American Connection Auto Transport Reviews

We consider reputation, cost, services, and customer experience when reviewing car shipping companies. The following sections provide additional information on these categories and how American Connection fared in each of them.

Reputation

Years in business and state availability are the main factors that drive our reputation ratings. American Connection was founded in 2020 and is available in all 50 states. The company also holds an F rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), prompting us to give American Connection a 1.0 out of 5.0-star rating in this category. Based on a 2021 survey, our team found that only 22% of respondents used a shipping company outside of the six most popular providers in the industry.

Cost

We give American Connection Auto Transport 2.0 stars out of 5.0 stars for cost. Our team collected quotes from the company for shipping a 2018 Toyota RAV4 different distances through both open and enclosed transport. Open shipping means shipping your car on an open-air trailer where it is exposed to the elements. Enclosed transport means shipping your car in an enclosed trailer that is more expensive, but offers more protection.

American Connection Auto Transport does not list its prices online. Instead of using an instant quote tool, you can get shipping quotes from the company by directly calling them.

Services

American Connection offers a decent amount of shipping services for being a newer company. You can ship your vehicle using open or enclosed transportation. Customers can also ship heavy machinery and alternative vehicles (i.e. motorcycles, ATVs, RVs) if they need to. One of the best services they offer is international shipping, in case being able to ship anywhere in the United States wasn’t enough. We give American Connection 4.0 out of 5.0 stars for offering a decent range of shipping options.

Customer Experience

We consider online reviews and our own experiences collecting quotes when we rate companies for customer experience. Unfortunately, American Connection Auto Transport doesn’t have a positive reputation within the shipping industry. Although the company has a low rating on the BBB website, this is based on less than 10 reviews, meaning the small sample size may not explain how well the company can truly do. We give American Connection a 1.0 out of 5.0-star rating for customer experience.

Founded: 2020
Headquarters: San Francisco
Service area: The United States and internationally

San Francisco-based American Connection Auto Transport (ACAT) offers shipping services for cars, heavy machinery, and industrial vehicles. The shipping broker and logistics provider offers shipping to both domestic and international destinations.

Unfortunately, American Connection Auto Transport doesn’t have a positive reputation within the vehicle shipping industry. The BBB gives the company an F rating due to its failure to respond to customer complaints.

Customers on the BBB website seem to agree, giving the shipping broker an average overall rating of 1.0 out of 5.0 stars. Though no customers rated the company above 1 star, it’s important to keep in mind that there are fewer than 10 customer reviews on the BBB site. Such a low sample size may not be completely indicative of the company’s abilities, but the fact that all of the reviews are negative is a red flag.

The customer complaints mention poor customer service, and some even accuse the company of running a scam – taking their money and then ceasing all communication.

American Connection Auto Transport Complaints

“[A]fter you pay the deposit they stop communicating.”

– Jeromy via BBB

“After 30 days with no communication, and after I pushed back the move because I was concerned about their company eating costs, I received a hostile email … The company refused to refund me and even wanted to charge a higher ‘cancellation fee.’”

– Julianne via BBB

Though it’s a newer company, American Connection Auto Transport offers a decent number of  transport services. Some of the services the shipping broker offers include:

• Open container shipping: Open transport is a cost-effective way to ship your vehicle, but keep in mind that it leaves your car exposed to road debris and weather hazards.
• Enclosed trailer shipping: If you’re willing to pay a little extra, shipping your car in an enclosed trailer ensures it’s protected from the elements.
• International shipping: American Connection offers international car shipping.
• Heavy machinery shipping: The company offers shipping options for farm equipment and other heavy machinery domestically and internationally.
• Alternative vehicle shipping: American Connection offers services for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, and other motor vehicles.

American Connection Auto Transport Extras And Add-Ons

American Connection Auto Transport guarantees your shipment will be insured. It works with a large network of carriers, each of which has a minimum of $150,000 of cargo insurance coverage.

Like most vehicle transport brokers, American Connection Auto Transport doesn’t list its prices on its website. But unlike most shipping companies, ACAT doesn’t have an instant quote tool to help you get a shipping quote online. The only way to get a quote is to call the company directly.

We spent 300 hours researching up to 25 different companies to make sure we got accurate information when it came to the cost of car shipping.

Average Cost To Ship A Car

Our research indicates that the average car shipping cost is between $500 and $1,500. Here are some average shipping costs according to uShip, an auto shipping marketplace:

• Average cost per mile under 200 miles: $2.92
• Average cost per mile over 1,000 miles: 78 cents

Based on a survey our team conducted in 2021, most respondents said they paid $1,500 to $1,999 in car shipping costs. This may be because of an increase in long distance shipments or customers wanted to take advantage of the lower cost per mile.

What Affects Car Shipping Costs

Auto shipping companies consider a number of variables when calculating the cost of shipping. Some factors include:

• Type of delivery: Door-to-door shipping is more convenient than terminal-to-terminal shipping, but it’s typically more expensive.
• Vehicle size and weight: The larger and heavier the vehicle, the more it costs to ship.
• Vehicle operability: An inoperable car requires more labor to load onto the carrier, so it’s more expensive to ship.
• Shipping distance: The farther the shipping distance, the more you’ll pay.
• Type of transport: Open carrier transport is the best option for cheap car shipping.
• Cost of fuel: As gasoline and diesel prices rise, so will the cost of shipping.
• Season: Demand increases in January and the summer, so shipping during those times is more expensive.

After analyzing several reviews online as well as reviewing 25 different auto shipping companies, our team found the best tips for shipping with this company. 

To obtain a shipping quote, you have to call American Connection directly. They do not offer instant quotes online. Once you give information such as pickup and drop-off locations, vehicle information, and your shipping date, you can expect them to connect you with an agent to give you a quote. If you’re happy with the quote, book the shipment and determine your payment details (you may need to finance your initial payment).

On the day of your shipment, make sure your car is prepared for shipping before handing it over to the carrier. Upon meeting the carrier, you’ll take note of any existing damage through an inspection and sign the bill of lading before they leave with your car. The bill of lading is essentially a receipt given from the carrier to the customer to document what they’re shipping and the agreement between the carrier and customer.

You’ll get a rough timeline of when your car will be delivered to the agreed-upon drop-off location before the carrier leaves with your vehicle. When the carrier arrives at the delivery location, check your vehicle and make note of any new damages. After this second inspection, sign the bill of lading again and pay the carrier the remainder of the shipping fee.

What To Know For A Successful Auto Shipment

There are a few important things to know when it comes to shipping your vehicle. One of those is to make sure your vehicle is prepared for shipment. Clear everything out of your car, leave about a quarter tank of gas to reduce weight, and make sure to inspect for any existing damage. By preparing your vehicle properly, you’re lowering your shipping costs and ensuring any damage suffered during the shipping process is not your fault.

Also remember to get a bill of lading. This is crucial for keeping track of the agreement between customer and carrier as well as documenting any existing damage on the vehicle. If you want to claim any damages once the shipping process is complete, you need the bill of lading to do so.

American Connection Auto Transport does not have the best ratings from our team. Although there are a few bright spots such as the variety of shipping services offered and availability, there are not enough highlights to truly say this is one of the best providers in the shipping industry. Despite this as well as being a very new company, there is still lots of room for growth and improvement in the future.

While American Connection Auto Transport may not be the best choice for your auto shipping needs, there are plenty of other shipping companies to choose from. It’s always a good idea to compare free quotes from different transport companies. You can start your search with two highly reputable companies: Easy Auto Ship and Sherpa Auto Transport.

Easy Auto Ship: 4.4 Stars

Easy Auto Ship offers guaranteed pricing and full insurance coverage on every shipment. It provides open and enclosed carrier transport, expedited shipping, door-to-door delivery, and more services nationwide. The company holds an A+ rating from the BBB and an average consumer rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars on the organization’s website, making Easy Auto Ship a reliable choice for auto transport.

Check out our complete Easy Auto Ship review to learn more.

Sherpa Auto Transport: 4.6 Stars

Sherpa Auto Transport guarantees its pricing, meaning it will pay the difference if a carrier’s final price is above the original quote. The auto transport company offers service across the lower 48 states. Customers consider Sherpa to be highly reputable, giving the company an average of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars across more than 200 reviews on the BBB’s website. The BBB itself gives Sherpa an A+ rating.

Read more in our full Sherpa Auto Transport review.