RoadRunner Auto Transport is an auto shipping broker known for its affordability and wide range of services. In this review, we at the MarketWatch Guides team will help you decide whether RoadRunner Auto Transport is the right car shipping provider for your needs.
Our team reviewed the best car shipping companies in the industry based on reputation, costs, shipping methods, logistics and customer experience. See how RoadRunner Auto Transport stacks up against the competition.
Featured Car Shipping Companies
Our #1 rated auto transport provider
Our #1 rated auto transport provider
Our #1 Rated Auto Transport Provider
Reputation: A+ rating from BBBCost: Military, return customer, and pay-in-cash discountsInsurance: Up to $100,000 of insurance included
844-601-0286
Get a Free Estimate On Montway’s Website
Highly Rated
Reputation: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars on TrustpilotCost: Up to 10% off via MarketWatch GuidesInsurance: Fully insured from pick up to delivery
864-635-4879
Get a Free Estimate On SGT’s Website
Why You Can Trust the MarketWatch Guides Team
Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top auto transport providers
21
Providers ReviewedOur team reviewed the top auto transport companies on the market, looking at reputation, cost, shipping methods, logistics and customer experience to give each an overall score.
200
Research HoursWe spent hours getting shipping quotes, reading customer reviews and researching each provider to help readers make informed decisions.
2,000
Customers SurveyedWe surveyed thousands of customers to understand their auto transport experiences with different providers and any issues they faced during their shipments.
545
Data Points AnalyzedOur team takes into account shipping costs per mile and in total, customer review scores, types of shipping services offered and more to evaluate each auto transport provider.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
RoadRunner Auto Transport Pros and Cons
Pros
Affordable pricingBasic liability coverageReal-time tracking servicesShips to all U.S. states and the Caribbean
Cons
Many negative customer reviewsNo terminal-to-terminal shipping
RoadRunner Rating: 7.4 out of 10
We give RoadRunner Auto Transport a rating of 7.4 out of 10 stars. The car shipping company offers competitive rates compared with other providers and has a variety of services. While its negative customer reviews are somewhat concerning, keep in mind that these reflect only a small percentage of RoadRunner’s customer base, so you may have a more positive experience.
How We Rate RoadRunner Auto Transport
| Overall Rating | 7.4 |
|---|---|
| Reputation | 7.3 |
| Cost | 7.3 |
| Shipping Methods | 9.5 |
| Logistics | 10 |
| Customer Experience | 6.3 |
About RoadRunner Auto Transport
Headquartered in Bethpage, N.Y., RoadRunner Auto Transport is a fully licensed, bonded and insured shipping broker. Auto shipping brokers connect customers with auto carriers from their shipping networks and negotiate prices on their clients’ behalf. RoadRunner Auto Transport works with more than 14,000 carriers nationwide.
The company mainly ships cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and boats. Its shipping services include open and enclosed transport, door-to-door delivery, real-time tracking and Hawaii car shipping. The auto broker provides basic liability coverage for all car shipments.
RoadRunner Auto Transport is not as highly regarded as other car shipping companies. It holds an F rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), with customer complaints focused on unreliable customer support and last-minute scheduling problems with carriers.
RoadRunner Auto Transport Cost
RoadRunner Auto Transport’s prices are affordable for most of its car shipping services. The initial quote you receive is an estimate of what you can expect to pay to transport your car. Based on car shipping quotes we received, RoadRunner Auto Transport charges $1,095 on average for an open 1,588-mile trip.
Here are a few sample prices we collected to ship an operable 2019 Honda Civic:
| Shipping Route | Approximate Mileage | Transport Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, Texas, to San Antonio | 549 miles | Open | $545 |
| Reno, Nev., to Kansas City, Mo. | 1,588 miles | Open | $1,095 |
| Reno, Nev., to Kansas City, Mo. | 1,588 miles | Enclosed | $1,697 |
| Philadelphia to San Francisco | 2,877 miles | Open | $1,135 |
RoadRunner Auto Transport doesn’t charge you until the day your vehicle is scheduled for pickup. You can pay by credit card, electronic funds transfer, postal money order or check.
What Affects the Cost of Auto Shipping?
When it comes to car shipping with RoadRunner Auto Transport, there are a few key factors that influence costs, including:
- Distance: Cross-country shipments have lower rates per mile than shipments traveling shorter distances, but they cost more overall.
- Type of transport: Enclosed car transports are more expensive than open transports, due to carrier availability.
- Type of delivery: Door-to-door shipping, which is the only type this auto broker provides, is more costly than terminal-to-terminal shipping because your car is delivered to your preferred address.
- Shipping seasonality: It’s more expensive to ship your car if your delivery date is in January or the summer months, due to higher demand.
- Carrier competition: The more competition between car carrier bids, the lower the shipping costs.
- Vehicle operability: Inoperable vehicles take more time and resources to move, making them more expensive to ship.
- Vehicle size: Cars with lower clearance may need to use enclosed transport instead of open transport, meaning they’re costlier to ship.
Source: Nexus Auto Transport
Roadrunner Auto Transport Shipping Services
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers auto shipping services in all 50 states and the Caribbean. Transport options through RoadRunner include:
- Open vehicle transport: This is the most common cheap car shipping method, though your vehicle is exposed to the elements during transport.
- Enclosed transport: This option is more expensive than open vehicle transport, but it protects your car from inclement weather and road debris to help it arrive in perfect condition.
- Door-to-door shipping: With this vehicle shipping method, your car is picked up and delivered as close to your home as possible.
- Hawaii auto shipping: You can have your car shipped to or from any of the main Hawaiian ports and have it picked up from or delivered to your home on the mainland.
- Alaska auto shipping: Car shipments are sent to and from Alaskan ports once a week, with delivery available to your home in the lower 48 states.
- Caribbean auto shipping: RoadRunner Auto Transport services ports in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, St. Maarten and more.
- Real-time tracking: The auto transport company offers real-time tracking, so you can see how far your car is from being delivered.
RoadRunner Auto Transport provides oversize transportation for RVs and boats of any size. It also allows you to place up to 100 pounds of personal belongings inside your trunk during transport, which most companies don’t allow.
How To Ship a Car With RoadRunner Auto Transport
Since RoadRunner Auto Transport is an auto shipping broker, you’ll need to provide your vehicle’s information so it can connect you with a carrier. To get a quote, you’ll need your car’s:
- Starting location and destination
- Year, make and model
- Shipment date
The auto broker will provide you with an instant car shipping quote using these details. You can then discuss pickup and drop-off dates with the company, which will confirm carrier availability. On the day of delivery, the carrier will drop your vehicle off at your home, and you’ll sign a bill of lading to confirm the delivery.
A bill of lading serves as an agreement between the carrier and customer on what is being transported. It’s also used as a way to document any pre-existing damage to the vehicle. Once your vehicle is delivered, you can compare your notes with any damage the vehicle might have suffered during transit. This ultimately keeps you from having to pay for damages caused by the car carrier.
RoadRunner Auto Transport Reviews
RoadRunner Auto Transport reviews are largely negative. The company holds an average score of 1.5 out of 5 stars on the BBB. The auto shipping broker has fielded and responded to more than 44 BBB complaints within the past year. RoadRunner holds a better rating on Trustpilot with a score of 3.7 out of 5 stars.
Our team reached out to RoadRunner Auto Transport for a comment on these scores but did not receive a response.
Positive RoadRunner Auto Transport Reviews
A few positive reviews do exist on RoadRunner Auto Transport’s BBB page. Customers mainly highlight the auto shipping broker’s convenient scheduling and real-time tracking system.
Negative RoadRunner Auto Transport Reviews
Customer complaints about RoadRunner Auto Transport frequently mention issues with customer service and carrier availability. Unsatisfied customers typically say they had difficulty contacting representatives, was a hassle and that carriers had not been assigned in time for their desired pickup dates.
RoadRunner Auto Transport: Conclusion
RoadRunner Auto Transport offers a wide range of shipping services and competitive prices. Despite customer reviews being mostly negative, this reflects a small portion of the customer base. Compare quotes from several shipping companies to ultimately find the best provider for you.
Best Car Shipping Companies
We suggest getting quotes from auto transport companies before selecting one for your shipment. While RoadRunner Auto Transport provides good services and affordable prices, we recommend considering Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport as well.
Montway Auto Transport: 9.5 out of 10
We give Montway Auto Transport our award for Editor’s Choice. It provides an extensive amount of services at competitive rates for the industry. It also offers discounts for veterans, students, active-duty military personnel and more. Though the company does not have tracking it does have a 24/7 online chat feature where you can reach a customer service representative at any time.
Learn more about the company in our Montway Auto Transport review
Our #1 Rated Auto Transport Provider 9.5/10
Read Review
Get a Free Estimate 844-601-0286
Sherpa Auto Transport: 9 out of 10
Sherpa Auto Transport is a licensed auto broker praised by reviewers for its locked-in prices. With Sherpa Auto Transport, you won’t pay more than the amount you’re quoted, thanks to the company’s Price Lock Promise. The auto broker offers many services, including open, enclosed and door-to-door delivery across 48 states (Hawaii and Alaska are excluded).
Read more about the company in our Sherpa Auto Transport review.
Read Review
Get a Free Estimate 844-880-4989
RoadRunner Auto Transport: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about RoadRunner Auto Transport:
Yes, RoadRunner Auto Transport is a legitimate auto shipping broker connecting customers with carriers. The New York-based company works with over 14,000 carriers who provide services throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.
We awarded Montway Auto Transport the title of Editor’s Choice in our 2023 review of the best auto transport companies based on its reputation, prices, customer experience and hassle-free services. To find the best car shipping company for you, it helps to compare quotes from a few providers.
One of the cheapest ways to transport your car is through open-transport and terminal-to-terminal auto shipping. These options make shipping cheaper because your car is transported with others and the pickup and delivery locations are more centralized.
If you’re looking to transport your car to another state, the first thing you should do is find a reputable car shipping company. We recommend getting car shipping quotes online from transportation companies to find the price and services that work best for your situation.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car shipping companies. We collected data on dozens of auto transport providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto shipping companies with affordable rates, locked-in pricing and discount opportunities scored highest in this category.
- Services: Companies that offer a variety of choices for car transport, strong insurance coverage and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Customer experience: This score is based on customer satisfaction ratings and availability of extras like GPS tracking. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each transporter’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Our research team considered availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
Our credentials:
- 200+ hours researched
- 20 companies reviewed
- 2,000+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
Alexandra CarverWriter
Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.
Rashawn MitchnerManaging Editor
RaShawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team senior editor covering personal finance topics and insurance. She’s spent over a decade writing and editing articles about how to save money on things including travel, entertainment and household services.
