I Shipped My Car From California to Maryland for $1,200
Fact Checked by: 
Oakland, CA → Waldorf, MD
$1,360
Two-bedroom house (1,060 sq ft)
$1,200
$160 under quote
2,840 mi
Long-distance, interstate
- I compared four quotes before I hired Montway Auto Transport for my California to Maryland move.
- My final bill landed $160 under the estimate, since Montway ended up charging me less than they quoted.
- I shared all of it, my quotes, my bills, and my ratings, as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
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This account is based on a conversation with Hope G., who moved from Oakland, California, to Waldorf, Maryland, in February 2024 using Montway Auto Transport. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My move from California to Maryland
This was my fourth cross-country move, so I’ve gotten pretty good at planning and budgeting for one of these. This time I was headed from Oakland, California, to my hometown of Waldorf, Maryland, and the one thing I didn’t want to do myself was drive my Hyundai Ioniq 5 across the country.
After doing my research, I split the move into pieces: U-Haul U-Box for my household goods, Montway Auto Transport to ship my car, and Clutter for the loading labor in California. I don’t usually see people recommend piecing a move together that way, but it worked out well for me, and moveBuddha readers consistently rate Montway as one of the best car shipping companies. I signed up for moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project and earned a $500 stipend to share every detail of what happened with Montway.
If you’re planning a move of your own, moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator can give you a real price range before you talk to a single company.
My Montway experience at a glance
Here’s what stood out most about shipping my car with Montway, good and bad.
- Communication: Montway’s driver texted and called me regularly with updates throughout the move.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: Montway quoted me $1,360 and ended up charging me just $1,200.
- Professionalism: Montway’s team handled my car with the utmost care. They were professional and communicative throughout the process.
- Timeliness: Montway ran late for my pickup, finally showing up at 1:30 a.m. I agreed to the pickup because I wanted to keep things moving, but I wasn’t thrilled about the midnight rush. They also arrived a day earlier than expected on delivery, and since I was still in California, I had to scramble to get family members to receive and pay for the car on my behalf.
- Loss and damage: My Hyundai arrived in Maryland in perfect condition, aside from needing a quick car wash.
- Would I use Montway again? Yes, I’d use them again, but I’d remind anyone booking them that they’re a broker, not a direct carrier. Your experience could vary, so pay close attention to who your carrier actually is.
under my original Montway quote
Find out what a move from California → Maryland actually costs before a mover tells you.
Why I chose Montway
Montway Auto Transport wasn’t the cheapest quote I got, but I didn’t want just anybody handling my car. I’d used Montway for past moves with mixed results, and the other quotes were close enough in price that I decided to go with the company I already knew. They could also work with my timeline, which made the decision easier.
Montway offered enclosed shipping, but I went with open transport since it’s the most budget-friendly option and I’ve had good luck with it before. The main drawback was the midnight pickup. I would have preferred a shipper that stuck closer to the original schedule.
My move at a glance
Here’s a quick snapshot of my move from Oakland, California, to Waldorf, Maryland, with Montway Auto Transport.
| Move date | February 24, 2024 |
| Moved from | Oakland, California |
| Moved to | Waldorf, Maryland |
| Distance | 2,840 miles |
| Move size | Two-bedroom house (1,060 square feet) |
| Moving company | Montway Auto Transport |
| Moving quote | $1,360 |
| Actual cost | $1,200 |
We found that when you use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator, you can save 30% on moving costs compared to customers who go with the first quote they receive.
Quotes I compared
I gathered four quotes to make sure I was getting a fair price for car shipping.
| Company | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,360 |
| SGT Auto Transport | $1,100 |
| Easy Auto Ship | $1,300 |
| Autos On The Go | $1,500 |
Cost was a major factor in my decision, so Autos On The Go was out right away. The other quotes landed in the same range, so I went with the company I was already familiar with.
Pickup day
Montway dispatched a carrier to pick up my car once I signed up. I got an email with my driver and carrier’s name and contact information, and I sent the carrier a location pin, coordinates, and address so they knew exactly where to park.
The driver called and texted me with updates before pickup, but they ran late on February 21. Instead of waiting until the next day, they told me they’d still come get my car that night. They ended up picking it up at 1:30 a.m. Other customers loading onto the same open carrier ran behind schedule too, which is why my load time was pushed back so drastically. I’ve since learned I was well within my rights to refuse a pickup that late, even though I agreed to it to keep the process moving.
I was less than thrilled about the hour, but I was eager to get my car loaded and on its way. Since my Hyundai is electric, I quickly showed the driver how the vehicle worked before they hauled it east.
Delivery day
Montway told me they’d deliver my car on February 25, but the driver said it would more likely be February 23 or 24. My Hyundai ended up arriving on February 24, which created a dilemma since I was set to board my own flight to Maryland the next day and wasn’t there to receive it. I had to scramble to get family members available to receive and pay for the car on my behalf, which took some fast coordinating. Most people would love an early delivery, but it stressed me out in the moment.
Otherwise, Montway’s carrier did a great job. They emailed me the bill of lading with photos of my car at pickup and drop-off, and there was no damage in sight.
All in all, I paid $3,500 for U-Box, $1,200 for Montway, and $800 for Clutter, bringing the cost of my whole move to $5,500. Montway actually charged me less than the $1,360 they quoted, which I appreciated.
Final thoughts
Looking back, I wouldn’t change much about this move. Montway’s late-night pickup wasn’t my favorite moment, but everything else went off without a hitch, and the price came in under what I expected instead of over it.
I’d use Montway again, and I’d recommend U-Box and Clutter too, though I’d remind anyone booking Montway that they’re working with a broker, not a direct carrier, so your own experience could vary depending on who you’re assigned.
Planning a long-distance move of your own? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes from vetted movers before you book.
My ratings
Here’s how I scored Montway on a scale of 1 to 5 based on my end-to-end experience.
- Communication: 5 out of 5. The driver kept me updated by text and phone before, during, and after pickup.
- Timeliness: 4 out of 5. The 1:30 a.m. pickup and the early, unplanned delivery both threw off my schedule, even though the car itself got where it needed to go.
- Quote accuracy: 5 out of 5. I paid $160 less than my original quote, with no surprise charges.
- Overall experience: 5 out of 5. A few scheduling hiccups aside, my car arrived in perfect condition and Montway kept me in the loop the whole way.
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Tips for future movers
These are the practical steps we recommend based on Hope G.’s experience:
- Get at least three car shipping quotes, even if you’re confident in your pick: Hope gathered four quotes even though she was pretty sure she’d choose Montway. Your first choice might not have your preferred dates available, so request multiple quotes just in case.
- Know you can refuse a pickup that’s too late: Hope agreed to a 1:30 a.m. pickup to keep her move moving, but customers are well within their rights to push back on a shipper showing up in the middle of the night.
- Build in flexibility around pickup and delivery dates: Hope couldn’t receive her car early because she was traveling, which forced her to scramble for help. Staying as available as possible protects you if a shipper runs ahead of or behind schedule.
- Remember that most car shippers are brokers, not carriers: Once you get your driver and carrier information, look them up directly with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration so you know exactly who is handling your vehicle.
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