Open Car Transport

Open transport is the default choice for most vehicle shipments, and for most cars, it's the right one. Understanding exactly what it is (and isn't) helps you decide whether it fits your situation, or whether enclosed transport is worth the extra cost for your vehicle.

Multi-car open commercial transport carrier hauling vehicles on highway

What It Is

Open transport means your vehicle is loaded onto a multi-car trailer, the kind you've probably seen hauling new cars down the highway, alongside several other vehicles headed the same general direction. Your car isn't covered or boxed in. It rides exposed to weather, road dust, and debris the same way it would if you were driving it yourself.

This is the industry standard for a simple reason: it's efficient. A single trailer can carry seven to ten vehicles at once, which means the carrier's fuel and driver costs are split across every car on the load, including yours. That efficiency is exactly why it's the cheapest widely available option, typically running meaningfully less than enclosed transport for the same route.

How It Works

Quote and booking.

You provide pickup and delivery details, and because pricing depends on your specific vehicle, route, and timing, we give you a real quote rather than a generic estimate.

Scheduling.

You're given a pickup window, usually a few days wide, so the driver can route your vehicle efficiently alongside others already on their trailer.

Pickup and inspection.

The driver inspects your car with you and you both sign a Bill of Lading documenting its condition before it's loaded.

Transit.

Your vehicle travels on the open trailer to its destination, typically covering 400 to 500 miles a day on longer routes.

Delivery and final inspection.

You inspect the car again at drop-off and sign off on the paperwork.

Vehicle being loaded and secured onto an open transport carrier trailer

You can choose door-to-door delivery, where the driver comes to your home or office directly, or terminal-to-terminal, where you drop off and pick up at a shipping hub. The latter is typically the cheaper of the two, since it removes the driver's local navigation time. How door-to-door car shipping works

What Affects the Price

Open transport's cost isn't fixed. It moves with a handful of real factors:

Overview of key factors that affect open vehicle shipping cost

Distance

Per-mile rates drop as the trip gets longer, since fixed costs like loading are spread across more miles.

Vehicle size

SUVs and trucks cost more to ship than a standard sedan because they take up more space on the trailer.

Vehicle condition

A non-running vehicle costs more, since it needs a winch, flatbed, or forklift rather than driving onto the trailer under its own power.

See our non-running vehicle shipping guide

Season

Winter, particularly January and February, is consistently the cheapest time to ship, while late spring through fall (peak moving and snowbird season) runs higher.

Route

Shipments between major metro areas on well-traveled interstates cost less than trips to rural or remote locations.

Flexibility

A wider pickup window generally works in your favor, since it lets the driver fit your vehicle into an existing route more efficiently.

Who It's Best For

Open transport is the right call for the large majority of shipments: standard daily drivers, sedans, SUVs, and trucks with no special value or fragility concerns. If your budget matters more than shielding the car from weather and road dust for the trip, this is almost always the better choice.

It's usually not the right call for classic, exotic, or other high-value vehicles, where full protection from the elements matters more than shaving cost. That's what enclosed transport is for.

See our classic and exotic car shipping guide

Standard passenger vehicles and SUVs loaded for nationwide open auto transport

Frequently Asked Questions

Is open transport safe for my car?

Yes. It's how the vast majority of vehicles are shipped in the U.S., including brand-new cars moving from factories to dealerships. Your car is secured and inspected before and after transit, and any pre-existing condition is documented on the Bill of Lading. The tradeoff is exposure to weather and road dust, not risk of damage.

How much cheaper is open transport than enclosed?

Enclosed transport typically costs meaningfully more than open, since enclosed trailers carry far fewer vehicles per trip. The exact difference depends on your specific route and vehicle.

Can I choose open transport for a classic or luxury car to save money?

You can, but it's worth weighing the tradeoff carefully. Full weather and debris exposure is a real consideration for a vehicle where paint, trim, or resale value matters. Most owners of higher-value vehicles choose enclosed transport for this reason. Open vs. enclosed transport compared

What's the difference between door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal open transport?

Door-to-door has the driver come to your specified addresses directly. Terminal-to-terminal has you drop off and collect your vehicle at a shipping hub instead: less convenient, but typically less expensive. How door-to-door car shipping works

Ready to ship your car?

Get a quote for a real number based on your specific vehicle and route.

Get a quote Call +1 (214) 308-5009