AA Auto Transport
AA Auto Transport is a privately held, direct-to-consumer vehicle shipping company founded in 1994, operating 11 terminals across the USA and providing door-to-door open and enclosed auto transport, heavy machinery shipping, and Alaska/Hawaii logistics to individual consumers and businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What AA Auto Transport does
AA Auto Transport is a privately held, direct-to-consumer vehicle shipping company founded in 1994 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The company provides door-to-door and station-to-station auto transport services across the continental USA, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada, using a network of 11 physical terminal locations and employed or contracted transport truck drivers running established routes. Its core products are open transport (carrying 5–10 vehicles per truck, the most cost-effective option) and enclosed transport (25–40% premium for luxury, exotic, vintage, and specialty vehicles), with add-on modules including GPS tracking, auto transport insurance, vehicle storage, and classic car storage and restoration. Secondary offerings cover heavy machinery shipping (construction, farming, industrial equipment) and niche segments such as student and job-relocation transport.
The business model is transactional and quote-based: pricing is driven by distance, carrier type (open vs. enclosed), vehicle condition, weight, pickup/drop-off locations, and terminal usage, with no publicly disclosed flat rates or subscription tiers. Go-to-market relies on organic content marketing through a long-established blog, state-specific SEO landing pages for all 50 states, a web-based quote form, and phone-based sales via a toll-free 800 number, explicitly avoiding lead-generation intermediaries. The company holds FMCSA licensing for interstate auto transport and emphasizes direct customer relationships, 30 years of brand legacy, and longstanding driver relationships as differentiators. There is no evidence of institutional ownership, venture capital, or external funding rounds; AA Auto Transport appears to be an independently operated carrier-broker.
AA Auto Transport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AA Auto Transport
- Legal name
- AA Auto Transport
- Website
- https://aa-auto.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- AA Auto Transport is a privately held, direct-to-consumer vehicle shipping company founded in 1994, operating 11 terminals across the USA and providing door-to-door open and enclosed auto transport, heavy machinery shipping, and Alaska/Hawaii logistics to individual consumers and businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AA Auto Transport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vehicle Shipping & Auto Transport Services
- SIC
- Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Open Auto Transport (Door-to-Door) (HSAKAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Enclosed Auto Transport (Door-to-Door) (HSAKAFAB), Vehicle Pickup/Delivery & Concierge (Key Handling, Inspections, Condition Reports) (HSAKAFAL), Terminal-to-Terminal Auto Shipping (HSAKAFAC)
Keywords
Where AA Auto Transport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
AA Auto Transport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vehicle Transport Services: One-time transaction fees for auto transport services. Pricing determined by shipping distance (primary factor), type of carrier (open vs enclosed, with enclosed costing 25-40% more), vehicle condition (non-running vehicles require special equipment), weight, pickup/drop-off locations, and terminal usage fees.
- Heavy Machinery Shipping: Specialized transport services for construction equipment, farming machinery, and industrial vehicles. Services include dismantling/reassembly assistance, door-to-door delivery within USA and Canada.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Open Transport - Standard auto shipping on open carriers |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Enclosed Transport - Protected shipping for luxury/specialty vehicles |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Station-to-Station Shipping |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Door-to-Door Shipping |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Non-operable Vehicle Shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
AA Auto Transport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AA Auto Transport provides vehicle shipping services across the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada using open and enclosed transport trucks with door-to-door pickup and delivery. The company operates 11 terminal locations for vehicle drop-off and offers specialized transport for heavy machinery, classic/luxury cars, and non-running vehicles. Pricing is quote-based, determined by distance, transport type (open vs. enclosed, with enclosed at a 25–40% premium), vehicle operability, and locations.
Product overview
AA Auto Transport operates as a car shipping company offering multiple interconnected transport services. The core offering includes Open Transport Trucking as the most cost-effective method and Enclosed Auto Shipping for premium vehicle protection. Delivery options range from Door-to-Door (most convenient) to Station-to-Station (most economical) with combination options available. Specialized services include Heavy Machinery Shipping for construction equipment, and non-contiguous shipping to Alaska and Hawaii via ocean freight/barge. Supporting services include GPS Tracking, Auto Transport Insurance, and Vehicle Storage. Targeted offerings address specific segments including Student Auto Transport and Job Relocation services. The company maintains 11 physical terminal locations across the US for vehicle drop-off and pickup.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Open Transport Trucking
- Enclosed Auto Shipping
- Door-to-Door Transport
- Station-to-Station Transport
- Combination Transport (Door-to-Station / Station-to-Door)
- Heavy Machinery Shipping
- Alaska Auto Transport
- Hawaii Auto Transport
- Job Relocation Auto Transport
- Student Auto Transport
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 years of continuous operation with maintained driver relationships through economic cycles including 2008 recession
Companies that use AA Auto Transport
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AA Auto Transport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AA Auto Transport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AA Auto Transport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Montway Auto Transport: One of the largest US auto transport brokers/carriers offering door-to-door open and enclosed vehicle shipping nationwide. Directly comparable to AA Auto Transport in core service offering, customer base (individual consumers and dealers), and direct-to-consumer sales model.
- uShip: Online marketplace connecting vehicle owners with transport carriers, including open and enclosed auto shipping services. Comparable to AA in target customer (individual shippers) and use case (interstate vehicle transport), though uShip operates a marketplace model rather than a direct-carrier model.
- Sherpa Auto Transport: National auto transport broker offering door-to-door open and enclosed shipping with a price-lock guarantee model. Closely comparable to AA in service portfolio, customer segments, and direct-to-consumer positioning.
- Easy Auto Ship: US-based auto transport broker providing open, enclosed, and expedited vehicle shipping services nationwide. Directly comparable in target customer, service mix, and door-to-door delivery model.
- Ship a Car Direct: Auto transport broker specializing in door-to-door vehicle shipping with a carrier-rating and quality-control focus. Comparable to AA in core offering (open/enclosed vehicle transport for consumers) and emphasis on vetted carrier networks.
- AmeriFreight Auto Transport: Nationwide auto transport broker offering open and enclosed shipping with gap insurance and discount programs. Directly comparable to AA in customer segments (individual shippers, students, military), service breadth, and direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion.
- Bargain Auto Transport: Direct-to-consumer auto transport broker offering open and enclosed vehicle shipping nationwide with similar pricing and customer-acquisition approach (online quote forms, phone sales). Closely comparable in target market, pricing model, and service breadth.
Broad incumbents
- RoadRunner Auto Transport (Roadrunner Transportation Services): Broader freight and logistics company with a dedicated auto transport division offering open and enclosed vehicle shipping. Comparable to AA's core service line but operates as part of a much larger multimodal freight portfolio, making it a broader incumbent rather than a pure-play peer.
- GoShip: Online freight marketplace that includes vehicle shipping among broader LTL and full-truckload freight services. Comparable to AA in the auto-transport portion of its offering but operates across a wider freight category rather than specializing in vehicles.
Emerging players
- Plycon Transportation Group: Vehicle transport specialist with enclosed and classic-car shipping capabilities, including car storage and white-glove services. Comparable to AA in enclosed-transport and high-value vehicle segment, though smaller in scale and more focused on premium and specialty vehicles.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AA Auto Transport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AA Auto Transport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
AA Auto Transport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AA Auto Transport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AA Auto Transport
What does AA Auto Transport do?
AA Auto Transport provides vehicle shipping services across the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada using open and enclosed transport trucks with door-to-door pickup and delivery. The company operates 11 terminal locations for vehicle drop-off and offers specialized transport for heavy machinery, classic/luxury cars, and non-running vehicles. Pricing is quote-based, determined by distance, transport type (open vs. enclosed, with enclosed at a 25–40% premium), vehicle operability, and locations.
Is AA Auto Transport a public or private company?
AA Auto Transport is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AA Auto Transport founded?
AA Auto Transport was founded in 1994.
Where is AA Auto Transport based?
AA Auto Transport is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does AA Auto Transport make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Transport Services are the primary driver. The others are heavy Machinery Shipping.
Who are AA Auto Transport's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Montway Auto Transport, uShip, Sherpa Auto Transport, Easy Auto Ship, Ship a Car Direct, AmeriFreight Auto Transport and Bargain Auto Transport. Broad incumbents are RoadRunner Auto Transport (Roadrunner Transportation Services) and GoShip. Plycon Transportation Group is listed as an emerging player.
Does AA Auto Transport have an API?
No public API is recorded for AA Auto Transport.
What industry is AA Auto Transport in?
AA Auto Transport's product category is Vehicle Shipping & Auto Transport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKAFAA, Open Auto Transport (Door-to-Door), with a secondary code of HSAKAFAB, Enclosed Auto Transport (Door-to-Door). Its SIC code is 4213.