Best Car Carrier Companies Recommendation

Best tow dolly

Penske Review

Penske

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  • Nationwide availability
  • Guaranteed reservations if you reserve at least 48 hours in advance

Easy to use

U-haul Review

U-haul

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  • Affordable car hauler
  • Easy access loading ramp

Most affordable

Budget Truck Review

Budget Truck

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  • Looking for moving truck rental discounts
  • Looking for budget-friendly one-way

Flexible quotes

AmeriFreight Review

AmeriFreight

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  • 17 years experience
  • Guaranteed Rates
  • BBB Accredited and Highly Rated

Customer favorite

Montway

Montway

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  • 9 years experience
  • Fast & reliable nationwide auto transport company
  • Montway Auto Transport is the number one rated car transporter in the U.S.
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Best Car Carrier Companies Of 2023

Collected over a hundred quotes, interviewed real customers, and researched the services offered by the industry's best moving truck and trailer rental companies. With over 20 years of industry experience, we'll help you find the right moving company that offers trailers for your budget.

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Top 3 Best Car Carrier of 2023

Penske Review Penske Review
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1. Penske Review

Unlike U-Haul, Penske has a great reputation for customer service and transparency: It makes good on the features and benefits it advertises. Basically, what you see is what you get when it comes to Penske, and that’s something few moving companies can claim.

For example, Penske guarantees reservations for your preferred truck size and pickup location. Other companies may offer this—but only at an added cost.

Our only complaint? Penske rents car trailers but doesn’t offer other types of moving trailers. Plus, it doesn’t allow you to tow its trailers behind anything other than a Penske rental truck.

Get Free Quote (866)883-6921
U-haul Review U-haul Review
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2. U-haul Review

U-Haul allows you to rent its moving trailers a la carte, which means you don’t have to rent a moving truck to get a cargo trailer or tow dolly. This sets U-Haul apart from its competitors, who require you to rent moving trailers and car trailers/tow dollies all at the same time.

U-Haul is also the only company on our list to offer moving trailers in addition to car carriers and tow dollies (the others don’t offer trailers). In fact, U-Haul knocks it out of the park with its thirteen trailer options.

Get Free Quote (833)891-0559
Budget Truck Review Budget Truck Review
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3. Budget Truck Review

If you’re wondering what Budget is best for, its name is a straight giveaway.

Budget is ideal for the price-conscious mover. And while the company only allows you to rent a car trailer or car dolly as part of an existing truck reservation, it offers low rates plus a slew of discounts to curb your overall cost.

Get Free Quote (833)715-1770
AmeriFreight Review AmeriFreight Review
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4. AmeriFreight Review

With AmeriFreight, moving is as simple as making a phone call (or following our easy online quote process). Whether you are looking for a door-to-door service, moving to the other side of the country, or just crossing state lines, we put our customers first. We understand that your car is one of your most prized possessions, and with the help of the latest auto shipping technology and personalized customer service, you can expect your car to be delivered to its destination just like royalty! It’s what makes us a top-rated car shipping company!

By choosing AmeriFreight, you are choosing a smooth moving experience with a top-rated car shipping company. Your car is at the center of all our efforts. You just point the way and we’ll get moving! Our goal is to offer customized car shipping services at the lowest rates possible, providing updates along the way.

Get Free Quote (833)462-1107
Montway Montway
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5. Montway

We’re a top-rated auto transport company, so your car will get from point A to point B without you having to break a single sweat. By having your car delivered straight to your door, you’re allowing the experts to handle every step of the process and ensure there are no speed bumps along the way.

Why choose our auto transport company? Montway Auto Transport works with you through every step of your car or truck’s move. Experience hassle-free shipping when you choose us as your car transporter and enjoy an easy and painless shipment process.

Get Free Quote (833)554-3260

Penske

Unlike U-Haul, Penske has a great reputation for customer service and transparency: It makes good on the features and benefits it advertises. Basically, what you see is what you get when it comes to Penske, and that’s something few moving companies can claim.

For example, Penske guarantees reservations for your preferred truck size and pickup location. Other companies may offer this—but only at an added cost.

Our only complaint? Penske rents car trailers but doesn’t offer other types of moving trailers. Plus, it doesn’t allow you to tow its trailers behind anything other than a Penske rental truck.

Trailers Penske offers

Car trailers

Penske’s car trailers have a three-point tie-down system to keep your vehicle in place and prevent shifting. They also come with a ramp to make it a little bit easier to load everything from your mom’s new Mercedes to your beat-up Toyota you bought in college.

Penske’s car trailers are best for cars with all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive—they also have a lower weight limit than U-Haul. Before you reserve, consider whether or not Penske is the best option for your car type.

Penske car trailer features

Car trailer
Weight limit4,050 lbs.
Front-wheel driveYes
Four-wheel driveYes
All-wheel driveYes
Best forAll-wheel or rear-wheel drive cars
Long-distance vs. localLong-distance

Car dolly

Like its car trailers, Penske’s car dollies can only be pulled behind a Penske truck. But unlike its car trailers, the weight limit on its car dollies are actually higher than U-Haul’s.

If you know you have a heavier-than-average car, this might be one reason to choose Penske over U-Haul.

Penske tow dolly features

Tow dolly
Weight limit4,300 lbs.
Front-wheel driveYes
Four-wheel driveNo
All-wheel driveNo
Best forFront-wheel drive cars
Long-distance vs. localLocal

How much does it cost to move with Penske?

Penske offers no set rental rates. It bases the cost of its car trailers and tow dollies on availability. The more car carriers and tow dollies it has at your location, the cheaper they are to rent. The less available they are, the more expensive they’ll be.

It was hard to nail down exactly how much Penske trailers cost because the company isn’t transparent about its cost factors (on top of its variable rates).

For instance, we got a quote of $275 for a car trailer starting in Salt Lake City, UT, and ending in Portland, OR. However, the cost of a move from Portland to Salt Lake City could be double that depending on how many trailers the Portland Penske has on hand.

Seasonality also affects rates. The quotes we got are from the winter, but if we called again in May or June, the rates could easily be double.

U-haul

U-Haul allows you to rent its moving trailers a la carte, which means you don’t have to rent a moving truck to get a cargo trailer or tow dolly. This sets U-Haul apart from its competitors, who require you to rent moving trailers and car trailers/tow dollies all at the same time.

U-Haul is also the only company on our list to offer moving trailers in addition to car carriers and tow dollies (the others don’t offer trailers). In fact, U-Haul knocks it out of the park with its thirteen trailer options.

Be cautious of hidden fees, though—U-Haul has a rep for tacking extra costs onto your final bill.

Trailers U-Haul offers

Cargo trailers

Cargo trailers are smaller than a rental truck but still offer the same protection from the elements. You’ll want one of these if you’re transporting bedroom furniture, fragile items, or that pricey West Elm desk you always use a coaster with.

It comes down to this: Cargo trailers are best if you want protection. Your belongings will be kept safe from highway debris, and you won’t have to worry about a surprise torrential downpour ruining your velvet loveseat.

Plus, U-Haul cargo trailers have lockable doors to keep your things safe from theft.

U-Haul cargo trailer rates

4’ x 8’5’ x 8’5’ x 10’6’ x 12’
Price per day$14.95$14.95$29.95$29.95
Weight limit1,650 lbs.1,800 lbs.1,550 lbs.2,480 lbs.
Best forSingle room, dorm roomSingle room, twin bed, couches, chairs1–2 bedroomsLarger loads of furniture
Long-distance vs. localLong-distanceLong-distanceLong-distanceLong-distance

Utility trailers

Utility trailers are ideal for outdoor or oversized items like landscaping equipment or your brand-new gas grill.

We don’t recommend throwing your Restoration Hardware sectional in one of these—but if you’re transporting patio furniture, a lawn mower, or other items that can handle an open ride on the highway, we say go for it.

Several utility trailer sizes come with an EZ Ramp so you can slide heavy belongings onto the bed rather than lift them. These open trailers can’t be locked, but they do come with tie-down rings to secure your items in place.

U-Haul utility trailer rates

4’ x 7′5’ x 8’5’ x 9’ with ramp6’ x 12’6’ x 12’ with ramp
Price per day$14.95$18.95$24.95$29.95$34.95
Weight limit1,700 lbs.1,890 lbs.1,650 lbs.2,670 lbs.2,110 lbs.
Best forSingle room, lawn mowers, bulky itemsSingle room, twin bed, bulky furniture1–2 roomsSeveral rooms, bulky furnitureSeveral rooms, bulky furniture
Ramp includedNoNoYesNoYes
Long-distance vs. localLong-distanceLong-distanceLong-distanceLong-distanceLong-distance

Auto trailers

If you don’t want to drop money on car shipping, you can rent a car or motorcycle trailer to tow your ride. Your vehicle sits on top of the trailer so your tires don’t suffer wear and tear while on the road.

For this reason, we recommend getting a car trailer if your move is long distance (i.e. 300 miles or more).

U-Haul’s car trailers can hold vehicles up to 5,290 pounds. To put this in perspective, a Ford F-150—a heavy-duty pickup truck—weighs anywhere from 6,000 to 7,000 pounds. Check up on your car’s specs to see if it’s towable before you book an auto trailer.

U-Haul auto trailer rates

Auto trailerMotorcycle trailer
Price per day$54.95$14.95
Weight limit5,290 lbs.1,600 lbs.
Best forCars under 5,290 lbs., long-distance movesMotorcycles, mopeds
Ramp includedYesYes
Long-distance vs. localLong-distanceLong-distance

Tow dolly

A tow dolly is cheaper than a car or motorcycle trailer, but it also offers less protection. Instead of lifting the vehicle completely off the ground, it supports only the front wheels. The back tires drag on the road—which does still save your car from racking up mileage.

If you have a smaller car and a tighter budget, a tow dolly may be all you need. But this solution is best for local moves—the wear and tear on your back wheels will be too much with long-distance moves.

U-Haul tow dolly rates

Price per dayWeight limitBest forLong-distance vs. localWebsite
$44.953,450-3,900 lbs.Front-wheel or rear-wheel drive cardsLong-distance

How much does it cost to move with U-Haul?

Renting a trailer through U-Haul is cheaper than renting a trailer with any other company we reviewed. That’s because you can reserve a U-Haul trailer without having to pay the full price of a truck rental.

Here are the factors that affect U-Haul’s base rates:

To be honest, U-Haul’s base rates seem too good to be true. Here’s the caveat: U-Haul has a thing for jacking up your total via last-minute fees ranging from gas costs and mileage fees to damage protection plans.

Budget

If you’re wondering what Budget is best for, its name is a straight giveaway.

Budget is ideal for the price-conscious mover. And while the company only allows you to rent a car trailer or car dolly as part of an existing truck reservation, it offers low rates plus a slew of discounts to curb your overall cost.

And, if you’re moving locally, its rates get even cheaper.

Trailers Budget offers

Car trailers

Budget’s car trailers secure your car above the ground on a trailer attached to the back of your rental truck.

Like with Penske, you don’t have the option of attaching a Budget trailer to your personal vehicle. But there’s another caveat: you can only pull a Budget car trailer with Budget’s 26-foot truck.

While this trailer’s weight limit is fairly comparable to the other two companies’ offerings, Budget still has the lowest weight capacity of all three.

Budget car trailer features

Car trailer
Weight limit4,055 lbs.
Maximum width of car6’ 7”
Vehicle compatibilityFour-wheel and all-wheel-drive cars
Long-distance vs. localLong-distance

Tow dolly

Budget’s tow dollies operate just like U-Haul’s and Penske’s both in design and functionality. Regardless of which company you choose, a tow dolly helps limit extra mileage on your car (just not as much as a car trailer).

The difference with Budget is that its tow dollies are only available for one-way moves. But the clear advantage with Budget is its affordable rates—especially if you qualify for one of its discounts.

Budget tow dolly features

Tow dolly
Weight limit3,300-3,600 lbs.
Maximum width of car6’ 4”
Vehicle compatibilityAll-wheel, four-wheel, and rear-wheel drive cars
Long-distance vs. localLocal

How much does it cost to move with Budget?

Like Penske, Budget doesn’t have flat rates for its car trailers and tow dollies. But unlike Penske, Budget determines the price of each car trailer and tow dolly based on the number of days your move takes and your mile count—this means you won’t get sky-high prices based solely on where you live.

You’ll need to call a Budget representative to find out how much a trailer or car dolly rental will increase your bill, as these items aren’t included in Budget’s online quote generator (which is a little annoying, if you ask us).

Trailer towing FAQs

Can my car tow a trailer?

The short answer: It all depends on the car. Generally speaking, there are certain car types that aren’t designed with tow capabilities in mind:

Give your car make and model a good Google search to find out if it’s tow-friendly. Some rental companies like U-Haul and Penske even have tools on their websites that tell you whether or not your car has towing capabilities.