Direct Express Auto Transport Reviews

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About Direct Express Auto Transport

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Direct Express Auto Transport is a car shipping company that offers auto transport services across the continental U.S. Opt for expedited shipping if you need to make a move fast — some pickups are even available the same day. Enclosed shipping and shipping for inoperable cars are also available.

Pros
  • Door-to-door shipping
  • Expedited shipping options
  • Easy quote process
Cons
  • No international shipping

Helpful Reviews

Milton, MA
Verified purchase
This company is trash. They confirmed a price and a 8 day pickup window to have my car transported from FL to MA. 20 days later and they still haven't picked my car up from a lot ...

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Colorado Springs, CO
Verified purchase
This was my first time using any Auto transport service and I'd be remiss if I did not boast about the amazing job Direct Express Auto did in delivering not but two of my vehicles.

Read more

About Direct Express Auto Transport

Direct Express Auto Transport offers shipping in all 50 states with regular, expedited or rush service. Direct Auto Transport ensures hauled vehicles for up to $150,000 in physical damage. Since 2004, the company has transported more than 200,000 vehicles, making its shipping experience a valuable addition to its other services.

Direct Express Auto Transport cost

The most significant factors that determine how much it costs to have Direct Express Auto Transport to ship your vehicle are:

  • Distance of route
  • Pickup and drop-off locations
  • Size of the vehicle
  • Vehicle weight
  • Vehicle condition
  • Ground clearance
  • Open or enclosed shipping
  • Time of year

For a basic idea of costs shipping a running, late-model sedan with open transport, we have provided the table below:

Example costs from Direct Express Auto Transport

RouteAverage cost
California to Texas$800
Florida to California$1000
Illinois to California$850
Within California$500

You can receive free region-specific quotes without the need for personal information on the Direct Express Auto Transport website. You can also call Direct Express directly for a quote. You need to pay a small deposit for transport, but the company provides a full refund if you cancel an order.

Direct Express Auto Transport shipping options

Enclosed options are available to protect for classic cars and other valuable vehicles from road damage. Open transport options are typically appropriate for most other vehicles — built-in insurance covers most car damage that may occur on the route. The company ships operable and inoperable vehicles, but expect an additional fee if your car is inoperable.

Direct Express Auto Transport only ships door to door and does not offer terminal-to-terminal shipping, which is a service that lets you drop off and pick up your vehicle at a location near your home. It also does not provide international transport.

Direct Express Auto Transport FAQ

Should I do open or enclosed transport?

We recommend open shipping for consumers on a budget. However, if you have a classic or valuable vehicle that you want to protect from the elements, you should consider enclosed shipping.

When should I book with Direct Express Auto Transport?

Booking from two days to two weeks in advance is typical. Booking further in advance often provides better options and lower costs.

How long does it take for Direct Express to pick up my car?

About 90% of orders with Direct Express ship within a week or less.

Still have questions?

Do we recommend Direct Express Auto Transport?

Direct Express Auto Transport might be a good option for you if you’re looking to ship your car a long distance quickly. Their door-to-door shipping is convenient. Keep in mind, though, that it doesn’t offer international shipping. Some consumer reviews mention issues like the company missing pickup dates and poor customer service. If you’re considering Direct Express Auto Transport, it can’t hurt to compare quotes from several companies to weigh your options.

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Direct Express Auto Transport Reviews

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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10
    Customer ServiceContract & TermsSales & MarketingPricePunctuality & SpeedRates

    Reviewed May 3, 2025

    This company is trash. They confirmed a price and a 8 day pickup window to have my car transported from FL to MA. 20 days later and they still haven't picked my car up from a lot that is costing me $ every day. When I call them they said they priced the job too aggressively and they can't get anybody to ship my car. Is that my fault?? Now they say I should pay more $$ and I "might" have a better chance of getting my car (no guarantee). These middlemen need to be better regulated and penalized for their unscrupulous business practices. I advise all to avoid Direct Express Auto Transport and their bait and switch tactics.

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    Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedTransparency

    Reviewed Dec. 24, 2024

    Atrocious communication. Very late for pick up and drop off. Extremely slow to respond to messages and the person pretends like you don't have an ongoing conversation. Can't stick to a timetable or update you with any issues or delays. First and last time I will ever use this company.

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      Verified purchase
      Savannah increased rating by 3 stars.
      Customer ServiceTechPricePunctuality & SpeedOnline & AppStaffHonesty & Transparency
      After a positive interaction with Direct Express Auto Transport, Savannah increased their star rating on Sept. 5, 2024.

      Updated review: Sept. 5, 2024

      Company reached out and resolved the issue. I am happy with the resolution and have no further issues with the company. Website does not allow me to update original review beyond this brief blurb. I would delete the review here if possible but that does not seem to be an option either.

      Original Review: Aug. 1, 2024

      DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE. I chose this service not because it was the cheapest, it was middle of the range for my quotes, but because they had been in service a long time so I thought I could trust them. BIG mistake. I shipped my car with them (DC to Florida) and it was picked up within the expected time frame. That was about the only thing that went right. Like every other company out there, they are basically a "broker". They contract with drivers to pick up and ship your car. This is how both of them avoid any accountability.

      I found out only a couple days in advance when the pickup day would be and didn't know the time of pickup until the day of, and then the time kept moving. Actual pick up ended up being hours later. Fine, I was able to make it work and move past that. I took several time-stamped photos of my car right before pickup, just in case anything happened during shipping. The car arrived with several new scratches and scuffs, but the biggest issue was that multiple holes had been gouged into one of my tires, so deep that plugging was no longer an option and it would have to be replaced. These are Michelin, tough and expensive tires.

      Time stamped photos and videos showing the damage were immediately taken and I made contact with the company immediately asking to file a damage claim. I even offered to overlook the scratches and scuffs, as my car had other cosmetic damage, as long as the tire was taken care of. They directed me to the shipping company and told me to let them know how they responded because they wanted to make sure they were following protocol.

      I reached out to the shipping company, they denied it and said the car already had damage when it was picked up. Yes, it did have some cosmetic damage, but I had taken many time stamped photos of the car prior to pickup, and sent these to them to prove that there was a lot of new damage, including the ruined tire. We are pretty sure it was from the buckle on the strap holding the tire in place. They have not responded again to me. Despite multiple emails. Including to Direct Express who claimed to care whether they were following protocol.

      I work for the federal government so I am currently filing a loss & damage complaint with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) against both Direct Express as the broker and QV as the shipper. If you are unlucky enough to use them and find yourself in the same situation, I would encourage you to do the same.

      Direct Express claims on their website that your vehicle will arrive in the same condition but that is a lie. Not only do they not have control over it because they're not the shipper, but they also just don't care about when the shippers they contract with disregard it. The company is a pure money grab and your vehicle will not be taken care of. There will also be no compensation if they do damage your car, even if you have clear dated and time stamped proof that the damage occurred during shipping. None of the precautions you take will matter if you're foolish enough to use this company like I was. I did all of the research and really thought I could trust them. Don't make the same mistake as I did.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Sept. 23, 2021

      This was my first time using any Auto transport service and I'd be remiss if I did not boast about the amazing job Direct Express Auto did in delivering not but two of my vehicles. Direct Auto Transport maintained constant communication, professionalism prior to picking up and delivering my 2006 Acura TL from CA to ID days earlier than expected. After reading several reviews with Direct Auto Transport, I decided to go with them. My CSR Jessie was awesome in handling my request especially as my dates changed due to this being a military move cross country; Nonetheless, Jessie was patient and answered all my questions. My vehicle order number was **. I was notified by the driver that he was about an hour out from my house. He delivered ahead of schedule and we completed a flawless inspection! Will definitely book again in the event I relocate again.

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      Customer ServiceSales & MarketingPriceStaffBillingRates

      Reviewed Oct. 6, 2020

      Warning. Warning. BEWARE! Bait and Switch. Do NOT use this company. They use bait and switch tactics. They bid a low internet quote that they know would not ship at that price. Customer service is like dealing with petulant children. Don't waste your time with this unprofessional small business. FOLLOW UP....To be clear this disreputable company uses bait and switch tactics. They quoted a price of 720.00 for shipping and told me it would ship within 1-10 days. Then had a carrier select the car so they could charge my credit card. That carrier subsequently deselected the car but these people still charged the 200.00 deposit to my CC. After two weeks they said I could add 100.00 to the price. Do yourself a favor go with a reputable broker that does not use unethical business practices.

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      Customer ServiceStaffDelivery & Shipping

      Reviewed Sept. 4, 2019

      So this is interesting. Sorry for the length - I'm moving, so this is me attempting to ship my M3: 8/20 - Set up an order to have my car shipped out of Florida w/ first available date of 9/3. Radio silence until - 8/30 - Hurricane Dorian becomes a threat to Florida, so I ask that the shipment be moved up to today (8/30). That same morning, I'm assigned a truck. Great! I'm told I'll be contacted shortly to organize pickup. First odd email after asking if shipments come on weekends: "Yes, they do. Especially if they are from out of state. Nothing else better to do." Ok..

      8/31 - Still no word from anyone. Call the carrier through the number they left me, get a lady with a screaming baby in the background who has no clue what's happening. Says she'll call me back shortly. Get no call back. 9/1 - Am informed via text message that the truck actually broke down two days prior and that they won't have it fixed until the following Wednesday. Ok, weird, not sure why someone didn't just tell me this and remove my listing from that truck but fine, I'll let them know to do it myself. 9/2 - Dorian no longer a threat to Florida, especially west coast where we won't even see clouds or a breeze.

      9/3 - Silence again. I send an email reiterating the importance that the car be out of the state: "Please let me know if you’re unable to locate a carrier, as I will attempt to go with another company. It is an absolute must that this car be on a truck and headed to its destination prior to Friday, no exceptions." 9/4 - Silence again. I send a follow up email: "Good morning. My last email went unanswered. I want to make sure that the urgency is understood and that you're doing everything in your power to have my vehicle picked up by Friday. Thanks" Check out this email I get back from the President of the company (Mike):

      "Hurricane Dorian has effectively sidelined transport carriers until the threat to Florida has subsided. As you can read and see in the news, Dorian is hovering off the Florida coast at this moment. Tampa Bay will likely escape its wrath, but nobody with a brain is taking any chances and the wiser move is to wait and see. We have your vehicle listed as available just in case some idiot wants to risk his life and tons of money in possible damages. The likelihood your car leaves Florida before Friday is slim to none." This guy is funny. Here's the thing though - when shipping an expensive car, you want it handled by a professional w/ customer service experience, not whatever this is. Poor communication, snarky emails, not worth it. Go with another service.

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      Punctuality & SpeedDelivery & Shipping

      Reviewed Aug. 16, 2019

      This is the greatest company, any future business that I have will be given to them. I booked them and within one hour they contacted me for scheduling. They were on time for the delivery and I couldn't be happier.

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      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed June 3, 2019

      This has got to be the worst of the worst. I have been on the phone for the entire day,, not to mention for the last 2 days I was continuously hung up on,, and when I did get to speak with someone he was very rude and made it seem like I was taking his time away from something very important, and not only that I was told that I had to wait 5 days to dispute the charges because the company 5 days to do something. I was told to contact the company myself and fix it. Well I had already done that and the lady at the said company said that they had over 100 calls since last Friday stating that their company was taking funds from Direct Express and I tried to inform the moron from Direct Express but he continued to talk over me and hung up. Why is the government using these people? It's a joke. Did the government get a discount contract from them? They need to be shut down.

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      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePunctuality & Speed

      Reviewed July 24, 2017

      Jessie provided outstanding customer service throughout the whole process. Within hours of placing my request, my vehicle was being picked up and being placed on an enclosed carrier. Most companies wanted more money for an an enclosed carrier. Not Direct Express Auto Transport. The drivers communicated with me throughout the whole process. Scheduled a drop off time and arrived at my door in a timely fashion. Thank you Direct Express Auto Transport for making this process a stress free one. 5 star!!! Highly recommend.

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      Price

      Reviewed March 14, 2017

      I needed to ship my truck from California to Alabama and Direct Express Auto Transport had the best price. And, for an additional $150, it would be picked up in 1-2 days with 95% certainty. Completely false and misleading. After 5 days of calling and getting excuses, I canceled the order. Who knows if I'll get my deposit back. We'll see.

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        Direct Express Auto Transport Company Information

        Company Name:
        Direct Express Auto Transport
        Year Founded:
        2003
        Address:
        321 San Anselmo Avenue
        City:
        San Anselmo
        State/Province:
        CA
        Postal Code:
        94960
        Country:
        United States
        Website:
        www.autotransportdirect.com