Quick answer: To transport a luxury or exotic car safely, book enclosed transport with lift-gate loading and soft tie-downs, tell the company the car’s value and ground clearance when you request a quote, and check the carrier’s per-vehicle insurance limit before pickup. Enclosed transport usually costs 40 to 60 percent more than open. Our exotic car shipping service covers lift-gate, single-car and climate-controlled options.
A luxury car is not hard to ship, but it is expensive to get wrong. A stone chip on a Bentley, a scraped splitter on a Lamborghini or a claim that runs past the carrier’s insurance limit costs far more than the extra for doing it properly. This guide covers the best way to transport a luxury car, from a Range Rover or an S-Class to a McLaren, what it costs, how low cars are loaded, how insurance works for high-value cars, and how to choose the carrier.
The Best Way to Ship a Luxury Car
For most luxury and exotic cars, enclosed transport is the right choice. Open transport is fine for many everyday cars, but it leaves the car exposed to weather, road debris and road salt for the whole trip. Single-car enclosed transport is the top option for the most valuable cars.
| Open carrier | Enclosed carrier | Single-car enclosed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection | Exposed to weather and road debris | Walls and roof keep out weather, salt and stone chips | The same, with no other cars in the trailer |
| Cars per trailer | Up to 9 | 3 to 6 | 1 |
| Loading | Ramps | Lift-gate on many trailers | Lift-gate |
| Cost | The baseline price | Usually 40 to 60 percent more than open | More than shared enclosed |
| Best for | Luxury SUVs and sedans that are not new or high-value | Most luxury, exotic and new high-value cars | Supercars, hypercars, one-off builds and show cars |
A simple rule: if the car is worth $50,000 or more, has custom paint or bodywork, or you would not drive it through a hailstorm, ship it enclosed. For more on what an enclosed trailer protects against, see the benefits of enclosed transport.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Luxury Car?
Typical ranges for a running car with flexible pickup dates:
| Distance | Open carrier | Enclosed (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $400 to $700 | $560 to $1,120 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | $700 to $1,100 | $980 to $1,760 |
| 2,000 miles and up | $1,000 to $1,700 | $1,400 to $2,720 |
These are typical ranges, not a quote. The enclosed price goes up with:
- Single-car transport, where your car is the only one in the trailer
- Options such as lift-gate loading and climate control
- Size and weight. A full-size luxury SUV takes more space than a sports car.
- Season. Summer and the October to November snowbird season can add 10 to 20 percent.
- Route. Busy corridors cost less per mile than remote pickups.
For open prices on other distances, see our car shipping cost guide.
Lift-Gate vs Ramp Loading for Low Cars
How the car gets onto the trailer matters as much as the trailer itself. Most open carriers load cars by driving them up ramps. That is fine for most cars, but the angle can catch a low front splitter, a side skirt or an exhaust.
A hydraulic lift-gate is a platform at the back of an enclosed trailer. The car is driven onto it at ground level and lifted straight up into the trailer, with no ramp angle to clear. It is the safest way to load:
- Supercars and exotics with low front splitters
- Lowered cars, cars on coilovers and widebody builds
- Track cars with aggressive aero
- Any car that scrapes on a steep driveway
Tell the company your ground clearance, front splitter height and any wings, skirts or modifications when you request a quote, so a lift-gate truck is sent. If your car has a front-axle lift system, show the driver how to raise it. For more on modified cars, see how to ship a lowered car.
Soft Tie-Downs, Not Chains
How the car is secured matters too. Soft tie-downs are padded straps that loop over or around the tires, so the car is held by its wheels. Chains or hooks attached to the frame or suspension can scratch painted parts and put stress on components. On collector and exotic loads, ABC Auto Shipping coordinates carriers that use soft tie-downs as standard. Ask any company you are considering how it secures cars.
Insurance for High-Value Cars
Carriers must carry liability insurance, and car carriers carry cargo insurance, but a standard cargo limit may be far below the value of an exotic. Before you book:
- Ask for the per-vehicle limit, not the total for the whole load. A policy that covers a full trailer may cover much less for any one car.
- Get the certificate of insurance for the carrier that will move your car, and check that the limit covers the car’s value.
- Tell the company the car’s value. At ABC, you can declare an agreed value, and we match you with a carrier whose policy covers it.
- Call your own insurer. Ask whether your policy covers the car while it is being shipped. Some collector car policies do.
- Know what is not covered. Damage that was already there, personal items in the car and anything not written on the bill of lading at delivery.
Our guide to car shipping insurance explains who pays for what.
How to Prepare a Luxury or Exotic Car for Shipping
- Wash it so existing marks are easy to see at the inspection.
- Photograph and film it from every angle in good light, with close-ups of the wheels, splitter, side skirts and any existing marks.
- Leave about a quarter tank of fuel and normal fluid levels. There is no need to drain anything.
- Write down any special procedures, such as an aftermarket alarm, a battery cut-off switch, a front lift or an unusual starting sequence.
- Fold the mirrors, retract any aftermarket antenna and close the roof on a convertible.
- Remove personal items, toll tags and anything loose. See what you can leave in your car.
- Check the battery and tire pressure, so the car can be driven on and off the trailer.
- For an electric exotic, such as a Taycan or Model S Plaid, charge to about half and turn off any security mode. See how to ship an electric car.
Shipping Exotic Cars and Supercars
Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens and Porsche GT cars need everything above, and a few extra checks:
- Single-car enclosed keeps any other vehicle away from your car for the whole trip.
- Experience with your model. Ask whether the driver has loaded your make before, especially if it needs a front lift or a special start procedure.
- Wide bodies. Give the company the car’s width with mirrors folded, so it fits the trailer and the lift-gate.
- Climate control is available on some enclosed trailers for cars with delicate leather, wood or original interiors.
- Auction purchases. Collector auction cars can be picked up from the venue. See how to ship a car bought at auction.
Shipping a Luxury SUV or Sedan
Not every luxury car needs the same treatment as a supercar. A Range Rover, Escalade, G-Class or S-Class sits high enough to load on ramps, so a lift-gate is rarely needed. What matters more is protection and size:
- New or high-value models are best shipped enclosed, to keep stone chips and road grime off the paint.
- A slightly older luxury car can ride on an open carrier. For extra protection at a lower price, top load car shipping puts it on the upper deck, away from drips and most road spray.
- Large SUVs are heavy and tall, which can rule out the top deck and adds to the price. Give the company the exact model and any roof rack.
Hard-Sided or Soft-Sided Enclosed Trailer?
Enclosed trailers come in two types. A soft-sided trailer has heavy fabric walls over a steel frame, keeps out weather, salt and most road debris, and costs slightly less. A hard-sided trailer has solid metal walls and a roof and gives the most protection, including from impact. A soft-sided trailer suits most luxury sedans and SUVs. Choose hard-sided for an exotic, a supercar or a car where any mark at all would be a problem.
Door to Door or Terminal?
Most luxury cars ship door to door: the driver picks up and delivers at your address, or as close as a large truck can safely reach. Car carriers are up to about 80 feet long, so in a gated community or on a narrow street you may meet the driver at a large parking lot nearby. If you need a fixed pickup or delivery date, ABC can use a local terminal to guarantee it, for an extra $150 to $300 per vehicle.
How to Choose a Luxury Car Shipping Company
- Check the registration. Look up the company’s USDOT and MC numbers on FMCSA’s SAFER site.
- Ask about the equipment: hard-sided or soft-sided trailer, lift-gate, soft tie-downs, and how many cars will share the trailer.
- Get the insurance certificate and check the per-vehicle limit.
- Ask for a written, all-in quote that lists the options you chose.
- Read reviews from owners of similar cars, not just general reviews.
- Be wary of a price far below the others. For a high-value car, the cheapest truck is rarely the right one.
Our guide on how to choose an auto transport company has a full checklist.
How Long Does Luxury Car Shipping Take?
Cross-country enclosed shipments usually take 7 to 10 days from pickup, and regional routes 1 to 4 days. Pickup usually happens within 1 to 5 days of booking. There are fewer enclosed trucks than open ones, so book 7 to 30 days ahead, and earlier around the collector auction seasons in January, March and August. Single-car and expedited service can shorten the timeline for an extra charge.
Inspecting the Car at Delivery
The driver calls ahead with a delivery window. Inspect the car in good light before you sign, and compare it with your photos and the bill of lading from pickup. Look closely at the nose, splitter, side skirts and wheels, which are the easiest parts to mark during loading. Write any new damage on the bill of lading while the driver is there. See how to inspect your car at pickup and delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you transport a luxury car safely?
Book an enclosed carrier with a lift-gate and soft tie-downs, tell the company the car’s value and ground clearance, check the per-vehicle insurance limit, and document the car fully at pickup.
How much does it cost to ship a luxury car?
Enclosed transport usually costs 40 to 60 percent more than open on the same route, for example about $1,400 to $2,720 for 2,000 miles or more. Single-car transport and options such as climate control cost more.
Can you ship an expensive car to another state on an open carrier?
You can, but the car is exposed to weather and road debris for the whole trip. For a car worth $50,000 or more, or one with custom paint, enclosed transport is the safer choice.
Do I need extra insurance to ship an exotic car?
Check the carrier’s per-vehicle limit first. If it is below the car’s value, ask for a carrier with a higher limit; at ABC you can declare an agreed value and we match you with a carrier whose policy covers it. Also ask your own insurer whether it covers the car in transit.
What is a liftgate enclosed carrier?
An enclosed trailer with a hydraulic platform at the back. The car is driven onto the platform at ground level and lifted into the trailer, so low cars do not scrape on a ramp.
What is the best way to ship a luxury car bought online?
Book enclosed transport from the seller’s address or the auction venue, ask the seller to be there to sign the bill of lading, and get photos of the car’s condition at pickup.
What is single-car enclosed transport?
Your car is the only vehicle in the trailer. It costs more, but there is no contact risk from other cars, and you get priority scheduling and faster transit.
How long does it take to ship a luxury car across the country?
Usually 7 to 10 days in an enclosed trailer, plus 1 to 5 days for pickup.
Ship Your Luxury or Exotic Car With ABC Auto Shipping
ABC Auto Shipping is a licensed broker with over two decades in the industry. We match your car with a vetted enclosed carrier, with lift-gate loading, soft tie-downs and single-car transport when you need them, and a carrier whose insurance covers your car’s value. There is no deposit, and you pay only once your carrier is secured. Get a free quote today.
