Open vs. enclosed transport
Roughly nine out of ten vehicles ship on open carriers, and for most vehicles that is the right call. Here is how to tell whether yours is the exception.
Open transport carries vehicles on an uncovered multi-car hauler, typically holding seven to ten vehicles, and is how the large majority of vehicles ship, including new vehicles delivered to dealerships. Enclosed transport uses a covered trailer holding fewer vehicles, protecting against weather and road debris, and typically costs significantly more. Enclosed is generally worth it for collector, exotic, luxury, low-clearance, and high-value vehicles; open transport is appropriate for nearly everything else.
The actual differences
| Open transport | Enclosed transport | |
|---|---|---|
| Share of shipments | The large majority | A small minority |
| Vehicles per load | Typically 7 to 10 | Typically 2 to 6 |
| Weather exposure | Exposed, same as driving it | Fully protected |
| Road debris exposure | Exposed, same as driving it | Fully protected |
| Carrier availability | High, on nearly every lane | Lower, especially on rural lanes |
| Typical assignment speed | Faster | Slower, fewer carriers |
| Relative cost | Baseline | Meaningfully higher |
| Low-clearance handling | Limited | Lift gates and ramps common |
| Best for | Daily drivers, fleet, dealer inventory, most consumer vehicles | Collector, exotic, luxury, classic, low-clearance, very high value |
When enclosed is genuinely worth it
The useful way to think about it: open transport exposes your vehicle to roughly what driving it the same distance would. Weather, road grime, and the small chance of a stone chip.
For a daily driver, that is a non-issue. It is what happens every day anyway. New cars are delivered to dealerships on open carriers.
Choose enclosed when:
- The vehicle is a collector, classic, exotic, or limited-production car
- Its value is high enough that a paint repair would be a serious expense
- It sits low enough that standard ramps are a problem
- It has just been restored or repainted
- It is going to a show, an auction, or a press event where appearance is the point
- The owner will be genuinely upset by road grime, which is a legitimate reason
Choose open when: it is a normal vehicle you drive in normal weather. Which is most vehicles, most of the time.
Frequently asked
Is my car safe on an open carrier?
Yes. Open transport is how new vehicles are delivered to dealerships nationwide. The vehicle is exposed to weather and road conditions in the same way it would be if you drove it, and it is secured to the deck for the whole trip.
What is a top-load spot on an open carrier?
The upper deck. It keeps the vehicle clear of any fluid drips from a vehicle above and slightly further from road spray. Some carriers offer it at a small premium as a middle ground between open and enclosed.
Can a very low car ship on an open carrier?
Sometimes, but ground clearance under about four inches is a real problem on standard ramps. Enclosed trailers commonly have lift gates, which is why low-clearance vehicles usually ship enclosed regardless of value.
Two ways to start
Businesses that ship regularly get lane pricing and portal access. Everyone else can price a single vehicle in about a minute.
I ship for my business
Movers, dealers, RMCs, auctions, fleets. Contract pricing and the Clutch Transport Portal.