American Auto Shipping vs AmeriFreight
Both help you ship a vehicle, but they work differently. With American Auto Shipping, licensed partner companies make their offers on your shipment and you choose who to book with. AmeriFreight describes itself as a licensed auto transport broker that quotes you, finds a carrier and handles scheduling. This page sets out how quotes, payment, discounts and FMCSA checks work at each, and when AmeriFreight is the better fit.
Information about AmeriFreight checked on November 9, 2026.
Side by side
| American Auto Shipping | AmeriFreight | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A vehicle shipping agent for licensed auto transport companies. The offers come from the partners listed on our partners page. | Its own site says it “operates as a broker, not a carrier” and is headquartered in Tyrone, Georgia. |
| FMCSA numbers | Each partner company lists its USDOT and MC numbers and a SAFER link on the partners page. | Publishes MC 597401 and USDOT 2238770. |
| How the price is set | You see a free estimate from a published formula. Your price is the offer from the company you choose. | You give your shipment details and it provides a quote. Its pages say price depends on size, weight and condition of the vehicle. |
| Who chooses the carrier | You do. Partner companies make offers and you pick one. | Its site says it advertises your vehicle, takes driver offers and brings you the carrier's plan to consider before you commit. |
| Who you pay | The company you choose, under its own transport agreement. American Auto Shipping takes no payment. | Says no payment is collected until a carrier is matched and you accept the offer. A 2026 FreightWaves review says customers usually pay a deposit to AmeriFreight and the balance to the carrier at delivery. Amounts are not stated on its pages. |
| Discounts | No discount program of our own. Ask each partner whether it has one for you. | Lists military, first responder, medical, student, senior, early booking, returning customer and multiple-vehicle discounts on its site. |
| Extra protection | The company you book with carries the cargo insurance on its FMCSA record. Ask for its certificate. | Says carriers hold active FMCSA authority and cargo coverage, and offers an optional AFTA plan it describes as not insurance, covering deductibles up to $2,000 for eligible claims reported within 48 hours of delivery. |
| Coverage | Vehicles across the United States. Hawaii and Alaska go through partners on ocean carriers. | Its pages describe this differently: one says the 48 contiguous states, another says all continental U.S. including Hawaii and Alaska. Ask which applies to your route. |
AmeriFreight statements come from the pages listed under sources below, checked November 9, 2026, and are the company's own description of itself. American Auto Shipping has no affiliation with AmeriFreight.
Which fits you
American Auto Shipping tends to fit if you
- Want to see offers from several named, FMCSA-verifiable companies and pick one yourself.
- Prefer to sign the transport agreement and pay directly with the company that moves the vehicle.
- Want a free estimate from a published formula before anyone calls you.
AmeriFreight may fit better if you
- Want one company to run the booking and scheduling from first quote to delivery.
- Qualify for one of the discounts it publishes, such as military or first responder.
- Want the optional AFTA protection plan it offers.
Whichever you use, get the offer in writing, check what it includes (pickup window, insurance, fees, what is due when) and note any damage on the bill of lading at delivery. Our brokers vs carriers vs agents guide explains the three ways to book, and the guide to avoiding car shipping scams lists red flags.
How to check either one on FMCSA
- Open FMCSA SAFER and search by USDOT or MC number.
- Confirm the legal name and address match what the company shows you, and that its operating authority is active.
- Check the Licensing & Insurance record for insurance or bond on file.
- For our partner companies, start from the partners page, which links each SAFER record.
Common questions
No. They are separate companies with no connection. American Auto Shipping is a vehicle shipping agent for licensed auto transport companies listed on our partners page. AmeriFreight describes itself on its own site as a licensed auto transport broker.
With American Auto Shipping, several licensed partner companies make offers on your shipment and you choose the company you book with, so the agreement and payment are between you and that company. AmeriFreight describes a single-company process: it gives you a quote, finds a carrier, brings you the carrier plan to consider, and handles scheduling.
With American Auto Shipping, you pay the licensed company you choose, under its own transport agreement, and you never pay us a cent. AmeriFreight says no payment is collected until a carrier is matched and you accept the offer, and a 2026 FreightWaves review says customers usually pay a deposit to AmeriFreight and the balance to the carrier at delivery. AmeriFreight's pages do not state the deposit amount, so ask for it in writing before you accept.
AmeriFreight lists discounts on its site: $35 off for military, first responders and medical personnel, $25 off for students and senior citizens, $35 for booking within 48 hours of an estimate, $50 for returning customers and $50 off each additional vehicle. Terms can change, so confirm them with the company. American Auto Shipping does not set discounts; any discount on your shipment comes from the company whose offer you accept, so ask each one.
Look up the company's USDOT or MC number on FMCSA SAFER (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) and confirm the legal name, address and operating authority status match what the company shows you. Every partner company on our partners page lists its USDOT and MC numbers with a link to its SAFER record. AmeriFreight publishes MC 597401 and USDOT 2238770 on its own pages.
It depends on what you want. If you want to see offers from several named, FMCSA-verifiable companies and pick one yourself, American Auto Shipping fits. If you want one company to run the booking and scheduling for you, or you qualify for one of the discounts AmeriFreight lists, AmeriFreight may fit better. Get at least two written offers either way and compare what each one includes.
Sources
AmeriFreight is a separate company and its name is used here only to describe it. Pages opened and read on November 9, 2026:
- AmeriFreight, "Official Information About AmeriFreight Auto Transport" — Broker status, MC and USDOT numbers, payment timing, discount list, AFTA plan, service area
- AmeriFreight, "Why AmeriFreight" — Broker status, no upfront payment wording, service area wording
- AmeriFreight, "Start to Finish: Work with AmeriFreight" — How the quote and carrier offers work
- FreightWaves Checkpoint, "AmeriFreight Review (2026)" (page last modified September 26, 2026) — Typical deposit-and-balance payment pattern
Keep reading
- American Auto Shipping reviews
What customers say and where to read independent reviews.
- Our licensed partner companies
USDOT and MC numbers with a SAFER link for each.
- How our estimates are built
The published formula behind every estimate.
Get your free estimate
Free estimate first, then offers from licensed companies. No obligation.