Planning a move across the country can be a real logistical nightmare – there are so many schedules to make, details to take care of, and things to coordinate that your organizational skills will be put to the ultimate test. And even when you’ve found a reliable moving company to transport your belongings, booked your move, and put your paperwork in order, you’ll still have some more strategic choices to make – such as how to get to your new home yourself.
You may drive to your final destination or you may ship your car and fly to your new city – either way, there will be important decisions to make and plenty of things to organize once again.
If you prefer to have your vehicle shipped to your new state rather than drive it across the country, you’ll generally have two major options to consider: enclosed car transport and open car transport. While both methods involve transportation by truck, they have their own specific advantages and disadvantages.
Here is everything you need to know about open vs enclosed auto transport in order to make an informed decision about which option is better for your circumstances, your budget, and your vehicle.
Differences between open and enclosed car shipping
When it comes to enclosed vs open car shipping, the main difference between the two lies in the type of truck used in each auto transportation method:
1) With open air car shipping, your vehicle is transported in an open car trailer. Open transport car shipping companies use long (typically between 75 and 80 feet in length), two-level trailers with a longer row of cars on the top level and a shorter row on the bottom one (there also exist single-level trailers that are used for luxurious vehicles or expedited deliveries and dully trucks with single-level tow trailers that are used for short-distance and local deliveries). There are no sides and no roof on the open-air trailer, so the vehicles are exposed to the elements.
Open transport is suitable for any type of vehicle and more affordable than enclosed auto transport, so it is much more commonly used (the majority of vehicles – about 90% – are shipped via open auto transport).
2) With enclosed car shipping, your vehicle is transported in an enclosed auto trailer. It has a roof and four sides and provides a safe and secure environment for vehicles during transportation. Covered trucks are generally the same size as open car trailers, but due to the restrictions created by the enclosing walls, they cannot fit as many vehicles – while an open-air car hauler transports up to 10 automobiles, a multi-car enclosed trailer can ship up to 7 or 8 cars (two-car enclosed trailers and one-car trailers exist as well – they’re used for extremely expensive, antique or rare vehicles, or for express deliveries).
There are hard-sided and soft-sided enclosed car trailers:
- Hard-sided trailers look like standard moving company trucks. They have solid walls made of tin, aluminum, or fiberglass and provide ultimate protection to the vehicles inside them;
- Soft-sided trailers have hard shells in the front, back and top, and a soft canvas pulled tight on the sides. The canvas cannot provide as good protection to the vehicles inside the track as solid walls, but it takes less space and weighs less.
Enclosed car transport is safer, but more expensive than open auto transport.
Related: How to ship a car to another state
Pros and cons of open auto transport
Open auto transport is an affordable and efficient method of transporting a vehicle across the country. Even though the cars are exposed to the elements, auto transport companies take care to deliver the vehicles to their final destination in good condition – the cars are neatly strapped and packed in the truck (so they don’t move during transit and vibrations are greatly reduced), the well-trained drivers ensure quick and safe transportation, etc.
Advantages of open-air car shipping:
- Open air transport is the most affordable auto transport option;
- Open car transport is the industry’s standard, so there are more open car carriers available, transporting along more routes. This makes open transport very flexible and means that you can easily secure an open-air car shipping service on short notice;
- Open transport is very efficient as more vehicles can be transported with each shipment – seven to ten vehicles can be loaded onto a two-tier trailer and shipped at once, which saves fuel and time on the road (and therefore, money);
- Open auto transport is faster than enclosed auto transport due to greater number of open car carriers and the efficiency of open auto transport;
- Open car transport suits all types of vehicles, regardless of their size, height, weight, or model;
- The driver can easily inspect the vehicles during transport and see whether everything is all right with one look at the side mirrors;
- An open-air trailer is lighter than an enclosed trailer, which means that it uses less fuel, thus protecting the environment and reducing fuel costs.
Disadvantages of open-air car shipping:
- Open car trailers are open-air which means that vehicles are exposed to the elements and have no protection from the weather (rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.);
- The vehicles on an open car trailer are not well protected against dust and potentially damaging debris that may get kicked up on the road;
- Cars shipped in an open trailer aren’t individually covered, so your vehicle may arrive dirty and in need of a wash;
- The insurance does not cover road hazards.
To sum it up, open auto transport is cheaper, faster, and more flexible than enclosed auto transport, but less secure as vehicles are exposed to damage caused by harsh weather conditions and debris.
Pros and cons of enclosed auto transport
Enclosed car transport offers the highest level of security and protection to a vehicle in transit. It is the transportation method of choice for collectibles, antiques, luxury cars, sports cars, and other highly-prizes autos. Enclosed auto transport, however, is more expensive and less efficient than open auto transport.
Advantages of enclosed car shipping:
- Vehicles transported in enclosed trucks are protected from the elements, so the weather conditions have no effect on them;
- Cars on enclosed auto trailers are protected from road dust and debris;
- Enclosed car transport provides high level of security – there is no road hazard and no risk of damage during transportation;
- Enclosed trucks are equipped with drip pans to keep any transmission fluids from the upper level vehicles from getting on the bottom rack vehicles;
- Enclosed trailers are equipped with lift gates or hydraulic ramps that lower all the way flat to the ground. This allows vehicles to be loaded in a horizontal position, thereby ensuring the safety of low-clearance vehicles – enclosed carriers are able to handle vehicles with a clearance as low as 1″ without damaging the bottom during loading and unloading;
- Enclosed transport involves fewer stops along the route;
- Drivers of enclosed auto trailers have rich experience in caring for high-end vehicles;
- Many enclosed car shipping companies offer a white glove transport option – glove car services include special care for your vehicle, greater insurance protection, transportation in a single-car trailer, and regular updates on the whereabouts and condition of your vehicle;
- Enclosed car carriers offer higher levels of insurance coverage – up to $2,000,000.
Disadvantages of enclosed car shipping:
- Enclosed car transport services are more expensive than open car transport services;
- There are fewer enclosed car carriers which makes enclosed car shipping harder to schedule;
- Fewer cars can be moved in a covered truck which makes enclosed auto transport less efficient than open auto transport and results in slower service;
- There is less opportunity for the driver to make routine inspections of the vehicles during transit;
- Enclosed trailers are heavier, so they’re less fuel-efficient than open-air models (which leads to increased fuel costs).
Good to know: Enclosed car transport prices are higher because:
- Covered trucks are more expensive than open car trailers, as they’re fully enclosed and outfitted with specialized equipment (such as lift gates and hydraulic ramps);
- Enclosed auto trailers cannot fit as many cars as open auto trailers, which makes them less efficient and, therefore, more expensive;
- Fuel consumption is higher with enclosed auto transport;
- There are fewer enclosed carriers (only 10 percent of the auto shipping companies in the country) which makes them less available and thus more expensive;
- The enclosed car transport service includes more personal care from the driver.
See also: Ship a car or drive it when moving across country
Should you choose open or enclosed car shipping?
To find the right answer to the question “Should I ship my car open or enclosed?”, you need to consider your specific circumstances, personal preferences, and available budget.
Open-air car shipping is your better option when:
- You’re shipping a standard vehicle (there is no need to worry about the safety of your car – hundreds of new cars are transported via open carriers daily, so you can rest assured that open auto transport is safe enough);
- You would like your vehicle to be delivered faster (open car transport is more easily available and more efficient, which results in faster deliveries);
- You’re moving on a tight budget (open transport is much cheaper, after all).
You may want to opt for enclosed car shipping when:
- You’re shipping an expensive vehicle (classic car, antique car, collectible car, luxury car, sports car, etc.) or a vehicle with an exposed interior – there is not only greater risk of damage to your high-prized car when transported on an open car trailer, but also greater risk of theft (as the vehicle will be visible to everyone on the road);
- You’re moving during the winter and want to protect your vehicle against harsh weather conditions and salt and sand on the road;
- Your vehicle has low-ground clearance.
Related useful read: How to prepare a car for shipping
