Enclosed auto transport

What enclosed transport is

An enclosed carrier is a trailer with walls and a roof. Some are hard-sided, like a box trailer. Others have heavy curtain sides. Either way your vehicle is out of the rain, the sun, and the spray from the road, and out of sight. Enclosed trailers carry fewer vehicles than open ones, often between one and six.

Which vehicles belong in an enclosed trailer

• Restored classics and antiques
• Exotics and sports cars with low ground clearance
• High-end luxury vehicles
• Race cars and show cars
• New purchases with fresh paint, a wrap, or a ceramic coating you want kept clean
• Anything whose value makes the extra cost an easy decision

Equipment worth asking about

Enclosed trailers are not all alike, and the differences matter for certain cars.

• Liftgate or ramps. A hydraulic liftgate raises the car level. Ramps are fine for most vehicles but can catch the nose of a very low one.
• How the car is secured. Soft straps over the tires or wheel nets hold the car by its wheels and keep hardware away from the suspension and bodywork.
• Hard side or soft side. Hard-sided trailers give the most protection. Curtain-sided ones still keep the weather off and usually cost a little less.
• Load size. Some enclosed carriers haul a single car, others several. A smaller load often means fewer stops.

Tell us the car’s ground clearance and anything unusual about it, and we look for a carrier with the right setup.

Cost and timing

Enclosed shipping costs more than open, because fewer cars share the trip and the equipment is more specialized. It also takes longer to arrange. There are fewer enclosed trucks, and in smaller towns one may come through only every week or two. Book as early as you can and give a pickup window instead of a single day.

Getting a high-value car ready

• Photograph it in good light, including close-ups of any existing flaws.
• Write down anything a stranger would need to know: a battery cutoff, a hidden kill switch, a starting routine, a low front splitter.
• Fix or report fluid leaks. A car that drips may be refused or loaded last.
• Leave about a quarter tank of fuel and a charged battery.
• Take out loose items, and remove a car cover. Covers can chafe paint in transit.

Insurance for valuable cars

Every carrier we assign has cargo insurance, but coverage limits vary from truck to truck. If your car is worth more than a typical vehicle, ask us for the carrier’s limit before you book. It is also worth a call to your own insurer, since many collector policies with an agreed value cover the car in transit as well.

Common questions