Our take: Best overall. Still.
AmeriFreight combines the three things that matter most in a broker: no money down until a carrier is assigned, a binding quote once you book, and a carrier-vetting standard that actually excludes people. U.S. News named it the best overall car shipping company for 2026, and our own read of the review sites agrees. It is not always the lowest opening quote, and enclosed transport runs high. For a standard open-carrier move, it is the safest default on this list.
Pros and cons
What works
- No payment until a carrier is assigned, and binding quotes once you book
- AFTA gap plan covers up to $2,000 in deductibles if carrier insurance comes up short
- Only dispatches to carriers holding a 95% or better internal quality rating
- Eight discount programs: military, first responders, medical, students, seniors, early bird, return customers, multi-vehicle
- Ships cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, golf carts, and inoperable vehicles
- Highest 2026 ranking from U.S. News and a 4.8 from Forbes Home
What to watch
- Enclosed-transport quotes are among the higher ones we have seen
- Opening open-carrier quotes are competitive but rarely the cheapest
- Customer survey scores dip for last-minute schedule changes and reaching support at peak times
- Three pricing tiers take a minute to understand; ask the agent to walk you through them
Ratings across the web
Numbers below were checked in August 2026. Review counts move daily; treat them as a snapshot.
How AmeriFreight prices a shipment
Most brokers quote one number. AmeriFreight quotes three. The economy rate is built on backhaul pricing, which is what a carrier will accept when it is already heading your direction with space to fill. It is the cheapest option but the slowest to dispatch. The priority rate sits closer to market and moves faster. The expedited rate buys a guaranteed pickup window.
What makes this useful rather than confusing is that you are not charged anything until a carrier is actually assigned. You can take the economy rate, see whether a carrier bites in a few days, and step up a tier if you are on a clock. The quote becomes binding at booking, so the number you see is the number you pay.
Carrier vetting
AmeriFreight runs an internal rating system on its carrier pool and will not dispatch to anyone below a 95% score. In an industry where the carrier, not the broker, is the one physically moving your car, this is the single most important thing a broker does. On Central Dispatch, where carriers rate brokers back, AmeriFreight has held a rating near 100% for years, which tells you the relationship runs both ways.
The AFTA gap plan
Every legitimate carrier carries cargo insurance. The problem is deductibles and the occasional claim a carrier's insurer fights. AmeriFreight's AFTA plan reimburses up to $2,000 toward a deductible when the carrier's policy does not cover the full damage. It is included with the shipment rather than sold as an add-on. Read the terms, since there are exclusions for things like pre-existing damage not noted on the bill of lading, but it is a real backstop that most competitors do not match.
Discounts
| Discount | Amount | What they ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Military | $35 | Per request |
| First responders | $35 | Employment ID |
| Medical personnel | $35 | Medical ID |
| Students | $25 | Student ID |
| Seniors | $25 | License |
| Early bird | $35 | Book within 48 hours of quote |
| Return customer | $50 | Previous order |
| Multiple vehicles | $50 | Off each additional vehicle |
Amounts are what AmeriFreight published at the time of this review. Confirm with your agent, since they change.
What the reviews say
Across Google, Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and TransportReviews, the consistent theme is the agent. Customers name their rep, describe getting called back, and describe being told when a route was unlikely to dispatch on a given day. The negative reviews cluster around summer delays and final prices that landed above an initial economy quote, which is the trade-off of starting low. If you need certainty, book at the priority tier and the complaint largely disappears.
Who it is for
First-time shippers, anyone moving a standard vehicle on an open carrier, military and student moves where the discounts stack, and anyone who wants a person on the phone rather than a portal. If you are shipping a six-figure car enclosed, get an AmeriFreight quote but compare it.
Questions people ask
Is AmeriFreight a carrier or a broker?
A broker. It does not own trucks. It vets and assigns licensed carriers and stays on the order through delivery.
Does AmeriFreight charge a deposit?
No. Nothing is charged until a carrier is assigned to your order.
Does AmeriFreight ship to Alaska and Hawaii?
Yes, through port partners. Expect longer timelines and a separate ocean leg.
How long does pickup take?
Typically one to five days after booking at the priority tier. Economy can take longer. Expedited buys a guaranteed window.