Open vs. Enclosed Car Shipping: Which Should You Pick?
Enclosed car shipping typically costs you 40% to 50% more than open transport, and we can book it on any route. Open transport is the cheaper default most shippers choose; enclosed is worth it mainly for classic, exotic or high-value vehicles that need protection from weather and road debris.
| Dimension | Open | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The reference-range baseline for a given route | 40% to 50% more than the open-transport price for the same route |
| Weather and road exposure | Vehicle rides exposed on a multi-car trailer; damage rates are low but not zero | Vehicle is fully enclosed, protected from weather, road debris and dust |
| Trailer type | Open multi-car trailer | Hardside enclosed trailer, single-car or multi-car |
| Typical vehicle | Daily drivers, most cars, trucks and SUVs | Classic, exotic, brand-new or high-value vehicles; motorcycles needing extra protection |
| Availability | Default on every route we book | Available on every route we book, not limited to specific lanes |
How much more does enclosed car shipping cost?
Enclosed car shipping runs 40% to 50% more than open transport.
It is a percentage rather than a dollar amount because the exact difference depends on your route and vehicle. Every reference-range price on this site is an open-transport price, and the 40-50% figure is what to add on top as a rough guide to what enclosed would run on the same route. For an exact enclosed price on your vehicle and route, request a live quote.
How much more does enclosed cost on a typical move?
On a short haul the enclosed premium can run higher than usual.
On a short haul the enclosed premium can run higher. A live quote is the way to know for sure.
Why does enclosed cost more?
Enclosed transport costs more mainly because fewer enclosed carriers exist and each one hauls fewer vehicles per trip than an open multi-car trailer does.
A standard open carrier hauls several vehicles stacked on two decks. A hardside enclosed trailer, the type carriers in our network use for enclosed shipments, typically hauls one or a handful, which spreads the trip's cost across fewer vehicles. The trade-off behind the premium is more protection and fewer trucks available to do the job.
When is enclosed transport worth the extra cost?
Enclosed transport is usually worth the 40-50% premium for classic, exotic, brand-new or otherwise high-value vehicles, and for motorcycles that need protection a standard open trailer doesn't provide.
For these vehicles, a chip from road debris, a hard rain or direct sun exposure over a multi-day haul is a real cost: think of a collector car, a show vehicle, or a car being delivered to a dealership as new. For a vehicle like that, the extra 40-50% is cheap insurance against a much larger repair or a diminished resale value.
When enclosed transport is not worth it
Enclosed transport usually isn't worth the extra 40-50% for an ordinary daily-driver car, truck or SUV with no special value, because open transport already carries a low damage rate and your vehicle is built to handle everyday road exposure.
It's also a weaker choice when your schedule matters more than the trailer type: enclosed carriers are less common than open ones, so booking one can mean a longer wait for a truck to become available. And if your vehicle is headed straight into a garage or indoor storage at both ends of the trip anyway, the protection enclosed offers in transit matters less. For most standard vehicles moving on a normal timeline, open transport is the more practical and less expensive choice.
What is open car shipping?
Open car shipping carries your vehicle on a multi-car open trailer, the type most often seen hauling new cars to dealerships, and it's the default, lower-cost choice for most shipments.
Your vehicle is exposed to weather and road debris during the drive, and damage rates on open transport are low. See open car shipping for the full breakdown of cost and process.
What is enclosed car shipping?
Enclosed car shipping carries your vehicle inside a hardside enclosed trailer, either single-car or multi-car, fully protected from weather and road debris.
Carriers in our network use hardside enclosed trailers rather than soft-side ones for enclosed shipments. See enclosed car shipping for the full breakdown of cost and process.
Can I get enclosed transport on any route?
Yes. We can book enclosed transport on any route, and it isn't limited to specific lanes or held back for lack of carriers.
Some routes have no enclosed reference range on this site. That says nothing about what you can book. A live quote always reflects a real, current price for enclosed transport on any route.
Frequently asked questions about open vs. enclosed car shipping
- Is enclosed car shipping worth it?
It depends on your vehicle. For a classic, exotic, brand-new or otherwise high-value car, the 40-50% premium is usually worth the extra protection. For an ordinary daily-driver vehicle, open transport is typically the more practical choice: it costs less and carries a low damage rate on its own.
- How much more does enclosed car shipping cost than open?
Enclosed car shipping typically runs 40% to 50% more than open transport on the same route. A live quote gives you the exact figure for your specific vehicle and route.
- Can I get enclosed transport on any route?
Yes. We can book enclosed transport on any route we run, regardless of whether that specific lane has an enclosed price range on this site.
- What's the difference between open and enclosed car shipping?
Open transport carries a vehicle on a multi-car trailer exposed to weather and road debris, and it's the cheaper default. Enclosed transport carries a vehicle inside a hardside enclosed trailer, single-car or multi-car, fully protected, and typically costs 40% to 50% more.
- Does enclosed transport cost more for short-distance moves?
It can. On short hauls under 500 miles, enclosed can run noticeably higher than the typical 40-50% range. A live quote is the reliable way to know the figure for your specific short-haul move.
- Should I ship a classic or exotic car enclosed?
Usually, yes. A hardside enclosed trailer protects a collector or high-value vehicle from road debris, weather and dust over a multi-day haul, which is typically worth the 40-50% premium over open transport for that class of vehicle.
- Is enclosed transport better for a non-running car?
Not specifically. A non-running vehicle needs a winch-equipped carrier regardless of whether it ships open or enclosed. Choosing enclosed for a non-running vehicle is about the vehicle's value, not its running condition.
- Does Wave Auto Transport offer both single-car and multi-car enclosed trailers?
Yes. We book both single-car enclosed units and multi-car enclosed trailers, depending on carrier availability for your route.
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