Is open car transport a safe option for shipping your vehicle?

Yes, open auto transport is a safe, recommended, and affordable option for shipping a car, but if we compare enclosed vs. open auto shipping options, the enclosed shipping option will be considered a safer option.

Open Carrier Car Shipping

Name: Open Car Transport
Brand: All State to State Auto Transport
Rating: 4.85 (1021 reviews)

Ship your vehicle across the country with auto shipping experts

Please call us at +1 (800)-550-1515. Our experts are available to assist you around the clock.
Quote Now	Call Us

What Is Open Transport Car Shipping?

Open auto transport is the most commonly used type of car shipping, where an open-air trailer is used to ship vehicles that can carry 8 to 10 cars at a time. Mostly individual car buyers, sellers, dealers, and manufacturers prefer this method as it's a budget-friendly option with wider availability compared to other methods.

It is also suitable for those who want to ship multiple vehicles at once. For transporting vehicles over any distance, whether your vehicle is coming from an auto auction, residential area, commercial location, or being sent to a dealership, auto workshop, or another destination, open, o car shipping is the best choice. It . It offers numerous benefits, including faster transportation, easier shipping, affordable pricing, and greater flexibility in pickup and delivery times to fit your schedule and needs..

It costs around a couple of hundred to a thousand dollars or more, which depends on various factors such as season, vehicle size and type, distance, and others. Contact us to ship your vehicle with open car shipping service at the lowest possible prices and secure transport.

We Offer Three Types of Open Auto Transport Services, as Follows.

Open-Single Car Transport

Open single-car transport is explicitly used to carry one car at a time. They are more expensive than other types. We usually use it to transport inoperable vehicles or for specialized shipping.

Single-Level with Few Vehicles

A single-level car carrier can transport two to three vehicles at a time. We typically employ this method for shorter-distance shipping, where your vehicle is shipped with just a few other cars. It is cheaper than a single tow trailer set up on a dually truck.

Two-level with Multiple Vehicles

This is the most common type of open auto transport, where 8 to 10 vehicles can be shipped on a two-level open-air trailer. It is easily accessible and less costly, but slower than other open auto transport types because it carries more vehicles, which requires more time for transportation.

Benefits of Open Auto Transport

Easy Availability

Open auto service is the most commonly used and easily accessible option because nearly 85% of truckers on the road operate open-air trailers, which is why the majority of customers prefer it.

Top Load Available

The top-load can be selected for shipping a car in open auto transport services. Individuals who want to load their vehicle in the upper slot of a shipping trailer for transport, where no other vehicle is loaded above it, should opt for open shipping.

Cost-Effective Pricing

Open car hauling is an ideal choice for those looking for an affordable way to transport their vehicle. People, especially auto dealers, prefer this option because of its low cost.

Faster Transportation

Another benefit of open auto hauling is the quicker transportation. In this type of service, vehicles are transported more quickly than enclosed carriers. Its common availability marked it as a faster auto shipping type.

Flexibility

Open auto hauling offers great flexibility in pickup and delivery dates, allowing you to ship multiple vehicles at a time. If you're a car dealer or involved in buying and selling cars in bulk, you need a transport service for them. Open Auto Transport is the best option.

Improved visibility

Open auto transport provides the benefit of improved visibility. In this type, every car is visible to the carrier. The driver can inspect the vehicles any time during transit, which decreases the chance of theft or loss and enhances shipping safety.

Difference Between Open and Enclosed Transport Car Shipping: Why open auto shipping is ideal

There are two basic methods of car shipping. One is open auto transport, and the other is an enclosed car carrier. Both have their pros and cons, but it's not a concern, whichever method you choose for transportation, because expert at All State handle each shipment with the utmost care and safety.

Feature	Open Car Shipping	Enclosed Auto Transport
Price	Low	High
Level of Protection	Medium	High
Vehicle Shipping Capacity	More Vehicles	Fewer Vehicles
Trailer Type	Open-Air Trailer	Enclosed Trailer
Preferred Vehicle Type	Daily-Use Vehicles	Luxury, Exotic & Classic Cars
Availability	High	Medium

Let's explore the difference between them and know when open transport should be used. Open auto transport is a popular approach used to ship nearly seventy percent of the vehicles in the US. The reason behind this is its nationwide easy availability and low prices.

In an open-air trailer, more vehicles can be shipped at a time compared to an enclosed trailer, resulting in lower prices because the fixed shipping cost is divided among more cars. In contrast, in enclosed transport, the fixed sipping cost is divided among fewer vehicles, resulting in high prices. People who ship vehicles in bulk or transport their car after regular intervals, such as snowbird car shippers who require shipping a vehicle twice a year, prefer open auto transport because it saves a significant amount of money and is easily available throughout the year compared to enclosed auto transport. Open auto transport is best for transporting all types of vehicles at all times of the year, except when you have high concerns about shipping safety; in that case, opting for enclosed shipping will be a better option.

Enclosed shipping is a more secure transport option than open auto transport because vehicles are shipped in a box-type trailer, which has a layer of roof and walls that protect vehicles from harsh weather and its harmful effects. It's a costly option and not as common as open car shipping, but at Allstate, you can access this option whenever you need it, at any time, anywhere. If you are transporting a sports, luxury, or classic car, or you have a vehicle of much higher value, prioritize the shipping safety of your car and opt for enclosed transport. Any scratches, dents, or damage to such an expensive vehicle can result in high repair and maintenance expenses..

Why Choose US

No Upfront Payment

All State-to-State auto Transport does not charge its customers any amount until a driver is assigned for their vehicle pickup. We offer easy and secure payment methods.

Door-to-Door Shipping

We offer nationwide door-to-door car hauling services, which include picking up and delivering vehicles from customers' mentioned locations.

High Shipping Safety

All State-to-State auto Transport does not charge its customers any amount until a driver is assigned for their vehicle pickup. We offer easy and secure payment methods.

Cost-effective Prices

Shipping safety is one of our top priorities. We understand that when selecting a transportation company, customers are particularly concerned about the safety of their vehicle.

Insurance Coverage

We offer insured auto transport services. Our assigned carriers fully comply with the required insurance standards, which is also a key reason for customers’ trust in us.

Guaranteed Pickup

We offer a guaranteed pickup option to meet your schedule as per your required date. Our vast network of carriers enables us to complete all shipments on time smoothly.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car?

The cost of shipping a car using open auto transport typically ranges from $0.55 to $1.20 per mile. However, the final price depends on several important factors.

Shipping distance, Chosen shipping route, Vehicle size and condition, Season and market demand

Average Open Car Shipping Costs by Distance

Longer distances result in a higher total cost but a lower cost per mile. Fixed expenses are spread across more miles as distance increases.

Distance (Miles)	Total Cost (Open Transport)	Cost Per Mile
0 – 500	$415	$0.83
500 – 1,000	$750	$0.75
1,000 – 1,500	$1,080	$0.72
1,500 – 2,000	$1,300	$0.50
2,000 – 2,500	$1,800	$0.39
2,500 – 3,000	$2,100	$0.36
3,000 – 3,500	$2,450	$0.34
3,500 – 4,000	$2,600	$0.32

Key Insight: As distance increases, the cost per mile decreases even though the total price rises.

Average Open Auto Transport Costs by Vehicle Type (500 Miles)

Vehicle Type	Total Cost	Cost Per Mile	Distance
Sedan	$415	$0.83	500 miles
SUV	$750	$0.75	500 miles
Pickup Truck	$1,080	$0.72	500 miles
Van	$1,300	$0.50	500 miles
RV	$1,800	$0.39	500 miles

Started with us for Open Car shipping Services at Affordable Rates

Quote Now +1 (800) 580-1515

Open Auto Transport Coverage

Read What Customers Say about Our Transport Services

Humberto Lopez ★★★★★

I had a great experience using ALL STATE-TO-STATEAUTO TRANSPORT. Anna Smith has been a pleasure to work with and has allowed my company to handle shipments worry free. I will definitely continue to use them for future shipments!!

Yunei Riveron ★★★★★

I had a fantastic experience with All State to State Auto Transport, especially thanks to Magnus. He was incredibly helpful, professional, and attentive throughout the entire process. From the initial quote to the final delivery, Magnus …

Another Legend ★★★★★

I had to move a vehicle and was recommended this transport group and would was provided amazingly fast service by Anna Smith that was not only very professional and very thorough and efficient and would absolutely recommend her to handle shipping your vehicles

EDER CANIZALEZ ★★★★★

I had a great experience with All State to State Auto Transport. Magnus was very professional and attentive throughout the process. They offered flexible options including open trailers and flatbed transport, which suited my needs

Dan ★★★★★

Jason Roy was a pleasure to work with and offered a very competitive rate. Highly recommended.

Elite Auto Express LLC Dispatch ★★★★★

Great experience working with Magnus. Professional, responsive, and easy to communicate with. Looking forward to working together again.

Nadia B ★★★★★

Alan, always in touch, great communication.

teno systems ★★★★★

The door-to-door shipping process was seamless, and my vehicle was transported safely. The shipping rates were also very competitive, and I was impressed by the level of customer service Magnus provided. They offer top-notch vehicle …

Tim Bright ★★★★★

Highly recommend Jason Roy with state to state auto transport. Jason got my mother's car moved from Maryland to New Hampshire without a hitch, very professional, I would not hesitate to call him again.

eto khutsishvili ★★★★★

The best shipping company,I would always work with them.they have dispatcher Magnus,he is honest guy,really good in his job,Thank you Magnus!!!

Lewis Monclus ★★★★★

Magnus was extremely professional and helpful with assigning us a load and promptly answering all of our questions.

Katherine Subervi ★★★★★

This company is a pleasure to work with, Magnus was very professional and helpful with excellent communication throughout the process of successfully completing a delivery for a customer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out what car transport costs?

To get an accurate car shipping estimate, start by gathering all the necessary details for transporting your car. This includes the vehicle type, its condition, pickup and delivery addresses, preferred pickup date, and carrier type, whether you prefer an open trailer or an enclosed carrier. Once you have done that, you can receive a cost estimate by submitting it to our car shipping cost calculator.

Are you guaranteed the pickup?

The guaranteed pickup for the vehicle is only given on estimate, but we have met 95% of our pickup commitment. You can trust us as we have a vast network of carriers and will surely pick up your vehicle exactly on your specified date.

How long does transport take?

Open car shipping can take between 1 to 14 days. Shipping duration mainly depends on the distance. Transporting a vehicle over shorter distances usually takes 1 to 2 days, while over longer distances of up to 2000 miles or more, it can take 1 to 2 weeks.

Is my service fee refundable if I cancel the order?

Every company has a different cancellation policy. Some companies charge a cancellation fee once you book with them. All State-to-State Auto transport cancellation policy specifies that if you cancel the order before we assign a driver for your vehicle pickup, no cancellation charges will be deducted from your account

Is open auto transport the cheapest way to ship a car?

Open auto transport is most commonly available and, undoubtedly, a cost-effective method of transporting the vehicle, where your car is shipped along with other cars. But the drawback of this method is that your vehicle is exposed to environmental elements, such as harsh weather, dirt, and road debris.

Are there any weather-related restrictions when using open auto transport?

There is no restriction on using open auto transport in any weather. However, the carrier must follow the weather forecast and plan the shipment accordingly. This minimizes the chances of uncertainty caused by harsh weather.

Can I transport a non-running vehicle using open transport?

A non-running or inoperable car can be transported by an open-air trailer. Such vehicles cannot be driven to trailers and require specialized equipment, such as ramps, winches, or forklifts, for loading and unloading. Our assigned drivers are experienced in shipping non-operable and operable vehicles on open-air trailers and are equipped with all equipment needed for secure loading and unloading.

Do I need to buy gap coverage while shipping my car by open auto transport?

It’s not recommended to buy gap insurance just for shipping commonly used vehicles, unless you're moving a very expensive or luxury vehicle. Standard auto transport insurance doesn’t cover all losses if the vehicle is completely lost during transit, so in that case, gap insurance can be helpful. All State-to-State Auto Transport provides door-to-door shipping services; you don't need to request it separately. We pick up and deliver vehicles from the locations mentioned by customers, but for that, your area must be legally permitted for a transport trailer.

Is open Car Shipping suitable for luxury or classic cars?

Open auto transport is not a recommended option for moving luxury or classic cars, as they need special handling during shipping. Enclosed auto shipping is the best choice for their transport because it offers an extra layer of safety and protects the vehicle from harsh weather and road conditions during transit. In open transport, vehicles are exposed to environmental elements and are less secure than enclosed transport.