Open car transport moves automobiles on an uncovered multi-vehicle carrier. It is commonly used for everyday cars, SUVs, pickups, crossovers, and vans and is one of the transportation methods vehicle owners may consider for both interstate and long-distance shipping.
Because the carrier is open, your automobile remains exposed to normal outdoor weather and road conditions during transportation. Whether that matters to you depends on the vehicle, its value and condition, and the level of protection you prefer.
What Is Open Car Transport?
Open car transport uses a commercial carrier with exposed loading decks rather than a fully covered trailer.
You’ve probably seen these carriers on interstate highways carrying multiple vehicles.
The process generally includes:
- Providing vehicle and route information
- Coordinating transportation
- Preparing the automobile
- Inspecting its condition
- Loading and securing the vehicle
- Transporting it along the carrier’s route
- Coordinating delivery
- Completing the final inspection
For many everyday automobiles, this type of transportation provides a practical way to move a vehicle without driving it to the destination yourself.
What Vehicles Can Use Open Auto Shipping?
Open auto shipping can accommodate many common passenger vehicles, including:
- Sedans
- Coupes
- Crossovers
- SUVs
- Pickup trucks
- Vans
- Some classic cars
- Other passenger vehicles
The exact vehicle matters because size and weight affect carrier capacity.
Significant modifications should also be disclosed before transportation is arranged.
Why Is Open Car Transport So Common?
A multi-level open carrier can transport several automobiles on the same trip.
That allows the carrier to coordinate multiple vehicles along a transportation route rather than using a separate truck for every automobile.
This type of equipment is frequently used for vehicle shipping and can be seen traveling throughout the interstate highway system.
For owners transporting ordinary passenger vehicles, open transportation is often an option worth considering.
Open Car Transport vs. Enclosed Vehicle Shipping
Choosing between open and enclosed transportation largely comes down to the automobile and the level of protection you want.
How Open Auto Transport Works
With open auto transport, vehicles are secured to an uncovered carrier.
During transportation, they experience normal outside conditions such as:
- Rain
- Sun
- Wind
- Dust
- Normal highway exposure
How Enclosed Car Shipping Works
Enclosed shipping places automobiles inside a covered trailer.
The trailer provides additional protection from direct weather and road exposure.
Owners of classic, collector, exotic, restored, luxury, or particularly valuable automobiles may want to consider whether that additional protection better suits their needs.
Does Open Car Transport Expose Your Vehicle to Weather?
Yes. Weather exposure is one of the main differences between open car transport and enclosed shipping.
An open carrier can encounter:
- Rain
- Snow
- Dust
- Wind
- Sun
- Changing temperatures
Long-distance routes may pass through several weather systems.
The conditions at your pickup location don’t necessarily represent what the carrier will encounter hundreds of miles away.
If minimizing direct weather exposure is particularly important, enclosed transportation may be worth considering.
How Should You Prepare for Open Auto Shipping?
Preparation can help make carrier pickup more efficient.
Before open auto shipping:
- Remove valuables and unnecessary belongings.
- Have the vehicle keys available.
- Make sure the automobile is accessible.
- Secure loose exterior accessories.
- Check for significant fluid leaks.
- Disclose mechanical problems.
- Mention significant modifications.
- Confirm your contact information.
- Take clear vehicle photographs.
If someone else will release the automobile, make sure that person understands the pickup arrangements.
Why Vehicle Condition Matters for Open Car Transport
Before arranging open car transport, explain the automobile’s actual operating condition.
Tell the transportation provider whether it:
- Starts
- Drives
- Rolls
- Steers
- Brakes
This information is particularly important for damaged or non-running automobiles.
A vehicle that doesn’t start but rolls freely can have different loading requirements from one with wheels that won’t move.
Providing the information beforehand helps avoid unexpected loading problems at pickup.
What Happens During an Open Transport Inspection?
Document your automobile before it is loaded.
Take photographs showing:
- Front
- Rear
- Driver side
- Passenger side
- Wheels
- Windshield
- Existing scratches
- Existing dents
- Other visible damage
Keep the photographs until transportation is complete.
These images provide a useful record of the vehicle before open vehicle shipping begins.
How Are Vehicles Loaded on an Open Car Carrier?
Vehicles are positioned on the carrier according to the equipment, automobile dimensions, weight, route, and transportation schedule.
Open carriers can have upper and lower loading positions.
After each automobile is positioned, it is secured for transportation.
Because several customer vehicles may travel together, automobiles can sometimes need repositioning as other cars are picked up or delivered.
Can Open Auto Transport Pick Up at Your Home?
Pickup can often be coordinated as close to the requested location as safely and legally practical.
However, open car carriers are large commercial vehicles that need considerable maneuvering room.
Potential obstacles include:
- Narrow streets
- Tight corners
- Low tree branches
- Gated communities
- Steep roads
- Weight restrictions
- Parking restrictions
- Limited loading areas
When an exact address isn’t suitable, a nearby accessible meeting location may need to be coordinated.
How Long Does Open Car Transport Take?
The open car transport timeline depends on the individual shipment.
Factors can include:
- Distance
- Route
- Pickup location
- Destination
- Carrier availability
- Weather
- Traffic
- Construction
- Scheduled stops
Longer routes generally require more transit time than shorter routes, but mileage alone doesn’t establish an exact delivery date.
Commercial drivers must also operate safely and comply with applicable driving and rest requirements.
Do Other Vehicles Affect Open Auto Shipping Time?
They can.
An open carrier frequently transports multiple customer vehicles simultaneously.
The route may include other pickups and deliveries, which are a normal part of open auto shipping.
Weather, traffic, road construction, and other highway conditions can also influence the transportation schedule.
For that reason, vehicle shipping shouldn’t be viewed as a nonstop trip involving only one automobile.
Can SUVs and Pickup Trucks Use Open Car Transport?
Many SUVs and pickups can travel using open car transport.
However, larger vehicles use more carrier space and may have different loading requirements.
Tell the transportation provider about:
- Lift kits
- Oversized tires
- Lowered suspension
- Roof accessories
- Custom body components
- Other significant modifications
Accurate vehicle information helps the provider understand what needs to be transported.
Can Non-Running Cars Use Open Auto Transport?
Transportation may be possible depending on the automobile’s condition and available loading arrangements.
Explain whether the vehicle starts, rolls, steers, and brakes.
Don’t wait until pickup to disclose that an automobile is non-running.
Accurate information helps the provider evaluate the vehicle transport requirements beforehand.
Is Open Car Transport Suitable for Long-Distance Shipping?
Open car transport can be used for regional, interstate, and long-distance transportation.
The basic considerations remain similar regardless of distance:
- Accurate vehicle information
- Proper preparation
- Accessible locations
- Realistic scheduling
- Clear communication
Longer routes simply expose the transportation process to more potential variables such as weather, traffic, and changing road conditions.
How Do You Choose an Open Auto Transport Provider?
Price is one factor, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration when comparing open auto transport options.
Make sure the provider understands your:
- Exact vehicle
- Vehicle condition
- Pickup location
- Destination
- Transportation dates
- Significant modifications
- Carrier requirements
Consumers can research motor carrier information through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and find federal transportation information through the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Webster Hauling also has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Open Car Transport FAQs
Is Open Car Transport the Same as Open Auto Shipping?
The terms generally describe moving automobiles on an uncovered vehicle carrier rather than inside an enclosed trailer.
Does Open Vehicle Shipping Expose Cars to Rain?
Yes. Vehicles on an open carrier experience normal outdoor weather and road exposure during transportation.
Can Open Car Transport Move an SUV?
Many SUVs can use open car transport. Provide the exact year, make, model, and significant modifications so the transportation requirements can be evaluated.
Can Pickup Trucks Use Open Auto Transport?
Many pickups can travel on open carriers. Lift kits, oversized tires, and other modifications should be disclosed before transportation.
Should I Use Enclosed Shipping Instead?
That depends on the vehicle and your preferences. Enclosed transportation provides additional protection from direct weather and road exposure and may be considered for classic, collector, exotic, restored, luxury, or particularly valuable vehicles.
For more answers about vehicle transportation, visit Webster Hauling’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Arrange Your Open Car Transport
Successful open car transport starts with accurate vehicle information, preparation, realistic scheduling, and clear communication.
Vehicle condition, size, route, carrier availability, weather, traffic, and pickup and delivery accessibility can all influence open auto shipping.
Webster Hauling helps customers coordinate vehicle transportation for moves, purchases, sales, relocations, and other shipping needs.
Have your vehicle year, make, model, condition, pickup location, destination, and preferred dates ready when discussing transportation.
