Open Car Shipping Vs. Enclosed Auto Shipping

If this is your first State To State Towing experience, you need to do some research and find out what options there are. Knowing this information can save you some time and money. Anytime you are looking to do Auto Transport, you need to know there are 2 basic ways to ship a vehicle.

1) Open Car Shipping – This is the most common form of Vehicle Shipping. These are the trucks you see on the highway with a load of cars on a trailer. Open Auto Shipping trailers can haul various numbers of cars, from 1 to 11.

Typically, open Transport is less expensive. This is because your vehicle is shipped in a way that it is exposed to the elements and may be at risk of damage from debris such as trees, power lines, rocks, tires, sand and salt. These can do damage to unprotected vehicles during State To State Towing. The weather can also play a role; seasonal precipitation such as snow, sleet and hail can do wonders on how happy you are with you Auto Transport experience.

To hold these cars in place during Car Shipping, a chain is placed on the frame of the car and connected to the trailer. If these chains are applied in a sloppy manner, this can do damage to your car’s frame. In most cases, your car will arrive in the same condition it was picked up in. To this point, many car dealerships still take the risk and use open Vehicle Shipping to deliver their new cars to dealerships across the country.

2) Enclosed Auto Shipping – Enclosed transport is exactly what it sounds like; your vehicle is placed in an enclosed Transport trailer that is designed to protect your car from the element. The number of cars they can carry depends upon the size of the vehicle being shipped and the size of the trailer. Some enclosed State To State Towing trailers can only carry a car or 2 and others can handle many.

The best enclosed Auto Transport companies use a “soft tie” system to secure your car to the trailer. This is a simple and safe rigging system that connects the trailer to the wheels of your car rather than chaining it to the frame, which can cause damage when used by a rookie driver. These enclosed Car Shipping companies may extend “white glove” service, which means that put down floor mats to protect your carpets and interior during Vehicle Shipping. You need to understand that all this extra service can cost you anywhere from 75-100% more than Auto Shipping.

We have found that enclosed Transport is not for everyone. If your car is a classic, exotic or high-end luxury car, it MAY be worth the extra money. We always recommend that you do some research and check all your State To State Towing options so you can make the most informed Auto Transport choice. As always, to speak to our representative about the difference between Car Shipping and enclosed Vehicle Shipping, call our office or fill out our Auto Shipping form and we will call you!