American Auto Shipping Review

American Auto Shipping Visit Site

American Auto Shipping at a Glance

Services Covered

American Auto Shipping offers vehicle transport services anywhere in the US except Alaska. In addition to cars, it offers transport services for a wide range of other vehicles, including trucks, motorcycles, boats, heavy equipment, and military vehicles.

• Open/Enclosed Shipping. All vehicle shipment options, whether by truck, rail, or sea, offer open and enclosed shipping. Open transport is generally cheaper but exposes your vehicle to the elements while in transit. This is usually fine, but rare, expensive, classic, or collectible vehicles may warrant the extra price for an enclosed compartment.

• Door-to-door Shipping. Door-to-door shipping with an auto transport carrier truck is the easiest way to ship your vehicle anywhere in the contiguous US. A contractor will collect your vehicle from your door and deliver it directly to an address of your choice.

• Rail Shipping. In available locations, rail shipping is typically cheaper than an equivalent trip by truck. However, it can take longer, and door-to-door shipping isn’t possible. If you ship your vehicle by rail, you must drop it off at the agreed station and pick it up at the destination station.

• Heavy Equipment and Military Shipping. American Auto Shipping offers transport services for heavy equipment, such as construction vehicles and farming machines, and transport for military vehicles. It has experience transporting historic and civilian-owned military vehicles like Jeeps, Humvees, or armored personnel carriers. There are also discounts available to current and retired military service members.

• California to Hawaii. For shipments to Hawaii, you must first transport your vehicle to anywhere in California. American can then collect your vehicle and deliver it to one of two ports for shipment. You must pick up the vehicle in port once it clears customs and inspection in Hawaii. 

• Hawaii to Mainland. You will need to drop your vehicle off at a port in Hawaii. At this point, American will take over, shipping the vehicle to California before transporting it to any address in the US. 

Pricing

Pricing varies significantly based on distance, shipment type, speed of service, and vehicle type. I particularly liked that quotes are final and binding, with no other hidden fees or associated costs. Prices include an initial deposit, with the remainder due on delivery. 

You can choose from the Standard Service, where your vehicle is collected between one and five business days, Priority Shipping, which costs an extra $200 but pickup only takes between one and two business days, and finally Expedited Shipping, which costs $500 more than Standard but collects your vehicle within just 24 hours (during the week).

Here are a few example quotes:

• Location: Northeast Harbor, Maine, to Frewsburg, New York
  Vehicle: 2020 Toyota Corolla
  Trailer Type: Open
  Price: $1149 ($200 down, $949 on delivery)

• Location: Northeast Harbor, Maine, to Frewsburg, New York
  Vehicle: 2020 Toyota Corolla
  Trailer Type: Enclosed
  Price: $1419 ($225 down, $1194 on delivery)

• Location: Santa Ana, California to Honolulu, Hawaii
  Vehicle: 2018 Dodge Charger
  Trailer Type: Open
  Price: $1759 ($225 down, $1534 on delivery)

First, navigate to American Auto Shipping’s online quote tool, conveniently accessible from every page on its website, and input your origin and destination zip codes, vehicle information, and move date. You will then receive a binding, final quote, valid for the next 24 hours. If you’re happy, proceed to place your order and pay the deposit online or by phone, and just like that, you’ve finalized your move.

Your quote will break down the initial deposit amount, usually around $200, and the final amount due on delivery. This can be paid via cash, money order, or cashier’s check, and if you contact the carrier ahead of time you can usually arrange payment through Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App, if that’s easier.

Before moving day, prepare your vehicle by cleaning it and removing any personal belongings from the interior, and ensure there is no more than one-quarter of a tank of gas left inside.

On moving day, a representative from American Auto Shipping will come by to pick up your vehicle. In most cases, this will be an auto transport truck contractor employed by the company. They will reach out to you anywhere between four and 24 hours in advance to inquire about your availability and finalize a pickup time.

Once the contractor arrives, they will load your vehicle onto the transport carrier. The driver will also provide you with their name, phone number, and the contact details of their dispatcher.

After loading, inspect your vehicle thoroughly and take pictures of all four sides, the top, the interior, and the odometer with current mileage displayed. The transport driver will accompany you during this inspection, marking any existing damage. After that, your vehicle is ready to head off to its destination.

Once it has arrived, the transport contractor will not book the pickup appointment with you until they have dropped off the vehicle in line before yours. You will then receive an appointment time to pick up your vehicle from the drop-off location at least several hours before your car’s arrival. 

On arrival, check your vehicle for internal and external damage, and take the same pictures of all four sides, the top, the interior, and the odometer. You must conduct this inspection in order to ensure you’re covered in the event of damage to your vehicle. 

Assuming everything has gone smoothly, all that is left is to pay the outstanding balance of your bill via cash, money order, cashier’s check, or electronic payment via your phone, and your vehicle is yours to drive.

Fleet Details

American Auto Shipping does not have its own fleet of transport vehicles. Instead, it partners with shipping contractors, rail lines, and ports to facilitate almost any kind of vehicle move across the US, including to and from Hawaii.

American Auto Shipping Visit Site

Customer Service

You can reach American Auto Shipping at any time on its 24-hour phone line, (800) 930-7417, through the web contact form, or via the 24/7 live chat function. Be advised that after-hours customer service can be slow. When I reached out to them after 7pm ET, it took nearly 30 minutes to receive a reply. 

There are some service guarantees for customers. Specifically, any quote you receive is final and binding as long as you accept it within 24 hours, with no hidden fees or costs. The company also offers you a free rental car if the shipping process takes longer than 14 days from start to finish, and every vehicle gets a free wash, inside and out.

American does not offer its own insurance. Instead, individual carriers are insured, and you can file a claim with their insurance company if there is any damage to your vehicle.

Testimonials

“Totally impressed with American Auto Shipping. Alex guided us through the whole process for our 3000 mile move across the country. All 3 cars made it safe and sound, ahead of schedule. Could not have been easier. Fantastic rates as well. Highly recommend.”—Kathy B., Customer

“Adrian went above and beyond with arranging our car shipment and provided great service after the sale was completed! He was wonderful to work with!”—Michelle B., Customer

“This is the only company I trust with my vehicle. Jasmine was thorough and I felt assured my vehicle was in good hands. They picked up my vehicles and the driver was respectful to all my requests and got my cars across the country safely. American is the real deal. Remember, you get what you pay for.”—Deborah, Customer.

Bottom Line

American Auto Shipping offers vehicle transport by truck, rail, and water across the contiguous US and Hawaii. It offers moving services for cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, heavy equipment, and even military vehicles, with discounts for veterans and active military members. With upfront, binding quotes, a range of service speeds and a transparent process, you can use American’s services for all types of vehicle moves.