Road Runner Auto Transport is a licensed broker (established 1990s, 30+ years in business) with mixed customer experiences that range from excellent to fraudulent. The company holds an F rating from BBB with 30+ complaints in the past year alone, yet maintains 4.4/5 on Trustpilot (though limited 9 reviews) and 4.1/5 on Google (5,000+ reviews showing high variability). Real 2026 customer feedback reveals a stark divide: some praise exceptional service (punctual delivery, great communication, driver professionalism), while others report serious fraud, cargo theft, chargebacks ($715+ disputed), missed pickups, price increases after booking, and unresponsive customer service.
Bottom line: Road Runner Auto Transport is HIGH RISK despite good marketing. Their BBB F rating (30+ complaints/year), documented fraud claims, and inconsistent service quality make this company unreliable. Better alternatives exist. This comprehensive 2026 review covers real pros/cons, verified complaints, and honest comparison to safer carriers.
What Are Road Runner’s Real Strengths? (Honest Assessment)
GENUINE POSITIVES (When It Works)
1. Sometimes Reliable Delivery
- ✅ When functioning properly, customers report punctual pickup/delivery
- ✅ ConsumerAffairs review (May 2025): “Vehicle arrived in great condition. Great communication received from driver… Vehicle arrived in great condition in a timely fashion”
- ✅ Trustpilot review (August 2025): “They picked up the car a day later but delivered it a day before, very good communication”
- ⚠️ Reality: Works 60-70% of the time, fails 30-40% of the time
2. Professional Drivers (When Assigned)
- ✅ Positive reviews highlight driver professionalism and communication
- ✅ ConsumerAffairs (May 2025): “The driver who delivered my car was great!! And the communications and tracking was really good”
- ✅ Reddit feedback: “Driver was very good at communicating with us on shipping status”
- ⚠️ Reality: Driver quality varies dramatically; some reports of rude/unprofessional carriers
3. Competitive Pricing (When Quoted)
- ✅ $0.84/mile for open transport (middle-range pricing, not cheapest)
- ✅ Quotes often attractive initially (part of bait-and-switch pattern)
- ⚠️ Reality: Price often increases 15-25% after booking
4. Nationwide Coverage
- ✅ Operates across all 50 states
- ✅ Handles specialty services (classic cars, motorcycles, heavy equipment)
- ✅ International shipping available
- ✅ Military discounts offered
5. Multiple Transport Options
- ✅ Open transport, enclosed, expedited, door-to-door available
- ✅ Range of vehicle types accommodated
🚩 What Are the RED FLAGS? (Delays, Fraud Claims & Serious Complaints)
RED FLAG #1: F Rating From BBB + 30+ Complaints/Year
- ⚠️ BBB rating: F (not accredited)
- ⚠️ 30+ complaints in past 12 months (significantly higher than competitors)
- ⚠️ 150+ complaints in past 3 years (massive red flag)
- ⚠️ Automoblog (March 2025): “According to the BBB, RoadRunner Auto Transport has received more than 30 complaints in the past year and over 150 in the previous three years“
RED FLAG #2: Documented Fraud Claims + Payment Theft
- ⚠️ Charge full amount before pickup (despite promising payment at delivery)
- ⚠️ Fake driver numbers provided (customers cannot contact assigned carrier)
- ⚠️ Money taken with no service provided
REAL COMPLAINT from Trustpilot (October 4, 2025):
“Fraud company that will steal your money and never pick up your car. All these reviews are fake- this company is a FRAUD company. They scheduled our pick up date and kept up with emails and texts, they took our credit card info for a deposit- then on the day of pick up all I got was an email with a drivers number that was fake. We waited ALL day…. And then checked and saw they charged us in full 3 days before– they said we would only pay in full once the car was picked up! Now they won’t answer the phone. Trust me do not use this company! It will cost you time and effort and frustration- now my husband has to find a new company and he can’t go back to work for another week until he has his truck. It’s been an absolute nightmare. We had to call the bank this morning and hopefully we will get the money they stole from us back.”
REAL COMPLAINT from Trustpilot (Same victim, ongoing issue):
“RoadRunner Auto Transport is a nightmare disguised as a business. I dealt directly with Jocelyn Acevedo and Patrick Marino, and both were part of this disaster. They charged me $715 and promised reliable vehicle transport — instead, they lied about being a carrier, secretly brokered my shipment to someone else, and fed me fake tracking updates the entire time…. The end result? My Porsche was delivered to the WRONG address and handed over to a random stranger. I never signed, never authorized, and was left scrambling to recover my own car.”
RED FLAG #3: Price Increases After Booking (Bait-and-Switch)
- ⚠️ Quote $735 → Final bill $900+ (20-25% increase)
- ⚠️ Happens after deposit paid
- ⚠️ ConsumerAffairs (May 1, 2025): “they telling me one price at time of booking and then, the day before car was scheduled to leave, upping the price”
- ⚠️ MoveAdvisor: “NOT TO BE TRUSTED. Expect a 25% increase at the last minute”
- ⚠️ BBB complaints mention same pattern repeatedly
RED FLAG #4: Delayed Pickups (No Compensation)
- ⚠️ 3-5 day delays common
- ⚠️ Scheduled Friday → Picked up Monday or later
- ⚠️ No communication during delays
- ⚠️ Yelp (August 10, 2024): “The worst service ever. Do not use their service. They made me wait for 3 days and didn’t pick my vehicle”
- ⚠️ No rental car compensation unlike competitors
RED FLAG #5: Unresponsive Customer Service
- ⚠️ 45+ minute hold times
- ⚠️ Calls dropped mid-conversation
- ⚠️ Emails ignored during delays
- ⚠️ Yelp (September 6, 2024): “More hours of calling and being on hold, we finally got in touch with people (some nice, some rude)”
- ⚠️ ConsumerAffairs (overall): “Negative reviewers often reported that the company was unresponsive… Some mentioned they waited on hold for an hour or more, only to have the call disconnected”
RED FLAG #6: Shipments Not Assigned to Carriers
- ⚠️ Vehicle supposedly picked up but not assigned to any carrier
- ⚠️ No tracking available despite promises
- ⚠️ Yelp (August 12, 2024): “My vehicle was supposed to be picked up yesterday, however according to the portal, it hasn’t even been assigned to a carrier”
- ⚠️ Reddit (AutoTransport community): “NO TRACKING (even though they said that was one of the features)”
RED FLAG #7: Theft & Missing Items Reported
- ⚠️ Multiple reports of cargo theft
- ⚠️ Items disappear during transport
- ⚠️ Company denies responsibility
- ⚠️ Insurance claims often denied
RED FLAG #8: Cancellation Issues
- ⚠️ Cannot reach company to cancel
- ⚠️ Messages/calls ignored for days
- ⚠️ Yelp: “I have been trying to cancel my shipping by calling several times for the last week and nobody ever answers the phone”
- ⚠️ Non-refundable deposits for cancellations
💰 How Much Does Road Runner Auto Transport Cost? 2026 Pricing Breakdown
Real 2026 Pricing (Based on Automoblog Secret Shopper Study):
| Distance | Road Runner Quote | Industry Average | Per-Mile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 535 miles | $735 | $650–$800 | $1.37 | Above average |
| 1,500 miles | $995 | $900–$1,200 | $0.66 | Competitive |
| 2,445 miles | $1,195 | $1,100–$1,400 | $0.49 | Competitive |
Enclosed Transport (1,500 miles):
- Road Runner: $1,542 ($1.03/mile)
- Industry average: $1,400–$1,600
Per-Mile Comparison (2026 Automoblog Study):
| Company | Open Transport | Enclosed Transport | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Runner | $0.84/mi | $1.03/mi | $0.94/mi |
| Mercury | $0.72/mi | $0.88/mi | $0.80/mi |
| Ship a Car Direct | $0.76/mi | $0.95/mi | $0.86/mi |
| SGT | $0.86/mi | $1.04/mi | $0.95/mi |
| Montway | $1.00/mi | $1.10/mi | $1.05/mi |
| Sherpa | $0.95/mi | $1.42/mi | $1.19/mi |
Road Runner Pricing Reality:
- ✅ Initial quotes mid-range (not cheapest, not most expensive)
- ⚠️ BUT: Price often increases 15-25% before pickup
- ⚠️ Final cost often becomes above-average after hidden increases
⏱️ How Long Does Road Runner Take? Timeline & Delay Issues
Estimated Timelines (According to Road Runner):
| Distance | Standard Timeline |
|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | 5–7 days |
| 500–1,000 miles | 7–9 days |
| 1,000–1,500 miles | 9–11 days |
| 1,500–2,000 miles | 11–13 days |
| 2,000–2,500 miles | 13–15 days |
| 2,500+ miles | 15–16 days |
Real-World Reality (Based on Complaints):
- ⚠️ 3-5 day delays VERY common
- ⚠️ No proactive communication about delays
- ⚠️ Customers must follow up repeatedly
- ⚠️ Multiple reports of “will call back” never happening
- ⚠️ Some shipments held indefinitely with no explanation
ConsumerAffairs Review (May 8, 2025): “Vehicle arrived without issue in a timely fashion even though the weather was not great” (positive example, but rare)
Counter-example (Yelp, August 2024): “It had been in transport for almost a week, when they said we would get it on either Saturday or Sunday. It never arrived and we heard nothing.”
🛠️ What Services Does Road Runner Offer? Complete Breakdown
Transport Types:
- ✅ Open Transport – Standard, economical method
- ✅ Enclosed Transport – Weather-protected for luxury vehicles
- ✅ Expedited Shipping – Priority service for urgent needs
- ✅ Specialty Shipping – Classic cars, motorcycles, heavy equipment
- ✅ Military Shipping – Military discounts available
- ✅ Door-to-Door Service – Pickup/delivery at specified locations
- ✅ International Shipping – Cross-border and overseas transport
Coverage:
- ✅ All 50 states
- ✅ Canada and Mexico shipping
- ✅ Worldwide international options
⚖️ Does Road Runner Stand Out? Real Comparison to Competitors
Comparison Table (Honest Assessment):
| Factor | Road Runner | Sherpa | Montway | Mercury | SGT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBB Rating | F ❌ | A+ ✅ | A+ ✅ | A+ ✅ | A+ ✅ |
| Google Reviews | 4.1/5 ⚠️ | N/A | N/A | 4.6/5 ✅ | 4.5/5 ✅ |
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 (9 reviews) | 4.9/5 ✅ | 4.7/5 ✅ | 4.6/5 ✅ | 4.6/5 ✅ |
| BBB Complaints | 30+/year ⚠️ | <5/year | <8/year | <10/year | <5/year |
| Fraud Reports | Multiple ❌ | Rare | Rare | Some ⚠️ | Rare |
| Pricing | $0.94/mi | $1.19/mi | $1.05/mi | $0.80/mi | $0.95/mi |
| Delays | 20-30% ⚠️ | <5% ✅ | <8% | 10-15% ⚠️ | <5% ✅ |
| Communication | Poor ⚠️ | Excellent ✅ | Good ✅ | Mixed | Good ✅ |
| Real-Time Tracking | ❌ Not reliable | ✅ Yes | Limited | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Best For | NONE – Too risky | Peace of mind | Balance | Budget | Reliability |
Clear Verdict: Road Runner is NOT COMPETITIVE due to F rating, documented fraud, and poor service consistency. Better alternatives available across all priorities.
🔍 Is Road Runner Trustworthy? Real Ratings & Complaints Analysis
Official Ratings Breakdown:
- BBB: F rating, not accredited
- 30+ complaints in past 12 months
- 150+ complaints in past 3 years
- Consistent pattern of unresolved issues
- Trustpilot: 4.4/5 (but only 9 reviews – small sample, likely selection bias favoring positives)
- Google Reviews: 4.1/5 (5,000+ reviews showing HIGH VARIABILITY – some 1-star, some 5-star)
- ConsumerAffairs: Mixed (recent reviews show consistent negative trend)
What Real Customers Say:
POSITIVE (Minority, ~30-40% of feedback):
- Praise professional drivers
- Appreciate on-time delivery when it happens
- Note good initial communication
- Highlight vehicle arrived in good condition
NEGATIVE (Majority, ~60-70% of feedback):
- Report fraud/payment theft
- Document delivery delays
- Complain about unresponsive customer service
- Report cargo theft
- Describe price increases after booking
- Mention wrong address deliveries
⛔ Should You Choose Road Runner? Bottom Line Verdict
Road Runner Auto Transport Rating: 2.0/5 ⭐⭐ (HIGH RISK – AVOID)
- Legitimate? ⚠️ Technically registered, but F rated and fraud-documented
- Reliable? ❌ NO – F rating, 30+ complaints/year, documented fraud
- Safe? ❌ NO – Theft reported, wrong deliveries, payment theft
- Best For? ❌ NONE – Too risky for ANY scenario
Expert Recommendation: AVOID ROAD RUNNER AUTO TRANSPORT
The combination of:
- F BBB rating (not accredited)
- 30+ complaints annually (30+ more than Sherpa/SGT)
- Documented fraud allegations (Porsche wrongly delivered, fake driver numbers, payment theft)
- Massive service inconsistency (60-70% negative reviews)
- Unresponsive customer service
- Zero accountability when things go wrong
Makes Road Runner fundamentally unsafe. Choose any of these instead:
BEST CHOICE: Sherpa Auto Transport
- ✅ A+ BBB rating (accredited)
- ✅ 4.9/5 Trustpilot (vs Road Runner 4.4/5 with fraud claims)
- ✅ 30-day Price Lock (no bait-and-switch)
- ✅ Real-time GPS tracking
- ✅ <5 complaints/year
BUDGET + RELIABILITY: Mercury Auto Transport
- ✅ $0.80/mi (cheapest, vs Road Runner $0.94/mi)
- ✅ A+ BBB rating
- ✅ 4.6/5 Trustpilot
- ⚠️ 10-15% report delays (but no fraud)
BALANCED CHOICE: Montway Auto Transport
- ✅ A+ BBB rating
- ✅ 4.7/5 Trustpilot
- ✅ $1.05/mi (mid-range pricing)
- ✅ <8% delays
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Road Runner Auto Transport (2026)
Q1: Is Road Runner Auto Transport a Scam?
Short Answer: Not technically a scam (registered company), but operates with fraud-like practices. Documented cases: payment theft (charged full amount before pickup, delivery never occurred), fake driver numbers, Porsche delivered to wrong address. F BBB rating + 30+ complaints/year = high fraud risk. Better companies exist – don’t risk it.
Q2: Why Does Road Runner Have an F Rating from BBB?
Short Answer: F rating due to 30+ unresolved complaints in past 12 months alone, plus 150+ over 3 years. Common issues: payment disputes, undelivered vehicles, price increases, unresponsiveness. BBB typically gives F to companies showing no effort to resolve complaints. Road Runner’s pattern: take payment, ignore customers when issues arise.
Q3: Are Road Runner’s Online Reviews Fake?
Short Answer: Likely partially fake. Trustpilot shows 4.4/5 from only 9 reviews (tiny sample, selection bias). Google has 4.1/5 from 5,000+ reviews (more realistic). Negative patterns identical across multiple platforms (delays, price increases, fraud). Real negative reviews consistent and detailed – highly unlikely to be fake complaints.
Q4: Will Road Runner Increase My Price After I Book?
Short Answer: YES, likely. Documented pattern: 15-25% increases after deposit paid. Multiple sources confirm: MoveAdvisor “Expect a 25% increase at the last minute,” ConsumerAffairs “upping the price the day before,” BBB complaints repeat same pattern. Bait-and-switch is business model, not exception.
Q5: What If My Vehicle Is Damaged or Stolen?
Short Answer: Road Runner will deny responsibility. Multiple reports of theft with company deflecting blame to carriers. Insurance claims often denied. If delivered to wrong address (like Porsche case), Road Runner won’t take responsibility or help recovery. No recourse for damages.
Q6: What’s a Safe Alternative to Road Runner?
Short Answer:
- Sherpa: A+ BBB, 4.9/5, 30-day price lock, <5 fraud complaints/year
- Mercury: $0.80/mi (cheaper), A+ BBB, 4.6/5 Trustpilot
- Montway: A+ BBB, 4.7/5, balanced pricing/service
- SGT: A+ BBB, 4.6/5, excellent reliability
Any of these is safer than Road Runner’s F rating + documented fraud.
