Car shipping service
Enclosed Car Transport
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$0.91–$3.02 per mile
Average cost per mile
Open rate plus the published enclosed premium
$1,140 – $3,780
Typical total cost
Standard car, about 1,250 miles
3–5 days
Transit time
Depends on distance
Luxury, classic and exotic cars
Best for
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a enclosed car transport quote
What is enclosed car transport?
Your car is loaded into a hard-sided or soft-sided trailer, often by hydraulic liftgate, and secured with soft straps. Enclosed trailers carry fewer cars than open carriers, so each vehicle takes a bigger share of the trip's cost.
- Protected from weather, road salt, stones and dust for the whole trip
- Liftgates load low-clearance cars without steep ramps
- Fewer cars per load means less handling at each stop
- Many enclosed carriers carry higher cargo insurance limits
- Your car stays out of sight, which adds privacy and security
Is enclosed car transport right for you?
- Your car is high-value, rare or collectible
- The car was just restored, painted or detailed
- It sits low to the ground or has aero parts
- The route crosses snow, salt or long construction zones
- You're shipping to an auction, show or new owner
Enclosed Car Transport pricing
Price per mile by distance, from published industry studies.
| Distance | Sedan | SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $0.97–$3.52 per mile | $1.04–$3.76 per mile |
| 500–999 miles | $0.93–$3.02 per mile | $0.99–$3.23 per mile |
| 1,000–1,499 miles | $0.91–$3.02 per mile | $0.97–$3.23 per mile |
| 1,500–1,999 miles | $0.52–$3.02 per mile | $0.56–$3.23 per mile |
| 2,000+ miles | $0.45–$3.02 per mile | $0.48–$3.23 per mile |
Prices move with the season
No source publishes monthly prices for this service, so this is what the studies say about timing.
Summer moving season and the holidays tighten truck space, while mid-January to February is usually the quietest stretch of the year.
Direct Connect Auto Transport reports 2026 versus 2025 running 3% to 8% higher.
What affects the price
How it works
- Enter your routeAdd pickup and delivery locations, your vehicle and your pickup window to see estimated enclosed prices.
- Compare enclosed specialistsCompare companies that regularly move high-value cars, their cargo limits, reviews and complaint history.
- Confirm the trailer and loadingGet the trailer type, loading method, pickup window, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
- Carrier assignedThe broker or carrier confirms the truck and driver and shares the insurance certificate.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Protection from weather, road salt and debris
- Pro: Liftgate loading for low or fragile cars
- Pro: Fewer cars and less handling per load
- Pro: Carriers often experienced with high-value vehicles
- Con: Typically 30–60% more than open transport
- Con: Fewer trucks, so pickups can take longer to schedule
- Con: Book further ahead in spring and summer
- Con: Not every route has regular enclosed service
Vehicles it suits
- Luxury carsGood fit
- Classic carsGood fit
- Antique carsGood fit
- Exotic carsGood fit
- Sports carsGood fit
- PorscheGood fit
- TeslaEither
- Electric vehiclesEither
Enclosed vs. Open Car Shipping
- Average cost
- Typically 30–60% more
- Lower
- Protection
- Fully covered trailer
- Exposed to weather and road debris
- Best for
- Luxury, exotic, classic cars
- Everyday cars, SUVs, trucks
- Availability
- Limited, fewer trucks
- High, most trucks on the road
- Pickup timing
- Book 1–3 weeks ahead
- Usually faster to schedule
Columns: Enclosed transport · Open transport
Full comparisonCompanies that list enclosed car transport
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count.
Related services
- Open Car TransportThe most common and affordable way to ship a car, on a multi-car carrier open to the air (also called open-air transport).
- Door-to-Door Car ShippingThe driver picks up and delivers as close to your addresses as a large truck can safely reach.
- Expedited Car ShippingPriority dispatch that shortens the wait for pickup when you have a firm deadline.
- Inoperable Car ShippingTransport for cars that don't start, steer or brake, loaded with a winch or forklift.
- Multi-Car ShippingShip two or more vehicles on the same truck, often for a lower price per car.
Insurance and safety
Carriers must carry liability insurance
Most for-hire interstate carriers must file at least $750,000 in liability coverage with the FMCSA. Cargo coverage for the cars on the truck is set by the carrier, so ask for the certificate.
Source: 49 CFR 387.9Authority can be checked for free
Any broker or carrier's USDOT number, operating status and insurance on file can be looked up in the FMCSA database.
Source: FMCSA company snapshotThe Bill of Lading is signed twice
You and the driver inspect the car at pickup and again at delivery. Note any new damage on the Bill of Lading before you sign, and photograph it before the driver leaves.
Source: FMCSA: Protect your move
Frequently asked questions
What is enclosed car transport?
Your car ships inside a covered trailer instead of on an open carrier. It is protected from weather, road debris and view for the whole trip.
Is enclosed car shipping worth it?
It is worth it for luxury, classic, exotic, custom or freshly painted cars, where a stone chip or weather damage would be expensive. For an everyday car, open transport is usually the better value.
Open vs. enclosed car shippingWhat's the difference between hard-sided and soft-sided enclosed trailers?
Hard-sided trailers have solid walls and a roof. Soft-sided trailers use heavy curtains that block weather and debris for less money, with less protection from impacts.
How much does enclosed car transport cost?
Published studies put enclosed transport 30–60% above open. For a typical 1,250-mile move that is about $1,140–$3,780 for a standard car.
Open vs. enclosed costWhy is enclosed shipping more expensive?
Enclosed trailers carry fewer cars, there are fewer of them on the road, and they often use liftgates and carry higher insurance limits. Each car pays a bigger share of the trip.
How can I save on enclosed shipping?
Be flexible with dates, book early, choose a soft-sided trailer if your car doesn't need hard walls, and meet the truck near a main highway if your street is hard to reach.
Cheapest way to ship a car
Where these figures come from
Published industry studies, not Haulwide shipments. Checked Sep 16, 2026.
- SGT Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 9, 2026. 30 months of the company's own shipping data (January 2024 to June 2026) across all 50 states and 1,581 state-to-state lanes, limited to completed single-vehicle open transport deliveries and mix-adjusted for distance.
- Move.org(opens in a new tab)
Published Mar 4, 2026. Nearly 800 broker quotes analyzed, priced for a running 2025 Toyota Camry with a one-week lead time using October 2025 quotes.
- Kelley Blue Book(opens in a new tab)
Published Jan 12, 2026. Quotes requested from eight transport companies for a 2025 Honda Accord on three routes from Orlando, on standard open carriers.
- Direct Connect Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
No publication date given. The company's own carrier data for an operable sedan on open transport; the page states no publication date.
- RoadRunner Auto Transport(opens in a new tab)
Published Sep 1, 2026. The company's completed shipment history, which it describes as over 1 million vehicles delivered across 30+ years, updated September 2026. Its nationwide average is $1,215 at a median distance of 987 miles and a median $1.23 per mile.
The sources disagree, so figures are shown as the span across them rather than a single price. Pricing methodology
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