Enclosed Auto Transport Nationwide

When the vehicle should not see the road

An enclosed trailer is a hard-sided box, typically carrying two to seven vehicles. Nothing reaches the car in transit: no rain, no road salt, no stone chips thrown up by traffic. Most enclosed carriers use a hydraulic lift gate rather than ramps, which matters for anything with low ground clearance or a long front overhang.

The economics are simple. Fewer vehicles per trailer plus specialist equipment means a higher rate, commonly in the region of 30 to 40 percent above open transport on the same route. Whether that is worth paying depends entirely on what a single stone chip would cost you to put right.

There are fewer enclosed trucks on the road than open ones, so lead times run longer. If you have a fixed date, such as an auction or a show, book earlier than you would for open transport.

Owners of collector vehicles should also read shipping a classic car , which covers documentation, clearance and valuation before pickup.

What to check before booking

• Confirm the trailer has a lift gate if ground clearance is a problem
• Ask whether the trailer is soft-sided or hard-sided, since both are sold as enclosed
• Check the cargo coverage limit against the vehicle value, not the average car value

Common questions