Sonic auto transport

I want to thanks Dominic to help me find a good driver in a short time. The vehicle was delivered couple days earlier and with perfect condition. I contacted tons of auto shipping companies. Dominic is the only person who keenly helped me as well as gave me a discount rather than urging me to pay and make a reservation in one day. The price they promised is fair and the service they provided is better than some popular auto shipping companies. I'm pretty satisfied with this purchase choice.

Service cost: $1350

Sonic Auto Transportation signed a contract with us four weeks in advance of our needed shipping date. They were priced similar to other transport companies. We needed my aging mother's car shipped from CA to TX to accommodate her wheelchair. I received confirmation a week out, the day before and the day of shipping. At the time the driver supposed to show up, I got a cancelation notice via text. No one would call me back until the next day. When they finally called, I stressed I needed the car by a certain date, they said they could do it, but it would be double the cost from $1,000 to $2,100. This was true extortion. I have since shipped with another company and had a smooth experience. Do not use this company.

Service cost: $2100

Scheduled pick up on March 22nd for Monday March 28th but after two days had to change the date to March 30th giving them 5 days for the change. Tried contacting them via phone and email and got no response until Friday March 25th. At this time they tell me I have to pay a $100 change fee of which there is nothing in their contract about this charge. It says they can charge you something but no number given and on top of that it states they will do everything they can to not charge the fee. I stated I would not pay the fee and if he didn't want to budge on the fee I would find another moving company.

Then he comes up with a $200 cancel charge of which there is nothing in the contract about that either. I sincerely feel this guy Dean was making this up as he went. At the end he threatened to charge my credit card for all of the fees, obviously I won't let that happen. The man talked like a computer, very dry and unrelenting. This is my first vehicle to have to have moved, I will never do it again.

Service cost: $750

In Aug 2021 I researched and researched and researched. I needed to find a company that I could trust and have peace of mind that the car would be safe in their hands. After all the research I did, I found Sonic. There are several companies called Sonic so that got a bit confusing. But the one I dealt with had this number, 530-648-9041. I did my homework on them, DOT, BBB, rating sites, all had Nothing negative but Great reviews. I contacted them and spoke with Bob. Then Heather Flores is who took great of care of. Sept 2021: The car was shipping from VA to WA. Heather explained everything that would happen. THE GOOD: 1) they communicated every step of the way. 2) they have their process down, they where efficient and professional. 3) Car was picked up about two days earlier and delivered a few days earlier than originally planned which was a great surprise since I needed it 4) The person who was actually driving the transporter reached out to me and the plan was set of where I was going to meet him since it’s a giant truck can’t just pull it into a neighborhood. 5) the car was loaded / unloaded with care (I still have that video). 6) I Had a great experience, so much so that I am going to use them again for an April 2022 transport of the same car. THE BAD: I wish they had a unique name because there are other companies called Sonic and it can get confusing and you could end up with the one you didn’t intend to use.

Service cost: $1585

They give you a low quote, and then of course they can't find a driver at that price, so a few days before your pickup you get a text from a "driver" that he was in an accident. Then they try to get you to pay the actual market rate for the move plus more money so they can generate a profit. These guys are a bunch of scammers. Stay away. Use a company that actually has vehicles. I found one that does regular routes. You have to drop off your car at a depot and then pick it up in a parking lot at a predetermined time.

Service cost: $650

DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY.

After booking my initial transport for $1025 and confirming this price and date/time was locked in, I received 0 updates. I called and emailed in the two weeks leading up to my move as I was traveling for work up until the day before I moved from Metro Detroit to Austin, TX and I only had a one day window for the vehicle to get picked up.

The company confirmed the rate and pick up date were locked in. But on the day they were supposed to pick up I was completely ghosted by Tim Cunningham, despite calling multiple times the day before and on that day. Tim 'had an accident on his way to work', and also conveniently left his phone in the car. Cool. Even if that was true, hand the job off to somebody else that can take care of your clients.

After firing them the first time, Tim reached out and baited me into another contract as I was already 3/4 of the way to Texas in my moving van and they all use the same drivers at a rate of +$475 over our initial price. I gave him the opportunity as he said it would be done the next morning. When that date and time passed, I tried to cancel and he gave me the driver's number. I called him and he told me that he spoke with Tim the day before and had told him 'his truck broke down' and he wouldn't be available.

This entire industry is a sham. The fact that they can lure you in with one price and pick up time and are not held to it blows my mind. The entire experience was probably one of the worst and most unpleasant things I've ever had to do as I was simultaneously moving across country. It was very stressful.

All the things I was in control over for my move went flawlessly. Everything that was in Sonic's court was a disaster.

I ended up finding a company to do it within my time frame for $1700 after calling in a favor from a friend. If you need your vehicle moved, call United Road.

I would never use Sonic again--but I feel like the entire industry isn't much better.

Service cost: $1700