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You get what you pay for. I shipped a 1974 Porsche with Uship and the driver put a small crease in the door. He covered it up with grease and I said the car got pretty dirty during transport. I didn’t notice the crease until later.
Another vote for Intercity. They have their own drivers, and are not “brokers” who farm out to the cheapest. I shipped my 57 from Hawaii with some major hiccups from Matson (shipper from Hawaii). Intercity was very patient and worked with me to adjust the schedule without a penalty. Top shelf company!
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You get what you pay for. I shipped a 1974 Porsche with Uship and the driver put a small crease in the door. He covered it up with grease and I said the car got pretty dirty during transport. I didn’t notice the crease until later.
Sold my C-7 and the buyer used a broker who called me at 1PM while I was on the way to my friends restoration shop. Broker says we will be there in 45 minutes, that's nice but I won't be back home until 7PM. Most transport companies give at least a days notice before pick-up. Get home just before 7PM and the wife says the 2 car enclosed transport had been sitting out in the street since 2:30PM. The mid 20's driver from Ukraine had never driven a Corvette before, backs it in and the door would only open 4-6", he puts the window down and slides out w/o putting the window back up. He had another car to pick up at an auction house and hour away before heading off to Kansas. As he pulls away I hear the car alarm going off and I warned him before to unlock the car so the alarm wouldn't be set. Called the broker and left a voicemail to notify his driver that the alarm was going off, not sure how long before that situation was corrected. So, the saying like Factoid stated, you get what you pay for.
Last edited by ricks327; Mar 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM.
My experience is quite different. I've shipped 12 cars, some incoming and some outgoing. I've used Intercity 3 times, and gotten quotes from them several other times. Their lead times when shipping to/from Denver are always at least 30 days out, and they are always the most expensive option. The same level of service can be had from Reliable, Passport and Horseless Carriage and the service is faster and cheaper than Intercity. They may be better when operating up and down the east or west coast, but when crossing the country, forget it. By all means, get a quote from them, but I'm done with them.
The last 4 times I've used the same one-man operation, a Ukrainian guy with his own rig. His base is in L.A. He's a very professional, highly skilled driver. Last year he delivered to me a Lamborghini and a vintage Ferrari, and he's carried lots of muscle cars as well. He's familiar with all of them. I booked him on a Monday, and picked up the cars the SAME DAY and delivered them to me less than 48 hours later. Every aspect of transacting with him has been perfect all 4 times. His price? $1,000 for one car (between L.A. and Denver), $1,300 for two cars. Thats for his enclosed 2-car trailer. The last 3 times, I booked with him directly, not through U-ship or any other broker. Intercity would have been about 2,400 and would have likely been a 5-week delivery date from booking. No thanks. Sorry Intercity, but last time I checked you only have about 30 owner-operators and none of them apparently are interested in getting near the Rockies, even in summer.
So "you get what you pay for" only very loosely applies. There are myriad exceptions to that rule. Do not be afraid to go with a reputable individual operator. If you get a quote from Intercity, get quotes also from their competitors Relia le, Passport, and Horseless Carriage.
I agree 100%, that "you get what you pay for," actually means nothing, insofar as shipping.
The aspect of what are the chances of damage to my car, is #1 in my decision for me. A guy with a small racing trailer as you've described, isn't going to be handling most of my stock. Especially without adequate insurance coverage for any damage done to my car. The past history of likely incidence of damage, is just too high, using a gypsy operator that will show up within hours to transport my car? No thanks.
I want a first class operator handling my car, fully insured with a $0 deductible insurance policy for my car.
A first class operation in their equipment includes an enclosed 18 wheeler, air ride van
type with lift. If I can get this type of transportation for 1/2 of what the premier, overpriced carriers to boot, then that's exactly what I want to pay for.
My experience is quite different. I've shipped 12 cars, some incoming and some outgoing. I've used Intercity 3 times, and gotten quotes from them several other times. Their lead times when shipping to/from Denver are always at least 30 days out, and they are always the most expensive option. The same level of service can be had from Reliable, Passport and Horseless Carriage and the service is faster and cheaper than Intercity. They may be better when operating up and down the east or west coast, but when crossing the country, forget it. By all means, get a quote from them, but I'm done with them.
The last 4 times I've used the same one-man operation, a Ukrainian guy with his own rig. His base is in L.A. He's a very professional, highly skilled driver. Last year he delivered to me a Lamborghini and a vintage Ferrari, and he's carried lots of muscle cars as well. He's familiar with all of them. I booked him on a Monday, and picked up the cars the SAME DAY and delivered them to me less than 48 hours later. Every aspect of transacting with him has been perfect all 4 times. His price? $1,000 for one car (between L.A. and Denver), $1,300 for two cars. Thats for his enclosed 2-car trailer. The last 3 times, I booked with him directly, not through U-ship or any other broker. Intercity would have been about 2,400 and would have likely been a 5-week delivery date from booking. No thanks. Sorry Intercity, but last time I checked you only have about 30 owner-operators and none of them apparently are interested in getting near the Rockies, even in summer.
So "you get what you pay for" only very loosely applies. There are myriad exceptions to that rule. Do not be afraid to go with a reputable individual operator. If you get a quote from Intercity, get quotes also from their competitors Relia le, Passport, and Horseless Carriage.
Tiny Cat, we appreciate your past business with us and your feedback.
We understand that pricing and lead times are important factors when choosing a transporter. As a dedicated carrier, we operate our own fleet of 30 enclosed trucks and do not broker or subcontract shipments. This allows us to maintain the highest level of service, safety, and protection for every vehicle we transport. Although Intercity is not the largest car transporter, we are committed to providing the best service, from our drivers to our equipment.
While lead times vary by route demand, it is rare for our lead times to extend to 30 days, and our team always does their best to set clear expectations regarding wait times. We typically arrange pickup promptly, and transit times are minimized with every vehicle staying on the same truck from pickup to delivery.
Regarding insurance, Joe makes an excellent point—it’s not just about price, but also about ensuring your vehicle is fully protected. Many independent operators provide significantly lower insurance coverage. Intercity Lines provides $2 million in cargo insurance with a $0 deductible to the customer, while many independents only carry $100,000 to $250,000—which may not be enough when transporting high-value vehicles.
We respect that different shippers suit different needs, and we encourage customers to compare options carefully. For those who prioritize white-glove service, enclosed air-ride trailers, experienced full-time drivers, and industry-leading insurance, we’re proud to be a trusted choice in the automotive community for over 45 years.
We’re grateful for the continued support of the Corvette community and appreciate every opportunity to safely transport your cherished vehicles.
I just had a car shipped from Dallas to California. I used https://8brothers.com/ and they were fantastic. They were nearly $600 cheaper than Intercity and they were able to pick up on the specific day I requested. Their truck was clean and modern. They carry $2M insurance and they operate their own trucks (not a broker). I got a text and a phone call immediately after inquiring on their website. The car did arrive 2 days after they originally anticipated because the driver got stuck in LA waiting for another car pickup before heading to Northern California but they kept me posted throughout the trip. They also sent me a link right after pickup so I could track their truck through the entire trip. If the need arises, they'll be my first call in the future.
My experience is quite different. I've shipped 12 cars, some incoming and some outgoing. I've used Intercity 3 times, and gotten quotes from them several other times. Their lead times when shipping to/from Denver are always at least 30 days out, and they are always the most expensive option. The same level of service can be had from Reliable, Passport and Horseless Carriage and the service is faster and cheaper than Intercity. They may be better when operating up and down the east or west coast, but when crossing the country, forget it. By all means, get a quote from them, but I'm done with them.
The last 4 times I've used the same one-man operation, a Ukrainian guy with his own rig. His base is in L.A. He's a very professional, highly skilled driver. Last year he delivered to me a Lamborghini and a vintage Ferrari, and he's carried lots of muscle cars as well. He's familiar with all of them. I booked him on a Monday, and picked up the cars the SAME DAY and delivered them to me less than 48 hours later. Every aspect of transacting with him has been perfect all 4 times. His price? $1,000 for one car (between L.A. and Denver), $1,300 for two cars. Thats for his enclosed 2-car trailer. The last 3 times, I booked with him directly, not through U-ship or any other broker. Intercity would have been about 2,400 and would have likely been a 5-week delivery date from booking. No thanks. Sorry Intercity, but last time I checked you only have about 30 owner-operators and none of them apparently are interested in getting near the Rockies, even in summer.
So "you get what you pay for" only very loosely applies. There are myriad exceptions to that rule..Do not be afraid to go with a reputable individual operator. If you get a quote from Intercity, get quotes also from their competitors Relia le, Passport, and Horseless Carriage.
"Do not be afraid to go with a reputable individual operator." The issue is how do you know their history and if they are reputable? Sometimes that is difficult with a small company or a broker. Also, ask if they have ever assigned it to another company. A good friend who has owned close to 50 Corvettes swears by Horseless Carriage.
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