Sherpa Auto Transport Review

Sherpa Auto Transport earned 9.6 out of 10 points in our review of the best car shipping companies because it offers locked-in rates and great service.

Sherpa Auto Transport Review

Last updated: April 2024

Key Takeaways:

  • Sherpa has very high customer service ratings, including a 4.7-star rating from Trustpilot reviews and a 4.9-star rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB) reviews.
  • With Sherpa, you can get door-to-door pickup and delivery with both open and enclosed shipping across the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii.
  • Our car shipping cost analysis shows Sherpa is about 7% cheaper than the industry average when combining quotes of three different open shipping distances.

Known for its strong customer service, Sherpa Auto Transport is a reliable way to get your car from point A to point B. Whether you need to move a family car or a luxury car, Sherpa can help. In our Sherpa Auto Transport review, we’ll take a close look at the company’s service offering to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Sherpa Auto Transport Review

Our team thoroughly reviewed Sherpa’s car transport services and found it stands out in the areas of value and customer satisfaction. Overall, we rate Sherpa 9.6 out of 10 and rank it among the best car transport companies on the market. You can find reliable car shipping services from Sherpa.

Rating CategorySherpa Auto Transport Score
Services9.5
Industry reputation9.5
Value9.7
Customer reviews9.8
Overall9.6

*All scores are out of 10 points each.

Sherpa Auto Transport Highlights

Sherpa offers a few perks that make it stand out from other companies. First, its Price Lock Promise means your initial quote won’t increase. Sherpa contributes up to $300 of its own funds in case it can’t secure a carrier for the initial quote value.

Next, Sherpa’s car shipping services can cover a car wash if your vehicle arrives dirty. Finally, Sherpa accepts payment in full at dispatch or a deposit at dispatch and the rest in cash on delivery. Some companies only accept one or the other.

Pros and Cons of Sherpa Auto Transport

Here the major pros and cons our team found for Sherpa Auto Transport:

ProsCons
Price-lock promiseNo service to Alaska
A+ rating with accreditation from the BBBDoesn’t ship alternate vehicles like motorcycles, boats, golf carts, and more.
More affordable than the industry average

Is Sherpa Auto Transport Legit?

Sherpa Auto Transport is a reliable car shipping company that has been in business since 2017. The transporter has received many positive reviews since its founding. For example, Sherpa’s Google reviews rate it 4.5 stars, BBB reviews rate it 4.9 stars, and Trustpilot reviews rate it 4.9 stars. It also has a 4.2-star rating from Yelp reviews.

Sherpa Auto Shipping Services

Sherpa shipping services provide all the standard options you’d expect from a leading car transport company. One important choice is if you want open or enclosed transport. With open shipping, your car shares a trailer that can carry around 10 vehicles at once. 

This is the most economical way to ship a car, but your car is exposed to the elements. On the other hand, you can choose enclosed shipping to protect your car on all sides. Enclosed trailers carry only a few vehicles and cost more.

Here are a few more details on Sherpa’s services:

  • Door-to-door transport: Sherpa’s driver will pick up and deliver your car as close to your door as possible (within reason). Sherpa offers this on all shipments.
  • Expedited car shipping: Sherpa’s standard pickup window is 5 business days from when your vehicle is available. You can also get expedited shipping for an extra fee.
  • Sherpa insurance: All carriers in Sherpa’s network provide a minimum of $100,000 in cargo insurance and $1 million in liability insurance.
  • Sherpa transport tracking: You can call Sherpa’s customer service at any time to check on the status of your car. Sherpa is in constant contact with the carriers in its network.

Is Sherpa Auto Transport a Car Shipping Broker?

Sherpa Auto Transport is a car shipping broker, which means it has a network of carriers that move vehicles under contract. In Sherpa’s case, it uses preferred carriers that have gone through a screening process. Most car shipping companies you’ll come across are brokers like Sherpa.

With Sherpa Auto Transport, car owners can ship their car to any of the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii. Photo: Hurca! – stock.adobe.com

Sherpa Car Shipping Rates

So, how much does it cost to ship a car with Sherpa Auto Transport? Our team compared multiple quotes and found Sherpa is more affordable than average. In fact, Sherpa car shopping costs were below the industry average in quote type, which you can see below. 

For an operable 2020 Toyota Highlander, open car shipping costs $0.65 cents per mile on average from Sherpa Auto Transport. This is just below the industry average, which is $0.65 cents per mile.

Pickup and Dropoff LocationsShipment MileageShipping TypeSherpa CostIndustry Average
Kansas City, Mo., to Chicago503 milesOpen$575$626
Alexandria, Va.,  to Denver1,664 milesOpen$1,250$1,313
Alexandria, Va., to Denver1,664 milesEnclosed$1,925$1,936
Seattle to Baltimore2,764 milesOpen$1,400$1,515

Price-Lock Promise

One thing that makes Sherpa unique is its Price-Lock Promise. In the auto shipping industry, it’s common for quotes to increase if there’s a high demand for carriers. Sherpa promises the initial quote will stay the same. To keep this promise, the company contributes up to $300 to get a carrier in times of high demand if that’s what’s needed.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship a Car?

Our team received multiple rates for an open car shipment from Alexandria, Virginia to Denver and found the average cost was $1,313 total or $0.79 per mile. The average car shipping cost depends on your vehicle, the shipping type, and the distance. You’ll pay more for longer shipments and less for shorter ones.

What Affects Car Shipping Costs?

What you pay to ship a car depends on a number of factors. Shipping costs more in January and in the summer months when most people are moving. Similarly, if the cost of fuel rises, so will shipping prices. 

The type of service also affects costs: enclosed car transport is more expensive than open auto transport. Door-to-door shipping is convenient for the customer but less convenient for the carrier, so it costs more than terminal-to-terminal shipping, which ships cars to specific warehouses or other locations closer to main routes.

Your car itself plays a role in its shipping price. If it’s inoperable, it’ll be more of a hassle to move on and off of the trailer, so it’ll cost more to ship. Carriers also have to comply with maximum weight restrictions, which means you’ll pay more to ship a truck or SUV since it limits what else the trailer can carry. The bottom line is car shipping quotes are personalized for each situation.

Compare Car Shipping Quotes

Our team compared car shipping costs for three different shipments and distances:

  • Kansas City, Mo., to Chicago (503 miles)
  • Alexandria, Va., to Denver (1,664 miles)
  • Seattle to Baltimore (2,764 miles)

Below, you can see how Sherpa ranks on auto transport costs against other leading providers for an operable 2020 Toyota Highlander with open shipping. The average cost column combines rates for all three of the above distances.

Car Shipping CompanyAverage Cost of 3 Distances
RoadRunner Auto Transport$1,035
Shiply$1,063
Sherpa Auto Transport$1,075
uShip$1,145
Montway Auto Transport$1,146
International Van Lines$1,383

Sherpa Car Shipping: Conclusion

Considering Sherpa’s track record of service and its nationwide availability, the car shipping company is a great option for your move. We recommend getting a quote at least two weeks before you plan on moving to get the best price.

Other Car Shipping Companies To Consider

Shopping around is the best way to find a good rate for auto shipping. In addition to Sherpa, we recommend checking out Montway, uShip, and SGT car shipping services.

Montway Auto Transport

Montway Auto Transport is a household name in the car shipping industry, having built its trustworthy reputation on its network of 15,000+ vetted carriers. The company has shipped over 1 million vehicles since being founded in 2007. Montway can service all 50 states with open or enclosed transport and offers door-to-door service. Customers can ship their standard cars, SUVs, and trucks, along with motorcycles, boats, golf carts, and more.

uShip

You can find some affordable shipping rates on uShip. The company is a shipping marketplace where you can post a job and watch carriers bid on your shipment. It’s a popular way for eBay sellers to ship their vehicles, too. However, uShip doesn’t extensively vet the carriers on the marketplace, so you have to look into each one on your own. On the plus side, you get to choose your carrier, which wouldn’t be an option if you were working with a broker.

SGT Auto Transport

SGT Auto Transport is another reputable provider in the market. SGT car shipping includes open and enclosed transport with a price-match guarantee. If you find a competitor offering a better price for your shipment, SGT will match it. You can get SGT transport services in all states except for Alaska. SGT Auto Transport reviews rate the company highly: it has a 4.6-star rating on the BBB and a 4.6-star rating from Google reviews.

Sherpa Car Transport: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about Sherpa Auto Transport reviews:

Is Sherpa Auto Transport reliable?

Sherpa is a reliable car transport provider that serves the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii. The company has a strict carrier vetting process and only works with the best truckers. Because of this, Sherpa has an A+ rating with accreditation from the BBB along with a 4.9-star customer rating.

How long has Sherpa Auto Transport been in business?

Sherpa Auto Transport has been in business since 2017 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. During that time, Sherpa has built a reputation for reliability with high customer ratings on multiple platforms.

How do I know if an auto transport company is legit?

To see if a transport company is legit, first check ratings on the BBB, Trustpilot, and Google. These can give you a sense of how it operates. The company should also display motor carrier (MC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers on its website. These numbers signify that a company is licensed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and follow all regulations on cargo insurance and shipping.

Best Car Shipping Company Ratings: Our Process

Many data points influence our overall company ratings, including average quotes, BBB ratings, Trustpilot ratings, business longevity, service area, and shipping options. We rate companies in four main categories: services, industry reputation, value, and customer reviews. At the end of the day, our goal is to help people find reputable companies to move their cars.