Is this your first time shipping a car? If so, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out what options are available and whether they’ll fit your budget. Great news! Auto Shipping Group provides affordable open and enclosed transport options to meet all of your vehicle shipping needs.
In this blog, we’ll break down each option, explain how they work and when to use them, as well as how costs are calculated. Our goal is to help you make the best decision for you, your vehicle, and your budget.
Let’s get started!
What is Open Car Shipping?
You’ve likely seen open car shipping in action while driving down a highway, even if you didn’t know a name for it. Open car shipping is when vehicles are loaded onto a trailer, usually two levels, where all the cars are visible. Just like if you were driving it yourself, your vehicle will be exposed to road dust, rain, sun, and even snow if it’s that time of year.
Open car shipping is the industry standard and the preferred option for nearly 100% of our customers. Why? Because open car shipping is affordable. Open trailers are readily available, easy to load and unload, and can transport up to 10 vehicles at once. Talk about efficiency!
What is Enclosed Car Shipping?
With enclosed car shipping, vehicles are transported inside a trailer with either hard or soft walls. These trailers provide a layer of security and protection from the elements and road hazards. They’re also often equipped with a hydraulic lift gate to help load and unload vehicles. However, keep in mind that most enclosed trailers are not completely dust-proof, and vehicles may be exposed to the elements during loading and unloading.
Enclosed car shipping is ideal for luxury, exotic, classic, or collector vehicles that require extra care. Vehicles with low ground clearance may also require an enclosed trailer’s lift gate and ramp for safe loading and unloading. Since there are fewer enclosed trailers available and supply is spread thin, this option tends to be more expensive than open car shipping.
Pros & Cons of Open Car Shipping
For the average car, truck, SUV, electric vehicle, and van, open car shipping is a safe, reliable, and affordable option. Open car shipping is widely available, making it a convenient option for car owners across the country.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Budget-friendly cost – Flexible scheduling – Safe and reliable | – Exposure to elements – Lack of privacy |
Pros & Cons of Enclosed Car Shipping
Choosing this type of transport is worth the cost if you’re the owner of a luxury brand like Ferrari, Porsche, or Lamborghini, or if you’re shipping a valuable collector car. Enclosed car shipping has a few advantages worth considering if price isn’t a top priority.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Protection from elements – Higher level of security – Vehicles hidden from view | – Premium price – Lack of availability – Longer wait time |
What is the Cost Difference Between Open and Enclosed Car Shipping
In general, enclosed car shipping costs 10 to 40% more than open car shipping. This is mostly due to supply and demand. Most customers use open transport, so there is no need for a large supply of enclosed trailers. In addition, enclosed trailers transport fewer vehicles at one time. This lower capacity means a higher individual price in order to cover the carrier company’s costs.
| Distance: | Open Transport: | Enclosed Transport: |
| Less than 500 miles | $1.84/mile | $2.52/mile |
| Between 501-1,500 miles | $.90/mile | $1.24/mile |
| 1,500+ miles | $.58/mile | $.83/mile |
Both open and enclosed car shipping costs are also determined by the condition of the vehicle being shipped (Is it operational? Does it have after-market modifications?). Other factors that impact car shipping costs include total travel distance, the pickup and drop-off locations, the first available pickup date, and the time of year. Regardless of whether you select open or enclosed transport, standard insurance coverage is included in your shipping cost.
The best way to get an accurate idea of how much it will cost to ship your vehicle is to use our cost calculator to receive an instant quote. Just enter your vehicle’s year, make, and model, along with a few other details, to get a price for either open or enclosed car shipping.
Overall: Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping
While both open and enclosed are proven car shipping methods, there are unique advantages and disadvantages to each. The chart below will help you clearly compare open and enclosed car shipping so you can choose the option that’s best for your specific needs.
| Open Car Shipping: | Enclosed Car Shipping: |
| Standard service at a lower cost | Premium service with a higher cost |
| Higher capacity, easy to book | Lower capacity, fewer trailers, may need advanced booking |
| Quick and efficient loading and unloading | Vehicles may take more time to load and unload |
| Vehicle exposed to road and weather conditions | Layer of protection against road and weather conditions |
Auto Shipping Group Offers Affordable Car Shipping Options
When the time comes to ship your vehicle, consider Auto Shipping Group. We have over 30 years of experience and are a top choice for both open and enclosed car shipping services. Our online process makes getting a quote and booking your car shipping simple and convenient. Of course, our friendly team is here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your vehicle arrives safely and on time.
Learn more about our customer service or give us a call at (888) 588-1269 with any questions.