Best car shipping and driveaway services in 2026: an honest guide
Last updated: June 2026
There is no single best way to move a car. The right tool depends on whether the car runs, whether you mind adding miles, how many vehicles you are moving, and how much you value a single accountable driver. This guide explains when an owner-operated driveaway, a national broker, a shipping marketplace, or an enclosed carrier each wins, written by a working driveaway operator who will tell you when we are not the right fit.
We run SelectDrive, an owner-operated driveaway service: one professional driver, Dan Ketelsen, personally drives your operable car door to door anywhere in the lower 48, with live GPS and photo documentation. That model is excellent for some moves and wrong for others. Below is the full landscape, with the honest case for each category and named examples, so you can choose well even if you do not choose us.
The four ways to move a car
Almost every option falls into one of four buckets. Match your situation to the bucket first, then pick a provider inside it.
| Option | How it works | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner-operated driveaway | One named driver drives your car on its own wheels, door to door | Operable cars, one accountable person, live tracking, pets or belongings along | Adds route miles; one driver means finite capacity |
| National driveaway network | A company dispatches a driver from a pool to drive your car | Fleets, dealerships, tight multi-vehicle timelines, national reach | Adds miles; you may not know your assigned driver |
| Auto transport broker | A broker finds a trucking carrier to haul your car on a trailer | Inoperable cars, no added miles, multiple cars, lowest long-haul price | Quote often non-binding; unknown carrier; tracking inconsistent |
| Shipping marketplace | You list the car and carriers bid to haul it | Bargain hunters who will vet carriers themselves | You self-vet; winning bid can change; the car is trailered |
1. Owner-operated driveaway (best for one accountable driver)
A single professional drives your operable vehicle the whole way. You get door to door service, one point of contact, live GPS, and photo inspections, and the car can carry a pet or packed belongings that fit. The trade-off is honest: the route distance is added to your odometer, and a one-driver operation has finite capacity, so book ahead. SelectDrive is in this category, with transparent flat pricing of 0.75 USD per mile and a 500 USD minimum. This is the best fit when your car runs, you want a real person responsible start to finish, and you value knowing exactly where your car is.
2. National driveaway networks (best for fleets and reach)
These companies also drive your car rather than trailer it, but they dispatch a driver from a national pool. Auto Driveaway (founded 1952, Chicago area) is the category's largest name and leans heavily B2B, serving corporate fleets, dealerships, and auctions, and it offers both driven and trailered transport. Car Driveaway (part of OnPoint Associates) is more consumer focused and is one of the few that publishes per-mile pricing bands. Professional Drivers has run since 1985 and allows pets to ride along. These are strong choices when you need national scale, multiple drivers for tight timelines, or fleet and dealer services. The trade-off compared with an owner-operator is that you are assigned a driver rather than always working with the same named person. See SelectDrive vs Auto Driveaway and SelectDrive vs Car Driveaway.
3. Auto transport brokers (best for inoperable cars and low long-haul cost)
Brokers do not own trucks. They list your car to a network of independent trailer carriers, usually on a load board, and one of those carriers hauls it alongside other vehicles. Montway Auto Transport is the most widely cited broker and appears in nearly every "best of" roundup. Sherpa Auto Transport is known for its Price Lock Promise, which absorbs up to 300 USD of any carrier-fee shortfall so the quoted total does not rise. AmeriFreight was named U.S. News best auto transport company for 2026 and is known for tiered pricing and discounts, though it does not offer GPS tracking. Brokers are the right tool when the car cannot be driven, when you do not want any miles added, when you are moving several cars, or when you want the lowest possible long-haul number. The common trade-offs documented in reviews are non-binding quotes that can change after booking, an assigned carrier you do not choose, and inconsistent tracking. See SelectDrive vs Montway and SelectDrive vs Sherpa.
4. Shipping marketplaces (best for bargain hunters who vet carriers)
uShip is the largest shipping marketplace. You list your vehicle and independent carriers bid for the job, then you compare bids, carrier profiles, and reviews and pick one. It can surface low prices and is genuinely useful if you are comfortable vetting each carrier's insurance and authority yourself. The trade-offs are that you do the vetting, the winning bid is not guaranteed, and the car still rides on a trailer. See SelectDrive vs uShip.
5. Enclosed and classic-car specialists (best for show cars)
For ultra-high-value, rare, or inoperable collector cars, an enclosed specialist such as Horseless Carriage (operating since 1975) keeps the car in a covered, often climate-controlled trailer, with no road miles added. This is the right call when the goal is specifically to keep miles off a show car or move a vehicle that cannot be driven. It is the opposite philosophy from driveaway and priced accordingly.
So which should you choose?
If your car runs and you want one accountable driver, live tracking, and the option to send pets or belongings, an owner-operated driveaway like SelectDrive is usually the best value and the least stressful. If the car is inoperable, you do not want miles added, or you are moving a fleet, a broker or enclosed carrier is the better tool, and we will tell you so. We would rather point you to the right option than sell you the wrong one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between car shipping and a driveaway service?
Car shipping loads your car onto a trailer with other vehicles, usually arranged by a broker who finds a carrier. A driveaway service sends a professional driver who drives your operable car to its destination on its own wheels. Shipping does not add miles; driveaway does, but you get door to door service, live tracking, and no trailer transfers.
Which car shipping option is cheapest?
On very long hauls, a trailer broker or a marketplace bid can show the lowest per-mile number, though brokered quotes are non-binding and can change after pickup. For shorter and mid-length operable-car moves, a flat per-mile driveaway price is often comparable and is fixed up front.
Is a driveaway service safe for my car?
A reputable driveaway service uses a vetted, insured driver, documents the car with photos at pickup and delivery, and shares live GPS. The main trade-off is the route distance added to your odometer, so driveaway suits operable everyday vehicles rather than inoperable or ultra-high-value collector cars.
When should I use a broker instead of a driveaway service?
Use a trailer broker or carrier when the car cannot be driven, when you do not want any road miles added, when you are moving several vehicles at once, or when you want the lowest possible long-haul price and can accept a non-binding quote and an unknown assigned carrier.
How do I get an honest quote?
For a driveaway estimate you can use our cost calculator or read the car shipping cost guide, then tell us your route and we will give you a flat, itemized price with no surprises after pickup.
Want a straight answer for your move?
Tell Pilot your route and we will be honest about whether driveaway is the right tool, or point you to a better one.