Ship A Car Direct Reviews: BBB Record, Pricing and Verdict

Quick answer: Ship A Car Direct reviews are strong. Ship A Car Direct is a car shipping broker based in Hygiene, Colorado, founded in 2008. BBB gives it an A+ and accreditation since 2008, with 6 complaints in three years, all answered or resolved. Trustpilot shows 4.6 stars from 833 reviews. A third-party write-up reports typical prices of $600 to $1,500 and no upfront deposit. The complaints involve carriers cancelling before pickup and slow callbacks. It looks like a solid choice, but confirm the price terms in writing.

At a glance	Details
Company type	Broker. It uses independent carriers.
Legal name	Ship a Car Direct Inc (also Honesty First Auto Transport per BBB)
Headquarters	Hygiene, Colorado
In business since	January 2008
MC number	632461 (third-party listing, confirm on FMCSA)
BBB	A+ rated, accredited since February 2008. 6 complaints in 3 years, 2 in the last 12 months. Five answered, one resolved
Trustpilot	4.6 from 833 reviews. 95% five stars, 2% one star
Typical price	About $600 to $1,500 for most domestic moves (third-party estimate)
Payment	Reported: no upfront deposit, a partial payment once a carrier is dispatched, balance at delivery
Coverage	Most states. Reported exclusions: Alaska and the Dakotas
Data checked	October 23, 2026

Is Ship A Car Direct a broker or a carrier?

Ship A Car Direct is a broker. It does not own trucks. It books your car with an independent carrier from its network, which it says includes more than 3,000 carriers. Treat that number as a company claim.

That means price and pickup depend on whether a carrier accepts your job. It also means the broker, not the driver, is your main point of contact.

What do Ship A Car Direct reviews say?

• BBB: A+ and accredited since February 19, 2008, per the BBB profile. The complaints page lists 6 complaints in three years and 2 in the last 12 months. Five are service issues and one is a product issue. Five were answered and one was resolved. None are unanswered.
• Trustpilot: 4.6 from 833 reviews on its Trustpilot page. That is 95% five stars, 3% four stars and 2% one star. Positive reviews praise regular updates and reps who solve scheduling or price problems.
• Source note: one third-party write-up lists 5 BBB complaints and 4.7 on Trustpilot. We use the live BBB and Trustpilot figures above.

What do customers complain about most?

• Carrier cancellations. One Trustpilot reviewer said the carrier cancelled days before pickup and no replacement was found before the pickup window closed.
• Slow callbacks. Reviewers report unreturned calls and messages.
• Pickup window delays. A third-party write-up lists this as a common theme.
• Limited help in a failure. One reviewer got a deposit refund after cancelling but said the company did little beyond standard broker service.

What do customers like about Ship A Car Direct?

• Regular updates and responsive coordinators, often named.
• Fixes for scheduling delays and price concerns.
• On-time, damage-free pickup and delivery.
• Repeat customers who say they would use it again.

How much does Ship A Car Direct cost?

A third-party write-up reports most domestic moves at about $600 to $1,500. Examples: a sedan from New York to Florida at $750 to $950, California to Texas at $1,100 to $1,400, and cross-country at $1,100 to $1,600. On a 1,000 mile trip that is about $1.00 to $1.10 per mile. Oversized vehicles add $100 to $250. Enclosed transport costs 40% to 60% more than open. Treat all of these as estimates.

The company says the stated price is usually the final price. Reviews do not all agree, so get the price in writing. Payment terms reported: no upfront deposit, a small partial payment once a carrier is dispatched, and the balance at delivery. See our guide to deposit policies when booking auto transport.

How does the Damage-Free Guarantee work?

According to a third-party write-up, Ship A Car Direct pays up to $500 toward your insurance deductible if a carrier’s policy fails or a valid claim is refused. To stay eligible, note any damage on the bill of lading at delivery and report it within 24 hours. Personal items, mechanical failures and pre-existing damage are excluded. Carriers must carry cargo insurance, typically $100,000 to $250,000 per vehicle. Confirm the current terms with the company, because we did not read the guarantee on its site.

Is Ship A Car Direct legit?

Yes, on what we could check. It has operated since 2008, holds an A+ BBB rating with accreditation, and has hundreds of mostly positive reviews. Verify it yourself:

• Search MC 632461 on FMCSA SAFER. Confirm the legal name, the Colorado address and active broker authority.
• Read the newest BBB complaints.
• Ask about the price terms and what happens if a carrier cancels.

FMCSA blocked our automated access when we prepared this page. The MC number comes from a third-party listing. Please confirm it before you pay.

Ship A Car Direct pros and cons

Pros

• A+ BBB with accreditation since 2008.
• Only 6 BBB complaints in three years, all answered or resolved.
• 4.6 on Trustpilot from 833 reviews.
• Reported no upfront deposit.
• Reported damage-free guarantee up to $500.

Cons

• Carriers can cancel before pickup.
• Callbacks can be slow.
• Does not serve Alaska or the Dakotas, as reported.
• You deal with a broker, not the driver.

Who should use Ship A Car Direct, and who should skip it?

It suits shippers who want a long-established broker and a flexible pickup window. It is a weaker fit for Alaska or the Dakotas, or if you need the lowest possible price. Compare at least two other quotes.

How can you protect yourself when booking with Ship A Car Direct?

• Get the all-in price and payment schedule in writing.
• Ask what happens if a carrier cancels, and how fast a replacement is arranged.
• Give yourself a pickup window of several days.
• Photograph the car and note damage on the bill of lading at delivery.
• Report damage within 24 hours and keep all messages.

What are better-fit alternatives to Ship A Car Direct?

If you want to compare before you book, start with our ranked list of the best car shipping companies. These reviews use the same checks as this one:

• Sherpa Auto Transport: offers a price lock, covered in our review.
• Montway Auto Transport: one of the most searched brokers, reviewed in full.
• SGT Auto Transport: reviewed with BBB and complaint data.
• Road Runner Auto Transport: a Phoenix, Arizona broker, reviewed in full.

Prefer to see live prices from several companies? Request a free car shipping quote and compare the all-in price, fees and cancellation terms side by side.

How did we research this Ship A Car Direct review?

We reviewed the BBB profile and complaints page and the Trustpilot page on October 23, 2026. We read a third-party write-up for prices and payment terms. That write-up’s publisher also runs its own brokerage, so we treated its figures as estimates. We did not ship a car with this company, so this is a records review, not a hands-on test. A4 Auto Transport is not a carrier or a broker. If you request a quote through our site we may earn a referral fee. It does not change our ratings. See how we rank auto transport companies.

Ship A Car Direct FAQ

Is Ship A Car Direct legit?

It appears to be. It has an A+ BBB rating, accreditation since 2008 and a 4.6 Trustpilot score. Confirm its broker authority on FMCSA before you pay.

Does Ship A Car Direct require a deposit?

A third-party write-up says no upfront deposit, with a small partial payment once a carrier is dispatched. Confirm this before you book.

Is Ship A Car Direct a broker or a carrier?

It is a broker. It books your car with independent carriers.

Does Ship A Car Direct ship to Alaska?

A third-party write-up says it does not serve Alaska or the Dakotas. Confirm with the company.