There’s a lot to like about uShip, but it takes a bit of background to truly understand the service. uShip isn’t a carrier or a broker (though it can broker deals if you choose).
So, what is uShip? It’s a marketplace that connects customers to shippers, and it does a great job of saving customers money. And we think it’s a great choice for a lot of shipping customers.
uShip holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as of September 2024 and a 4.06-star rating out of a possible 5. And, it’s been in business for 21 years, so ratings like those aren’t flukes. Even so, we wanted to see just how good uShip really is, so we set up some mock shipments to learn more about the uShip process.
Pros
- Shipping services are available in 50 states
- Can ship almost any type of vehicle
- Customers have more control than other shipping platforms
- Ship With Confidence guarantee and Protection Plan available
Cons
- It’s not a carrier or a broker—it’s a marketplace where anyone can bid
Table of Contents
- About uShip Auto Transport
- What Moving Services Does uShip Auto Transport Offer?
- Shipping a Car: We Put uShip Auto Transport to the Test
- What We Think Sets uShip Auto Transport Apart
- What We Think Are The Downsides of uShip Auto Transport
- uShip Auto Transport Cost Factors
- How Does uShip Auto Transport Work?
- Where Is uShip Auto Transport Available?
- uShip Auto Transport Reviews and Experience
- Bottom Line: Is uShip Auto Transport Right for You?
- Methodology: How We Rated Car Shipping Companies
When it comes to (almost) total control over your vehicle shipping needs, uShip is a popular choice. This service connects shipping customers with multiple drivers, allowing customers to receive quotes for their shipments. This is an entirely different approach than most other auto transport companies, which could leave some folks wondering if uShip is worth it.
We dive deep into how this auto transport company works, even digging into some uShip.com reviews to see what other customers are saying. Learn more about what we found in this uShip review.
Featured Partners
1
Montway
BBB Score
Excellent
States Serviced
50
International Shipping
No
2
Easy Auto Ship
BBB Score
Excellent
States Serviced
50
International Shipping
Yes
3
Nexus
BBB Score
Excellent
States Serviced
50
International Shipping
Yes
4
Sherpa Auto Transport
BBB Score
Excellent
States Service
50
International Shipping
No
About uShip Auto Transport
As mentioned, uShip isn’t a carrier or a true broker. It’s a marketplace where shipping customers can post the details of their vehicle shipment (or other items) and receive bids from multiple carriers. And while it’s not a carrier, it has served over 6 million shipping customers since its inception 21 years ago.
When a customer posts their shipping listing on the uShip marketplace, any interested shipping carrier can bid. However, the customer can dig into each carrier’s feedback from other customers. Otherwise, uShip doesn’t vet or certify any of the carriers, it simply verifies that it has a business license to operate. This means points like insurance, interstate endorsement and other considerations aren’t a guarantee, so customers need to do their research.
But, as a marketplace, it attracts carriers from all over the country and provides shipping options in all 50 states. Customers can request to have a wide range of vehicles shipped, including cars, trucks, SUVs, boats, motorcycles and other vehicles. uShip carriers can also handle moving large household items, heavy equipment and even animals.
As far as vehicle shipping is concerned, customers can choose between open transport or closed transport trailers. Closed transport offers more protection for the vehicle in transit, but will cost more. It may also cut down on the number of carriers interested in handling the shipment. Customers can also request expedited shipping or door-to-door service, both of which will come at an extra cost.
Beyond the marketplace, customers can also use uShip as a broker (though, again, that’s not its main function). Customers can use the uShip instant quotes tool, which skips the bidding process altogether and assigns the shipment to a driver. This option is more streamlined and faster, but it does cost more than using the standard marketplace.
What Moving Services Does uShip Auto Transport Offer?
The services available to the customer will depend on the individual carriers that bid on their listing. However, they’re free to request any services they want. Here are some common services that shipping customers might request.
Local Shipping
Customers can submit their requests for bids for local moves. If they’re moving a vehicle short distances but can’t drive it themselves, they can post the request on uShip. There isn’t a minimum distance requirement.
Long-Distance Shipping
Customers shipping their cars, trucks, boats, RVs or motorcycles across the country can submit a request from uShip carriers, as well. Since there are carriers in all 50 states, uShip customers shouldn’t have a hard time finding a long-distance car shipping company to handle their shipment.
International Shipping
International shipping is also available through some of uShip’s listing networks. Customers simply input the pickup city, drop-off city, contact information and vehicle information to create a listing and receive car shipping quotes.
Open or Closed Trailer
uShip customers can request their preferred trailer type in their post, whether it be an open or closed trailer. Open trailers are typically the least expensive options, but they don’t protect vehicles from road hazards nearly as well as enclosed trailers. Interestingly enough, however, this option is available to select during your instant quote request from uShip.
Expedited Shipping
Like any other request, uShip customers can submit listings for short-notice shipping as well. Expedited shipping will typically cost quite a bit more than being flexible, but if a customer has to ship their vehicle quickly, they can request it when they fill out their bid request form. But, like trailer type, this isn’t an option you can select when getting an instant quote directly from uShip.
Door-to-Door
Door-to-door shipping is also an option for uShip customers, but again, they should mention it in their bid request. This is another option that you can’t select during an instant quote, but can likely be arranged with whichever carrier the customer chooses.
Secure Payments
There is some degree of risk when choosing a carrier through uShip. However, your money is safe. When customers choose a carrier and pay for the service, the money is kept in an escrow account and won’t be released until the customer receives their vehicle. If there’s an issue with the shipment, customers have the opportunity to dispute the issue with uShip before releasing the payment.
Ship With Confidence Guarantee
uShip offers an additional layer of protection for customers with its “Ship With Confidence” guarantee. This guarantee provides customers with up to $500 for damage that occurs to their vehicle during shipping. However, customers will only receive this payment if they’re unable to be reimbursed by the shipping carrier’s insurance or the uShip Protection Plan.
uShip Protection Plan
Customers who want to ensure their vehicles are completely covered during transport may opt to purchase uShip’s Protection Plan. There are a lot of stipulations and exclusions from the plan, however, most vehicles can be covered under this plan for domestic shipments. If the customer’s vehicle is damaged, they need to file a case within seven days and then follow the steps outlined by uShip.
It’s important to note that the protection plan is not a replacement for the carrier’s insurance. Customers shouldn’t expect to pay an uninsured carrier and cover their items with the protection plan.
Shipping a Car: We Put uShip Auto Transport to the Test
We wanted to go through the process of getting a car shipping quote from uShip, to get an idea of how easy it is. We set up an account (which was quite easy) and performed a few mock shipments, including shipping a car to another state. This is what we came up with.
Mock Trip 1: New York, NY to Tucson, AZ
- Distance: Around 2,400 miles
- Vehicle: 2021 Toyota Rav4
- Trailer type: Open
- Instant quote price: $2,401
The process of getting a quote from uShip is incredibly easy. Simply set up an account (it takes seconds), fill out the vehicle information and the move information and submit the request.
uShip provided three quotes:
- uShip Logistics: $2,401
- Montway: $1,419
- Tempus Logix: $1,818
Surprisingly, uShip’s price is quite higher than the other quotes.
Mock Trip 2: Cleveland, OH to Akron, OH
- Distance: 40 miles
- Vehicle: 2021 Toyota Rav4
- Trailer type: Open
- Instant quote price: $397
Local shipments are just as easy to quote as long-distance shipments. The same information was required, including the pickup and delivery cities, contact information and vehicle information. uShip provided three quotes again, with prices being much closer to one another:
- uShip Logistics: $397
- Montway: $319
- Tempus Logix: $388
Creating a Listing
The process for creating a listing is straightforward: It starts with the same steps as getting an instant quote, as once you receive your three quotes, there is a button on the screen that says “create a listing.”
The main information, including the contact information, vehicle information and locations is already populated into the listing form. All the user has to fill out is a date range for pick up, a date range for drop off, whether they want an open or enclosed trailer, some pictures and any special instructions required (up to 1,200 characters). Once the form is complete, you can post the listing and prepare to receive quotes.
This option will typically be less expensive than the instant quote, but customers should make sure their carrier has a license and insurance to protect the vehicle.
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What We Think Sets uShip Auto Transport Apart
The flexibility is one of the best features of the uShip platform. Customers can request anything they want to in their listings, and if a carrier is willing to take on the job, the platform will connect the two. This is a big shift from traditional brokers which only offer certain options.
Also, uShip provides its customers with GPS tracking. Customers can check the location of their vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week using the uShip mobile app. The peace of mind GPS can offer isn’t universal in the vehicle shipping world—not every company offers it.
uShip also has a “Ship with Confidence” guarantee. This policy provides the customer with up to $500 for any damages that their vehicle sustains if the carrier refuses to pay for the damages. This is an extra layer of protection for customers, though they should still be checking with their carriers to ensure that they have the proper insurance and licenses.
What We Think Are The Downsides of uShip Auto Transport
There is an inherently risky aspect to shipping a vehicle with uShip. uShip doesn’t vet its carriers, so there is a chance that a person who should not be shipping vehicles could bid on the job. Whether it’s because they don’t have insurance or aren’t certified for moving vehicles across state lines, these aren’t details that uShip sorts out. The company just opens the virtual floor to bidding.
uShip does hedge the bet a bit by offering the “Ship with Confidence” guarantee, but $500 is a drop in the bucket if a customer’s vehicle is seriously damaged during shipping. If there isn’t insurance to cover the replacement or repair, the customer could be completely out of luck.
uShip Auto Transport Cost
| DISTANCE | CAR | SERVICE | QUOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Miles | Toyota Rav4 | Open, standard | $1,467 (though quotes from other services were provided and significantly more affordable) |
| 1,000 Miles | Toyota Rav4 | Open, standard | $1,491 (again, other quotes were provided, but they were only slightly cheaper) |
| 1,500 Miles | Toyota Rav4 | Open, standard | $2,114 (with cheaper options available) |
uShip Auto Transport Cost Factors
uShip doesn’t directly set up international shipments, so all of the factors involved in the costs to ship a car internationally will be up to individual carriers. Customers looking for international shipping need to create a listing (instant quotes are an option). However, one can expect the time of year, the type of vehicle, the distance, transport method, timeline and required insurances to factor into the costs.
How Does uShip Auto Transport Work?
uShip Auto Transport works two different ways:
Instant Quotes
Instant quotes skip the bidding war and connect customers directly with shipping quotes to streamline the process. The steps are simple:
- Start an account with contact information and a password
- Click “Get a free estimate” on the home page
- Fill out personal and contact information
- Choose shipment type (vehicles, household items, moves, heavy equipment, freight, animals and other items)
- Input the year, make and model of the vehicle, including whether it’s running, convertible and whether it’s modified
- Input the pickup and delivery locations
- Click continue to receive at least three instant quotes
- Choose an option, fill out more information about the transport, and click the “Checkout” button to start a shipment
- Pay any deposits necessary and pay the remaining balance upon the vehicle’s delivery
Listings
- Follow steps 1 through 7 above
- Click on the quote page, click the “Create a listing” button
- Input pickup date range and delivery date range
- Choose open or enclosed trailer types
- Upload pictures of the vehicle being shipped
- Add any special instructions, such as requesting that the vehicle be loaded on top
- Click continue to post the listing
- Receive and review quotes. Be sure to check the carrier’s feedback and ask about insurance and licenses.
- Choose your carrier and set up the pickup and delivery
- Make payment arrangements through uShip for protection
Where Is uShip Auto Transport Available?
uShip’s services are available in all 50 states, thanks to its marketplace format rather than being a broker or carrier. uShip customers can also choose to arrange international vehicle shipping through the marketplace, and individual carriers can bid on the listing if they’re able to arrange shipping to the delivery location.
uShip Auto Transport Reviews and Experience
Most customers are quite happy with their uShip experience. However, those who aren’t happy often complain about communication with the carriers that won their bid and uShip’s policies on resolving disputes.
Bottom Line: Is uShip Auto Transport Right for You?
uShip might be a great choice for folks who don’t mind being in the driver’s seat during their vehicle shipment. Customers can save a lot of money by using uShip, whether they’re shipping locally, across the country or internationally. The added benefits of GPS tracking, custom requests, secure payments and the ability to ship just about any vehicle or item make it a great choice.
We’re also big fans of uShip’s Ship With Confidence Guarantee and the option to add additional uShip Protection Plan coverage to domestic vehicle shipments. These policies add a layer of protection to an already (potentially) affordable service.
But there are some things to consider. First, customers need to be sure to check for insurance and licenses. If they’re not prepared to dig into the carrier’s credentials, the risk of using a uShip carrier might not be worth the money savings. Also, customers should familiarize themselves with uShip’s dispute resolution policy.
Methodology: How We Rated Car Shipping Companies
To determine the car shipping companies ranking, the Forbes Home editorial team analyzed 52 companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics and subcategories, including years in business, pricing and insurance, services and add-ons, customer reviews and support and nationwide availability.
You can find out more about how Forbes Home rates car shipping companies on our detailed methodology page.
All figures and facts were accurate at the time of first publication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who owns uShip Auto Transport?
uShip is still owned by its founder, Matthew Chasen, who has owned the company since 2003.
Is uShip Auto Transport a broker?
Somewhat, yes. uShip can help facilitate shipments between customers and carriers, but its focus is its shipping marketplace format.
Where is uShip Auto Transport headquarters?
uShips’ headquarters are located in Austin, Texas, though shipping is available in all 50 states as well as international shipping.
How long has uShip Auto Transport been around?
uShip has been in business since 2003 when it was founded by Matthew Chasen.
