Open Car Shipping: Cost, Safety, and How Open Auto Transport Works
About nine out of ten cars ship this way, on the same open carriers that deliver new cars to dealers. A standard sedan typically ships open for $450 to $1,850 across our 24 most popular routes. Your price is locked when you book.
- 50,000+ Vehicles Shipped
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Read what customers say on our auto transport reviews page.
What Customers Say About Open Car Shipping With Us
Rated 4.9 stars from 350+ Google reviews and 1,000+ reviews on Transport Reviews. Tap or click a card to read the full review at the source.
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“I recently used Number 1 Auto Transport for transporting my car across the country, and I couldn’t be happier with their service. The entire process was smooth and professional from start to finish. They were especially helpful, providing excellent communication and ensuring that my vehicle was handled with great care.”
LashaGoogle review
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“Car shipment process between NJ and NM with this company was smooth, easy, transparent, and reliable. Had very good communication with both broker and car-carrier driver--both were very professional. The transport itself turned out to be even faster than expected. Rob (who owns the business) answered all my questions and really seems to have built up a good business and relationships with trusted drivers. We would not hesitate to use this company again to ship our car.”
Nancy P.Yelp review · Feb 2025
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“We recently used Number One Transport to move my truck down to Florida and the whole experience was excellent from start to finish. Communication was great, pickup was on time, and the driver kept me updated throughout the trip. The truck arrived exactly as promised and in perfect condition. Reliable, professional, and stress-free service.”
Stephen BorgiaGoogle review
Read more on our auto transport reviews page.
Open Transport Car Shipping: Cost and Transit Time
Open car shipping moves your car on a carrier with no walls or roof, usually a two-level truck that holds 8 to 10 cars. It is the cheapest way to ship a car on every route we run. A standard sedan typically ships open for $450 to $1,850 on our 24 most popular routes, against $875 to $3,000 enclosed.
Most cars are picked up within a 1 to 5 day window and spend 1 to 10 days on the truck, depending on distance. Your car sees the same weather and road dust as a day of driving, and the carrier's cargo insurance is on it from pickup to delivery.
Who Hauls Your Car on an Open Carrier
We are a licensed broker, not a carrier. MC-796224 and USDOT 2336907. For an open move, we book a two-level carrier that already runs your lane, after pulling its insurance certificate straight from its insurance agent and confirming the driver and the truck are both on the cargo policy.
Cargo limits vary by carrier. If your car is worth more than the carrier's limit, ask us for the carrier's certificate before pickup, or price enclosed instead.
What Is Open Carrier Car Transport?
Open car transport, also called open-air or open carrier transport, means your car rides on a trailer with no walls or roof. Open carriers deliver most new cars to dealers. Most people ship a car this way too, for a move, a purchase, or a season away.
Types of Open Car Carriers
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Two-Level Car Hauler
The big rig you pass on the interstate. It carries 8 to 10 cars on an upper and a lower deck and runs the long routes between metro areas. Most open shipments ride on one.
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Single-Level Trailer
A smaller open trailer pulled by a heavy-duty pickup. It carries a few cars and often handles short runs, rural pickups, and single-car loads.
How Your Car Rides
The driver drives each car up the ramps onto the trailer and straps it down at the wheels so it stays put. A car that does not run gets winched on.
Cars ride on the upper deck or the lower deck. A car on the lower deck can catch a drip from a leaking car above it. That is why you tell the driver about any leak before loading.
Watch a Car Load onto an Open Carrier
A clip from our YouTube channel shows a Mercedes-Benz loading onto an open car carrier.
How Much Does Open Car Shipping Cost?
Open car shipping typically costs $450 to $1,850 for a standard sedan across our 24 most popular routes. Trips under 500 miles typically run $450 to $875. Trips of 2,500 miles and up typically run $1,450 to $2,500, or about $0.50 to $1.00 a mile.
Prices below are estimates based on recent bookings on each lane. Our car shipping cost guide covers all 24 routes, vehicle size, and season.
Open Auto Transport Rates by Distance
| Distance | Open cost | Per mile | Transit | Example route, open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 miles | $450 to $875 | Flat rate by the job | 1 to 3 days | New York to Massachusetts, $450 to $600 |
| 500 to 1,000 miles | $575 to $1,200 | $0.60 to $2.40 | 1 to 4 days | Atlanta to Dallas, $650 to $950 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 miles | $800 to $1,650 | $0.55 to $1.65 | 3 to 5 days | New York to Florida, $800 to $950 base |
| 1,500 to 2,500 miles | $1,050 to $1,800 | $0.45 to $1.20 | 4 to 7 days | New York to Colorado, $1,300 to $1,800 |
| 2,500 miles and up | $1,450 to $2,500 | $0.50 to $1.00 | 6 to 10 days | New York to California, $1,600 to $1,850 |
Estimated price ranges for standard sedans. Your actual price depends on exact pickup and delivery locations, vehicle size, transport type, and season. Get a free quote for your exact route. Once you book, your price is locked. New York to Florida shows the base rate. From October through December, when snowbirds head south, it runs about $925 to $1,275 open.
What Changes Your Open Car Shipping Price
- Distance. Longer trips usually cost more in total and less per mile. Demand on the lane moves the price too.
- Vehicle size. An SUV or pickup takes more deck space and weighs more than a sedan, so it costs more on the same trip.
- Season. The busy seasons, snowbirds heading south (October to December) and north (March to June) and summer moves (June to August), run 10 to 20 percent above base. Snowbird lanes on I-95 and I-75 can run up to 35 percent. January, February, and September usually cost the least.
- Pickup and delivery spots. A metro near the interstate costs less than a town far off it. A wide lot near the highway can beat a tight street.
- Your dates. A pickup window of a few days lets us match you with a truck already on your route. A fixed date means a truck has to come to you.
- Running condition. A car that does not run needs a carrier with a winch, which typically adds $100 to $250.
Want the open price for your car? A free quote takes about a minute.
How Long Does Open Car Shipping Take?
Plan on a 1 to 5 day pickup window plus 1 to 10 days on the truck. Most car haulers on the road are open, so an open shipment usually books faster than an enclosed one.
From Booking to Delivery
| Stage | How long | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | 1 to 2 weeks ahead | Gets the widest choice of pickup dates. In the busy seasons, aim for 2 weeks: snowbirds heading south (October to December) and north (March to June), summer moves (June to August), and college move-in (August). |
| Pickup window | Usually 1 to 5 days | The driver calls to set a time. Remote areas and peak season sit at the long end. |
| On the truck | 1 to 10 days | Set by distance. Most carriers cover about 500 miles a day under federal hours of service rules. |
| Delivery | A call about 24 hours out | The driver confirms the window. You inspect the car and sign the bill of lading. |
These are typical windows. Weather and road closures can add a day or more. For long moves, our guide to shipping a car across the country covers the coast-to-coast lanes.
Is Open-Air Car Transport Safe?
Yes. About 2 out of every 100 cars we ship open arrive with damage, and most of that comes from the road itself: rock chips and debris thrown up by traffic. The carrier's cargo insurance is on your car from pickup to delivery, but rock chips to paint and glass are not covered under any trucker's cargo policy, anywhere in the industry. If your car is expensive or has a special paint job, ship it enclosed.
What Your Car Is Exposed To
On an open trailer your car sees rain, sun, road dust, and the odd bit of gravel. That is about what it sees on a long drive, without adding a single mile.
Rock chips and road debris cause most of the damage we see, and they are the one risk cargo insurance does not pay for. Hail and winter road salt are the other weather risks, and coverage for those varies by policy, so ask us for the carrier's certificate and what it covers. Wash the car soon after a winter delivery, and take delivery in daylight so you can inspect every panel.
What Keeps Your Car Safe
Vetted Carriers
Before a carrier gets your car, we pull a current insurance certificate straight from the carrier's insurance agent and confirm the driver and the truck are both on its cargo policy.
Cargo Insurance
Carriers we book keep $1,000,000 in liability and $100,000 to $1,000,000 in cargo coverage. Limits vary by carrier, so check the limit against your car's value.
Wheel Straps
Carriers strap each car down at the wheels so it stays in place on the deck.
Bill of Lading
You and the driver record the car's condition at pickup, then check it again at delivery.
If Your Car Arrives Damaged
Mark the damage on the bill of lading while the driver is there, get the driver's signature, and take photos. Then call us and the carrier right away. Our guide on what to do if your car is damaged during transport walks through the claim.
Open vs Enclosed Car Shipping
Around nine out of ten cars ship open. Enclosed costs more and protects more. Both carry the carrier's cargo insurance.
How the Two Compare
| Factor | Open transport | Enclosed transport |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | The base rate on every route | Usually 40 to 60 percent more, and more on short trips |
| New York to Florida, base season | $800 to $950 | $1,275 to $1,450 |
| Trailer | Two-level open rack, 8 to 10 cars | Covered trailer, fewer cars per load |
| Exposure | Weather and road dust, like a day of driving | Sealed from weather and road debris |
| Booking | The most trucks on the road. Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead | Fewer trucks, but 1 to 2 weeks ahead is still enough |
| Low cars | Standard ramps | Liftgate on some carriers, or extended ramps |
| Best for | Daily drivers, SUVs, trucks, and leases | Classics, exotics, low cars, and fresh paint |
Which One Fits Your Car?
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Ship Open When
- It is a daily driver, SUV, pickup, or lease
- You want the lowest rate on the route
- You bought it from a dealer or an auction
- It is a project car or a fixer-upper
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Price Enclosed When
- It is a classic, an exotic, or a show car
- It is worth more than about $75,000
- It sits low or has fresh or high-end paint
- Its value tops the carrier's cargo coverage
Our enclosed auto transport page covers soft-sided and hard-sided trailers.
Not sure which trailer fits? Get both prices in one quote.
Open Vehicle Transport for Every Kind of Move
These shipments usually go open. Our car shipping services page covers every vehicle type.
College Students
Open is the most budget-friendly choice for students, and every student shipment gets a student discount.
Military PCS Moves
Base-to-base moves on orders. Active duty, veterans, and their families get $50 off any shipment.
Auction and Dealer Cars
Pickups from Manheim, Copart, IAA, and ADESA. A car that does not run gets a carrier with a winch.
Snowbird Runs
South from October to December and north from March to June. Book about 2 weeks ahead.
Motorcycles
Open is the most economical way to ship a bike, on the same two-level trucks that carry cars.
Project Classics
A project car or fixer-upper can ship open for less. Save enclosed for restored paint and show finishes.
How Open Auto Transport Works
An open shipment runs on the same five steps as any booking: quote, carrier match, pickup, transit, and delivery. The step that matters most on an open load is pickup, because the bill of lading you sign with the driver is the record of every chip and scratch the car already has. If anything new shows up at delivery, that document is what backs your claim.
Our how car shipping works guide walks through each step, from the quote to the final inspection.
How to Prepare Your Car for an Open Carrier
On an open trailer your car rides in the open air with other cars above or beside it. That makes these three steps matter most.
Close It Up
Roll up every window and close the sunroof before the car goes on the deck.
Remove Loose Parts
Fold the mirrors, lower the antenna, and take off racks and loose trim that wind could catch.
Flag Any Leaks
A leak can drip on the car below, so tell the driver before loading.
The rest of the prep is the same for every shipment. Our car shipping prep checklist covers the full list. Car does not run? Tell us when you book, and read our guide to shipping a car that does not run.
Open Car Transport Services: Routes and States
We arrange open car shipping to and from all 50 states. Each route page lists open and enclosed prices, transit times, and the highways the truck runs.
Popular Open Car Shipping Routes
- New York to Florida
- New York to California
- New York to Texas
- California to Texas
- Texas to California
- New York to Arizona
- New York to North Carolina
- Florida to New Jersey
- New York to Colorado
- New York to Illinois
- Atlanta to Dallas
- San Diego to Portland
See all 24 on our popular car shipping routes page.
Open Car Shipping by State
Every state has its own guide. Find yours on our ship by state page.
Open Car Shipping Questions
Quick answers before you book. Our auto transport FAQ page covers the rest.
What is open carrier car shipping?
Shipping your car on a carrier with no walls or roof, usually a two-level truck that holds 8 to 10 cars. New cars reach dealers this way, and about nine out of ten cars ship open. It costs less than enclosed transport and books faster.
How much does open car shipping cost?
Across our 24 most popular routes, a standard sedan typically ships open for $450 to $1,850. Trips under 500 miles typically run $450 to $875, and trips of 2,500 miles and up typically run $1,450 to $2,500. Vehicle size, the season, and your dates move the price.
Is open car shipping safe?
Yes. About 2 out of every 100 cars we ship open arrive with damage, mostly rock chips and road debris. Every carrier we book carries cargo insurance, but rock chips to paint and glass are not covered under any trucker's cargo policy. If your car is expensive or has special paint, ship enclosed.
What is the difference between open and enclosed car shipping?
Open carriers have no walls or roof and hold 8 to 10 cars. Enclosed trailers carry fewer cars, seal out weather and road debris, and usually cost 40 to 60 percent more. Most daily drivers ship open.
How many cars fit on an open car carrier?
A two-level car hauler carries 8 to 10 cars. A single-level trailer carries a few. More cars per truck is why open costs less, since each car pays a smaller share of the trip.
How long does open car shipping take?
Most cars are picked up within a 1 to 5 day window. Time on the truck runs 1 to 3 days under 500 miles and 6 to 10 days on trips of 2,500 miles or more. Weather and road closures can add a day or more.
Does weather damage cars on an open carrier?
Rain, sun, and road dust do no more harm than a long drive. Rock chips and road debris cause most open-carrier damage, and cargo policies do not cover chips to paint or glass. Hail and road salt are the other risks, and coverage for those varies by policy. Wash the car after a winter trip, and note any new damage on the bill of lading at delivery.
Is my car insured on an open carrier?
Yes. Carriers we book keep $1,000,000 in liability and $100,000 to $1,000,000 in cargo coverage, and we verify it before dispatch. Coverage runs from pickup through delivery, but no trucker's cargo policy covers rock chips to paint or glass. Ask us for the carrier's certificate and what it covers, since weather coverage varies by policy.
What happens if my car is damaged during open transport?
Mark the damage on the bill of lading before the driver leaves, get the driver's signature, and take photos. Then call us. In most cases the carrier asks for three repair estimates and pays one of them.
Can you ship a car that does not run on an open carrier?
Yes. A car that does not start is loaded by winch, which typically adds $100 to $250. Tell us when you book.
When should I choose enclosed instead of open?
Price enclosed for a classic, an exotic, a car that sits low, fresh or high-end paint, or a car worth more than about $75,000. If the car's value tops the carrier's cargo coverage, enclosed is the safer call.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car?
Ship open, give the carrier a flexible pickup window, and meet the truck at a wide lot near the highway. Ship in January, February, or September if you can. A quote far below the rest is usually a price no carrier will run.
Get Your Open Car Shipping Quote
Enter your pickup and delivery points in the form at the top of this page, or call and talk to a real person. Read what customers say on our auto transport reviews page, then lock your rate.
Number 1 Auto Transport
Phone: 855.422.4141
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm ET, Saturday 9am to 5pm ET
MC-796224 | USDOT 2336907
Number 1 Auto Transport is a licensed and bonded auto transport broker, not a motor carrier. We arrange transportation with vetted, FMCSA-authorized carriers who hold active cargo insurance. Prices and transit times shown are typical ranges. Your price is locked when you book.