Sherpa Auto Transport Review

By Kimberlee Leonard

Sherpa Auto Transport is one of the top auto transport companies in the U.S. It offers vehicle and motorcycle shipping throughout the 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Sherpa has a quick and easy process to get a quote, using its online quote tool that yields a quote in about two minutes. There are both open and enclosed options when shipping with Sherpa, giving you the options you need to transport your vehicle safely. 

Sherpa offers a Price Lock Promise, something unique in the industry. This promise is that you will pay the price quoted for the vehicle transport. If the price exceeds the quote, Sherpa will contribute $300 toward the price so that a reputable carrier can be secured and your vehicle’s shipment is held to the highest standards.

About Sherpa Auto Transport

Sherpa was founded in 2017 and is located in Charlotte, N.C. The company services the entire country with services including overseas shipments to Alaska and Hawaii. It has shipped more than 100,000 cars during this time, focusing on customer satisfaction with each shipment. 

Where is Sherpa Auto Transport available?

Sherpa Auto Transport is proud to serve all 50 states, with services that include the difficult transport to Alaska and Hawaii. While not all car shipment companies include these states, Sherpa is proud to include them in its services. 

Is Sherpa Auto Transport Legit?

Sherpa Auto Transport is a legitimate car-shipping company that was accredited by the Better Business Bureau in 2018. It maintains an A+ rating with the BBB and was bought by new owners in 2017. Its BBB review ratings score is 4.92 stars based on 741 customer reviews. These high marks are attributed to Sherpa’s dedication to a positive customer experience from quote to vehicle delivery. 

What Car-Shipping Services Does Sherpa Auto Transport Offer?

Sherpa Auto Transport has a variety of services to ensure you can ship your vehicle or motorcycle to the location you desire. It is a convenient and reliable service that can handle orders with one or multiple vehicles. Choose from open and enclosed services. Let’s take a closer look at Sherpa’s primary service offerings: 

Door-to-door transport 

Sherpa makes the shipping process easy by offering door-to-door transport for vehicles, including motorcycles. The service will pick up the vehicle at your location and deliver it to the address you indicate on the shipping manifest. This eliminates the need to pick up your vehicle from a transportation port, which eliminates costs such as additional towing or arranging for pickup. 

Open-car transport

Open-car transport is the most common method of transporting a vehicle. This service utilizes an open trailer that stacks up to 10 cars at a time. Even though this is the most common vehicle transportation method, it is more likely to lead to possible damage to the vehicle since it is exposed to the elements. 

Paying more for a top-load preference means that the car is on the top of the trailer, where it is less likely to be damaged from road hazards. Open-car transport is ideal for everyday vehicles that don’t need special protection from weather conditions.    

Enclosed auto transport

This service is ideal for special vehicles such as classic and luxury cars that you want added protection. The enclosed auto transport service is more expensive than open transport because it carries fewer vehicles and provides protection against the elements. The trailer is enclosed, so the vehicle is boxed in away from road hazards and weather conditions. Enclosed auto transport is for those who want the peace of mind that their vehicle is being transported in the most secure fashion. 

Military auto transport

Sherpa understands the process of a permanent change of station that moves military members from one location to another. By walking military members through the process and offering discounts, it ensures that military professionals can get their vehicles to a new location expeditiously and at the lowest possible out-of-pocket costs. 

Snowbird auto transport 

Sherpa helps snowbirds travelling to Arizona or Florida (or other Southern locations) move vehicles from home to their new location. Seasonal travelers can rest assured that their vehicle will be delivered to them at their doorstep, eliminating the need to arrange for pickup at a port location.  

Hawaii car transport

Not every car shipment company offers services to and from Hawaii. Sherpa does. With ports on the main islands, Sherpa is able to provide port pickup services or door-to-port pickup services. Car owners should be aware that shipping to and from Hawaii does take longer, as the transport is contingent on freight ships’ scheduling and travel.

Additional Sherpa Auto Transport Features

Comparing Sherpa to the best car-shipping companies in the U.S. shows us that Sherpa’s additional services track among the best in the business. Additional features are designed to enhance the transport process, giving peace of mind to customers who need to trust transporters with one of their most valuable assets. 

Tracking

While Sherpa doesn’t offer an app for GPS tracking, it does provide regular updates on the transport directly from the driver. Customers are given contact information with the driver and can check the status of their shipment at any time. 

Discounts

Car transport can be expensive, averaging anywhere from $400 to $1,500 or more, depending on the vehicle and locations. Sherpa offers discounts, such as a military discount to help alleviate some of the costs of relocation. There may also be multivehicle discounts for customers who have vehicles transported on the same truck. Customers can also get a discount when paying for transport by cash or a cashier’s check. 

Insurance

Sherpa has two levels of insurance for each vehicle being transported. The first is liability coverage, which is set at $1 million in coverage in the event that the driver is in an at-fault accident while transporting your vehicle. The second level of coverage is $100,000 in cargo insurance that protects your vehicle from damage that might occur during transit. 

Competitive pricing

When compared to other shipping companies, Sherpa is found to be a competitive carrier. Customers can make payments using a credit card or pay in cash or by cashier’s check at the time of pickup. Adding to the competitive pricing is the array of discounts that Sherpa offers to help reduce the overall cost of vehicle shipping. 

Sherpa Auto Transport Cost

The cost to ship a vehicle with Sherpa Auto Transport is contingent on several factors, including the size and operational ability of the vehicle. If you have modified the vehicle with a lift or larger tires, this can also impact the cost. 

Two of the most significant factors in cost are whether or not the transport trailer is open or enclosed and how far the vehicle is being towed. The gas used in transport is a major cost factor. Seasonal changes in transport demand may also impact your price. 

We ran the numbers to give you an idea of the cost of transporting with Sherpa Auto Transport. The quotes below are for a 2025 Toyota Camry that is operational, with the shipment being in the next two weeks. 

Sherpa international shipping costs

Sherpa Auto Transport does not offer a service of sending vehicles to international destinations. They do have a sister company, AES, that does. You can contact AES at 908-436-2150 to get a quote for international prices. 

How Does Sherpa Auto Transport Work?

Sherpa Auto Transport has a simple online quote process that captures all relevant information to get a price that is backed by the Price Lock Promise. Here’s how to ship your car with Sherpa: 

1. Get your online quote. Go through the process of the online quote system to get the best pricing. You’ll need the pickup and drop-off locations and the type of transport you prefer. Pick a transport date and provide your information about yourself and the vehicle. 
2. Book your auto transport. If the quote meets your requirements, the next step is to book the transport by either continuing to book online or following the prompts in the email sent to you. 
3. Schedule the vehicle pickup. Pick a day that works best for you to meet with the transport driver who will load your vehicle onto the transporter. Be sure to take pictures of the vehicle and do a walk-around with the driver to ensure that there is no damage to the vehicle prior to the transport. 
4. Get your vehicle. As the truck driver gets closer to the delivery destination, he will contact you to arrange a time to drop off the vehicle and return it to you. Inspect the vehicle again to ensure no damage was done in transport and sign the bill of landing to accept the delivery.

Sherpa Auto Transport Customer Satisfaction

Sherpa Auto Transport boasts a largely positive set of reviews online. It has an A+ rating with the BBB with a 4.9-star rating out of more than 1,000 reviews. Its Google My Business’ rating is 4.8 out of 5 based on over 2,700 reviews. 

Customers appreciate the simplicity of getting a quote and booking a transport. They also like the Price Lock Promise because there is no guesswork in the pricing. Customers find the customer support easy to work with and drivers are responsive with updates and setting up deliveries. Those who have negative reviews claim that the pickup and delivery schedule is not set and leaves a lot of wiggle room for drivers to be late on deliveries.

Sherpa Auto Transport Alternatives

While we find Sherpa to be a good selection for transporting a vehicle, we know it isn’t for everyone. Here are some Sherpa Auto Transport alternatives to choose from: 

Sherpa Auto Transport vs. SGT Auto Transport

Sherpa Auto Transport only has 13,000 carriers nationwide compared to SGT’s network of more than 25,000. This makes arranging transport easier with SGT. Both companies have claimed to move more than 100,000 vehicles since inception, which is 2014 for SGT and 2017 for Sherpa. Both companies have good online reviews with happy customers willing to use them again if the need arises. 

Sherpa Auto Transport vs. Montway Auto Transport

Montway Auto Transport is another transportation company that sends vehicles anywhere in the 50 states. Customers like Montway because the quotes are reliable and easy to get, with no pressure to book immediately. Drivers are communicative and relay transport details to customers in a timely fashion, giving them the peace of mind they deserve. 

Sherpa Auto Transport vs. AmeriFreight

AmeriFreight is one of the oldest vehicle transportation companies in the market, with its founding being 2004 compared to Sherpa being founded in 2017. Customers appreciate the many discounts that can be applied to transport. AmeriFreight gets mainly positive feedback in online reviews, making it a trusted resource for vehicle transport.

Sherpa Auto Transport FAQ

Is Sherpa Auto Transport a reputable company?

Sherpa Auto Transport is a reputable company. It has been around since 2017 and is accredited with the BBB with an A+ rating. It has positive online reviews, garnering over 1,000 reviews averaging 4.9 stars on the BBB.

How long has Sherpa Auto Transport been in business?

Sherpa Auto Transport was founded in 2017 and has been moving more than 100,000 vehicles ever since. It uses a network of more than 13,000 drivers to move vehicles throughout the U.S.

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

If you want to verify that a vehicle transport company is legit, you want to start with U.S. Department of Transportation numbers and also see if it has a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration registration number. You can also get a good sense of the legitimacy of the carrier by reading online reviews at the BBB or Google. These resources tell you real customer experiences with the company that can give you confidence in using the carrier.