Montway Auto Transport Pros and Cons
-
Relatively low prices
-
Shipped over 140,000 vehicles in 2020
-
$100,000 in cargo insurance
-
Wide range of shipping services
-
Cancellation fee
-
No GPS tracking
-
No terminal-to-terminal shipping
| Overall Rating | 9.0 / 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 10.0 |
| Shipping Cost | 9.0 |
| Services | 8.5 |
| Customer Experience | 8.5 |
Average Montway Auto Transport Costs
| Open Transport | $739 |
| Enclosed Transport | $989 |
Montway Auto Transport is a leading auto transport broker that connects customers to a network of vetted shipping carriers. In this article, we’ll discuss Montway Auto Transport reviews, prices, shipping services and more to give you a clear understanding of what the company offers.
Between brokers, marketplaces and individual carriers, you have many options for shipping your car. We’ve reviewed the best car shipping companies to make it easier to compare services and find a good deal from leading auto transport providers.
About Montway Auto Transport
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Schaumburg, Illinois
Service Area: U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska
Montway Auto Transport typically ships over 140,000 vehicles each year, making it one of the largest car shipping companies in the country. It operates across all 50 states, so it’s easy, for example, to send your truck from California to Florida or your classic car from New York to Alaska. If you’re going overseas, Montway Auto Transport reviews reveal the company’s strong network of international transport partners.
Montway Auto Transport is a registered auto broker that vets each carrier it works with to ensure customers receive great service throughout the shipping process. Montway Auto Transport reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) give it an A+ rating, a 4.5 out of 5.0 star customer review score and full accreditation. All factors considered, Montway offers cheap car shipping rates compared to the competition.
Montway Auto Transport Shipping Costs
So how much does car shipping cost with Montway Auto Transport? To give you an idea, here are a few quotes obtained at www.montway.com. We requested shipping quotes for a 2018 Honda Civic moved using door-to-door shipping:
| Route | Distance | Transport Type | Montway Auto Transport Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, New York to Washington, D.C. | 231 miles | Open | $529 flat rate |
| New York City, New York to Washington, D.C. | 231 miles | Enclosed | $679 flat rate |
| Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, Virginia | 533 miles | Open | $609 flat rate |
| Atlanta, Georgia to Richmond, Virginia | 533 miles | Enclosed | $779 flat rate |
| San Diego, California to Portland, Oregon | 1,083 miles | Open | $909 flat rate |
| San Diego, California to Portland, Oregon | 1,083 miles | Enclosed | $1,249 flat rate |
| Austin, Texas, to San Francisco | 1,757 miles | Open | $909 flat rate |
| Austin, Texas, to San Francisco | 1,757 miles | Enclosed | $1,249 flat rate |
Some positive Montway Auto Transport reviews speak of customers receiving a 5% discount when they pay truckers in cash upon their shipment’s arrival. The standard option is to instead pay for your shipment in full through the website with a debit or credit card.
Montway Shipping Prices by Mile
Distance is one of the biggest determining factors when it comes to your shipping bill and most auto transport companies charge by the mile. Your per-mile rate goes down as the distance gets longer. So, while you’ll pay more overall to ship a car from, say, Chicago to Los Angeles than you would to ship it to a city a few hours away, you’ll actually pay less by the mile.
If you look at Montway.com, you’ll see that the business actually posts shipping rates broken down by distance.
- 0-500 miles: $1.96 per mile
- 501-1,500 miles: $0.93 per mile
- 1,501+ miles: $0.58 per mile
What these prices do not account for is Montway’s various shipping options like enclosed transport, expedited shipping or overseas shipping.
Montway Auto Transport Cost Factors
There are also several factors affect vehicle shipping costs, including:
- Vehicle type: A Toyota 4Runner costs more to ship than a Camry because SUVs are bigger and heavier. Vehicle size also affects overall shipping costs.
- Shipping service: Enclosed transport is more expensive than open transport. If you opt for door-to-door shipping or expedited shipping, expect to pay more for these services, too.
- Distance: As distance increases, the price per mile decreases. However, you’ll pay more overall for longer distances.
- Time of year: More people move in January and the summer months, increasing auto shipping rates.
- Proximity to shipping hubs: Pickup and dropoff locations near major cities or metro areas have cheaper shipping rates, as more carriers provide routes to these hubs.
- Price of fuel: Shipment costs fluctuate depending on the price of gas.
- Vehicle operability: If your car isn’t operable, you’ll pay more for the carrier to push or winch it onto the vehicle transport truck.
Auto transport trailers usually have two levels. Loading a car onto the top-level protects it from any leaking fluids or debris from overhead. You can specify a top-loading preference for an extra charge, which is about $75 with Montway Auto Transport. Auto transporters often have to rearrange the whole trailer to accommodate this preference. If a truck can’t accommodate your request, the fee will be waived or refunded.
How to Lower Montway Auto Transport Shipping Costs
Most Montway Auto Transport reviews praise the company’s affordable shipping rates. Since it’s a broker, Montway can compare prices from multiple carriers to help drivers save money. You can also do the following to save money when shipping your car:
-
Avoid shipping in the summer and January since these are peak moving seasons.
-
Be flexible when it comes to pickup and delivery times and locations.
-
Book your shipment at least two weeks in advance.
-
Choose open transport.
-
Pay partially in cash upon delivery (only available with some shippers).
If you’re thinking of lowering your car, lifting your truck or adding larger tires before transport, it’s best to hold off. These kinds of modifications can make it hard for a shipper to load your car onto an open truck, leaving you with a pricier enclosed shipment as your only option.
Canceling a Montway Auto Transport Car Shipment
With Montway, you can cancel your shipment before or after the order has been dispatched to a carrier. A dispatched order means it’s already been assigned to a carrier and accepted by a carrier. If you cancel before the shipment dispatches, you’ll receive a full refund. However, after the shipment has been dispatched, you’ll have to pay a $199 cancellation fee or the amount of your partial payment.
Montway Auto Transport Services
Montway Auto Transport offers most of the standard car shipping services you’d expect from a leading company, including:
-
Nationwide coverage: You can ship a car cross-country and between states. If you want to ship a car abroad, Montway can transport your vehicle to and from a domestic port and help you find an international auto shipper, as well.
-
Open transport: This service is best for drivers looking for affordable shipping, as it’s the most common and widely available. However, your vehicle will be exposed to the elements.
-
Enclosed transport: You can choose an enclosed trailer to give your vehicle the highest protection level during shipment. This option is best for luxury vehicles and classic cars.
-
Expedited transport: If you’re in a hurry, Montway Auto Transport can sometimes offer shipping services as soon as the next day.
Alternative Shipping Options
Montway Auto Transport ships motorcycles, ATVs, inoperable vehicles, collector cars, modified and oversized vehicles and cars from auctions and storage facilities. However, some Montway Auto Transport reviews complain that the company doesn’t ship the following:
- RVs
- Trailers
- Campers
- Boats or other personal watercraft.
Another commonly cited concern is that there’s no option for terminal-to-terminal shipping.
Does Montway Offer Insurance?
Montway Auto Transport includes up to $100,000 of cargo insurance per over-land shipment. The coverage applies from the time your vehicle is picked up to the time it’s dropped off. Montway’s insurance coverage also does not require a deductible. Not all auto transporters offer insurance coverage, however, so you may want to check your existing insurance policy to be sure you’re protected against shipping damages if you choose another provider. Otherwise, you’ll foot the bill for repairs.
Be aware that personal items inside your car aren’t covered by cargo insurance. It’s a good idea to empty your car entirely – even of loose change and small items – prior to shipping. Despite this, many Montway Auto Transport reviews come from customers pleased that the company allows one piece of luggage weighing up to 100 pounds to be shipped in their vehicle’s trunk during over-land shipments.
Montway Auto Transport Reviews from Customers
Montway Auto Transport has a strong customer service reputation. The company holds a 4.6-star Google rating based on over 6,000 reviews, alongside its 4.5-star BBB customer review score. Similarly, over 1,000 customers have weighed in on Trustpilot to give Montway a 4.6-star rating. Overall, 20.5% of reviewers explicitly mentioned recommending this company to to others.
Besides looking at ratings and scores, we also read customer reviews to find issues experienced by consumers. The following Montway Auto Transport reviews stood out to us:
Positive Montway Auto Transport Reviews
Positive Montway Auto Transport reviews mention timely service, strong communication and professional agents. In fact, 17% of reviewers positively mentioned this company’s customer service. Here is what customers had to say:
“All went very well. They were timely and got the job done as they said they would. The driver was awesome and very respectful of my vehicle.”
– Jon via BBB
“I have used Montway twice for cross-country transport from [California] to [Maryland] and back. They have transported my car with strong communication, no complications or damage, within the time parameters provided and at a reasonable price.”
– Ivan A. via BBB
Negative Montway Auto Transport Reviews
Negative Montway Auto Transport reviews report deliveries taking longer than expected and some miscommunication among the agents, carriers and drivers. However, overall 18% of reviewers positively mention the auto transport driver. Here is what customers had to say:
“They gave me a quote that was too low, and no shipper would pick [it] up. So, my pickup window passed without any follow-up from them. They did a poor job of communicating with me in general and had trouble giving details as to why they couldn’t complete my transport order.”
– M.B. via BBB
“Very disappointed – they quote you a price and then at the last minute tell you it will take another $500 to get it done. I’m sure a lot of people don’t have a choice and have to pay [for] it. One star is too much!”
– Larry T. via BBB
Our Research
In 2021, our research team surveyed 1,000 auto shipping customers to gauge what services customers frequently use and the quality of experience. Montway customers made up about one-quarter of our respondents, and we found that 84% of those consumers were satisfied with their service.
In contrast, the runner-up for customer satisfaction was AmeriFreight at 67%.
Our survey also looked at shipping prices consumers paid motor carriers and found that most paid between $1,000 to $2,000. Around 22% of respondents said their shipping costs fell in the $1,500 to $2,000 range, and 19% paid between $1,000 to $1,500. We also found that most consumers were shipping their vehicles between 500 to 1,500 miles.
How to Ship a Car Using Montway Auto Transport
Regardless of your car shipper, scheduling transportation will require the following details:
- Your email address, phone number and any other contact information
- Pickup and delivery locations (Montway offers guaranteed pickup dates)
- Type of transport (enclosed shipping or open transport)
- Vehicle information
- Shipping time frame
To ship your car, start by filling out Montway’s online quote form. You can get instant quotes for open or enclosed door-to-door shipments. Or, you can call the company for more customized options. Once you choose a carrier, you can book the shipment. Payment is required once the carrier is dispatched. However, PayPal payments are due at the time of booking.
When the carrier meets you to pick up your vehicle, you’ll inspect your car and sign a bill of lading with the driver. Note the current condition of your car and any damages on this document. After inspection, you’ll sign the bill of lading again once the delivery is complete.
Our Verdict on Montway Auto Transport: 9.0 / 10.0
We named Montway Auto Transport the Best Provider overall for shipping your car and rate it a 9.0 out of 10.0. The company offers affordable prices, many auto transport services and free cargo insurance with every over-land shipment. Montway Auto Transport reviews show the company creates a hassle-free shipping experience and has excellent customer service.
Like many car shipping companies, Montway Auto Transport offers free car shipping quotes to potential customers.
Other Top Recommendations for Car Shipping
If you want the best price on auto transport, it’s wise to reach out to other top-rated car shipping companies so you can have multiple transport quotes before booking a shipment. Montway Auto Transport reviews are largely positive, but so are those for AmeriFreight and Sherpa Auto Transport.
AmeriFreight: Best for Discounts
After comparing multiple companies, we found that AmeriFreight offers the best discounts overall. Students, active duty military members, first responders, medical personnel, senior citizens and returning customers can all receive shipping discounts from AmeriFreight. The licensed broker has been in business since 2004 and has an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB. AmeriFreight also has a 4.9 out of 5.0-star BBB customer review score.
Sherpa Auto Transport: Locked-In Pricing
Most car shipping companies provide instant estimates online, but the final price can increase later on. If the price you’re quoted goes up at some point, Sherpa Auto Transport will pay up to $300 to cover the difference. Sherpa is a newer company – it began in 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company has stellar customer reviews, with 4.9 out of 5.0 stars and an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB.
For more information, see our Sherpa Auto Transport review.
FAQ: Montway Auto Transport
Is Montway Auto Transport legit?
Reviews for Montway Auto Transport are mostly positive from industry experts such as the BBB. The company also has over 15 years of experience and is our pick for Best Provider.
What is the best car transport company?
The bottom line is that the best auto shipping company will depend on the customer’s needs for auto transportation. Our researchers identified Montway Auto Transport, AmeriFreight and Sherpa Auto Transport as some of the best car shipping companies in the industry due to their rates, services and reputations.
How long does Montway Auto Transport take?
The amount of time car transport takes varies by distance, and road conditions and weather can also impede truckers. Your delivery date can range from two days to more than a week depending on the destination. Long-distance and overseas auto shipping to Hawaii usually mean a longer transit period.
Is Montway Auto Transport a broker?
Yes, Montway Auto Transport is a vehicle shipping broker. It works with a network of over 15,000 carriers to provide car shipping services to customers nationwide. After booking a shipment with Montway Auto Transport, an independent carrier will pick up, transport and deliver your vehicle.
Does Montway have tracking?
Similar to most car carriers, customers can track their vehicle’s location by placing a phone call to customer service or through email during business hours.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car shipping provider to formulate rankings of the best auto transport companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account pricing, services, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in four categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend car shipping companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best service.
