Open vs. enclosed car transport, and how to prepare your car
Choosing between open trailers, enclosed trailers and single-car haulers, what affects the price, and a pickup-day checklist.
Shipping a car usually comes down to three choices: what kind of trailer, how flexible your dates are, and whether you deal with a carrier directly or through a broker. Each changes the price and the risk. This guide covers the options and how to get your car ready.
Open car carriers
The familiar multi-level trailers you see on the highway carry several cars at once, open to the weather. Because the trip cost is shared, open transport is the cheaper and more widely available option, and it is how dealers ship most new and used cars. Your car is exposed to rain, road grime and the occasional stone chip, much as it would be if you drove it, but it puts no miles on the engine. For an ordinary daily driver, open transport is the usual choice.
Enclosed trailers
Enclosed trailers protect the car from weather and road debris and often carry fewer vehicles, sometimes with liftgates instead of steep ramps for low cars. They are typical for classic, exotic, show and newly restored cars. Expect a higher price and fewer available trucks, so book further ahead.
Single-car and small haulers
Many carriers on this site run one or two trucks: a pickup or medium-duty truck with a two- or three-car trailer, or a flatbed or rollback. They can be flexible on timing and reach places a full-size car carrier cannot, such as narrow residential streets. Federal rules require at least $750,000 of liability insurance for trucks of 10,001 pounds or more carrying ordinary property, and $300,000 for fleets made up only of lighter vehicles (49 CFR 387.303). Check what each carrier has on file.
Towing and recovery companies
Some companies listed here are towing and recovery businesses that also hold federal authority to haul vehicles across state lines. They are often the right call for inoperable vehicles, short regional moves and auction pickups. This site marks them separately so you can find them, or skip them.
What affects the price
- Distance and route. Busy routes between major metro areas usually cost less per mile than rural pickups.
- Vehicle size and condition. Larger vehicles take more space. A car that does not run needs a winch or forklift and costs more.
- Trailer type. Enclosed costs more than open.
- Season. Demand rises along seasonal routes, for example when retirees move between northern states and Florida or Arizona.
- Flexibility. A wide pickup window lets a carrier fit your car into an existing route.
A quote far below the others is a warning sign, especially from a broker: it may mean no carrier will take the job at that price. Ask whether the price is guaranteed.
Pickup windows and delivery times
Car shipping rarely runs on an exact appointment. Carriers fill a trailer with several cars going the same direction, so most quote a pickup window of a few days, and the driver calls when the truck is close. Long-distance trips can take a week or more depending on the route, the number of other stops and federal hours-of-service limits on how long a driver may drive each day. Delivery dates are usually estimates.
If you need a firm date, say so up front and ask whether the carrier offers a guaranteed or expedited pickup and what it costs. Ask what happens, and whether you are compensated, if the pickup or delivery is late. If you are moving and need a car at the other end, plan a buffer of a few days or arrange a rental.
Before you book
- Check the company's USDOT number on FMCSA's SAFER Company Snapshot: active authority, entity type CARRIER, and Motor Vehicles in the cargo list.
- Ask for its cargo insurance certificate and per-vehicle limit.
- Get the price, pickup and delivery windows, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
- Ask whether the truck can reach your address or whether you should meet it at a nearby lot.
Preparing the car
- Clean it so existing damage is visible, then photograph every panel, the interior and the odometer.
- Remove personal items, toll transponders, parking passes and loose accessories. Carriers commonly exclude personal belongings from coverage, and extra weight can be an issue.
- Leave a modest amount of fuel. Many carriers ask for a quarter tank or less.
- Check for leaks and tell the carrier about any. A car dripping fluid can damage cars below it on a multi-level trailer.
- Secure or remove loose parts such as spoilers, antennas and custom accessories, and fold mirrors.
- Disable the alarm or tell the driver how to turn it off.
- Give the driver one key and keep a spare.
Pickup and delivery day
Be there, or have someone you trust there, for both. Walk around the car with the driver, compare it with your photos, and make sure every existing mark is on the bill of lading before you sign. Do the same at delivery, before you sign the receipt. If you find new damage, note it on the receipt and photograph it with the driver present; see our damage and claims guide for next steps.
Using this directory
Every company on this site is a carrier, not a broker, with active FMCSA authority to haul property and motor vehicles listed as cargo. Browse your pickup or delivery city, compare up to three carriers side by side on authority, fleet size, years registered and insurance on file, and call them directly.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Car Shipper Check is not a safety rating or recommendation. Federal registration shows a company's authority and filings, not the quality of its service. Check the carrier's current status on the official FMCSA site and read your contract before you book. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.