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Open vs Enclosed Auto Transport

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Difference between Open and Enclosed Auto Transport
  2. Open Vehicle Shipping
  3. Benefits and disadvantages of Open Auto Shipping
  4. Enclosed Transport
  5. Related Information & FAQ
Reputable Car Transport Companies

Difference between Open and Enclosed Auto Transport

Vehicle transportation companies assist with shipping your vehicle to any city in the country or even overseas, but the way this is done is based on the offered procedures and methods that the company has to offer.

While the majority of companies use a vehicle multi-carrier or trailer, you have to choose between going for open or closed transportation based on your preferences and requirements. Both methods are going to use a truck for the transport but they have certain differences. However, if the length of your journey is short, your carrier might be smaller and handle up to 6 vehicles. Of course, you can also see a single vehicle carrier.

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Enclosed Car Transport

Open Vehicle Shipping

When you are told that the company will go for an open-air trailer, you can expect for the process to be rather regular. This type of carrier or trailer is between 70 and 85 feet in length and it’s going to haul a trailer with two-level for two rows of cars on top and on the bottom. You will find that there is no sides and roof of the carrier which makes the vehicles exposed to the winds and weather throughout the journey.

Benefits and disadvantages of Open Auto Shipping

There are certain advantages as well as disadvantages that can include:

  • Cons – your vehicle is going to be exposed to the weather conditions and there is little to no protection against debris which makes it less secure.
  • Pros – it’s by far the least expensive option and it provides better visibility which allows the driver to easily inspect the cars. Furthermore, this particular type of trailer is also lighter and it’s going to use a lesser amount of fuel.
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Enclosed Transport

The trucks for enclosed transportation have an enclosed trailer with 4 sides and a roof which provides extreme protection throughout the transportation. If you have a highly prized car which is a luxury, expensive or a sports car, you might want to go for this type of transportation as it’s going to provide you tremendous amounts of security as well as protection from debris and from the elements as well.

The downside is that it doesn’t provide the driver a chance to do regularly inspect the vehicle. Furthermore, it’s going to use a lot more fuel than an open-air transport carrier making it a lot more expensive as well.

In order to be able to properly pick the right method of shipping, you need to consider the amount of security that you are going to need for the vehicle. If you want to ship a collector’s vehicle or an antique one, you might want to go for a fully enclosed car carrier. However, if you have a regular old model you are probably better off with an open-air trailer. Of course, you want to get as many quotes as you can in order to be sure that you aren’t being ripped off.

Read more about enclosed auto transport carriers.

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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★

...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.

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Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
★★★★★

A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!

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Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★

There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.

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David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
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We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

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A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
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