Are you planning to move your sportscar to another state or maybe you just need your exotic vehicle to be transported to a show? Auto transport companies can offer a few options for you to choose the best one to suit your needs and pocket. With us, you can ship the vehicle anywhere in the US and even overseas.
Below, you can find a short helpful guide about the various types of enclosed car shipping and the top 20 companies offering the best enclosed auto transport service in the country.
Quick links to navigate you in the article:
- Open vs Enclosed car shipping;
- Types of enclosed auto transport;
- Top 6 enclosed car shipping companies;
- Best 14 both open & enclosed auto transport companies
- What affects the enclosed auto transport cost?
- How to prepare the car for shipping in an enclosed trailer?
- FAQs.
Open vs Enclosed Shipping. Pros and Cons of an enclosed transportation
Whether you need to ship your iconic ‘64 Mustang to the auto show or simply want to make sure nothing happens to a Cadillac that your dad was driving in his 20-s, choosing the right enclosed car shipping company may define your life.
If you are shipping a vehicle for the first time you are probably wondering whether to choose open or enclosed transportation. First of all, you need to understand that both open and enclosed shipping is accomplished by moving a vehicle by truck.
Choosing an open car hauler means your vehicle will be shipped on a long, two-level trailer. Open transport is suitable for any type of vehicle and is the best choice if you want to ship a common vehicle.
If you decide to opt for enclosed shipping your vehicle will be shipped in a fully covered trailer. Even though such trailers are generally the same size as a 10 car open carrier, they cannot fit nearly as many vehicles. This makes enclosed shipping at least 50% more expensive than open transportation.
Despite this, enclosed vehicle transportation has lots of advantages. First of all, your vehicle is fully protected from overhanging tree branches, flying rocks on the highway, bird droppings, dust, and of course weather conditions like rain, snow, or hail.
Also, drivers of enclosed carriers are more professional and experienced in high-end vehicle care. They always call far in advance to negotiate the time of pick up and drop off. Besides that, enclosed car carriers have higher insurance coverage ($250 000 per vehicle and higher).
And the last but not the least important thing is that enclosed carriers always do expedited delivery. For example, they can go from coast to coast within 4-5 days and from north to south or vice versa within 3-4 days.
If you are still not sure whether to choose an open or enclosed trailer, we would highly recommend you use the last one when you are planning to ship:
- A motorcycle, ATV, UTV, a golf cart;
- A vehicle with very low clearance;
- A brand new or a show car;
- A classic, antique or rare vehicle.
Even though enclosed transportation costs more, it will cost you much more to fix the vehicle in case the car gets damaged because of weather conditions (of course insurance will cover the damages, but it will be a headache to get all the paperwork done and fix the vehicle). If you are wondering how much enclosed transportation costs you can calculate it here.
Types of Enclosed trailers
Enclosed vehicle transport trailers are fully covered trucks that will protect your vehicle from road and weather elements during transport. An enclosed trailer can be either hard-sided or soft-sided, though the last one is not very popular and is used less frequently. Besides these 2 types, enclosed car haulers can be single-car trailers, single-level multi-car trailers, and multi-level multi-car trailers.
Single car trailers are usually used for moving cars for short distances (up to 1500 mi). Carriers that own such trailers are usually booked far in advance for brand new, classic, or rare vehicles. They are also very popular among the customers that need expedited delivery.
Single-level multi-car trailers usually fit 2 cars and are very similar to single-car trailers.
Multi-level multi-car trailers are often used by dealerships to transport vehicles for long distances. Using multi-level multi-car trailers or even single-level multi-car trailers is more cost-effective and efficient than a single-car carrier.
Top 6 best enclosed auto transport companies of 2021
If you are planning to move the vehicle soon and are now searching for the best transportation companies, let us help you with that. Here are some of the best-enclosed transportation companies in 2021 we are working with, based on their auto shipping rates and info from vehicle shipping comparison websites.
AutoBox Express LLC
AutoBox Express LLC is a fleet owner of enclosed auto transporters located in Naperville, IL, and covering all 48 states. Thousands of customers trust and love their service. The drivers of AutoBox Express LLC specialize in moving low clearance vehicles (race, sports, and exotics), as well as rare, vintage, and luxury vehicles. Most of the drivers working in the company have more than 20 years of experience in trucking and auto transport.
The company owns 20 Volvo trucks and Kentucky XL12 enclosed auto-transporters (6-7 vehicles) with remote control lift gates for low clearance vehicles.
Pros:
Covers all 48 states
Specializes in moving low clearance cars
Drivers with more than 20 years of experience
Have 20 trucks with lift gates
Cons:
Do not offer online tracking
Horseless Carriage Carriers, Inc.
Horseless Carriage Carriers, Inc. has provided discerning automotive enthusiasts with dependable enclosed-trailer transportation for antique, classic, exotic, and everyday vehicles since 1975. Their experienced team specializes in the safe, claim-free, door-to-door shipment of every type of vehicle — from cars, trucks, and motorcycles to vans and military vehicles.
The company is located in Paterson, NJ and now has 35 trucks that usually go from California to Texas, New Jersey, and back. When the time comes to ship a vehicle lots of customers trust their possession to this safe and reliable exotic car transport.
Pros:
Specializes in moving exotic cars, motorcycles, trucks, and vans
Drivers with more than 25 years of experience
Have 35 enclosed car haulers
Cons:
Covers only the route CA-TX-NJ
Shippers Inc.
Shippers Inc. is another enclosed carrier that has been providing customers with an immaculate service for the last 9 years.
They are not afraid of taking care of sometimes messy transportation processes with professional car hauling services.
Shippers Inc usually works with the dealerships, but can also transport cars for auctions and direct individual shippers.
Most of the time the company covers all 48 states, the only exception are some northern states like Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas that drivers do not go to during wintertime.
Pros:
Specializes in moving vehicles for dealers, auctions, and private individuals
Drivers are always online with the customers
Owns both a small 2 car hauler and a larger 6 car hauler
Cons:
Do not go to some northern state during harsh winter weather
Pabiko Inc.
Pabiko Inc is also a perfect example of a company that cares and loves what they do. This company is a family-owned business founded in 2006 in Downers Grove, IL. They have only 4 employees: 2 drivers, a dispatcher, and an accountant. As well as Shippers Inc., Pabiko Inc. also owns only two enclosed trailers (6 car haulers) and go anywhere within all 48 states.
Pros:
Specializes in moving vehicles anywhere within all 48 states
The dispatcher is available 24\7 and ready to help the customers
Offer discounts for military members
Cons:
Do not have a lift gate to load low clearance vehicles.
Prestige 1 Auto Sales
Prestige 1 Auto Sales is also a family-owned business operating since 1993 and located in Chicora, PA. The company has only a few employees including a father and a son who are both drivers and dispatchers at the same time.
Prestige 1 Auto Sales have 3 enclosed trailers with a lift gate (two 1 car haulers and a 2 car hauler).
Pros:
Enclosed trailer with lift gates for low clearance vehicles
Drivers have more than 20 years of experience
Offer discounts for shipping multiple loads or for return customers
Cons:
Specializes in moving vehicles only on the route PA-FL
Safeport Inc.
Safeport Inc is another top-rated company specializing in enclosed transportation. The company was founded in Louisville, KY in 2011 and since then it is one of the most popular companies in the state.
Safeport Inc. offers enclosed auto shipping with a one-on-one personal touch nationwide and specializes in transporting race cars with extremely low clearance (such as 0.25”). The company has 2 trailers with a lift gate: a 3 car hard side and a 6 car hard side.
Pros:
Specializes in moving cars with a clearance as low as 0.25”
Drivers always keep the customers updated
Offers discounts for multiple loads
Cons:
Price may fluctuate depending on the season
Best both open & enclosed vehicle shipping companies
The transportation business is rather developed and there are much more companies that offer enclosed transportation. Most of them own both open and enclosed car haulers. Let’s take a look at some of the best auto shipping companies that can offer both open and enclosed transportation depending on the customer’s needs (companies are given in no specific order).
Gee Force Trans Inc.
Gee Force Trans Inc is a licensed and bonded trucking company running freight hauling business from Inman, SC, and going anywhere within the mainland. It’s an independent owner–operator company with 2 trailers: an open 6 car hauler and an enclosed 9 car hauler. Depending on the availability of the vehicles on the route and the needs of the customers the driver chooses whether to go with the open or enclosed trailer.
Pros:
Offers discounts for multiple loads
Has a large enclosed trailer, therefore can move several vehicles at a time
Accepts cash, Zelle, and CashApp payments at the time of delivery
Cons:
The enclosed trailer does not have a liftgate
Mark’s Transport Inc.
Mark’s Transport Inc. located in Wales, MA operates as a shipping company transporting vehicles from the Northeast to Midwest and Southeast. As a family-based company, they offer personal management and attention to each customer’s needs.
Mark’s Transport Inc. owns 3 trucks: one open 9 car hauler and two enclosed hard-side trailers. One of them is a 2 car hauler that goes a short distance (mostly to Northeast), another is an 8 car hauler going to Southeast and Midwest.
Pros:
Have 2 enclosed trucks: one that serves nearby states and a larger one for long distances
Offers military discount and discounts for multiple loads
Offers expedited delivery
Cons:
Does not have a website with detailed information on the company
Uno Auto Transport LLC
Uno Auto Transport LLC is a well-equipped fleet of car shipping trucks, trained and professional staff located in Hallandale, FL. They offer fast, reliable solutions to ship any kind of vehicle from any location on the East Coast to Florida and Texas.
The company owns 4 trucks: three of them are hard side enclosed (two 6 car haulers with a lift gate and a 3 car hauler) and one is an open 9 car hauler. Usually, this company has the lowest rate on the route so they do not have any kind of discounts except for multiple loads (shipping several vehicles from the same pick up and to the same drop-off location).
Pros:
Has 3 enclosed hardside trucks, two of them with lift gates
Has a website with a very detailed information
Customer Support is available 7 days a weekry
Cons:
Do not offer any discounts except for multiple loads
NAO Auto
NAO Auto is a sole proprietorship founded in 2001 in Spokane, WA. The company specializes in shipping different types of vehicles such as antique or exotic cars, boats, motorcycles, vans, and pick up trucks.
The company is well equipped to serve the mainland states offering both open and enclosed hardside carrier services (27 trucks in total).
NAO auto helps customers with college and corporate relocations, dealership moves, military moves, and seasonal snowbird services offering several types of discounts.
The company’s customer support representatives always keep in touch with the customer throughout the whole journey and is available 7 days per week from 7 am to 5 pm.
Pros:
Has 27 open and enclosed hardside trucks going anywhere within 48 states
Customer Support is available 7 days per week
Offer military, business, and multiple load discounts
Cons:
Does not have enough information on the website
MoveWheels Auto Transport
MoveWheels Auto transport company is a popular shipping company based in Green Cove Springs, FL. It has been in business for more than 10 years which helped the company to create its database of professional drivers who provide customers with white-glove service and can transport any kind of vehicle from a small sedan to heavy equipment, boats, RVs, and vans.
MoveWheels company works both with open and enclosed carriers going anywhere in the US and doing door-to-door transportation. Experienced shipping agents can also help you ship the vehicle overseas (including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Europe) and schedule everything for you.
Pros:
Has its own database of reputable open and enclosed carrier companies
Does not ask for any prepayment
One can get a quote for free by simply following this link
Customer Support is available 24/7
Offers military, business, and multi-load discounts as well as discounts for regular customers
Cons:
Price may fluctuate depending on the season and drivers’ availability
AmeriFreight
AmeriFreight is another popular American company offering both open and enclosed transportation. It was founded in 2004 in Georgia and provides door-to-door vehicles delivery within the 48 states.
The company does not require any upfront deposit and provides discounts to senior citizens and students.
Pros:
Has its own database of unprofessional carrier companies
Does not ask for any prepayment
Offers some discounts to students and senior citizens
Cons:
Price may change depending on the drivers’ availability and season
A1 Auto Transport
A1 Auto Transport started its journey in Watsonville, CA in 1988. At first, the company owned only one truck that served locally doing 24-hour emergency towing. As for now, the company has more than 50 open and enclosed trailers going anywhere within the US. The company offers door-to-door delivery and is ready to help you ship almost any kind of vehicle.
The company offers military, student, and senior citizen discounts but only if you schedule the shipment far in advance.
Pros:
Does not ask for any prepayment
Offers door-to-door delivery
Has a rather informative website
Cons:
Discounts are available only if you book the shipment far in advance
Price may fluctuate depending on the drivers’ availability
True Carrier
True Carrier is a relatively new shipping company based in Tampa, FL. The company is working both with enclosed and open carriers to make sure they can suit customer’s needs. Some of the drivers (whether open or enclosed) offer expedited delivery and always do their best to deliver the car right to the exact address.
True Carrier is using the national load board called Central Dispatch to find a driver on a particular route within the particular time frame.
Pros:
Customer support service is available 24/7
Offers door-to-door delivery
Does not ask for any prepayment
Cons:
Lack of information on the website
Does not have customer support via online chat on the website
Sherpa auto transport
Sherpa auto transport is probably one of the most popular auto shipping companies. It was founded in 2017 in Charlotte, NC and its main focus is delivering unparalleled customer service through professional communication and transparent pricing.
Sherpa auto transport contracts with both open and enclosed carriers and before finalizing the deal with the drivers always make sure that the drivers are fully insured and had no issues in the past.
Pros:
Transparent pricing: a promise to lock the price at the time of booking
Customer support service is available 24/7
Offers door-to-door delivery
Offers free car wash
Cons:
A cancellation fee is applied even if the customer cancels the shipment far in advance
Vehicle must be emptied of all personal items before shipping
eShip Transport
eShip Transport is a full-service auto transport service provider founded in 2010 in Coconut Creek, FL. It’s a family-owned and operated company that works both with open and enclosed carriers.
eShip works only with the carriers that are fully bonded, insured, and have many years of experience in handling every make and model of car, from the most humble to the most exotic.
Pros:
Offers free quotes
Does not require any upfront deposit
Customer support service is available 24/7
Offers free storage for any eShip customer at their local location
Cons:
The company’s website doesn’t have updated information
Vehicle must be emptied of all personal items before transpotation
Masney Auto Transport Inc.
Masney Auto Transport Inc is an auto transport company that has been in business for more than 30 years. It is located in Ocoee, FL, and has participated in many fleet moves from auction to auction transfers, ports, and dealerships.
Masney Auto Transport has a fleet of 70 open car haulers and 20 enclosed hardside with lift gates which allows the company to transport
Pros:
Has both open and enclosed trailers to suit all customer’s needs
Covers all 48 states
Insurance coverage is up to $ 1 000 000 for all the vehicles on the trailer
Cons:
The website lacks updated information
The vehicle must be empty (no personal items are allowed)
uShip
uShip is an Austin-based shipping company that was established in 2003 and provides customers with open and enclosed transportation services. Using u-Ship people can ship any kind of vehicles from motorcycles to heavy industrial equipment.
The insurance coverage of the carriers that uShip works with varies from $100 000 up to $250 000 per vehicle on the trailer.
Pros:
Has both open and enclosed trailers to suit all customer’s needs
Covers all 48 states
Insurance coverage is up to $ 1 000 000 for all the vehicles on the trailer
Cons:
The website lacks updated information
The vehicle must be empty (no personal items are allowed)
AC Express LLC
AC Express LLC is a family-owned interstate shipping company that was founded in 2019 in Fife, WA. The company offers extensive and innovative services across the 48 states and its drivers have years of experience and an outstanding safety record.
AC Express LLC owns 2 trailers: an open and an enclosed one. The company’s top priority is customer service and its main goal is to be always on time and as we know the drivers have succeeded at it so far.
Pros:
Offers door-to-door delivery
Covers all mainland states
Shipping of 100 lbs of personal items is allowed
Customer support is available every day from 7 am to 5 pm PST
Cons:
Does not offer any discounts
Kotermak Auto Transport
Kotermak Auto Transport is also a family-owned company established in 2010 in Fair Oaks, CA. The company owns an open and enclosed car hauler and is going anywhere within the mainland.
Kotermak Auto Transport offers discounts for multiple loads and return customers.
Pros:
Has both open and enclosed trailer to suit all customer’s needs
Covers all 48 states
Offers some discounts for business and return customers
Provides door-to-door pick up and drop off
Cons:
Customer support is only available on business days from 9 am to 5 pm
The vehicle must be empty (no personal items are allowed)
Though if you are looking for some more great enclosed car shipping services that operate around all 50 states we would recommend you check this top of 25 enclosed auto transport companies. It’s rather informative and full of great car shipping advice.
What Affects The Enclosed Auto Transport Cost?
The method of shipping (open or enclosed) is the second thing that affects your final price the most when it comes to shipping the car across the country or the other state.
The first thing is for sure – the mileage. Other factors include your vehicle’s size and condition, season, and the availability of the drivers on the route.
The first two aspects are easy to understand since the larger vehicle is the more expensive it gets to ship it. For example, instead of moving 2 sedans, the driver can transport only one pickup truck therefore he will ask for either a double price or at least half more than for shipping a sedan. And in case you are shipping the inoperable car, the driver needs to have a winch on the trailer and it also costs an additional $70-$100.
As for the season, car shipping during the winter holidays always costs more since it’s a high season. Moreover, moving a vehicle to or from northern states with their severe weather conditions will also cost more in winter since only a few drivers are willing to go there and those who do ask for an extra payment.
The availability of drivers on a route is another important thing to understand when planning your move. Some locations are less popular than others so it may take more time to schedule the driver. It may also cost more money to go to the faraway location since your vehicle may be the only one going that way and the drivers are not happy to go lots of extra miles for free.
How to Prepare your Car for Shipment in Enclosed Trailer
1. Make sure your vehicle is clean
Dirt and dust can easily hide small damages. Wash the vehicle thoroughly before the pick-up and when the driver comes and inspects the vehicle, check it together on any pre-existing damages. You can also take some pictures of the car before the shipment in case of any damages.
2. Check for leaks
If your vehicle has an aggressive leak, the driver may refuse to transport it since it may cause dangerous situations during the shipment or damage other cars.
3. Remove all personal items
During shipping things might be tossed a little bit, so we highly recommend you remove everything from the vehicle to prevent any damage.
4. Leave NO more than a quarter tank of fuel
Your car will be transported on the trailer and if the tank is full, it will make the vehicle heavier and may cause problems during transportation.
5. Make sure the keys are at the pick-up address (even if the car is inop)
You should provide the carrier with the keys, so he can load and unload the car from the trailer. In case the car is inoperable the diver still needs the keys to put the car into neutral in order to get it winched on the trailer.
FAQs
Can I ship different vehicles in one enclosed trailer?
Yes. More than one vehicle can fit within an enclosed trailer. Semi-trailers can accommodate several vehicles because of their length, which is often up to 48 feet. Using an enclosed trailer, it is possible to transport more than one vehicle.
How does the payment work?
First of all, unlike most brokers, our company does NOT charge anything at the time of booking.
The payment is divided into 2 parts: the partial deposit is charged to the credit card AFTER the vehicle is picked up and the remaining balance is paid at the delivery location to the driver with cash or any certified funds. In case you are not planning to be at the delivery location, you pay the driver via Zelle, CashApp, or PayPal.
What is the insurance coverage policy for classic car shipping?
The quote (can add link here) you receive from our company is always the total price with all fees, taxes, insurance, and door-to-door delivery included. Our company is bonded and we work only with insured and experienced carriers.
The insurance coverage for an enclosed carrier is up to $250 000 per vehicle on the trailer. If you are not sure if your carrier is insured or want to check it, you can always do it on the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (link https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_carrlist?s_prefix=MC&n_docketno=879969) using the MC number of your carrier company (you can ask your broker to send it to you and if everything is okay you will receive it without any delays).
How far in advance is it better to book enclosed vehicle transportation?
Usually, we need a few days to schedule the enclosed carrier to transport a vehicle. But it always depends on the route: if you are shipping a vehicle from and to a popular location (e.g. NY to FL), it may take only 1-3 days to find a driver and negotiate the details. If your vehicle is going a less popular route or from coast to coast, we may need at least a week to schedule the driver.
Frankly speaking, the best thing is to book enclosed shipping at least 7-8 days in advance and have a window of 1-3 days for the pick-up and drop-off dates in case the driver has some delays or weather conditions change.
If you want to check the price or keep a spot for shipping your brand new or maybe classic vehicle you can follow this secure link or simply call us at (904) 863-5350 and we will be happy to schedule the most professional enclosed carrier within your time frame.
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