Open Vs Enclosed Car Shipping: Which One Should You Choose?

When people decide to ship their car, they are often confused about open vs enclosed car shipping. These two modes of car shipping differ quite starkly and can impact the cost to ship a car incurred by car owners. Understanding the differences between these types of car shipping services is crucial to make a properly informed decision that will better suit your needs.

For daily-use vehicles, open car shipping is generally preferred and widely used in the US. It involves transporting your car on an open-top carrier without protection against weather conditions and road debris. Conversely, enclosed car shipping is generally used for sports cars, luxury cars, or antique vehicles given the extra protection from road debris or inclement weather like snow or rain. In other words, enclosed car shipping is a premium option for luxury vehicles that require extra care while being shipped. We dive deeper into the topic in the rest of the article below.

What Determines When to Go for Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping?

In the open vs. enclosed car shipping debate, there is much to say about when it’s best to choose one or the other. To help you better understand these different scenarios, we have outlined a few of them and explained which model best meets your needs.

Shipping Luxury or Antique Cars

If you own a luxury or an antique car, you probably already know it requires extra care compared to newer cars. Most antique car owners are very sensitive about their prized possessions and try their best to maintain them in top shape. 

Given how open car shipping leaves cars susceptible to damage from harsh weather conditions and road debris, it’s recommendable to ask your car shipping broker for enclosed car shipping for maximum safety when shipping an antique car.

Weather Considerations

Many snowbirds need to ship their cars during the winter season. The problem is that doing so often includes a long drive through harsh weather conditions. Therefore, most owners who prefer open car shipping tend to wait until spring to proceed with their move. 

However, enclosed car shipping is the way to go if you don’t want to wait out the harsh winter. Transporting your car as such will protect it from any and all weather conditions, preventing unnecessary damage from prolonged exposure on the road.

Still, snow is far from the only reason people sometimes choose enclosed over open car shipping. During transport, your car can get exposed to dirt, road debris, air pollution, rain, hail – you name it. Open car shipping inherently exposes your vehicle to such weather conditions. If the potential damage to your car’s paint and other exterior body parts isn’t something you’re willing to risk, you should choose enclosed car shipping instead. 

The immediate upside to that is no depreciation in the market value of your vehicle as a result of sustained damage. Moreover, you also won’t have to dish out any extra money out of pocket to visit an auto repair shop as soon as you get the car delivered.

Estimated Value

Another thing to consider is this: how much is the car worth to you?

Spending extra to keep a 20-year-old daily driver protected probably isn’t worth the cost unless it bears some sentimental value to you. 

By contrast, if you are a car investor looking to make solid returns on your investment by flipping it for profit, splurging on enclosed car shipping certainly makes sense. Keeping your cars in top shape and well-maintained should be worth all the money to you. 

With open car shipping, there is a good chance that snow and other harsh weather conditions will cause unnecessary damage, lowering the car’s worth.

To ensure the safety of your investment, choose enclosed car shipping to move your car to the desired destination. Also, only work with a car shipping company you’re sure you can fully place your trust in.

Peace of Mind

If you are a snowbird heading to states like Florida to enjoy your winters, the last thing you want is for something to go wrong in transit.

Compared to open car shipping, enclosed car shipping gives you an extra layer of insurance against random and undesirable events. This will ensure you can relax when your precious car is shipped in an enclosed truck.

Although most car shipping companies offer financial insurance for your car during the shipping process, choosing open car shipping trailers still runs a small risk of car theft. If you own an antique or luxury car, you should always go for enclosed car shipping instead to guarantee yourself some peace of mind.

Key Takeaways

Let’s settle it then. Shipping a car open vs. enclosed – what’s better? There is no definitive rule dictating the best way to ship a car; it all depends on how much the car is worth to you and how desperately you want to keep it safe from the elements and road debris. If you couldn’t care less, open car shipping will do the trick. In all other cases or when you simply want to have some peace of mind, pick a truck with an enclosed trailer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Open vs Enclosed car shipping

We hope that you are now well aware of the scenarios in which you should go for open or enclosed car shipping method. Now, we’ll answer some of the frequently asked questions about open vs enclosed car shipping to help you make a better decision.

What is the actual difference between these two modes of a car shipping?

Open car shipping is the most widely used method for transporting cars. In this mode of shipping, the car is exposed to outside weather conditions like snow, rain, wind, and air pollution. It is a secure way of shipping a car at an economical cost.

However, for some luxury, antique, and sports cars, enclosed car shipping is the most suitable shipping method. In enclosed car shipping, your car is transported in a closed truck saving it from the outside weather conditions.

What is the cost of enclosed car shipping?

The cost of car shipping in an enclosed car carrier is slightly higher than open car carriers. In open car shipping, multiple cars are shipped in open car shipping trailers simultaneously thereby decreasing the cost of shipment.
On the other hand, enclosed car shipping involves only a few vehicles that are shipped in a closed truck.

Which mode of shipment is suitable for you?

We have discussed exactly this question in this post. If you are not sure about open vs enclosed car shipping yet, please go through the above post carefully.

Can you keep your stuff in the car while it is shipped?

When you work with SAKAEM Logistics for open or enclosed car shipping, you can keep your stuff in the car up to 100 lbs without any extra charges. However, we suggest that you pack your things in a single box and keep it in the trunk or cargo area of your vehicle. In this way, your things will remain safe when your car is moved to your desired location.

Is my car secure if I go with open car shipping instead of an enclosed one?

Yes, your car is secure when you go with open car shipping as well. We consider every shipment as unique and do our best to deliver the cars safe and sound. Enclosed car shipping is only an added layer of protection for your vehicle during it is shipped to the destination.

How long does enclosed car shipping take?

Enclosed car shipping is generally slower than open car shipping. Due to a higher demand for open car shipping, more open car carriers are available on all the routes to ship vehicles. However, being a broker, SAKAEM Logistics is connected with more than 20 000 carriers and can arrange enclosed car shipping for your vehicle without any delays.

How many vehicles are shipped in the enclosed car shipping method?

There are two additional types of trailers in the enclosed car shipping method. The first one is a multi-car enclosed trailer which can accommodate up to seven cars. Moreover, it is the cheapest option in enclosed car shipping when compared with other available options.

The second type is a two- or one-car trailer which is capable of shipping only one or two cars in one trip. These trailers are most suitable for shipping luxury cars and are generally faster than other car carriers due to the lesser weight of the shipment.

What are the options available in the open car shipping method?

In open car shipping, there are mainly two options available to ship your car. The first one is a two-level, multi-car carrier that ships vehicles on two decks or stories. This is the most common type of open car shipping and is the cheapest option as well. The second option available in open car shipping is a single-level, multi-car carrier.

Will road debris damage my car if I choose open car shipping?

Sometimes, people insist on top load position for their car on a two-level, open car carrier. They think that if their car is on the upper deck it is less likely to get damaged from the road debris. However, it is only a myth and the position of your car doesn’t determine if it will receive any damage from road debris. As far as the road debris is concerned, it usually hits the front of the car shipping truck instead of flying sideways. So, you shouldn’t worry about damage from road debris as your car will be insured as well.

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