Open Car Transport — The Most Popular Way to Ship
Open transport ships roughly 95% of all vehicles on US roads. It's the most popular, most available, and most affordable way to move a car door-to-door — and for most vehicles, it's the right choice.
Open car transport moves vehicles on a 7- to 9-car hauler — the kind of trailer you see on the highway every day. It's 40–60% cheaper than enclosed transport, dispatches faster because supply is deeper, and provides the same insurance, tracking, and door-to-door service. It's the right choice for daily drivers, standard family vehicles, and any car that doesn't need showroom-condition protection.
What's included
- Industry-standard 7- to 9-car open haulers
- 40–60% less expensive than enclosed transport
- Faster pickup windows — open trailer supply is deepest
- Same cargo insurance, GPS tracking, and door-to-door service as enclosed
- Vehicles are securely strapped and inspected at pickup and delivery
- Suitable for daily drivers, family vehicles, trucks, SUVs, and most modern cars
How it works
- 1Step 1
Get an instant quote
Enter pickup, delivery, vehicle, and timeline. The AI pricing engine returns an all-in number in under 60 seconds — no callbacks.
- 2Step 2
We dispatch an open carrier
Our AI matches a vetted, insured open hauler running your corridor. Open trailers are the most common equipment on the road, so dispatch is usually fast.
- 3Step 3
Pickup and inspection
The driver inspects your vehicle, you both sign the Bill of Lading, and the car is securely loaded onto the trailer with soft straps or chains depending on equipment.
- 4Step 4
Door-to-door delivery
Real-time GPS tracking through transit. At delivery, walk the vehicle with the driver, sign the BOL, and confirm receipt. Your card was already charged at pickup — nothing to settle at the door.
Best for
Daily drivers, standard family vehicles, trucks and SUVs, vehicles being relocated for a move, snowbird seasonal shipments, and most online-purchase deliveries. Not the right choice for: exotics, classics, freshly-painted restorations, ultra-low-clearance vehicles, or anything where appearance is a sale-critical asset.
Pricing
Open transport pricing scales with distance, vehicle size, season, and tier. Most domestic shipments fall between $700–$1,600 all-in. Cross-country runs are $1,100–$1,600. Short hops under 500 miles are $400–$800. See the pricing page for tier breakdowns; the quoting tool gives the exact number for your specific route.
Coverage area
Open transport runs every US lane — coast-to-coast, snowbird corridors, regional moves, and short hops. The most common open lanes are I-95 (Northeast ↔ Florida), I-10 (cross-country south), I-80 (cross-country north), and I-5 (Pacific coast). Every US ZIP code is covered; rural pickups route to the nearest reachable trailer.
See your price in 60 seconds
Real, all-in pricing — no callbacks, no haggling.
Frequently asked questions
Is open transport safe for my car?
Yes. Modern open carriers strap each vehicle securely with soft straps or wheel nets. Every carrier in our network is FMCSA-vetted and carries a minimum $100,000 in cargo insurance. Damage in transit is rare and covered if it happens.
Will my car be exposed to weather on an open trailer?
Yes — open carriers don't have a roof or walls. The vehicle is exposed to rain, sun, and road dust the same way it would be if you drove it yourself. This is fine for daily drivers and not an issue for finishes on any reasonably modern vehicle.
How much cheaper is open vs. enclosed?
Open transport is typically 40–60% less expensive than enclosed on the same route. For most vehicles, the savings is significant and the protection trade-off isn't material.
Can I ship a truck or SUV on an open carrier?
Yes. Open haulers are designed for full-size trucks and SUVs as much as sedans. Larger vehicles take more space on the trailer, so the price is $100–$250 higher than a sedan on the same route.
How fast can open transport pick up my car?
Typically 1–3 business days after booking on Priority tier, and 3–7 days on Standard. Open hauler supply is the deepest of any equipment type, so dispatch is generally faster than enclosed.
Ready to ship your car?
Get a real, all-in price in under 60 seconds — no callbacks, no haggling.