The industry standard for shipping a vehicle: safe, widely available, and the most affordable way to move your car anywhere in the United States.
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Open transport is the standard of the auto shipping industry: your vehicle rides on an open, multi-level trailer alongside other cars, exactly the way new vehicles travel from the factory to the dealership. It's the most widely available service, the easiest to schedule, and by a wide margin the most affordable.
Roughly nine out of ten vehicles shipped in the United States move on open carriers, and for good reason. The network of open haulers is enormous, which means more trucks on every lane, shorter waits for pickup, and competitive pricing. Golden Coast Auto Transport dispatches open carriers across all fifty states every day, from short regional hops between San Diego and Phoenix to full coast-to-coast moves.
After you book, our dispatch team matches your shipment with a vetted carrier already running your route. The driver calls ahead to confirm a pickup window, inspects the vehicle with you and records its condition on the bill of lading, then drives it onto the trailer and secures it with wheel straps. Your car rides with the carrier's other vehicles to its destination, where the process repeats in reverse: a second inspection, your signature, and the keys back in your hand.
Two trailer types are common. Large ten-car stinger trailers handle the long interstate lanes. Smaller three- to five-car hotshot haulers run regional routes and can navigate tighter residential streets, which is often what we assign for door-to-door pickups in neighborhoods a big rig can't enter.
| Open transport | Enclosed transport | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Base rate — the most affordable option | Roughly 30–50% more than open |
| Availability | Largest carrier network; fastest to schedule | Smaller carrier pool; book further ahead |
| Weather & debris exposure | Exposed, like normal driving | Fully protected |
| Best for | Daily drivers, SUVs, trucks, dealer & fleet moves | Luxury, exotic, classic, and low-clearance vehicles |
| Insurance | Carrier cargo insurance included | Carrier cargo insurance, often higher limits |
If your vehicle is a collector car, an exotic, or simply something you'd rather not expose to the elements, take a look at our enclosed transport service instead.
Yes. Open carriers move the overwhelming majority of vehicles in the United States, including brand-new cars going from factories to dealerships. Your vehicle is strapped securely to the deck and inspected at pickup and delivery, and every carrier in our network carries cargo insurance.
It may pick up road dust or rain, the same as if you drove it yourself. Damage from debris is rare but possible, which is why collectors and owners of high-value vehicles often choose enclosed transport instead.
Most long-haul open carriers hold seven to ten vehicles on two decks. Smaller three- and four-car haulers handle shorter regional routes and tight residential streets.
Carriers aren't insured for personal belongings and federal rules limit what can ride inside a shipped vehicle. A small amount in the trunk is usually tolerated, but we recommend shipping the car empty.
Five to seven days is ideal for most routes. Last-minute pickups are often possible along major corridors, and expedited service is available for a premium.
Get an exact all-in price for open transport in about 30 seconds.
