Open Auto Transport & Car Shipping
Open auto transport is exactly what it sounds like: your vehicle is secured to an open trailer and transported to its destination without an enclosed roof or walls around it.
It is typically the most economical way to ship a vehicle and works well for everyday cars, trucks, dealership inventory, auction purchases and many non-running vehicles.
How Open Auto Transport Works
Open carriers come in several sizes. Some trucks move one to three vehicles at a time, while larger semi-truck and trailer combinations can carry several vehicles on the same load.
That flexibility makes open transport useful for both individuals shipping a single vehicle and businesses moving inventory between dealerships, auctions, sellers and customers.
Heights starts by gathering the important details: year, make and model, whether the vehicle runs, transmission type, pickup and delivery locations, timing and anything unusual about the vehicle.
Usually the Most Affordable Transport Option
Open transport generally costs less than enclosed auto transport because there are more open carriers available and multiple vehicles can share the same trailer.
For businesses, that makes it a practical option for moving dealership purchases, auction inventory or sold vehicles to customers. For individuals, it is often the obvious choice for daily drivers and other vehicles that do not require additional protection from the elements.
Your Vehicle Is Exposed During Transport
The tradeoff for the lower cost is exposure. Your vehicle may encounter rain, dust, road grime and other outside conditions during the trip.
If you expect the vehicle to arrive spotless, or if you are transporting a classic car, luxury or exotic vehicle, or something with very low ground clearance, enclosed transport may be the better choice.
An open trailer moves cars. It does not create a weather-resistant force field around them. Physics remains stubbornly involved.
Open Transport for Businesses
Dealerships and other automotive businesses commonly use open transport when purchasing vehicles from auctions, private sellers or other dealerships, or when delivering a sold vehicle to a customer.
Because transport cost directly affects the economics of the transaction, open shipping is often the preferred option when additional enclosed protection is not necessary.
Businesses moving vehicles regularly can also learn more about auto dealer transport and fleet vehicle transport.
Non-Running Vehicles Need More Planning
A vehicle does not necessarily need to run to travel on an open carrier, but Heights needs to know its condition before matching it with a transporter.
Non-running vehicles may require a carrier with appropriate loading equipment and additional time at pickup or delivery. Accurate information up front prevents the driver from arriving with equipment that does not match the job.
What Open Auto Transport Costs
Pricing is not simply a flat rate per mile. The pickup and delivery locations matter because routes near major cities and interstate corridors generally give carriers more opportunities to build efficient loads.
Vehicle size and weight, whether it runs, seasonal demand, fuel costs and narrow pickup or delivery windows can also affect the price.
Our auto shipping cost guide explains these factors in more detail.
Carrier Vetting and Communication
Once you approve the quote, Heights looks for a carrier that fits the route, vehicle and transport requirements.
Before assigning a carrier, Heights verifies insurance and reviews information about the driver and transport equipment. Once the carrier is confirmed, we provide the relevant carrier, dispatcher and driver information along with estimated pickup and delivery dates.
The vehicle is inspected at pickup, secured to the trailer and inspected again at delivery. Learn more about our process on the insurance and compliance page.
Pickup and Delivery Dates Are Estimates
Open transport can offer broad carrier availability, but that does not mean there is always a truck waiting around the corner.
Weather, mechanical problems, traffic, other pickups and deliveries, seasonal demand and route availability can all affect timing. Open transport is typically economical, but it is not automatically the fastest option on every route.
If timing matters more than keeping the price as low as possible, expedited auto transport may be a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open auto transport moves your vehicle on an open trailer rather than inside an enclosed trailer. Carriers can range from small one-to-three-vehicle trailers to larger multi-car transporters.
Usually, yes. Open transport generally has greater carrier availability and costs less than enclosed transport, making it a common choice for everyday vehicles and business inventory.
Yes. Open trailers do not protect vehicles from rain, dust, road grime or other outside conditions. If additional protection is important, enclosed transport may be a better choice.
Do not assume a vehicle can simply be covered during open transport. If protection from weather and road exposure is important, talk with Heights about enclosed transport instead.
Often, yes. Non-running vehicles may require special loading equipment, so Heights needs to know the vehicle's condition before selecting the carrier.
Not necessarily. Open carriers are generally more widely available, but actual scheduling depends on the route, season, vehicle and pickup window. Open transport is typically the more economical option, not a guarantee of faster service.