Car shipping service
Pros and Cons of Open Car Transport
The advantages and disadvantages of Open Car Transport, and how to decide whether it fits your vehicle and budget.
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- Independent company rankings
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Open Car Transport at a glance
- Cost per mile
- $0.70–$1.89 per mile
- Typical total
- $875 – $2,365
- Transit time
- 3–5 days
- Best for
- Everyday cars, SUVs and pickups
Free · No obligation · About a minute
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Advantages of open car transport
- The lowest price for most vehicles
- Most carriers on the road, so more dates to choose from
- Faster pickup scheduling on busy routes
- Suitable for sedans, SUVs, pickups, vans and EVs
- More cars per truck means fewer trips and lower cost per car
Disadvantages
- Vehicle is exposed to rain, snow, dust and sun
- Small risk of chips or scratches from road debris
- Not ideal for high-value, classic or exotic cars
- Low-clearance cars can be hard to load by ramp
- Less privacy, since the car is visible in transit
Side-by-side comparison
Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping
Feature | Open transport | Enclosed transport |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicles per trailer | About 7–10 | About 1–7 |
| Loading | Ramps, sometimes a winch | Ramps or hydraulic liftgate |
| Insurance | Carrier cargo coverage | Carrier coverage, often higher limits |
Which option is right for you?
Choose open transport if
- You want the most affordable option
- You're shipping a standard vehicle
- You can accept exposure to the weather
Choose enclosed transport if
- Your car is high-value, exotic, classic or custom
- Your car sits very low to the ground
- You want the car fully covered for the whole trip
Recommendations by vehicle
Sedans and compact cars
Open transportSUVs and crossovers
Open transportPickup trucks
Open transportVans and minivans
Open transportElectric vehicles
Open transportModified and lifted vehicles
Either optionSports cars
Either optionLuxury cars
Enclosed transportClassic and antique cars
Enclosed transportNon-running vehicles
Open transport
Ready to ship your car with open car transport?
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