Gift Icon
Get a 20% discount from our partners! Discount code will get added automatically when you submit the form.
Auto Transport Truck on Highway
4.7 Star Rating4.7 (67,926 reviews)
96.3% positive
No Surprises, Just Savings: Verified Carriers, Instant Quotes, and Best Price Guarantee!
You save 20% compared to other companies
Get quotes from trusted carriers, thoroughly vetted and fully insured. Enjoy trackable deliveries, fair pricing, and hassle-free transport from start to finish. Transport any type of vehicle and drive away worry-free.
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs
Customer Ratings By Feature
Value for Money ★★★★★ 4.9
Vehicle Care ★★★★★ 4.9
Fast Delivery ★★★★★ 4.9
Friendly Staff ★★★★★ 4.9
Globe
190+
Countries
Served
Car
2M+
Delivered
Services
Car
97%
Customer
Recommended
Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

Will My Exotic Vehicle Be Safe While in Transit?

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Why Should I Not Hire a Personal Driver?
  2. Why Shouldn't I Use Open-Carrier Transport for My Exotic Vehicle?
  3. What Is Enclosed Auto Transport?
  4. Why?
  5. What Is Single Car Enclosed Transport?
  6. What Is Air Freight Shipping?
  7. How Are Vehicles Kept Safe During Enclosed Transport?
  8. How Do I Prepare My Vehicle for Transport?
Transport Exotic Auto To Another Location

As an exotic vehicle owner, you might be presented with a situation that involves the need to transport your exotic auto to another location. That location could be across a couple of states, or it could be across the country. Whether you're relocating for work, retirement, or sending your car off for display at a car show, keeping your vehicle safe in transit is of the utmost importance.

Minor damages on an exotic vehicle can result in a steep repair price tag. If you're choosing to hire someone to transport your vehicle, you want to have your vehicle arrive the same way it was sent out.

To understand how your vehicle will be kept safe during transit, you'll need to have an understanding of the different types of vehicle transport services available and what they offer customers.

Let's start with services you should avoid when looking to ship your exotic vehicle.

Why Should I Not Hire a Personal Driver?

There are individuals out there that offer people the service of personally driving their car to the desired location. Is this a good idea? Probably not. The main issue with hiring a personal driver to transport an exotic vehicle is trust. The idea of trusting a person you don't know to drive long distances alone with your car isn't a settling prospect.

It's recommended that people looking to transport their cars long distances look into companies with a positive track record for providing the service they're looking to attain.

While personal drivers are less frequently used, open-carrier transport is the most commonly utilized form of auto transport.

Here's why you should avoid open-carrier transport services when it comes to moving your exotic vehicle.

Enclosed Carrier Auto Transport

Why Shouldn't I Use Open-Carrier Transport for My Exotic Vehicle?

Open-carrier transport is pretty straightforward and self-explanatory. Instead of enclosing your vehicle during transit, open-carrier transports load and secure your car onto a hauler exposed to outdoor elements. Since your exotic vehicle would be susceptible to damages from outdoor factors such as weather, dirt, and stray objects, it's recommended that you veer away from open-carrier transport. If you own a low clearance vehicle, you want to steer away from open-carrier transport as these carriers utilize a steep ramp to load your car.

The danger in these steep ramps is the risk of scraping your car's undercarriage due to the ramp's incline. While open-carrier transport is the most commonly used method to transport vehicles, owners of exotic cars should look elsewhere.

Next, we're going to look at one method of auto transport that can end up working quite well for transporting your exotic vehicle.

Enclosed Auto Transport

What Is Enclosed Auto Transport?

Enclosed auto transport is the opposite of open-carrier transport in that your car is completely covered during its route. Fully protecting your vehicle during transport eliminates the opportunity for damages from bad weather and other hazards. Since you're getting a higher level of protection than open-carrier transport, enclosed auto transport will cost you more.

If you enlist the help of an enclosed auto transport service, your car will be loaded onto the carrier with other vehicles. When it comes to loading your vehicle onto the carrier, enclosed auto transport services are far more superior than open-carrier services.

Why?

It doesn't matter if your car contains a low clearance when being loaded onto an enclosed carrier. Instead of accelerating up steep ramps, enclosed auto carriers use hydraulic lift gates that mimic an elevator with their ability to raise evenly and lower vehicles. The result is more control and a seamless experience of transferring your vehicle from the liftgate to the carrier.

If you like the sounds of enclosed auto transport, but want an even more exclusive transport service, consider looking into single car enclosed transport.

What Is Single Car Enclosed Transport?

Single car enclosed transport is the same as enclosed transport except that your car won't be moved with other vehicles. One perk associated with having your car travel by itself is a faster delivery rate. Suppose your vehicle is traveling with other vehicles. In that case, it's natural that the transit process will take longer as the driver has to manage other deliveries along the route to your car's destination.

Keep in mind that single car enclosed transport is more difficult to book than standard enclosed auto transport. Standard enclosed auto transport is in higher demand as a service, so fewer drivers are available for single-car enclosed transport. If you make plans far in advance, you should be able to line something up for your exotic vehicle.

Before we get into how exotic vehicles are kept safe during transit, we will cover one last method for shipping exotic cars:

Air freight shipping.

Air Freight Shipping

What Is Air Freight Shipping?

Air Freight shipping utilizes an aircraft to transport your vehicle. If you own an exotic car, you may want to look into air freight shipping, as this is the quickest and most protective way to move a vehicle. Air Freight shipping is the most expensive way to move a car, but owners of exotic cars most commonly use these services. While your car most likely won't be the only vehicle onboard the plane, aircraft can only carry so many vehicles due to weight regulations, so even if your vehicle is traveling with some company, it won't be a lot.

Since there are more flights available than drivers transporting vehicles on the ground, air freight shipping provides customers with accelerated delivery rates.

Your vehicle will be safer on an aircraft compared to any other type of auto transport service due to the high level of security controls in airports. If you're looking at moving an exotic car overseas, air freight shipping becomes even more attractive as a transit option.

Now that we've recommended enclosed auto transport and air freight shipping for exotic vehicles, let's take a closer look at how cars are kept safe during transit.

How Are Vehicles Kept Safe During Enclosed Transport?

Enclosed auto transport carriers usually hold up to eight vehicles. Once your car is loaded onto a carrier via a method such as a hydraulic gate, your vehicle will be fastened with nylon straps or wheel nets. Some companies use chains to secure vehicles. Avoid chains at all costs as chains can put too much strain on your car and cause damage.

Nylon straps are typically placed over the tires to avoid damaging the vehicle's rims.

You should now have enough information to decide on which auto transport service is right for your exotic vehicle along with some helpful context as to how your car will be kept safe.

Let's end with some tips to prepare your vehicle for transport.

Best Car Movers

How Do I Prepare My Vehicle for Transport?

When prepping your vehicle for transport, it's essential that you gather your car's documents, wash your vehicle, have a thorough inspection, remove personal items, perform any needed maintenance, and lock your vehicle.

Here's a rundown of vehicle documents you should gather:

  • Insurance
  • Title
  • Copy of your driver's license
  • Vehicle registration
  • Proof of ownership

Cleaning your vehicle both inside and out will help you perform a more thorough inspection as any marks or damages to your car will be evident. After you evaluate your vehicle for damages, take notes on the car's condition so you can spot any damages that might've occurred during the vehicle's travels.

Removing personal items from your vehicle is vital as things left in your car won't be insured during travel. The only things you should keep in your vehicle are emergency tools such as jacks, a spare tire, etc.

Performing necessary maintenance on a car is essential as cars that aren't in excellent condition result in a higher transport fee. There might be an instance where you think your car is working fine, but an inspection might reveal otherwise. If your vehicle happens to leak during transit, you'll risk getting fluid on other vehicles in a standard enclosed transport scenario.

Whether you decide to use air freight shipping or enclosed auto transport to move your exotic vehicle, the protection and professionalism that these services offer will ensure your car is kept safe during its travels.

Best International Shipping For Small Business
Share this content on social media for a chance to get up to 20% off your next shipment.
Copy link

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.

Email Me


Testimonial
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.

Testimonial
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!

Testimonial by Cristine Benoit
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.

Testimonial
David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★

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.

Visit our social, and see what our clients are saying about us:

Ship Your Vehicle With A-1 Auto Today
Get an instant free Quote Now

Or Call Us Today and Speak Directly to Our Sales Team:

Call Us 1-888-230-9116

Our Partners:

Better Business Bureau Accredited
FMCSA Member
INC. 500 Member
VeriSign Secured
AMSA Member

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
Copyright © 1988-2024, A-1 Auto Transport - All Rights Reserved.