Exotic & luxury
Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren — the paint and carbon alone justify sealed transport.
Open vs enclosed auto transport
Which carrier type actually protects your car?
Open carriers move 90% of shipped vehicles. Enclosed carriers protect the 10% that cannot be exposed to weather, debris, or low-insurance limits. Here is how to decide.
The short answer
Open transport is standard. Enclosed transport is protection.
Open car carrier
The two-level metal trailer you see on every highway. It is how dealerships receive new inventory and how most used cars move across the country. It is cheaper, faster to book, and available on almost every lane.
- Lower price
- More trucks and pickup windows
- Perfect for daily drivers, trucks, and SUVs
- Exposed to weather and road debris
- Lower cargo coverage limits
Enclosed car hauler
A fully sealed trailer with hard walls and a roof. Vehicles are loaded with a hydraulic lift gate and secured with soft-tie wheel straps. It costs more, but it is the only option when exposure or clearance is a real concern.
- Sealed from weather, dust, and debris
- Lift-gate loading for low-clearance cars
- $1M cargo coverage on our network
- 40–60% higher cost
- Fewer trucks, longer lead times in remote areas
Side-by-side
Open vs enclosed at a glance
| Factor | Open carrier | Enclosed hauler |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $$ — lower rate | $$$ — 40–60% more |
| Availability | Excellent — most common trailer type | Limited — fewer trucks on the road |
| Weather / road debris | Exposed to rain, dust, stones, bugs | Fully sealed walls and roof |
| Loading method | Drive-on ramps | Hydraulic lift gate |
| Ground clearance | Fine for stock-height vehicles | Ideal for lowered or exotic cars |
| Insurance limit | $250,000 cargo coverage | $1,000,000 cargo coverage |
| Best for | Daily drivers, trucks, family cars | Exotic, classic, restored, luxury, low-clearance |
Real risks
What can actually go wrong on each trailer type
Open carrier risks
- Stone chips and bug residue on the front end
- UV exposure and water spots over long hauls
- Lower cargo limits may not cover a total loss on a high-value car
- Ramps can scrape very low front splitters
Enclosed carrier realities
- Damage risk drops sharply because the car is sealed inside
- Lift gates eliminate ramp scrape risk
- Higher limits mean claims are less likely to be denied for coverage
- Cost premium is real, and availability is tighter
When is it worth it?
Choose enclosed transport when any of these apply
Classic & collector
Older vehicles often have irreplaceable paint, chrome, and trim. Enclosed keeps them out of the elements and away from flying debris.
Freshly restored or painted
New paint is soft for weeks. Road debris can chip it before you ever get to enjoy the finish.
Low clearance
Cars under roughly 5 inches of ground clearance can scrape on open-carrier ramps. Enclosed lift gates solve this.
Racing & track cars
Wings, splitters, and diffusers are expensive to replace and easy to damage on an open trailer.
High sentimental or resale value
Even if it is not exotic, if a single imperfection would cost you sleep or resale value, enclosed is the right call.
Our recommendation
If you are unsure, start with these rules
- Daily drivers, trucks, and SUVs → open carrier
- Vehicles worth under $75,000 → usually open
- Vehicles worth over $100,000 → strongly consider enclosed
- Fresh paint, classic, exotic, or lowered → enclosed
- Long-distance move through winter weather → enclosed preferred
- Tight schedule in a remote area → open may be your only fast option
FAQ
Common questions about open and enclosed shipping
Will my car get damaged on an open carrier?
Most vehicles arrive clean and undamaged, but open transport exposes the car to weather, road debris, and the occasional stone chip. It is the same method dealerships use to deliver brand-new cars, so the risk is low for standard vehicles. If a single stone chip would ruin your week, choose enclosed.
Is enclosed transport worth the extra cost?
It depends on the vehicle. For a daily driver or a truck, the extra cost rarely makes sense. For anything collectible, freshly painted, very low to the ground, or worth more than the open carrier's cargo limit can comfortably cover, enclosed is the safer choice.
Does enclosed shipping mean the car is fully insured?
No policy covers 100% of every scenario without limits. Enclosed carriers typically carry $1,000,000 in cargo coverage, which is far more than open coverage, but every policy has a deductible and exclusions. Always request the certificate and read the terms.
Can I ship personal items inside the car?
No. Personal belongings are never covered by carrier cargo insurance, and the FMCSA limits what can be hauled inside a vehicle on an auto carrier. Empty the car before pickup, including toll transponders and parking passes.
Ready to Ship your car?
Open and enclosed semi-truck carriers, door-to-door delivery and a coordinator who answers the phone.