uShip: Reviews, Costs, and Shipping Services (2022)
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uShip reviews often praise the company's ease of use, mobile tracking features, and variety of available motor carriers. The company is one of the only auto marketplaces in the industry, which is why we included it on our list of the best car shipping companies of 2022.
Below, our experts take an in-depth look at the company, including uShip reviews, costs, services, and industry ratings. We'll also recommend a few other top-rated auto transporters to consider.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
On This Page
About uShip
uShip Car Shipping Cost
uShip Auto Shipping Services
How Does uShip Auto Shipping Work?
uShip Reviews
Final Thoughts on uShip: 4.4 Stars
Top Recommendations for Car Shipping
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
About uShip
Established in 2003 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, uShip is neither a carrier nor an auto transport broker. Instead, the company is an online marketplace that connects car shipping customers with potential carriers based on their needs. Carriers bid on a shipment, and the customer ultimately chooses the company they'd like to use.
Here are a few ways uShip stands out from its competitors:
Shipping network: Because uShip works with about 788,000 carriers globally, the company makes it easy to ship cars nationwide and internationally.
Flexibility: You have the option to list your shipment and have independent carriers bid for your business, which can greatly reduce your costs and research time.
"Ship with Confidence" guarantee: If your shipment is damaged or lost, the company will compensate you up to $500.
Shipping options: Beyond auto shipping, uShip facilitates shipping for household items, heavy equipment, freight loads, animals, recreational vehicles (RVs), motorcycles, and more.
uShip Pros and Cons
As with other shipping companies, there are advantages and disadvantages to shipping your vehicle with uShip.
uShip Pros:
Complimentary vehicle tracking
Reduced research time and potential savings by listing your shipment on the marketplace
"Ship with Confidence" guarantee
Military moving discounts
uShip Cons:
No carrier or broker vetting process
Instant quotes may be more expensive than quotes from a traditional auto shipping company
Low mobile app ratings for iPhone and Android
uShip Car Shipping Cost
Our Home Service Research Team found that uShip costs $1,472 per shipment on average. Prices from uShip include the shipment cost itself as well as the cost of add-on insurance coverage (which is optional) and a uShip service fee, which typically ranges from $60 to $170. In our 2021 car shipping survey in which we polled 1,000 respondents, 41% reported paying between $1,000 and $2,000 for transport.
uShip customers have the option to post their auto shipments to the marketplace for bidding or receive instant quotes. Here are a few examples of instant car shipping quotes we received from uShip for an operable 2018 Honda CR-V using door-to-door, open transport delivery service:
520 miles: $924 (includes $67.25 insurance and $59.78 service fee)
1,489 miles: $1,428 (includes $67.25 insurance and $94.95 service fee)
2,445 miles: $2,064 (includes $67.25 insurance and $100 service fee)
Keep in mind that we received these prices using the instant quote option rather than by submitting jobs for bids on the uShip website or uShip app. The carrier competition that comes with posting your shipment to the marketplace can often result in lower overall prices.
What Affects the Cost of Auto Shipping?
Whether you list your shipment for bidding or go with uShip's instant quote option, there are a few key factors that affect shipping prices, including:
Distance: Cross-country shipments have lower rates per mile than shipments traveling a few hundred miles, but they cost more in total.
Transport type: Enclosed auto shipments are more expensive than open shipments.
Type of delivery: It's more expensive to have your vehicle delivered to your door than to a designated terminal.
Shipping seasonality: It is more expensive to ship vehicles during the summer and in January due to a high number of moves.
Carrier competition: The higher the competition between carrier bids, the lower the auto shipping costs.
Vehicle operability: It is more costly to ship an inoperable vehicle than an operable one because it takes more resources to load non-working cars.
uShip Auto Shipping Services
Unlike other shipping companies, uShip acts as an online marketplace for motor carriers to connect and bid on customers' shipping jobs. Customers list their vehicles, choose from a wide selection of bidding companies, and coordinate the delivery and payment using contact information provided through uShip.
Here are the shipping services uShip provides:
Open transport: This is a cheap car shipping option in which your vehicle is exposed to the elements.
Enclosed transport: While enclosed shipping is more expensive, it protects your vehicle from inclement weather or road debris.
Home delivery: Your vehicle is shipped as close to your home as possible.
Terminal-to-terminal auto transport: Your vehicle is dropped off and picked up at specific terminals rather than a home or business.
Car hauling: Your car is transported with other vehicles to decrease shipping costs.
Single-car vehicle shipping: This option provides private car shipping in an open or enclosed trailer.
Expedited car shipping: Shipping usually begins 24 to 48 hours after an order is placed.
Although uShip works with many carriers, it doesn't vet them thoroughly. Any company can make a free profile, and uShip recommends—but does not require—that carriers add their Department of Transportation certification numbers and insurance registration to appeal to more customers. In short, no company listed on uShip has been vetted before it ships your car, a fact that is mentioned in some uShip reviews from customers.
How Does uShip Auto Shipping Work?
During the listing process, you will need to provide your location, vehicle make and model, and vehicle operation status before connecting with carriers. From there, uShip provides two ways to receive quotes: instant and bidding.
Instant quotes: You submit the information above and uShip provides shipping rates from highly rated service providers available for your specified time frame and location.
Bidding quotes: You list a shipment on the uShip marketplace and allow carriers to bid on it. The higher competition drives costs down, but you are largely responsible for negotiating the deal.
Cancellations and subsequent fees are not handled directly by uShip, but you may be subject to them based on the carrier you choose. A number of uShip reviews mention cancellation fees, so be sure to check with any potential carriers before agreeing to their service.
Related: How to Ship a Car in 2022
Does uShip Provide Vehicle Shipping Insurance?
Based on requirements from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, all motor carriers must have liability insurance. However, as mentioned, uShip does not mandate transporters to prove they carry this insurance and recommends customers check with companies independently.
It's also a good idea to see if your chosen carrier provides cargo insurance. If your vehicle is damaged during shipping, this coverage should protect you. With uShip, you can get cargo insurance through a third-party company, which is available as an add-on purchase during checkout. You can also check with your insurance company to see if your policy covers auto transport.
What To Know Before Shipping Your Vehicle
Shipping your vehicle can come with unexpected headaches and stress when you're unfamiliar with how the auto transport industry works. Here are some things to keep in mind before you ship your vehicle:
Be flexible: There are several different factors that can impact the timeline for you to receive your vehicle, including weather and traffic along the route. Being flexible and keeping up to date on your shipment will allow you to plan ahead should your vehicle arrive early or late. And if you can't pick up your vehicle yourself, you can always have a friend or family member be there at the time of arrival.
Pricing can change: Most initial quotes that you receive from an auto transport broker are not inclusive of all taxes and fees. This is why most drivers typically end up paying more once a carrier is found.
Document your vehicle's condition: Before your vehicle is picked up by the carrier, consider taking photos of its condition. This will allow you to document and keep track of any issues that arise when it is delivered.
uShip Reviews
For the most part, uShip reviews are positive. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives uShip an A+ rating, meaning the company has a proven track record of resolving customer issues in a timely manner and using good business ethics. Reviewers on the BBB give uShip a nearly 4.6 out of 5.0-star rating. The company has only had 41 BBB complaints in the last three years.
The auto marketplace also has high ratings on Trustpilot, where it holds a 4.3 out of 5.0-star rating.
To give you a better idea of the company's customer experience, we detailed positive and negative uShip reviews from customers.
Positive uShip Reviews
Like other reputable transport companies, uShip reviews are largely positive. Our 2021 shipping survey found that 80 out of 1,000 respondents used uShip to ship their vehicles. Nearly half of those respondents said they would recommend uShip to someone else.
Positive reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot frequently mention the company's ease of use, convenient mobile app tracking, hassle-free customer service, and ongoing communication throughout the shipping process, which brings peace of mind.
"Very pleased with uShip. It opened up our shopping ability for a used [utility terrain vehicle] to the entire country, and we were able to get a much better deal than we could ever find regionally."
—Scott via Trustpilot
"Great service! [I] very quickly received five offers. After reviewing them, I chose my preference (not the least expensive). Once chosen, I was able to communicate directly with the carrier to make final arrangements … I would, without hesitation, use uShip again."
—A.R.V. via BBB
Negative uShip Reviews
Most negative uShip reviews address the carriers the company provided rather than uShip itself. In our shipping survey, respondents who used uShip reported that they experienced issues with communication from the shipping company and truck drivers along with guaranteed pickup dates not being fulfilled. Reviewers on the BBB and Trustpilot made similar comments.
"I was lied to about shipping destinations by the driver. I had to meet him at a location of his choice when he was supposed to deliver the car to my residence. uShip did nothing to help."
—Steven W. via BBB
"[uShip] clearly makes no effort to help distinguish between those legitimate (licensed and insured) carriers [versus] brokers who bid low to get contracts and leave you stranded when they can't find truckers with cargo insurance."
—Rick H. via Trustpilot
Our team reached out to uShip for a comment on its negative reviews and did not receive a response.
Final Thoughts on uShip: 4.4 Stars
Our experts name uShip the Best Auto Transport Marketplace and give it 4.4 out of 5.0 stars. The company is ideal for customers looking to cut down on their research time, choose from many auto transporters, and have access to real-time car shipment tracking.
uShip can be a smart choice for affordable auto transport services, but do your research if you opt to use the provider due to the lack of carrier vetting. Overall, uShip is best for drivers looking to drive costs down and own their car shipping process.
uShip Ratings
Reputation: 4.5
Cost: 4.0
Services: 4.5
Customer Experience: 4.6
Overall Rating: 4.4
Top Recommendations for Car Shipping
If you're looking to compare uShip to other transportation service providers on the market, we recommend Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport. Both auto transport brokers performed well in our 2022 review of the best car shipping companies.
Montway Auto Transport: Best Availability
Montway Auto Transport works with over 15,000 motor carriers nationwide, making it our top choice for availability. The broker often offers below-average quotes for shipments and has a few add-on services, including door-to-door shipments, expedited transport, and Hawaii car shipping. While Montway Auto Transport doesn't have the highest customer service ratings in the industry, many customers still praise its timely communication and ease of use.
Learn more about the company in our Montway Auto Transport review.
Sherpa Auto Transport: Best for Locked-In Prices
Established in 2018, Sherpa Auto Transport is a licensed auto transport broker with positive customer reviews and a wide range of auto shipping services. The company holds a 4.9 out of 5.0-star customer rating on the BBB as well as high ratings across other customer review sites. We like Sherpa Auto Transport's Price Lock Promise, which guarantees the quote you're offered will be the final price you pay, with no fees added on at the end of the service.
Find out more in our complete Sherpa Auto Transport review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is uShip legitimate?
Yes, uShip is a legitimate marketplace for customers to connect with potential auto shippers. The company works with about 788,000 carriers globally, with delivery locations available worldwide. However, uShip does not vet the carriers on its site, so it may be possible to encounter an illegitimate carrier using uShip's services.
How does uShip work?
When you list your vehicle for shipment on uShip, it becomes visible to thousands of carriers who place competing bids to win your business. You're able to view each public profile so you can see the carrier's service history and insurance information. When you find a company that fits your needs, you accept its bid. Once you pay for transport on uShip, you are then put in touch with the carrier to work out shipment details.
Is uShip expensive?
While instant uShip quotes are slightly higher than quotes from other auto transport companies, having trucking companies bid on shipments through the marketplace tends to result in lower transport costs. Many uShip reviews mention customer satisfaction with low shipping rates.
What is the uShip fee?
With each service, uShip includes a service charge based on what you are shipping—vehicles, boats, household items, pets, or freight loads. The fee is not set, but it will appear on the total amount charged when you're ready to check out.
How long does it take to get bids on uShip?
According to uShip, "initial bids from providers can arrive anywhere from 10 minutes to two days after listing, depending on the item, schedule, and location."
What is better than uShip?
While uShip stands out for being an auto shipping marketplace, Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport topped our list of the best auto transport companies in the nation. We recommend reaching out to them for free quotes.
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.
