Quick answer: Open transport is the cheapest and fastest option and is safe for most everyday cars. Enclosed transport costs about 40 to 60 percent more but protects your car from weather, road debris and view, which makes it the right choice for classics, exotics and fresh paint. Top load is a middle option: an open carrier with your car on the upper deck.
Choosing how to ship your car affects both your budget and your car’s protection. You have three main options: open carriers, enclosed carriers and top load placement on an open carrier. This guide compares them side by side, shows what each costs on real routes, explains the insurance differences and helps you pick the right one. If you already know you want the cheapest option, our open auto transport service is the place to start.
Types of Car Carriers and Their Uses
Auto transport runs on a handful of trailer types. Matching your car to the right one controls both the price and the level of protection.
| Carrier type | Capacity | Protection level | Relative cost | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open multi-car carrier | 7 to 10 vehicles | Exposed to weather and road debris | Baseline | Daily drivers, standard sedans, SUVs, most relocations |
| Top load on an open carrier | Upper deck only | No drips from vehicles above, less road spray | Baseline plus a small premium | Cleaner finishes, newer cars, anything you want off the bottom deck |
| Enclosed hard-side trailer | 2 to 7 vehicles | Fully shielded from weather, debris and view | About 40 to 60 percent above open | Classics, exotics, luxury cars, show cars, fresh paint |
| Enclosed soft-side trailer | 2 to 6 vehicles | Covered, slightly less rigid than hard-side | Usually a little below hard-side | High-value cars where budget matters |
| Flatbed or step deck | 1 to 2 vehicles | Exposed, but no height or width limits of a car carrier | Varies by load | Oversized, non-running or lifted vehicles |
| Single-car hotshot | 1 to 3 vehicles | Exposed unless covered | Highest per vehicle | Urgent timelines, awkward pickup locations |
Open vs Enclosed: How to Decide in One Minute
If you want a single rule: choose enclosed when one paint repair would cost more than the price difference, and open in every other case.
- Choose open for daily drivers, standard sedans and SUVs, lease returns, dealer stock, student and military moves, and any car where normal road exposure is fine.
- Choose enclosed for classics, exotics, show cars, fresh paint, soft-top convertibles and anything where a stone chip would be expensive.
- Choose top load when your budget is open-carrier but you want your car off the lower deck, away from drips and road spray.
- Choose flatbed when the vehicle is oversized, lifted, non-running or will not fit a standard carrier slot.
Open or Enclosed? A Quick Guide by Vehicle
| Vehicle | Usual choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday sedan, SUV or minivan | Open | Normal road exposure is fine, and it costs least |
| New car or fresh paint | Top load or enclosed | Keeps the finish away from drips and chips |
| Tesla or other electric car | Open or enclosed | Either works; enclosed for high-end models |
| Classic, collector or exotic car | Enclosed | Protects paint and value; liftgate loading |
| Soft-top convertible | Enclosed or top load | Keeps the fabric top out of spray and grime |
| Lowered or race car | Enclosed with a liftgate | Avoids scraping on steep ramps |
| Lifted truck or oversized vehicle | Flatbed | May not fit a standard carrier slot |
| Non-running car | Open or flatbed with a winch | Needs equipment to load |
How Much More Does Enclosed Shipping Cost?
Enclosed transport usually costs about 40 to 60 percent more than open on the same route. On a typical cross-country move, that is a few hundred dollars more. These are the ranges customers see most often for a standard sedan:
| Route | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to New York | $1,300 to $1,700 | $1,900 to $2,600 |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | $1,000 to $1,400 | $1,500 to $2,100 |
| New York to Dallas | $900 to $1,250 | $1,350 to $1,900 |
Prices move with vehicle size, season and how flexible your dates are. See our full guide to car shipping cost by distance for more routes.
Insurance Differences: Open vs Enclosed
Every licensed carrier must carry cargo insurance, but what that cover means in practice differs between open and enclosed.
| Factor | Open carrier | Enclosed carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo insurance required | Yes | Yes |
| Coverage per vehicle | Can be lower; check it against your car’s value | Often higher, built for valuable cars |
| Small stone chips and road dust | Often treated as normal road wear | Very unlikely to happen |
| Weather such as hail | Car is exposed; check the policy’s exclusions | Car is protected inside the trailer |
Whichever you choose, ask for the carrier’s certificate of insurance before pickup and compare the per-vehicle limit with what your car is worth. Our guide to car shipping insurance explains who pays for what.
Open Car Carriers
Open carriers are the large two-level trucks you see on the highway. They are the backbone of the auto transport industry and move most cars in the U.S., for dealers, manufacturers and private owners alike.
How Open Transport Works
Open carriers usually hold seven to ten vehicles. Each car is secured with wheel straps or chains so it cannot move. Because the trip’s cost is shared across many cars, the price per car is much lower than enclosed.
Exposure to the Elements
The trailer is open, so your car is exposed to sun, rain, snow, road dust and small debris. For a car you drive every day, that is similar to driving it yourself, without the miles on the odometer.
Advantages of Open Car Transport
- Lower cost. Open is the baseline rate. Enclosed usually costs 40 to 60 percent more for the same route.
- Wider availability. Open carriers make up most of the national fleet, so there are more trucks on every route and shorter waits for pickup.
- Faster dispatch. A truck running your route is easier to find, so open shipments are usually assigned sooner.
- Easy visual checks. The car is visible on the deck, so the driver can check it at any stop.
- Lower emissions per car. Moving eight to ten cars on one truck is more efficient than a two-car trailer covering the same distance.
Best Candidates for Open Transport
Standard sedans, SUVs and pickups, family cars, students’ cars and any car that already lives outside. Open transport gives the best balance of speed and value for everyday shipping.
Enclosed Car Carriers
Enclosed carriers use fully covered trailers that shield your car from the outside world.
Choosing Enclosed Auto Transport for Maximum Protection
Enclosed transport is the right answer when one paint repair would cost more than the premium. In practice that means classics, exotics, low-mileage collector cars, anything recently repainted and low cars that need a liftgate instead of a ramp.
- Weather protection: no rain, road salt, hail, dust or sun for the whole trip.
- No road debris: the stone chips open carriers sometimes pick up are no longer a risk.
- Liftgate loading: hydraulic liftgates let low cars load without scraping the bumper or undercarriage.
- Privacy: the car is out of sight for the whole trip, which matters for rare or valuable cars.
For the full cost case, see our breakdown of the benefits of enclosed auto transport, or see the service on our enclosed auto transport page.
Soft-Sided vs Hard-Sided Enclosed Trailers
Enclosed trailers come in two types. Hard-sided trailers have solid metal or composite walls and a solid roof, so they give the most protection from weather, debris and impacts. Soft-sided trailers use heavy-duty fabric curtains over a frame. They keep out rain, dust and sun just as well, but offer a little less protection from a hard knock. Soft-sided trailers usually cost slightly less. For most valuable cars either works well; for a rare or very expensive car, ask for hard-sided.
Cost and Availability
Enclosed trailers carry fewer cars, usually two to seven, so the price per car is higher. There are also fewer enclosed trucks on the road, so booking a little earlier helps and pickup can take a day or two longer.
Best Candidates for Enclosed Transport
Classic cars, antiques, luxury and exotic cars, race cars and anything with high financial or sentimental value. If you are shipping a car to a show or an auction, enclosed transport means it arrives ready to display.
Top Load Car Carriers
Top load is not a different truck. It is a request for your car to ride on the upper deck of an open carrier. Our top load car shipping service guarantees that spot.
What Does Top Load Only Mean?
“Top load only” means your car must go on the upper deck, not the lower one. On a two-level open carrier, the upper deck sits above most road spray and debris, and no car is parked above yours.
Why the Upper Deck Is Safer
Cars on the lower deck sit closer to the road, where rocks and spray from the truck’s own tires and passing traffic are more likely to reach them. They can also catch drips if an older car above leaks oil, coolant or transmission fluid. On the top deck, neither is a concern.
Cost and Value
Top load usually costs a little more than standard open transport, but far less than enclosed. It is a good middle ground for newer cars, soft-top convertibles and fresh paint when enclosed is more than you want to spend. See what top load means in car shipping for more.
Other Vehicles
Motorcycles
Motorcycles need different tie-downs. Motorcycle shipping often uses enclosed trailers or special mounts that keep the bike upright, with straps that compress the suspension slightly to hold it firmly in place.
Oversized and Non-Running Vehicles
Lifted trucks, dual-rear-wheel pickups and vehicles that do not run often need a flatbed or a carrier with a winch. Tell your shipper when you book so the right truck is sent. See our guide to flatbed vs enclosed car carriers.
Selecting the Right Car Carrier for Your Vehicle
- Start with replacement value. Above roughly $70,000, or for anything irreplaceable, enclosed is the sensible default.
- Check ground clearance. Under about four inches, you need a liftgate, which means enclosed or a specialist flatbed.
- Check dimensions. Lifted trucks, dual-rear-wheel pickups and long vans often exceed standard slot sizes and move to a flatbed.
- Confirm running condition. A non-running vehicle needs a carrier with a winch, which narrows the options and costs more.
- Think about the route and season. Winter routes through the snow belt and hurricane-season coastal routes both strengthen the case for enclosed.
- Then choose on cost. If none of the above applies, an open carrier, with a top load request if you like, is the best value.
Whichever you choose, prepare the car the same way: wash it so existing marks show on the inspection report, remove personal items, and check the battery and tires. Our car shipping checklist covers every step.
What to Ask For When You Book
Tell your shipper these details up front so the right truck is sent:
- Open, enclosed or top load, and whether you need a hard-sided trailer
- Your car’s make, model and any changes such as lowering, lift kits or oversized tires
- Whether the car runs, brakes and steers
- Its approximate value, so you can check the carrier’s insurance limit
- Any tight spots at pickup or delivery, such as a narrow street or a low gate
Common Myths About Car Carriers
Myth: Open transport is risky.
Open carriers move most cars in the country every day. Serious damage is uncommon, and most cars arrive just as they would after a long drive.
Myth: Enclosed is always worth it.
For a daily driver, the extra cost of enclosed rarely pays for itself. It earns its price on cars where one paint repair would cost more than the difference.
Myth: You get the top deck automatically.
Drivers load cars to balance the truck and plan drop-off order. If you want the upper deck, ask for top load when you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of car carriers and their uses?
Open multi-car carriers handle everyday vehicles, top load places your car on the upper deck, enclosed trailers protect high-value cars, and flatbeds take oversized or non-running vehicles.
How do I select the right car carrier for my vehicle?
Work through value, ground clearance, size and running condition first. If none of those calls for a specialist trailer, an open carrier, with a top load request if you like, is the best value.
Is open car transport safe for everyday cars?
Yes. Open carriers move most cars in the U.S., and serious damage is uncommon. Your car is exposed to weather and road dust, much as it would be if you drove it.
How much more does enclosed shipping cost?
Usually about 40 to 60 percent more than open on the same route. On a coast-to-coast move, that is often a few hundred dollars.
Is enclosed auto transport worth it for maximum protection?
Yes, when one paint repair would cost more than the premium. Enclosed removes weather, debris and visibility risk.
What does top load only mean?
It means your car must ride on the upper deck of an open carrier, away from drips and most road spray.
What is the difference between top load and enclosed?
Top load keeps your car on the upper deck of an open trailer, so nothing drips onto it. Enclosed puts it inside a covered trailer with no exposure at all.
Get a Quote for Open or Enclosed Transport
The fastest way to decide is to see both prices for your route. Get a free quote from ABC Auto Shipping and compare open and enclosed side by side. There is no deposit to book.
