your experience a smooth one.
- Rates can change: Supply and demand significantly influence shipping prices. If enough carriers aren’t available for your shipping time and route, you may pay more to secure the shipment.
- Flexibility is key: If you can be flexible with your pickup date, you can avoid paying for expedited shipping and find the best price. You can also authorize a friend or family member to meet the motor carrier with your vehicle if you have a tight time frame.
- Plan for delays: A lone trucker usually drives an auto carrier and doesn’t have other trailers readily available if something happens on the road. It’s common for delays to affect your original estimated drop-off date.
Montway Auto Transport Customer Reviews
Montway Auto Transport currently holds a rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 from customers on Google with over 15,000 reviews. Customers on the BBB rate the company even more highly at 4.6 out of a possible 5.0 stars.
Montway Auto Transport is diligent about replying to positive and negative reviews. It has replied to 93 percent of negative reviews on Trustpilot, with response times clocking in at less than two days. This is impressive for the industry and highlights Montway’s dedication to providing a good customer experience.
Positive Montway Auto Transport Reviews
Satisfied Montway customers say the company provides timely deliveries and excellent customer communication. Seventeen percent of reviewers specifically mention the positive customer service at Montway Auto Transport.
Montway Auto Transport Complaints
Not all customers have enjoyed timely delivery, and some Montway Auto Transport reviews mention final rates above the original quote. Other reviews cite difficulty canceling a shipment, and many customers don’t like the minimum $249 cancellation fee.
Montway Auto Transport Review: Conclusion
Montway doesn’t offer guaranteed pricing, and, as mentioned, some users have complained about the cancellation fee. But these are the only real drawbacks we’ve found in our research. Most customers are pleased with Montway’s service and praise the high level of communication the company provides, making them one of our top picks for car shipping companies.
Other Recommended Car Shipping Companies
Montway Auto Transport is an excellent place to look for cheap car shipping, but it’s not the only place. AmeriFreight and Sherpa Auto Transport are two other shippers in the auto transport industry we recommend checking out. Learn more about their vehicle transport services below.
AmeriFreight: Great Industry Reputation
AmeriFreight stands out among other providers for its excellent industry reputation and positive customer ratings. The company is accredited by and holds an A+ rating from the BBB and has a comparatively low number of negative reviews on the platform.
The company offers car shipping to all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska. The company provides a wide selection of car transport services, including terminal-to-terminal, which isn’t currently available through Montway. In our 2023 car shipping survey, over 80 percent of respondents who shipped their vehicles with AmeriFreight reported being satisfied with their experience.
Learn more about the company in our AmeriFreight review.
Sherpa Auto Transport: Positive Customer Experience
Unlike Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport offers locked-in pricing, meaning Sherpa guarantees quoted prices and will pay the difference if a shipper charges more. The company’s car shipping services are available in all U.S. states.
Sherpa receives high marks for customer satisfaction, with an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB and a near-perfect 4.9-star rating from customers.
Read more in our complete Sherpa Auto Transport review.
Montway Auto Transport: FAQ
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Montway Auto Transport:
Is Montway Auto Transport trustworthy?
Montway Auto Transport has an A+ rating from the BBB and receives 4.6 out of 5.0 stars from more than 2,200 customer reviews on the platform. The company also holds a 4.7 out of 5.0 rating from over 15,000 Google customer reviews. It’s fair to say that Montway Auto Transport is a trustworthy car shipping broker.
Which car delivery service is best?
The best overall vehicle shipping company in our industry-wide review is Montway Auto Transport. Our ability to obtain service easily, the provider’s consistently affordable prices, and options such as enclosed transport make the company a solid pick.
Does Montway have tracking?
You can track the status of your auto shipment by contacting a Montway customer service agent through chat from 6:00 am to midnight CST every day. Montway doesn’t offer GPS tracking directly online, but we found its chat feature easy to use.
How long has Montway Auto Transport been in business?
Montway Auto Transport was founded in 2006 as a basic brokerage. It has since become one of the largest auto shipping companies in the country.
Is Montway Auto Transport a broker?
Montway Auto Transport is a licensed auto transport broker and is registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. The car transport company works with over 30,000 car carriers for long-distance moves.
Where is Montway Auto Transport based?
Montway Auto Transport is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company offers standard auto shipping, classic car shipping, and flexible delivery dates.
How long does Montway Auto Transport take?
Shipping a car with Montway Auto Transport can take up to three weeks or more from the first time you get a quote to delivery. First, it can take Montway a week to secure a carrier to transport your vehicle. Then, the carrier will pick up your car within a five-day window from the first available date. Finally, cross-country transit times can take up to a week or more.
Who owns Montway Auto Transport?
Montway Auto Transport is a privately held independent company. It is not a subsidiary of any other business.
How can you reach Montway Auto Transport customer service?
The easiest way to reach Montway Auto Transport customer service is by phone. You can call the Montway Auto Transport phone number at 888-666-8929 for help and support. You can also reach out through chat at Montway.com during the day and on evenings and weekends.
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.
