AmeriFreight: Reviews, Services, Costs, and More (2022)
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AmeriFreight reviews are some of the best in the auto transport industry, with most customers praising the broker's timeliness, affordability, and range of services. But with all the car shipping companies available, is AmeriFreight the right car shipper for your needs?
In our 2021 review of the industry's best car shipping companies, the Home Service Research Team recognized AmeriFreight for having the Best Discounts among providers we reviewed. Read on to learn more about AmeriFreight's costs, services, expert ratings, and customer feedback.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
On This Page
About AmeriFreight
AmeriFreight Car Shipping Cost
AmeriFreight Auto Shipping Services
How Does AmeriFreight Auto Shipping Work?
AmeriFreight Reviews
Final Thoughts on AmeriFreight: 4.5 Stars
Top Recommendations for Car Shipping
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
About AmeriFreight
Established in 2004, AmeriFreight is a popular auto transport broker. Transport brokers connect customers with motor carriers from their shipping networks and negotiate prices.
AmeriFreight stands out from competitors by offering:
Discounts: Compared to other auto shipping companies, AmeriFreight offers a variety of discounts. Most discounts apply to military personnel, students, and medical workers, though some are available to loyal customers and those shipping multiple vehicles.
Shipping services: AmeriFreight provides a range of shipping services for cars, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), and other alternative vehicles.
Vetted carrier network: As of 2021, AmeriFreight works with 10,000 carriers nationwide. To ensure the best shipping experience, each carrier is vetted based on insurance coverage and customer ratings.
High satisfaction ratings: AmeriFreight reviews are positive across a number of consumer review sites. The auto transport company holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), showing that it responds to and handles complaints in a timely manner.
AmeriFreight Pros and Cons
Here are some advantages and disadvantages of shipping your vehicle with AmeriFreight:
AmeriFreight Pros:
Variety of discounts available
Largely positive AmeriFreight reviews
Available in 50 states
Provides transport services for ATVs, RVs, motorcycles, and other specialty vehicles
AmeriFreight Cons:
No real-time tracking or mobile app
AmeriFreight Car Shipping Cost
According to our research, AmeriFreight charges about $1,300 for a 1,500-mile shipment. This is within the range of what most people pay for long-distance shipping. Our 2021 shipping survey that polled 1,000 people found that 41% of respondents paid between $1,000 and $2,000 for vehicle transport.
Your shipping costs with AmeriFreight will depend on many factors. For example, AmeriFreight offers open and enclosed transport as well as three delivery priorities: Economy, Priority, and First Class. Economy takes one to seven days to deliver your vehicle, Priority takes one to four, and First Class takes one to two.
AmeriFreight Car Shipping Cost Estimates
As part of our research process, our team received the following free quotes for a 1,500-mile shipment:
Open, Economy transport: $929
Enclosed, First Class transport: $1,671
Most AmeriFreight reviews mention low car shipping costs, which are thanks to the company's large carrier network and available discounts. More carriers mean more competition, which drives costs down for car owners.
AmeriFreight Discounts
AmeriFreight discounts include:
Military: $35 off
First responders: $35 off
Medical personnel: $35 off
Students: $25 off
Senior citizens: $25 off
Return customers: $50 off
Multiple vehicles: $50 off
Early Bird: $25 off
Aside from the Early Bird discount, multiple discounts cannot be applied to the same shipment.
What Affects the Cost of Auto Shipping?
Car shipping costs are highly variable, but you can control several of the factors that affect your final quote. Here are some factors to consider if you're looking for the lowest rates:
Miles traveled: Cross-country shipments have better rates per mile than shipments traveling only a few hundred miles, but they cost more in total.
Transport type: Enclosed auto shipments are more expensive than open shipments.
Delivery type: If you have your vehicle delivered to your door rather than to a designated terminal, it's more expensive.
Time of year: It is more expensive to ship vehicles during the summer and in January due to higher demand.
Carrier competition: The more competition between carriers, the lower the auto shipping costs.
Vehicle operability: It is more costly to ship an inoperable vehicle than an operable one since it takes more resources to load non-working cars onto transport vehicles.
AmeriFreight Auto Shipping Services
AmeriFreight offers auto shipping in all 50 states. Services include:
Open transport: This is a cheap car shipping option, though your vehicle is exposed to the elements.
Enclosed transport: Enclosed shipping is more expensive but protects your vehicle from inclement weather and road debris.
Home delivery: The vehicle drop-off location is as close to your home as possible.
Terminal-to-terminal car transport: Your vehicle is picked up and dropped off at centralized delivery locations rather than a home or business.
Expedited shipping: Your car can be delivered within one to seven days, depending on the shipping method you choose (Economy, Priority, or First Class).
Our 2021 shipping survey found that most people who ship their cars opt for open transport. Out of 1,000 respondents, 43% used open transport, 20% used enclosed, and 17% used single-car transport.
How Does AmeriFreight Auto Shipping Work?
Car owners will need to provide AmeriFreight with the following information during the initial quote process:
Starting location
Destination
Vehicle make, model, age, and operability
Contact information (name, email address, and phone number)
AmeriFreight quotes are only available by phone, but a car shipping rate calculator is available on the company's website. After receiving your information, the broker will offer carrier options from its network. Your final car shipping quote will depend on which carrier you choose.
AmeriFreight encourages customers to research carriers before committing to a shipment. You'll also need to decide if you want to purchase additional guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage from AmeriFreight.
Related: How to Ship a Car in 2021
What Is AFta Gap Protection?
The carriers AmeriFreight works with provide shipping insurance. You can get additional protection, called AF Total Assurance (AFta), directly from AmeriFreight. This is not insurance but a protection plan that covers any gaps in vehicle protection not covered by the carrier's insurance policy. Coverage is available in three tiers: Comprehensive, Standard, and Basic.
Comprehensive: This costs $98 per shipment and gives you $2,000 in major damage coverage, $800 in minor damage coverage, $300 toward lost or stolen keys, and cancellation coverage.
Standard: This costs $78 per shipment and gives you $2,000 in major damage coverage, $800 in minor damage coverage, and $300 toward lost or stolen keys.
Basic: This costs $48 per shipment and gives you $600 in minor damage coverage.
To ensure you're not paying extra for coverage you don't need, we recommend reviewing your carrier's insurance policy. If you already carry comprehensive car insurance, you may not need AmeriFreight's gap coverage, as you'll likely be covered for any losses or damage.
What To Know Before Shipping Your Car
Whether you ship your vehicle with AmeriFreight or another auto transport company, there are a few things you should do to avoid extra hassle.
Be flexible: Any vehicle shipment can easily be delayed due to weather or traffic along the route. Keeping your schedule open allows you to be prepared in case your car arrives earlier or later than expected.
Know prices can fluctuate: You will not receive a final quote from AmeriFreight until your vehicle has been scheduled for transport with a carrier. This means the initial quote you receive will likely be lower than the final price you'll pay. While prices can fluctuate, AmeriFreight offers discounts to drive car shipping costs down.
Take note of your vehicle's condition: Taking photos before and after transport can help you document any potential damage to your vehicle. It's important that you do this right away at pickup and delivery because the carrier will ask you to sign a bill of lading confirming delivery.
AmeriFreight Reviews
AmeriFreight reviews are largely positive. The company holds an A+ rating from the BBB, along with a 4.9 out of 5.0-star customer rating. The BBB rates companies on an A+ through F grading system, scoring a company's ability to effectively resolve customer issues. The auto transport broker has fielded fewer than 10 BBB customer complaints in the past three years.
AmeriFreight holds similarly high ratings on Google. With over 3,000 AmeriFreight reviews, the broker has a 4.7-star average rating out of 5.0.
To give you a better idea of the company's customer experience, we detailed positive and negative AmeriFreight reviews from customers below.
Positive AmeriFreight Reviews
AmeriFreight has one of the most positive reputations in the auto transport industry. Our shipping survey found that 109 out of 1,000 respondents used AmeriFreight to ship their vehicles. Over half of those respondents said they would recommend AmeriFreight to someone else.
AmeriFreight reviews on the BBB and Google frequently mention the company's timeliness and competitive pricing.
"My three trips (with a fourth in a few months—I snowbird from the Northeast to Florida) have been with the nicest drivers. So accommodating, communicative, friendly, helpful, safe … AmeriFreight also has highly competitive rates, and they work to get you the best price possible."
—Lynn J. via BBB
"The whole team was fantastic. Very helpful and thoughtful customer service. The reps at AmeriFreight explained [the] whole process and helped to put me at ease about car shipping. Would highly recommend to a friend."
—Kwame B. via BBB
Negative AmeriFreight Reviews
While the company has an overall positive reputation, there are still some negative AmeriFreight reviews. In our 2021 shipping survey, some respondents who used AmeriFreight reported that they had issues with carrier insurance not covering damage, their shipments being extended a week or more beyond the original delivery date, and prices increasing after booking. Reviewers on the BBB and Google also made similar comments.
"On the negative side, the original quoted price was for $1,155, and the agent warned me that it might be as high as $1,600. The final cost after being posted for 11 days was $2,550, which is more than twice the original quote."
—J.M. via BBB
"Ultimately their original quote wasn't honored because the sub-contractor required a higher fee. The price was … fine, but frustrating to have the actual price end up being higher than the quote. The other issue was that the delivery date was outside the expected window, as was the pickup."
—Scott via BBB
While it can be frustrating, it's common in the industry for a final quote to be higher than the initial quote received from a broker.
Our team reached out to AmeriFreight for comment on its negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Final Thoughts on AmeriFreight: 4.5 Stars
We rate AmeriFreight 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and recognize it for having the Best Discounts on the market. The auto transporter works with vetted carriers, offers many auto shipping services, and has competitive pricing. AmeriFreight reviews are above average, as are the company's industry ratings.
AmeriFreight Ratings
Reputation: 4.8
Cost: 4.3
Services: 4.9
Customer Experience: 4.2
Overall Rating: 4.5
Top Recommendations for Car Shipping
Even though AmeriFreight is an excellent option for transport services, it's a good idea to get car shipping quotes online from several auto transport companies before signing a contract. Other reputable auto transporters include Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport.
Montway Auto Transport: Best Availability
Montway Auto Transport is another auto shipping broker with multiple shipping options. It offers open, enclosed, door-to-door, expedited, international, and Hawaii shipping. Montway provides low-cost rates for many customers—our quotes for its services averaged out to $1,097. The company only works with vetted carriers and offers free insurance coverage with every shipment.
Learn more about the company in our Montway Auto Transport review.
Sherpa Auto Transport: Best for Locked-In Prices
Sherpa Auto Transport is best for customers who want to know their car shipping costs up front. With Sherpa Auto Transport, you won't pay more than the amount you're quoted, as the company has a Price Lock Promise. Sherpa offers open, enclosed, and door-to-door shipping services in 48 states (Hawaii and Alaska are not available destinations).
Read more about the company in our Sherpa Auto Transport review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AmeriFreight legitimate?
Yes, AmeriFreight is a legitimate company headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia. The auto shipping broker provides services including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door delivery, terminal-to-terminal shipping, and expedited shipping.
Is AmeriFreight a broker?
Yes, AmeriFreight is a Department of Transportation (DOT) licensed auto shipping broker.
Where is AmeriFreight located?
AmeriFreight headquarters is in Peachtree City, Georgia, which is located outside of Atlanta. The company has been in business since 2004.
How does AFta gap protection work?
AmeriFreight offers the AFta gap protection plan for car owners who want extra coverage during transport. The plan covers up to $2,000 of your insurance deductible for your private car insurance, up to $800 for minor damage, up to $350 for lost, stolen, or damaged keys, and reimbursement for car rental in case of delivery delays.
Is AmeriFreight expensive?
AmeriFreight is not as expensive as other car shipping companies. Our research found that a 1,500-mile shipment costs around $1,300 on average. The company offers many discounts to help reduce transport costs. Many positive AmeriFreight reviews mention the company's easy shipping process and range of discounts.
Which car shipping company is the best?
Montway Auto Transport, Sherpa Auto Transport, and AmeriFreight are three of the best car shipping companies. In our experts' comprehensive industry review, each earned a 4.5-star rating or above. We considered reputation, cost, services, and customer experience when rating each company.
Should I ship my car open or enclosed?
It depends on your budget and car. If you're looking for a low-cost shipping option, it's better to go with open shipping. If you have a classic or luxury vehicle, it's probably better to opt for enclosed transport, as your car won't be exposed to the elements during shipping. You should also consider enclosed shipping if your vehicle has a ground clearance of fewer than 4 inches.
What's the best moving company?
If you're shipping a car, you may also be wondering how to choose a moving company that's right for your needs. Read our review of the industry's best long-distance moving companies to learn more about top providers, pricing, and services.
Methodology
Auto shipping ratings are based on a comprehensive comparison between every major car transport company in the industry. We rate providers based on cost, available services, company reputation, and the customer experience. Each auto transporter receives scores in these individual categories and an overall score out of 5.0 stars.
To formulate rankings, our review team considers a company's offerings compared to competitors, ratings from experts like the BBB, and customer reviews. We also collect sample quotes across a variety of shipping routes, distances, and transport types to measure pricing against the industry average.
