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open vehicles transport

Open-air transport: Your vehicle’s scenic route to its destination

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What is Open Vehicle Transport?

Open vehicle transport is the most common and economical shipping method. Open auto transport is an affordable and hassle-free option for transporting your vehicle from one state to another.
Open vehicle transport is a popular service for transporting cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, RVs, coupes, vintage cars, supercars, and sports cars. This service involves loading vehicles onto an open-sided trailer that can hold up to 10 cars.

Open auto transport service is easier to arrange than enclosed service. Open auto transport is the best and fastest option for long-distance.

6 vehicles load onto open trailer for shipping vehicle
open auto transport prices

How Much Does it Cost to Ship

The average cost to ship a car with an open carrier will be $500-$1500. The cost of open car transport services varies depending on a few factors, distance is a major factor, with prices fluctuating depending on how far the vehicle needs to be transported, Size and weight can also impact the price, with larger vehicles requiring larger trailers and heavier vehicles costing more due to the increased fuel consumption.

These factors, in addition to supply and demand, can result in price fluctuations. However, on average, it costs around $500-$1500 to ship a standard-sized car.

How does long to it ship a car with open carrier

Open carrier car shipping usually takes 5-10 business days, depending on the distance and location of pick-up and delivery. During this time, your vehicle will be loaded onto a carrier truck and transported alongside other vehicles. While this method is generally safe and secure, your car may be exposed to the elements such as dust, debris, or weather conditions.

Distance (Miles) Average Cost
50-100 $200 – $300
101-250 $300 – $400
251-500 $400 – $500
501-1000 $500 – $700
1001-1500 $700 – $900

Why Choose Open Vehicle Transport?

Open vehicle transport is an ideal option for those seeking a cost-effective and efficient service to transport their vehicles. Compared to enclosed vehicle transport, open vehicle transport is a more budget-friendly option, offering lower prices. Enclosed auto transport is 40-50% more expensive than open.
Additionally, open vehicle transport offers more availability, as there are more open transport trailers than enclosed ones. Open car transport service is much faster than other methods, such as driving nationwide, allowing for efficient relocation without committing
additional time and resources. You can also ship up to 100 pounds of your belongings for free.

How to Ship Your Car with Open Vehicle Transport

1. Get Free Quote

First, get a free quote using our car shipping cost calculator, compare the quote with other companies, and confirm your booking with our dispatch team.

2. Vehicle Pickup

After booking confirmation, our dispatch team will confirm your desired pickup date, and our driver will come to your pick location and load the car onto the open trailer.

3. Delivered Vehicle 

After picking up your car, our driver will deliver your vehicle to your drop-off location within 3-4 days. At the time of delivery, the car’s owner will be there to inspect the vehicle and sign the BOL.

6 vehicles load onto open trailer for shipping vehicle

Benefits of Using a vehicle shipping Cost Calculator

Here are some of the benefits of open-vehicle transport

Accurate Cost Estimates1

Cost-effective

One of the biggest advantages of open vehicle transport is cost. The reason for this is that trailer car transport carries multiple vehicles at once, making it more economical for transport companies.

Time and Effort Savings

Convenient

With open transport, you can usually get your vehicle moved quicker than with enclosed transport. Because open carriers are more plentiful, the wait time for a carrier is generally shorter.

Comparing Multiple Quotes

Safer than driving

Many people drive their vehicles to their destination rather than shipping them. However, open auto transport is a safer alternative; there are usually much fewer risks involved with driving it yourself.

Simplicity

Larger load capacity

Open carriers are designed to transport multiple vehicles at once, which means they have a larger load capacity than enclosed carriers. This makes them ideal for car dealerships, online car auction buyers, and private car owners who need to move multiple vehicles at once.

Get a Free Quote on Open Vehicle Transport Today

Are you looking for a quote for open auto transport? Use our car shipping cost calculator and get 100% accurate quotes without any personal information. Input your shipment details, including pick-up and drop-off locations, car make and model, and choose the open transport option to get a free quote within a second.

Types of Vehicles That Can Be Shipped with Open Vehicle Transport

With Open Car Carrier, you can ship all kinds of vehicles, including cars, trucks, RVs, boats, SUVs, and classic cars. The vehicles are loaded onto an open carrier or trailer and transported to their destination.

open auto transport
ship car with open auto transport

How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Shipping

Before shipping your vehicle, there are a few steps you need to take to ensure it’s ready for transport.

Frequently asked car shipping questions

Everything you need to know about our reliable auto transport services
Whether you get a car shipping quote online or from one of our auto transport shipping advisors, it will be valid for seven calendar days. The reason for this timeframe is that the car transport industry is very dynamic. Auto transport rates can change every week. Rest assured, however, we believe in fair pricing and want to give you the most accurate price possible.

Yes, your vehicle is fully insured from the moment a carrier picks it up to the time of delivery. We pre-screen every car shipping carrier to ensure they meet all insurance requirements under the Department of Transport (DOT) regulations. How much your vehicle will be insured depends on your vehicle’s value, the type of trailer used, and the company.

Typically, an open car transport carrier will offer cargo insurance coverage between $100,000 and $150,000. An enclosed auto transport carrier will offer cargo insurance coverage between $250,000 and $3,000,000. We can provide all carrier’s certificates of insurance upon request.

Things are slightly different for Hawaii vehicle shipments as they are subject to the ocean freight liner’s insurance limitations. Our shipping advisors will be able to give you more details.

Here at CSC Auto Transport, we offer two payment options with our car shipping services – Discounted Price and Regular Price. Discounted Price: We collect a small partial payment from your credit or debit card once we’ve assigned a carrier to pick up your vehicle. You’ll pay the balance to the driver when they deliver your car. You pay in cash, with a cashier’s check or money order. Regular Price: You pay in full when we assign a carrier to pick up your vehicle. At the time of delivery, there is no balance to pay.

People generally book their car shipping delivery service between 1 and 2 weeks in advance. Doing this allows us to find and secure your auto transport service promptly.

If, however, you’re in a hurry and only have a day or two before your desired pick-up date, we can offer a guaranteed pick-up service. We recommend you speak with one of our experienced auto transport advisors and clarify the price and timeframe. Once the car shipping booking is complete, we will contact you to arrange the final details.

Yes, you can get a free, instant car transport quote using our instant online calculator, but you will need to provide your pick-up and delivery city/ZIP codes. You can also call and speak with our auto transport shipping advisors or use Live Chat. You don’t have to supply the exact address to get a car shipping quote, but you will need to provide it when you book your auto transport service.