Open auto transport

What open transport is

An open carrier is the two-level truck you see on the highway loaded with cars. A full-size one carries seven to ten vehicles. It is the same equipment manufacturers use to deliver new cars to dealerships, and most vehicles shipped in the United States travel this way.

Why most people choose it

• Cost. The trip’s expenses are split across more vehicles, so each one pays less.
• Availability. Open carriers far outnumber enclosed ones. There is more likely to be a truck with a free spot near you this week.
• Reach. Open carriers run nearly every route, including the ones into smaller towns.

What “open” means for your car

Your vehicle is outside for the trip. It sees the same sun, rain, and road dust it would if you drove it, without adding the miles. It will arrive dirty and want a wash. Damage from road debris is uncommon, and the carrier’s cargo insurance covers the vehicle while it is on the truck.

Some owners ask for a spot on the upper deck, away from anything that might drip from a vehicle above. You can ask us about it. It depends on the truck and the other vehicles on board, so it is not always available.

Three things people worry about

• Security. Vehicles are locked on the trailer, the driver holds the keys, and the truck is not left unattended for long stretches. Theft from a loaded car hauler is rare.
• Mileage. Your car is driven on and off the trailer and nowhere else. The odometer reading is written on the inspection report at pickup so you can confirm it at delivery.
• Weather. Rain and sun do a shipped car no more harm than they do a parked one. Hail is the real exception. If you are shipping through storm season and it worries you, that is the case for enclosed.

How far ahead to book

For open transport along a major interstate, a week of notice is usually enough, and short-notice pickups are often possible. Give two weeks in summer and for addresses well away from the highway. A pickup window of several days, instead of one fixed date, is the single most useful thing you can offer a carrier.

When open is the right call

Open transport suits daily drivers, family SUVs, pickups, leased cars, and almost anything you would park outside without worrying. If the vehicle is a restored classic, an exotic, or has paint you would not want rained on, look at enclosed transport instead. The quote form prices both, so you can compare them in a minute.

What can ride on an open carrier

Sedans, hatchbacks, crossovers, SUVs, minivans, pickups, and most electric vehicles ship without special arrangements. Lifted trucks, duallys, and long-wheelbase vans fit too, with notice, because they take a particular position on the trailer. A vehicle that does not run can be winched on, provided it rolls, steers, and brakes.

Common questions