Car shipping service
Open Car Transport
- Estimates clearly labeled
- Independent company rankings
- Free to compare
$0.70–$1.89 per mile
Average cost per mile
Published figures, about 1,250 miles
$875 – $2,365
Typical total cost
Standard car, about 1,250 miles
3–5 days
Transit time
Depends on distance
Everyday cars, SUVs and pickups
Best for
Free · No obligation · About a minute
Get a open car transport quote
What is open car transport?
Your car is driven or winched onto a multi-level open trailer and secured at the wheels. The truck makes several pickups and deliveries along its route, which spreads the cost across many vehicles.
- Most carriers on the road are open trucks, so pickups are easier to schedule
- Works for sedans, SUVs, pickups, vans and most EVs
- Available for short regional trips and cross-country moves
- Door-to-door service where a large truck can safely reach
- Carriers must hold FMCSA authority and liability insurance
Is open car transport right for you?
- You want the most affordable option
- You're shipping a standard, everyday vehicle
- You don't need full weather protection
- You can be flexible with pickup dates
- You want the widest choice of carriers and dates
Open Car Transport pricing
Price per mile by distance, from published industry studies.
| Distance | Sedan | SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $0.80–$2.20 per mile | $0.85–$2.35 per mile |
| 500–999 miles | $0.73–$1.89 per mile | $0.78–$2.02 per mile |
| 1,000–1,499 miles | $0.70–$1.89 per mile | $0.75–$2.02 per mile |
| 1,500–1,999 miles | $0.40–$1.89 per mile | $0.43–$2.02 per mile |
| 2,000+ miles | $0.35–$1.89 per mile | $0.37–$2.02 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 a pickup window to see estimated prices.
- Compare companiesCompare estimates, transit times, reviews and licensing for companies that offer open transport.
- Book and confirm termsChoose a company and get the price, pickup window, deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
- Carrier assignedIf you booked through a broker, it assigns a carrier with space on your route and shares the details.
Pros and cons
- Pro: The lowest price for most vehicles
- Pro: Most carriers on the road, so more dates to choose from
- Pro: Faster pickup scheduling on busy routes
- Pro: Suitable for sedans, SUVs, pickups, vans and EVs
- Con: Vehicle is exposed to rain, snow, dust and sun
- Con: Small risk of chips or scratches from road debris
- Con: Not ideal for high-value, classic or exotic cars
- Con: Low-clearance cars can be hard to load by ramp
Vehicles it suits
- Sedans and compact carsGood fit
- SUVs and crossoversGood fit
- Pickup trucksGood fit
- Vans and minivansGood fit
- Electric vehiclesGood fit
- Modified and lifted vehiclesEither
- Sports carsEither
- Luxury carsConsider alternative
Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping
- Average cost
- Lower
- Typically 30–60% more
- Protection
- Exposed to weather and road debris
- Fully covered trailer
- Best for
- Everyday cars, SUVs, trucks
- Luxury, exotic, classic cars
- Availability
- High, most trucks on the road
- Limited, fewer trucks
- Pickup timing
- Usually faster to schedule
- Can take longer to schedule
Columns: Open transport · Enclosed transport
Full comparisonCompanies that list open car transport
Researched companies ordered by Trustpilot rating, adjusted for review count.
Related services
- Enclosed Car TransportA covered trailer that shields the car from weather, road debris and view.
- 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 open car transport?
Your vehicle is shipped on an open-air trailer, usually with other cars, and secured at the wheels. It is the most common way cars are moved across the U.S.
Is open car transport safe?
Yes, for most vehicles. Licensed carriers ship thousands of cars this way every day. The main tradeoff is exposure to weather and road debris, which is why high-value cars often ship enclosed.
How common is open car transport?
Open carriers are the most common car-hauling trucks on the road, and most standard vehicles are shipped this way.
How much does open car transport cost?
Published studies put a standard car at about $365–$945 for 500 miles and $875–$4,725 for 2,500 miles. Short trips cost more per mile.
Car shipping cost per mileIs open transport cheaper than enclosed?
Yes. Published studies put enclosed transport 30–60% above open, because enclosed trailers carry fewer cars and there are fewer of them.
Do I need to pay a deposit?
It depends on the company. Some charge a deposit when a carrier is assigned, others at booking, and the rest at delivery. Get the deposit amount and refund terms in writing first.
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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