First, check you are comparing the right AmeriFreight
At least one comparison site ranking for this search lists AmeriFreight under USDOT 1251595 / MC-490644. On FMCSA, those numbers belong to Ameri Freight Systems LLC, a different company based in Bensenville, Illinois, which runs its own truck. The AmeriFreight you get quotes from is AmeriFreight Inc, USDOT 2238770, MC-597401, in Tyrone, Georgia, and it is a broker.
This matters because the number on your contract is the only thing that tells you who is legally responsible for your booking. Whichever company you choose, look up the MC number on your paperwork yourself. Here is how to verify any auto transport company's licence in about two minutes.
Both are brokers. Here is what that means for you
A broker takes your order, posts it to a load board, and assigns it to an independent carrier who owns the truck. That is how nearly every well-known car shipping company works, including AmeriFreight, Montway and us. It has three practical consequences:
- The carrier is the one with the cargo insurance. Ask for the carrier's certificate before pickup, not the broker's. Our car shipping insurance guide explains what it covers.
- Your pickup date depends on a carrier accepting the price. A quote below what carriers will take on that lane sits unassigned. That is the real reason cancellation terms matter.
- The carrier needs its own active authority. Once a carrier is assigned, look up its MC number too. More on this in broker vs carrier.
Paying and cancelling: where they actually differ
Montway publishes its terms plainly. A card goes on file when you book, and you are first charged when a carrier is dispatched; the balance goes to the carrier on or before delivery in cash, certified funds, a cashier's check or a money order. Cancel before a carrier accepts the job and there is no fee. Cancel after, and its terms keep a minimum of $249, which is non-refundable but can be applied to a future order. Cancellations must be sent by email.
AmeriFreight takes nothing until the contract is formed, which is when you accept a carrier's offer. At that point your card is charged a deposit, and its discounts are applied to that deposit; the balance goes to the driver at delivery, cash preferred. Cancel before your car is dispatched and there is no penalty. After dispatch, AmeriFreight's own terms say you forfeit the full deposit. It does not publish a flat deposit figure, so ask for the exact amount in writing before you commit. Also note that only its "First Class Rate" is guaranteed; its cheaper "Economy Saver" price can go up.
Price guarantees and discounts
Montway's 30-day price lock holds your quoted price for 30 days from booking at no extra charge, unless you change the order. That is valuable if you are booking well ahead of a move, especially going into snowbird season or late summer.
AmeriFreight's discounts are fixed amounts: $35 for military, first responders and medical personnel; $25 for students and seniors; $35 for booking within 48 hours of a quote; $50 for returning customers; and $50 off each additional vehicle. Only one applies per order, except the early-booking and multi-vehicle discounts, and proof of eligibility is required. On a close quote, $35 to $85 can decide it.
AmeriFreight also sells an optional AFTA gap plan. It is not insurance. It supplements the carrier's cargo cover for things like your insurance deductible and minor damage. Read the terms before paying for it.
Which should you choose?
- You are military, a first responder, medical staff, a student or a senior: quote AmeriFreight first. The discount is guaranteed money; the price difference between the two often is not.
- You are booking three or more weeks out: Montway's free 30-day lock protects you from seasonal price rises.
- You might need to cancel: Montway's minimum $249 post-dispatch fee is a known number. With AmeriFreight, get the deposit amount in writing so you know your exposure.
- You are shipping more than one car: AmeriFreight's $50-per-extra-vehicle discount adds up.
- You just want the lowest real price: quote both on the same day, for the same vehicle, trailer type and dates. Then ask each one: "Is this the price a carrier will accept, or the price you hope one will?"
Before you sign with anyone, read our guide to avoiding car shipping scams. It covers the lowball quotes and deposit traps that catch people with every broker, big or small.
Comparing more than two companies?
We keep a wider side-by-side of Montway, Sherpa, AmeriFreight, SGT and Easy Auto Ship on our car shipping companies comparison page. And if you want a third quote to hold against these two, ours takes about 60 seconds, with no phone call and nothing due upfront.
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