By Michael Fox-Rabinovitz · August 8, 2026
The short answer: both companies are auto transport brokers with instant online quote calculators, so the decision comes down to fit. RoadRunner Auto Transport suits you if you want its published no upfront deposit policy (payment due when your shipment is scheduled for pickup), routes to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii, transport for RVs, boats, and heavy equipment, and a large review base (Trustpilot about 4.5 across roughly 1,700 reviews, retrieved July 2026). Car Haul Direct suits you if you want $2M in stated cargo coverage, pickup typically within 1 to 3 days across the 48 contiguous states, and auction and dealer logistics with 3 to 5 free storage days. The table and sections below show the sourced details.
Quick answer: RoadRunner fits island routes (Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean) and RV, boat, or heavy equipment loads, with a published no upfront deposit model. Car Haul Direct fits auction and dealer vehicle shipments: $2M stated cargo coverage, instant online quotes, pickup typically in 1 to 3 days, and 3 to 5 free storage days on auction pickups.
How Do Quotes and Payment Timing Compare?
Both companies let you start without picking up the phone. RoadRunner’s FAQ says you can use its instant online car shipping quote calculator or call (888) 777-2123 to get a quote from one of its pricing specialists (retrieved July 2026). Car Haul Direct also runs an instant online quote calculator where you enter your route, vehicle, and timing and get a number without any phone call required.
The bigger difference is payment timing. RoadRunner’s Our Advantage page states: “No Up-Front Deposit Required. You don’t pay a penny until the day your shipment is scheduled for pickup” (retrieved July 2026). That is one of six published “RoadRunner Advantage” points, and a company article repeats that you pay nothing until a carrier is confirmed and the shipment is scheduled. One caution, stated factually: a separate FAQ block on the same site also describes an optional deposit at booking, with the balance payable to the driver on delivery. If payment timing is the deciding factor for you, confirm which structure appears at checkout before you reserve. RoadRunner’s location pages additionally state you can cancel anytime prior to pickup at no cost (retrieved July 2026).
For Car Haul Direct, the instant calculator requires no phone call; CHD does not publish its deposit and payment timing policy online, so ask for the current terms in writing when you get your quote. Whichever company you choose, remember that broker quotes reflect a live carrier market, which is why car shipping quotes change between the estimate and the day a driver accepts your load.
How Do Licensing and Cargo Coverage Compare?
Car Haul Direct is an FMCSA-licensed broker, USDOT 4321158, with active authority you can verify yourself on the FMCSA SAFER database. RoadRunner publishes its own federal numbers, USDOT 3124544 and MC 89820, on its site, and FMCSA’s SAFER registry lists that USDOT as AM Freight Operations Inc, doing business as RoadRunner Auto Transport, of Bethpage, NY, with active broker authority (retrieved July 2026). In practical terms, both companies arrange transport through independent carrier networks rather than owning the trucks, and our guide to the car shipping broker vs carrier distinction explains what that means for pricing, accountability, and communication.
Coverage is stated differently at each company. Car Haul Direct states $2M in cargo insurance coverage. RoadRunner’s FAQ states that all shipments include basic liability coverage during transit and that comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of coverage, selectable during the booking process; it does not publish dollar limits for either tier on its site (retrieved July 2026). If a specific dollar figure matters to you, ask any provider to show the carrier’s certificate of insurance before your vehicle loads. Verifying USDOT numbers and insurance certificates takes about 10 minutes and is step one in our car shipping scams playbook.
Which Services and Vehicle Types Does Each Company Handle?
Car Haul Direct covers the 48 contiguous states plus flagged cross-border moves, with pickup typically within 1 to 3 days. You can ship open or enclosed; enclosed transport typically runs 40 to 60 percent more than open. Inoperable vehicles are accepted and typically add $100 to $200 to the quote. Where Car Haul Direct concentrates is auction and dealer logistics: auction pickups come with 3 to 5 free storage days, which matters when a title or payment is still clearing after the hammer falls.
RoadRunner publishes a broader service menu (retrieved July 2026). Its site navigation lists open, enclosed, cross country, door-to-door, classic car, luxury and exotic, truck, snowbird, military, and college shipping for individuals; dealer, auction, fleet management, and corporate relocation for businesses; and oversized vehicle, motorcycle, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean transport under specialized services. Its homepage and RV transport pages add RV, boat, and heavy equipment shipping. The company FAQ confirms it ships inoperable vehicles using a carrier equipped with a winch, and that expedited shipping options are available. If your shipment involves an island route or a 30 foot RV, that menu is directly relevant to you.
What Do the Review Platforms Actually Show?
On Trustpilot, RoadRunner Auto Transport holds a TrustScore of about 4.5, rated Excellent, across roughly 1,700 reviews (retrieved July 2026). Car Haul Direct holds 4.2 stars across 13 reviews (retrieved July 2026). We will not spin that gap: Car Haul Direct is a younger company with a small but real review base, and we would rather show you 13 honest reviews than imply a volume we have not earned yet.
On Google, Car Haul Direct shows 4.0 stars across 67 reviews (retrieved July 2026). For RoadRunner, no Google rating could be confirmed at retrieval time; third-party sources conflicted on whether a rating exists, so check the current Google listing directly before weighing it.
On BBB, Car Haul Direct is an Accredited Business with an A rating, accredited 7/13/2026. For RoadRunner, we could not verify a BBB profile under the RoadRunner Auto Transport name at retrieval (July 2026), so we report no BBB rating for it here; check bbb.org directly for the current picture.
Who Should Choose RoadRunner Auto Transport?
RoadRunner is genuinely the better fit in several clear cases:
- You are shipping to or from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Alaska, or Hawaii. Island routes are listed in its specialized services menu, and not every broker covers them.
- You are moving an RV, boat, heavy equipment, or an oversized vehicle. These categories are published parts of its service range (retrieved July 2026).
- You want to pay nothing until pickup is scheduled. Its published no upfront deposit policy means your card is not charged at booking, and its pages state you can cancel anytime prior to pickup at no cost.
- You weigh review volume heavily. A TrustScore of about 4.5 across roughly 1,700 reviews is a substantially larger sample than a newer broker can offer, and that data point is worth real consideration.
Who Should Choose Car Haul Direct?
Car Haul Direct fits you if your priority list looks different:
- You want a stated coverage number. $2M in cargo insurance coverage is published, not implied.
- You bought a car at auction. You get 3 to 5 free storage days on auction pickups, and inoperable units typically add only $100 to $200.
- You need speed. Pickup typically happens within 1 to 3 days across the 48 contiguous states.
- You want a broker you can check in minutes. USDOT 4321158 with active authority is verifiable on SAFER, and you can get an instant quote without a phone call. Browse more decision guides on our blog if you are still comparing.
Frequently asked questions
Is RoadRunner Auto Transport a broker or a carrier?
RoadRunner publishes USDOT 3124544 and MC 89820 on its own site, and FMCSA’s SAFER registry lists that number as AM Freight Operations Inc, dba RoadRunner Auto Transport, with active broker authority (retrieved July 2026). Like Car Haul Direct, it arranges transport through a carrier network rather than operating its own trucks.
Does RoadRunner Auto Transport require an upfront deposit?
Its Our Advantage page states no upfront deposit is required and that payment is due when your shipment is scheduled for pickup (retrieved July 2026). A separate FAQ on the same site also describes an optional deposit at booking, so confirm the payment structure shown at checkout. Car Haul Direct does not publish its payment timing online; ask for the current terms in writing with your quote.
Which company ships to Puerto Rico or the Caribbean?
RoadRunner lists Puerto Rico and Caribbean auto transport in its specialized services menu (retrieved July 2026). Car Haul Direct covers the 48 contiguous states plus flagged cross-border moves.
Which company is better for shipping an RV, boat, or heavy equipment?
RoadRunner publishes RV, boat, and heavy equipment transport among its services (retrieved July 2026), making it the relevant option of the two for those vehicle types. Car Haul Direct focuses on standard cars, trucks, and SUVs on open or enclosed carriers.
How much more does enclosed car shipping cost than open?
At Car Haul Direct, enclosed transport typically runs 40 to 60 percent more than open transport. That premium buys a fully covered trailer, which most owners reserve for classic, luxury, or exotic vehicles.
Can either company ship a car that does not run?
Yes to both. Car Haul Direct ships inoperable vehicles, typically adding $100 to $200 to the quote. RoadRunner’s FAQ confirms it ships non-running vehicles using a carrier equipped with a winch, for an additional fee (retrieved July 2026).
Which company has better reviews?
By volume, RoadRunner: about 4.5 stars across roughly 1,700 Trustpilot reviews (retrieved July 2026). Car Haul Direct shows 4.2 stars across 13 Trustpilot reviews, 4.0 stars across 67 Google reviews, and a BBB A rating with accreditation dated 7/13/2026. Weigh both the scores and the sample sizes for yourself.
How do I verify that either company is legitimate?
Search the USDOT number on the FMCSA SAFER database (4321158 for Car Haul Direct; 3124544 is the number RoadRunner publishes), confirm active authority and insurance, and read the newest reviews rather than the average alone. Our scams playbook walks through the full 10 minute check.
Comparison data retrieved July 2026; verify current terms with each provider.
