Best car shipping and driveaway services in 2026: an honest guide
Last updated: July 26, 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 fits.
Planning status as of July 26, 2026: SelectDrive is accepting quote and route-planning requests only while required federal interstate operating authority is pending. No interstate for-hire move will begin unless and until that authority is granted and active and the specific vehicle, driver, insurance, route, and signed agreement are approved. Dan Ketelsen is the owner, planned primary driver, and primary contact. Below is the full landscape so you can compare the categories.
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 | An assigned driver operates the car on its own wheels, door to door | Operable cars; provider rules for personal effects and animals vary | Adds route miles; a small service has 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, active national options | Assigned-carrier, tracking, pricing, and cancellation terms vary |
| Shipping marketplace | You list the car and providers submit quotes | Customers comfortable comparing and verifying providers | Provider terms vary; the car is typically trailered |
1. Owner-operated driveaway (best for one accountable driver)
A professional drives your operable vehicle door to door. The booking should identify the driver, tracking terms, inspection process, and rules for personal effects and animals. The trade-off is honest: the route distance is added to your odometer, and a small driveaway service has finite capacity. SelectDrive is planning this model with $450 daily driver pay billed in half-day increments, a one-day minimum, and itemized trip costs. Electric charging is billed at documented actual cost with receipts. A pet that travels well may accompany the vehicle it belongs to, and ordinary belongings that fit safely below the window line may be accommodated, but both require advance disclosure and written approval in the trip agreement. Approval is separate from the price estimate and is never automatic. These accommodations are incidental to delivering the vehicle. SelectDrive does not offer household goods moving, standalone goods delivery, or standalone pet transport. No person may ever travel in the vehicle.
2. National driveaway networks (best for fleets and reach)
Some active national driveaway providers dispatch from larger driver pools. SelectDrive's planned model is smaller, and any future approved trip would identify the driver in the signed agreement. Vendor services and policies change, so verify current terms directly from the provider. See our sourced comparison pages for Auto Driveaway, Car Driveaway, Professional Drivers, and ATC Driveaway.
3. Auto transport brokers (best for inoperable cars and low long-haul cost)
Brokers arrange independent trailer carriers. Montway publishes a TruePrice Guarantee that it says locks the confirmed booked price for 30 days, subject to its terms and order details. Sherpa publishes a Price Lock Promise that it says contributes up to 300 USD from its initial payment if more carrier compensation is needed, subject to its terms. Both vendor pages were retrieved July 26, 2026, and provider terms can change. Brokers may fit when a car cannot be driven, when no road miles should be added, or when several cars need to move. Compare current written totals, assigned-carrier terms, tracking, insurance, and cancellation provisions. See SelectDrive vs Montway, SelectDrive vs Sherpa, SelectDrive vs AmeriFreight, and SelectDrive vs SGT.
4. Shipping marketplaces (best for bargain hunters who vet carriers)
uShip is an active shipping marketplace. You list your vehicle, providers submit quotes, and you compare the available provider information before choosing. According to uShip's Fees and Service Charges page, retrieved July 26, 2026, its service charge varies by commodity and is shown with the bid and total before checkout. Provider insurance, authority, tracking, and service terms still need review. 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 can keep the car on a covered trailer with no road miles added. Ask each provider about trailer configuration, loading, tie-down method, declared value, cargo coverage, exclusions, inspection, and claims handling. This is the right category when the goal is to keep miles off a show car or move a vehicle that cannot be driven.
So which should you choose?
If your car runs and you want an accountable assigned driver, an owner-operated driveaway may fit. SelectDrive can help compare options and prepare a preliminary plan, but it cannot begin an interstate for-hire move while required authority is pending. A future approved trip could include private tracking. A pet that travels well and ordinary belongings secured safely below the window line may accompany the vehicle only after advance disclosure and written approval in the trip agreement. That approval is separate from the estimate, never automatic, and applies only as an incidental part of delivering the vehicle, not as standalone pet or goods transport. No person may travel in the vehicle. 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.
When we are not the right fit
SelectDrive's planned consumer model is limited to one operable car at a time, with route miles added. It is not designed for an inoperable or salvage car, a show car that should stay off the road, or a whole load of vehicles at once. Tell us what you are moving and request a planning review. No interstate dispatch will occur unless required authority is granted and active and the trip is otherwise approved.
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 an assigned professional driver who drives your operable car to its destination on its own wheels. Shipping does not add miles; driveaway does. Tracking terms vary by provider and booking.
Which car shipping option is cheapest?
No category is always cheapest. Get current written totals for the same vehicle, dates, service level, and cancellation terms from active providers. SelectDrive currently offers preliminary planning estimates only, not a final price or dispatch commitment.
Is a driveaway service safe for my car?
Evaluate an active provider's authority, insurance documents, driver identity, inspection process, tracking terms, and signed agreement. Driveaway adds route miles and requires an operable vehicle. SelectDrive cannot begin an interstate for-hire move while required authority is pending.
When should I use a broker instead of a driveaway service?
Use an active authorized 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 while a proposed driveaway provider lacks required active authority.
How do I get an honest quote?
For a preliminary driveaway estimate, use our cost calculator or read the car shipping cost guide, then tell us your route for human review. An estimate is not a dispatch commitment. Final price and trip terms would require active authority and a signed agreement.
Want a straight answer for your move?
Tell Pilot your route for a preliminary planning estimate and an honest comparison of whether driveaway is the right tool.