Sherpa Auto Transport Review 2024
Sherpa Auto Transport Ratings
PROS
- Transparent pricing with a Price Lock Promise, ensuring you won't pay more than your quoted rate.
- A trusted network of carriers that is strictly vetted.
- The company's A+ rating from the BBB and high customer review scores.
- Additional perks, such as a complimentary car wash with every transport.
- Door-to-door shipping.
CONS
- No international shipping available.
- Doesn't ship to Hawaii or Alaska.
- No instant online quotes, making it slightly less convenient for getting quotes.
- Lack of terminal-to-terminal vehicle shipping, which is often a cheaper option.
- Quotes can sometimes be higher compared to competitors.
- No GPS tracking available.
- No shipping for motorcycles or ATVs.
Company Background and Experience
Sherpa Auto Transport is one of the newer brokers on the block. Founded in 2017, they have exploded on the scene. They have some unique value propositions in the car shipping space, which is attention grabbing. In our review of Sherpa Auto Transport, we will explore who they are, where their customer service ranks, and our final thoughts.
Who is Sherpa Auto Transport?
- Registered Name with the US Department of Transportation: Sherpa Auto Transport LLC.
- Company Address: 5605 Carnegie Blvd Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209
- Business telephone: (844) 801-4068. Customer line (844) 904-6516.
- FMCSA Registration can be seen here. US DOT# 3053476. MC# 051106.
- Surety Bonding Agent: Suretec Insurance Company for $75,000.
Sherpa Auto Transport Shipping Options
When considering a vehicle transport company, it’s important to know the range of services they offer. Sherpa Auto Transport provides a variety of options to cater to diverse customer needs. Here’s an overview of their shipping services and key features:
Local and Long-Distance Transport
Sherpa specializes in both local and long-distance vehicle transportation, ensuring your car gets where it needs to be.
Transport Options
You can choose between open and enclosed transport, depending on your vehicle's needs and your preference.
Vehicle Variety
They can transport various vehicles, from sedans to classic cars, even if they're inoperable.
Convenient Door-to-Door Shipping
Sherpa primarily provides door-to-door shipping for maximum convenience, from pickup to drop-off.
Discounts Available
Sherpa offers discounts for snowbird routes, seniors, multi-car transports, repeat customers, students, and military members.
Clean Car Guarantee
With their Clean Car Guarantee, they'll reimburse you up to $20 for a car wash after delivery, ensuring your vehicle arrives in top condition.
Sherpa Auto Transport Services That Cater Different Customer Needs
Sherpa helps with relocating personal vehicles, making the moving process more convenient.
For those seeking to avoid long drives and travel-related challenges, Sherpa provides professional vehicle transportation services.
Sherpa is a trusted partner for online car transactions, offering convenient scheduling and quick turnaround times.
Sherpa offers an affordable car transport service for college students, making it easier to manage vehicles during breaks.
Sherpa offers discounted and hassle-free car shipping for military personnel during relocations.
Sherpa collaborates with selected carriers to assist corporations in relocating employees’ vehicles.
Sherpa supports car dealerships by transporting vehicles to remote customers and facilitating auto trades.
Sherpa’s professional transporters serve buyers at auto auctions, delivering purchases to their destinations.
Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
- Tying AmeriFreight for the top spot, Sherpa earns a Google review average of 4.7. They have a third of AmeriFreight’s reviews but that’s to be expected given their age.
- They have an A+ rating the on Better Business Bureau and are accredited.
- On TransportReviews.com, an industry website that validates car shippers’ email addresses for accuracy, this car shipping company barely has a presence. They don’t have any customer reviews at all for the past 8 months.
- On Central Dispatch, where carriers and brokers rate each other, Sherpa has a 100% rating on over 1500 responses. This indicates good business dealings with partners, not just customers.
Interacting with Sherpa as a Customer
It’s hard to search for a car shipper without running into Sherpa. How does it feel visiting their site, getting a free quote, and giving them a call? Find out about our customer experience below.
Website and Emails
Sherpa’s website is clear and straight to the point. It’s simple to navigate with a quote request option available right on the home page. After requesting a quote, an email was received almost instantly prompting the customer to go back to the website to view the price. Be aware that right out the gate, Sherpa’s emails push for urgency, stating that the quote will soon expire. While it’s true that quotes do expire, it’s important to take the necessary time to do your research when selecting the best auto transport company to fit your vehicle shipping needs. As with many auto transport brokers, the cost breakdown of broker fee / carrier fee isn’t immediately clear from the email, so be sure to inquire further with your agent.
A unique benefit offered by Sherpa is a $100 mail-in rebate for booking via their website rather than through one of their sales representatives over the phone. This could prove handy for potential customers who prefer to handle business via email / text, rather than phone calls.
Calls and Texts
Sherpa Auto Transport called and left a voicemail 10 minutes after the quote was submitted. In the following days, they called but did not leave another voicemail.
When calling them back, the attendant sounded happy and genuine. Before moving forward with anything, the attendant wanted to make sure that the customer completely understood the shipping industry and how it worked. However, it wasn’t a long spiel. It only took a few minutes to educate the customer before moving on. The attendant answered all questions asked and there were no high pressure sales tactics used.
Sherpa Auto Transport's Important Standouts
This car shipping company stands out in the car shipping industry in several areas. They were one of the first to embrace targeted ads, so there is a good chance you have seen their ads on Facebook or YouTube. We think their marketing budget must be rather healthy. They also tend to stand out on a few other points:
- Clean Car Guarantee – Sherpa will pay $20 towards a car wash after delivery. Note: you have to wash it within 7 days, and you have 30 days after delivery to mail them the bill of lading and car wash receipt, at which point, your original card will be refunded up to $20. Yes, snail mail. We cannot imagine many people using this service given the hassle.
- Price Lock Promise – Almost no broker offers guaranteed pricing due to the unpredictability of final pricing from carriers. Sherpa offers up to $300 to cover price jumps from their quote to the final price. This means their initial quote will be higher than others, but it does seem to be a reliable and transparent pricing model. Other companies quote low, which may end up saving you money, but Sherpa’s approach is to try and nail the final price and remove anxiety and the unknown. Depending on the shipper, this could be huge. NOTE: If you are listed with another broker this policy is voided!
- Credit Card Up Front – They require a credit card to place an order with them. Some other shipping services do not require a credit card until a carrier is agreed upon, so this tends to make customers feel “bound” to them. It is easier to walk away from companies who don’t lock in this information.
- Cancellation Fee – Sherpa is one of the only companies in our reviews that has a cancellation fee prior to dispatch. According to the terms and conditions on their website, once you place an order, if you cancel prior to selecting a carrier, you will be charged $50.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sherpa Auto Transport
Is Sherpa Auto Transport a broker?
Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport operates as a broker in the vehicle transportation industry. As a broker, they facilitate the shipping of vehicles by connecting customers with carriers who physically transport the vehicles.
Is Sherpa Auto Transport legitimate?
Yes, Sherpa Auto Transport is a legitimate company with a good reputation in the industry. They are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and have a rating of 4.8 stars on it.
Who owns Sherpa Auto Transport?
Sherpa Auto Transport is the brainchild of seasoned and successful entrepreneurs who embarked on a mission to revolutionize the car shipping industry. Drawing inspiration from their own frustrating experiences during cross-country moves, the founders witnessed the pitfalls of an unreliable car shipping industry—from dented bumpers to no-show drivers. Fueled by a commitment to delivering excellence, they set out to create a company that would redefine the auto transport experience.
How Sherpa Auto Transport Compares to Its Competitors
10+ Years Experience
Flexible Shipping Options
A+ on BBB
More Info
Final Thoughts about Sherpa Auto Transport
Sherpa is unique in their approach, and it’s refreshing, to be honest. They clearly are not afraid of quoting near the market price (full price carriers ask for) to be accurate, and that is appealing, as it definitely costs them customers. Their pricing model may not find the lowest price in the end, but it does eliminate much of the mystery of what the final price will be. Their customer reviews look great too, so their agents must be delivering on promises and providing solid customer service. They are one of our top 5 reviewed companies.
In addition to our detailed review of Sherpa Auto Transport, explore our reviews on other prominent car shipping companies in the United States, such as Montway, AmeriFreight Car Shipping, American Auto Shipping, and Ship a Car Direct. These reviews aim to provide you with a well-rounded perspective, helping you make informed decisions when choosing the right service for your car shipping needs.
