SGT vs Sherpa vs Montway pricing protection: Each company tackles price guarantees differently—SGT offers 24-hour price matching (unique), Sherpa provides a 30-day Price Lock Promise (up to $300 protection), and Montway delivers a 30-day TruePrice Guarantee (market-based). Understanding these guarantees is critical because hidden price increases plague the auto transport industry. This comprehensive comparison reveals which company actually protects you from surprise pricing changes, which offers real value despite higher initial quotes, and which might catch you off-guard with late charges. Read on to discover which guarantee truly saves money.
🛡️ What Are These Price Guarantees, Really?
SGT Auto Transport: 24-Hour Price Match Guarantee
The Promise:
SGT guarantees to match any competitor’s price within 24 hours of your quote. Their philosophy: book now, price stays locked.
How It Works:
- Get SGT quote: $850
- Find competitor quote: $750
- SGT matches within 24 hours: $750
- Price locked at $750
Reality Check:
- ✅ Advantage: Competitive pricing pressure keeps rates low
- ❌ Disadvantage: Quote valid only 7 days (pressure to book)
- ❌ Disadvantage: After 7 days, quotes expire and must be re-requested
- ⚠️ Catch: 24-hour match applies to THEIR quote, not final price after carrier assignment
- Average Price: $675-$925 (competitive but variable)
Sherpa Auto Transport: Price Lock Promise (30-day)
The Promise:
Sherpa’s exclusive Price Lock Promise guarantees your quoted price for 30 days. If carrier costs exceed your quote, Sherpa covers up to $300.
How It Works:
- Get Sherpa quote: $1,300
- Book with Sherpa (30-day protection begins)
- Carrier costs spike to $1,600 (market increase)
- You still pay: $1,300 (Sherpa eats $300)
- Extra $100? You pay it (above $300 limit)
Reality Check:
- ✅ Advantage: 30-day protection (longest in industry)
- ✅ Advantage: Up to $300 Sherpa-covered increase
- ❌ Disadvantage: Higher initial quotes ($1,300-$1,850 average)
- ✅ Advantage: Transparent, premium pricing model
- Average Price: $1,300-$1,850 (highest, but guaranteed)
Montway Auto Transport: TruePrice Guarantee (30-day)
The Promise:
Montway’s TruePrice Guarantee is a 30-day price lock. Similar to Sherpa but marketed as “transparent, customer-first pricing.” Quote = final price for 30 days.
How It Works:
- Get Montway quote: $1,200
- Book with Montway
- Quote valid for 30 days at $1,200
- Market increases? Montway covers difference for 30 days
Reality Check:
- ✅ Advantage: 30-day protection (matches Sherpa)
- ✅ Advantage: Lower quotes than Sherpa ($1,200 vs $1,300)
- ⚠️ Middle Ground: Less specific than Sherpa’s “$300 cap”—Montway says “covers charge” but limit unclear
- ✅ Advantage: 30,000+ trucker network = competitive pricing
- Average Price: $1,200-$1,800 (competitive with Sherpa)
📍 Real-World Pricing Example: LA to NYC (2,800 miles)
| Company | Initial Quote | 24-48hr Update | 30-Day Final | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGT | $850 | Potentially +$150 | $950-1,050 | 24-hr match only |
| Sherpa | $1,300 | Locked | $1,300 | 30-day Price Lock (+$300 Sherpa cover) |
| Montway | $1,200 | Locked | $1,200 | 30-day TruePrice |
Analysis: SGT cheapest upfront but quote expires in 7 days. Sherpa most expensive but 30-day certainty. Montway middle ground with 30-day protection.
📋 Price Guarantee Breakdown: What’s Really Protected?
SGT: 24-Hour Match (Limited Protection)
✅ What’s Covered:
- Initial quote vs competitor quotes (24 hours)
- Price matching if you show competitor quote
❌ What’s NOT Covered:
- Quote changes after 7 days (expires, must re-quote)
- Carrier costs after booking
- Market rate fluctuations
- Final carrier fees
Reality: SGT protects your initial quote for only 7 days. After that, no protection.
Sherpa: Price Lock Promise (Strong Protection)
✅ What’s Covered:
- Quoted price locked for 30 days
- Market increases up to $300 (Sherpa covers)
- Premium included (transparent pricing)
- Carrier assigned with locked price
❌ What’s NOT Covered:
- Market increases over $300 (you pay overage)
- Expedited service (costs extra)
- International shipping (limited)
Reality: Sherpa protects pricing for full 30 days with $300 buffer.
Montway: TruePrice Guarantee (Strong Protection)
✅ What’s Covered:
- Quoted price locked for 30 days
- Market increases covered (amount unspecified)
- 30,000+ trucker network = competitive rates
- No “bait-and-switch” tactics
❌ What’s NOT Covered:
- Amount of market increase coverage unclear (unlike Sherpa’s “$300“)
- Expedited service (costs extra)
Reality: Montway protects pricing for 30 days but specifics vague compared to Sherpa.
👥 Customer Experiences: Real Stories from Reviews
SGT Advantage Stories
“Great price match guaranteed. I got $850, showed them $750 competitor, they matched same day. Booked immediately.” — Trustpilot
“24-hour match worked as promised. Competitive pricing.” — Google Review
SGT Issues
“After 7 days, quote expired. Had to re-quote. New price was $200 higher. No protection.” — BBB
“Price match is only 24 hours. After that, no guarantee.” — Yelp
Sherpa Advantage Stories
“Price Lock Promise saved me. Quote $1,300, market spiked to $1,600. Sherpa covered $300, I paid original $1,300. Peace of mind worth premium.” — Verified Google
“30 days is perfect. Plenty of time to arrange everything without price anxiety.” — Trustpilot
Montway Advantage Stories
“TruePrice Guarantee worked great. 30 days locked, no surprises.” — Google Review
“Better than SGT because 30-day lock vs 7-day expire.” — Testimonial
💵 Which Is Actually Cheapest? The Real Math
Scenario 1: Quick Booking (Within 3 Days)
- SGT: $850 (best immediate price)
- Sherpa: $1,300 (premium pricing)
- Montway: $1,200 (competitive)
- Winner: SGT (if you book immediately)
Scenario 2: Normal Timeline (10-14 Days Booking)
- SGT: $850 quote expires → must re-quote at potentially $1,050
- Sherpa: $1,300 locked (30-day protection active)
- Montway: $1,200 locked (30-day protection active)
- Winner: Sherpa/Montway (SGT quote likely expired, new quote higher)
Scenario 3: Market Rate Spike Occurs During Shipping
- SGT: Quote $850 booked → carrier charges $1,100 → You pay difference $250
- Sherpa: Quote $1,300 locked → market spikes → Sherpa covers up to $300 → You pay $1,300
- Montway: Quote $1,200 locked → market spikes → Montway covers → You pay $1,200
- Winner: Sherpa/Montway (protected from increases)
When to Choose Each Company
Choose SGT If:
- ✅ You’re booking IMMEDIATELY (within 24 hours)
- ✅ Budget is absolute priority
- ✅ You’re comfortable with 7-day quote expiration
- ✅ You can watch for competitor quotes daily
- ✅ You want cheapest upfront price
- Best Route: Standard routes with immediate booking. See our SGT review for details.
Choose Sherpa If:
- ✅ Price certainty matters most (30-day lock)
- ✅ You need premium customer service
- ✅ Market spikes concern you (up to $300 covered)
- ✅ You have time to book (not rushing)
- ✅ Peace of mind worth premium pricing
- Best Route: Any route where price lock eliminates stress. Learn more about Sherpa’s Price Lock Promise.
Choose Montway If:
- ✅ You want 30-day protection like Sherpa
- ✅ Initial pricing cheaper than Sherpa ($1,200 vs $1,300)
- ✅ Large trucker network matters (30,000+)
- ✅ Long-distance shipping (cheapest at $0.95/mile)
- ✅ Balance of price + protection desired
- Best Route: Long-distance moves where per-mile rates matter. See our Montway review.
⏰ The Hidden Truth: What Happens After 30 Days?
After Sherpa’s 30-day lock expires:
- Price protection ends
- Final carrier fee determined
- Difference (if any) due from you
After Montway’s 30-day protection expires:
- Price lock ends
- Final billing occurs
- No additional protection
SGT after 7-day expiration:
- Quote invalid
- Market rate applies
- No protection whatsoever
📊 Comparison Table: SGT vs Sherpa vs Montway
| Factor | SGT | Sherpa | Montway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Guarantee Type | 24-hr match | 30-day lock | 30-day lock |
| Quote Valid Period | 7 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Market Increase Protection | None | Up to $300 | Unspecified |
| Average Quote (2,800 miles) | $850 | $1,300 | $1,200 |
| Final Typical Price | $1,000-$1,150 | $1,300 | $1,200 |
| BBB Rating | B (4.6/5 Trustpilot) | A+ (4.9/5) | A+ (4.5/5) |
| Best For | Budget + immediate | Price certainty + premium | Long-distance budget |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ #1: Does SGT’s price match guarantee protect me after booking?
Answer: No. SGT’s 24-hour price match only applies to GETTING the initial quote. Once booked and 7 days passes, your quote expires. If carrier costs increase, you may pay more. Compare SGT with other companies.
FAQ #2: Is Sherpa’s Price Lock Promise worth the extra $300-400?
Answer: Yes, IF price certainty matters. You’re paying premium for guarantee. Real example: Quote $1,300, market spikes to $1,600, Sherpa covers $300, you pay $1,300 (vs SGT where you’d owe $1,100+ final cost). For peace of mind, yes worth it.
FAQ #3: What happens if market rates DROP after I book?
Answer: You keep your locked price. SGT, Sherpa, Montway all keep you at booked price—they don’t refund if rates drop. Price lock protects against INCREASES, not against overpaying.
FAQ #4: Can these companies raise prices after 30 days?
Answer: Yes. After Sherpa and Montway’s 30-day protection, final pricing determined. After SGT’s 7-day quote, quote expires completely. Always plan to book WITHIN the protection window.
FAQ #5: Which company has best customer service if price dispute occurs?
Answer: Sherpa has strongest track record for resolving disputes (4.9/5 BBB). Montway also strong (4.5/5 BBB). SGT less responsive to price complaints (B rating, 4.6/5 Trustpilot). Explore pricing breakdown options.
FAQ #6: Can I negotiate prices with any of these companies?
Answer: SGT most negotiable (24-hour match policy encourages haggling). Sherpa least negotiable (Price Lock is their set price). Montway middle ground. All offer discounts for volume/military/repeat customers. Ask upfront.
