AmeriFreight alternative: SelectDrive driveaway vs AmeriFreight
Last updated: June 2026
AmeriFreight is a broker. It finds an independent trucking carrier to haul your car on a trailer, and it does not offer GPS tracking. SelectDrive is the opposite model: one professional driver personally drives your operable car door to door, with live GPS on every trip, at a flat published price. If your car runs and you want to actually see where it is, SelectDrive is an AmeriFreight alternative worth comparing.
AmeriFreight is a well-regarded company, named U.S. News best auto transport company for 2026. This is not a knock on it; it is a comparison of two different ways to move a car so you can pick the right one.
What AmeriFreight is
AmeriFreight is a national auto transport broker founded in 2004. It does not own trucks. It lists your shipment to a network of vetted independent carriers, one of which hauls your car on an open or enclosed trailer. It is known for three service tiers (Economy, Priority, and First Class), no upfront deposit, a price-match against other A-plus-rated brokers, and a deep discount list for military, students, seniors, and others. It also ships motorcycles, RVs, boats, and golf carts. The one gap that matters for many shippers: AmeriFreight does not provide GPS tracking, and its own reviews point tracking-focused customers elsewhere. These facts come from AmeriFreight's materials and independent review sites as of mid-2026.
| SelectDrive | AmeriFreight | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Driveaway: a person drives your car | Broker: arranges a trailer carrier |
| Who handles your car | One named driver, start to finish | An independent carrier the broker assigns |
| On a shared trailer? | No, driven on its own wheels | Yes, with other vehicles |
| Pricing | Flat 0.75 USD per mile, itemized, fixed at booking | Quote-based, tiered, non-binding |
| Tracking | Live GPS on every job | No GPS tracking offered |
| Miles added to car | Yes, the route distance | None, it rides on a trailer |
| Inoperable cars | Not eligible, car must run | Possible with the right carrier |
| Pets and belongings | Allowed when they fit | Limited (about 100 lbs, uninsured) |
Where AmeriFreight fits
A broker like AmeriFreight is genuinely the better tool in several cases, and we will say so plainly. If your car is inoperable and cannot be driven, if you specifically do not want any road miles added to a low-mileage or collector vehicle, if you are moving several cars or a motorcycle, RV, or boat, or if you want a top-rated national broker with tiered pricing and a long list of discounts, AmeriFreight is built for that. Its 2026 top ranking, A-plus reputation, and breadth of vehicle types are real advantages for the trailer-shipping use case.
Why customers pick SelectDrive
For an operable everyday car, the driveaway model removes the parts of brokered shipping people dislike most. The single biggest one here is visibility: AmeriFreight offers no GPS, while SelectDrive gives you live GPS on every trip plus photo documentation at pickup and delivery. There is no load board and no carrier you never chose; one named driver, Dan Ketelsen, has your car the entire way. The price is flat and itemized, 0.75 USD per mile with a 500 USD minimum, fixed at booking instead of a non-binding tiered quote. And because a person is driving rather than loading a shared trailer, your car can carry a pet or packed belongings that fit.
The honest trade-offs
Driveaway is not free of trade-offs. The route distance is added to your odometer, the car must be safely driveable, SelectDrive does not move motorcycles, boats, or inoperable vehicles, and it is one driver based near Des Moines, so capacity is finite and our strongest lanes run through the Midwest. AmeriFreight also takes no upfront deposit, while SelectDrive takes 25 percent. If any of the broker-fit cases above describe your move, AmeriFreight or another trailer carrier is the right call, and we would rather tell you that than take a job we are not suited for.
Frequently asked questions
Does AmeriFreight offer GPS tracking?
No. AmeriFreight is a broker that does not provide GPS tracking; its own reviews note that tracking-focused customers are steered to other companies. SelectDrive provides live GPS on every job, plus photo documentation at pickup and delivery.
Is SelectDrive a broker like AmeriFreight?
No. AmeriFreight is an auto transport broker that finds an independent trucking carrier to haul your car on a trailer. SelectDrive is not a broker. One professional driver personally drives your operable car door to door. There is no load board and no assigned carrier.
When is AmeriFreight the better choice?
Choose AmeriFreight or another broker when your car is inoperable, when you do not want any road miles added, when you are moving several vehicles or a motorcycle, RV, or boat, or when you want a top-rated national broker with tiered pricing and military, student, and senior discounts.
Does AmeriFreight require an upfront deposit?
AmeriFreight advertises no upfront deposit and a price-match against A-plus-rated brokers, with three service tiers. SelectDrive takes a 25 percent deposit but gives a flat, itemized price that does not change after pickup, rather than a non-binding broker quote.
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