Enclosed Car Hauling – How It Works and How Much Will You Pay?

Enclosed Car Hauling – Despite its advantages, not many people choose enclosed car hauling, carried out by professional car transport companies, or enclosed auto transport companies. Not all vehicle owners understand the difference between enclosed and open shipping, and instead, often form their expectations based on price alone. This content is for our clients who are interested in learning more about these services. If you’re planning a move, especially over a long-distance or interstate, it’s crucial to secure reliable, trustworthy car shipping services to ensure your vehicle, even if it’s a beloved old truck with scratches, is transported safely. Trust us, we’ve made it our job to ensure vehicles reach their destinations intact, without any damage, and we take this responsibility very seriously.

If you want to know more about enclosed car hauling, how it works, and why it may be advantageous to you, the following paragraphs will explain the process. The specific transport company handling your vehicle can also provide valuable insights into its particular car shipping services. Trust us, we are confident that our services are a cut above the rest and that we can cater to the needs of anyone who requires car shipping services.

Open vs. Enclosed Car Transport

Open transport or open car hauling is arguably the most popular method of shipping cars. It’s the top domestic shipping choice and is usually handled by an auto transport company, such as a professional hauler. However, the open method of transport, while being more cost-effective, may not meet every owner’s expectations, particularly for vehicles with low ground clearance or those requiring special care.

In most cases, open transport involves putting the car onto large, open transport trailers. While your vehicle may be covered above and underneath it depending on its location on the trailer, the sides will always be exposed. But with a reliable hauling company, your vehicle’s move remains secure, whether interstate or across long distances.

Enclosed car hauling can be done in various ways, but it essentially shields your car from the environment. This form of transport, usually offered by specialized car shipping services, involves shipping fewer vehicles simultaneously due to the constraints of enclosed trailers, air freight, and cargo ships. It’s a must-consider option especially when planning a long-distance or interstate move.

There’s a common misconception that covered car transport is slower than open hauling. In reality, the method of transport used by an auto transport company doesn’t influence the delivery time that much.

One could argue that open transport takes longer than covered car transportation due to the large number of vehicles being shipped simultaneously. If your destination happens to be among the last on the planned route, the delivery can take up to a week longer than the first vehicle on the delivery list.

In that respect, covered auto transport might be considerably faster. The covered car transport service, handled by professional car transport and auto transport companies, might have fewer drop-offs, so your car will get to its destination faster.

Numerous factors influence the delivery timeline more than just the mode of transport. Understandably, managing customers’ expectations regarding these factors is a key responsibility of car shipping services.

Top Benefits of Covered Vehicle Transport

Safer

Shipping a car without the benefit of cover is risky. Theft is always a concern when using open trailers to transport a vehicle. Unsuspecting thieves could easily access a car while the trailer is parked and the driver is taking a break.

Enclosed car hauling, conducted by a professional and reliable transport company, is a major theft deterrent because a thief would have to figure out how to get in the enclosed trailer first.Moreover, enclosed trailers don’t transport as many cars, therefore, the dimensions can vary, making it easier to carefully accommodate everything from sports cars to trucks. So, with fewer vehicles onboard, drivers tend to take fewer breaks, leaving fewer windows of opportunity for someone to attempt stealing the cargo. This, in turn, raises the level of security and status of the service, keeping your cargo away from undesirable factors such as dust or potential thefts.

Cars in the care of auto transport companies are also safe from damage. With services like uship, it’s worth considering that shipping via road comes with plenty of risks. Flying road debris can scratch, chip, or dent your car. A traffic collision could cause more damage. And that’s not even counting what exposure to the elements can do. The more expensive your car, the more costly the repairs. Therefore, employing a reputable car shipping service with experience in handling vehicles requiring high ground clearance often outweighs the slight increase in cost.

Enclosed car transport offers substantial protection against accidents, road debris, and bad weather, because your car is shielded by four walls, a roof, and a floor. It’s an excellent choice when you’re looking for a secure move over long distances or across state lines. If you’re on the hunt for the best auto transport services for your sports cars or trucks from New York to Los Angeles, or perhaps looking to ship your vehicle from Michigan to Arizona, opting for enclosed car transport can be a wise decision.

Better Coverage

Not all auto carriers are willing to get more liability insurance and cargo coverage than the mandated minimums to operate legally. But a covered car transport service provider, especially a professional and reliable company operating in major hubs like Chicago and New Jersey, might be willing to pay for more coverage due to the vehicles being safer during shipping, thereby maintaining a status of high-quality service.

With a good look at reviews and feedback from past customers on platforms like uship, you’ll find that it’s more likely you’ll find enclosed auto transport carriers with sufficient insurance to cover extensive damage or total loss of a vintage or luxury vehicle in your area of residence. Be it bustling New York or tranquil Vermont, the name of the game is choice, giving you the options you need to protect your investment.

It’s highly unlikely to gain this level of protection when using open transportation. Many customers’ experience echoes this sentiment, allowing you to make a more informed choice as you navigate your transportation options, whether you’re located in the heart of Los Angeles or the lakes of Michigan.

More Specialized Services

When you make the call to opt for enclosed car hauling, you often get much better treatment. Everyone involved in the shipping process, from the loaders to the driver to customer service representatives in cities like New Jersey or Chicago, tends to treat you and your car with great care, thus enhancing the status of the service. Think of them as your concierge team at a Ritz Carlton.

In addition, you gain access to specialized services, such as lift gates or ramps that can load low-clearance vehicles safely into a trailer. These options, accessible in major states like Arizona and Vermont, serve to further enhance your shipping experience and keep your vehicle free from dust.

Furthermore, in locations like New York or Michigan, you can find qualified specialists in your area to handle and ship non-standard, custom, and non-operational vehicles. These services, applicable to all kinds of vehicles from sports cars to trucks, are hard to find when you want to ship a car using an open trailer.

Hydraulic lift gates are particularly useful but rarely used to load cars onto open trailers. They provide a promising level of convenience especially when dealing with sports cars, leading to a dust-free and safe loading and unloading process.

While opting for lift gates can increase shipping costs, it’s a must-have service for non-operational vehicles, showcasing one of its most important features. These vehicles that can’t be steered or driven onto a traditional ramp, such as that vintage Ford Model T by the name of ‘Old Bessie’ you may have posted on your instagram and are in the process of restoring. Numerous dealerships have utilized this service to get parts of classic cars from one place to another, whether that’s from Los Angeles to New Jersey, or elsewhere.

These lift gates are the choice mechanism, in our industry, to relocate low-clearance cars safely and without scraping the undercarriage, mitigating the hazards of damage. Everything from their choice of using this method to treatment of cargo shows their professionalism, regardless of whether you’re shipping from New York to Chicago or Vermont to Arizona.

Superior Stability

One could argue that enclosed auto transport carriers make a point to protect their customers’ vehicles at all costs. That’s why this service almost always revolves around strapping down vehicles with nylon straps instead of chains, deriving positive reviews from satisfied customers in Arizona, New York, and other states.

While chains have been a part of the industry for long, they are now harder to use, and may even require that your vehicle has a certain type of frame. Additionally, they can create too much pressure, and that will take a toll on the suspension. And then there’s the matter of added risk, particularly if you’re transporting your car across long distances—say, from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Chains used to stabilize cars during transportation are thick, hard, and not the choice for many. They can cause severe damage if they snap. Nylon straps, on the other hand, don’t have this problem. They’re a bit flexible, don’t strain the suspension as much, and are less likely to touch anything other than the tires, ensuring a safer experience as you ship your vehicle from Michigan to Vermont, or any other cross-country route.

Enclosed car hauling services that use nylon strap systems essentially go the extra mile to protect your vehicle from damage without sacrificing stability during shipping. As a result, customers often pen glowing reviews for such service providers. These reviews often include quotes from satisfied customers hailing from states like Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Colorado, and Maryland, revealing the wide reach of the quality services offered by these transport companies.

Route Flexibility

If you’ve seen how massive a multi-vehicle trailer is, you might already know how difficult it can be to ship a vehicle across the country to states like Colorado and North Carolina, or to a new city, state, or even across borders to New Mexico. As we continue, we’ll provide important updates link to help you navigate the intricacies of these services

Multi-vehicle trailers, which are a crucial part of the industry, carry up to two tiers of cars. They can be up to 80 feet long and probably make up to 90% of all auto shipping deliveries, particularly to busy destinations such as Colorado and Minnesota. For the most part, multi-tiered trailers are amazing at fulfilling bulk orders or transporting cheaper cars.

But they’re not optimal for reaching certain destinations like Maryland or New Mexico. Maneuvering an 80-foot behemoth is a difficult task. They’re also very tall, so they might not fit on certain roads that have low-clearance bridges or narrow tunnels. This can create difficulties when planning routes, thereby narrowing the options in your area. At times, certain conditions may make it impossible to receive door-to-door service on your shipment.

A lot can change when you opt for an enclosed auto transport service. Surely, there are plenty of fully-enclosed, multi-tiered car trailers and also specific car haulers travelling between states like North Carolina and Minnesota. Each of these types of car carriers has earned a reputation for safety and quality throughout the world. However, enclosed transport also allows you the safety of shipping your car with a smaller trailer that can easily negotiate under overpasses, take tight corners, and fit on smaller roads, ensuring your vehicle is in prime condition upon arrival.

That’s where the details make a difference. Enclosed hauling has a reputation for being more advantageous in comparison to its competitors. You can plan routes and destinations that open transport simply cannot accommodate. Whether you’re shipping to the expansive landscapes of Colorado or the bustling urban centers of Maryland, the added flexibility is a major advantage in the world of auto transport services.

Shipping Other Items

Generally, every carrier will advise against leaving personal items or household goods in your car during transport. These are questions of safety and responsibility. A recent update from a carrier operating in Minnesota revealed that despite this common policy, some car haulers or enclosed transport services may provide quotes for shipping personal items within your vehicle.

However, in this competitive world, when you choose enclosed car transport, some car carriers may quote you options to ship other items within your car, leveraging on their reputation for higher security. This can be a bonus when traveling or transitioning into a new home in places such as North Carolina or New Mexico.

Granted, this condition isn’t guaranteed, and it’s a detail you must discuss with the car haulers. But it is a possibility that you may not have when opting for open transport due to the lack of security, protection, and limited insurance coverage.

Are There Disadvantages to Using Enclosed Car Hauling?

Transporting your precious cargo does come with two cons—cost and delivery time, a common condition faced by the industry. Talking about prices, enclosed transport does lean towards the more expensive end when shipping to states like Colorado or Maryland, than most competitors.

Fulfilling fewer simultaneous shipments can reduce a car carrier’s profit margins. As a provider in Minnesota recently quoted, enclosed trailers require special loading equipment and straps and offer enhanced protection. These are luxuries that get factored into the enclosed car shipping cost.

But a higher price doesn’t always translate to a disadvantage. After all, you are exchanging your money for extra services, peace of mind, security, expertise, and better quality. The starting prices for distance and car type may not differ that much from open car hauling—it really depends on the carrier’s quote and competitors’ pricing.

The principle here is that you’re not paying for nothing. In fact, as many satisfied customers in states like New Mexico and North Carolina can attest, the value provided by these extra services often far outweigh their added costs. For updates and more information on this topic, don’t forget to follow this link.

Enclosed transport, similar to the cherished phoenix rising out of the ashes, promises far more value than a traditional open hauling service, so don’t expect it to come cheap. Its reputation within the industry and across the world, as well as the condition in which it delivers your vehicles, sets it a cut above its competitors.

Enclosed transport, similar to the cherished phoenix rising out of the ashes, promises far more value than a traditional open hauling service, so don’t expect it to come cheap. It’s important to keep a mental calculator handy as you compare the potential costs.

While this might strain someone on a tight budget, if you’re shipping a valuable vehicle, you’ll want ample cargo and liability coverage from your carrier to make up for any possible loss. That may leave enclosed transport as your only logical solution after all, much like a trusty phoenix always rising. Let’s imagine, for instance, shipping your car from Phoenix to San Diego, California, where market prices may vary.

Times can also be a constraint. Many vehicle owners looking for a quick copy of their past home-setting have speedily relocated their cars with enclosed shipping because enclosed trailers don’t transport as many cars nor make as many stops. The journey from Phoenix to San Diego, or even farther within California, would exemplify this.

That said, there are more open trailers than enclosed ones on the roads. As a result, covered vehicle transport providers can sometimes grapple with the market demand, and scheduling your delivery, say to San Diego, California, could take longer than originally anticipated.

How Much Will You Pay?

To understand how much money, down to the penny on your calculator, you need to set aside for enclosed car hauling, you have to understand what factors influence the shipment cost in detail, from Phoenix to San Diego, California and beyond.

Weather Conditions and Season

Shipping your car during adverse weather conditions will significantly impact the quoted price. In your transit network, your vehicle will be shielded from the elements, but the drivers from these car hauling companies, like the sturdy phoenix, will still have to grapple with heavy rain, snow, slippery roads, and other inconveniences. These aspects may increase their requirements for heightened attention and caution during the pickup and drop-off of your car.

Driving in bad weather is strenuous, risky, and takes a toll on the drivers. That’s why carriers, as you may have gathered from your phone discussions with them, charge extra depending on the weather conditions. Just like a phoenix, they must withstand the trials of their path, all the way from Phoenix to San Diego and beyond.

Such treacherous weather can cause dangerous road conditions, reducing visibility. Drivers will be compelled to maintain a slower pace, increasing the delivery time and keeping the trailer occupied longer. This prolonged schedule can also inflate the insurance costs for the carrier, which may then be reflected in your quote, something your calculator can help you keep track of.

Enclosed Car Shipping Rates – Location Accessibility

Delivering a car to a remote location with hectic routes can inevitably amplify the shipment cost. While enclosed car hauling offers the ability to tackle more routes, the journey to more isolated locations typically incurs additional costs, particularly so if you’re shipping your vehicle from Phoenix to San Diego, or in the wider span of California.

It consumes more fuel and time to drive to a remote location. The longer the driver and trailer are engaged in moving your car, like a phoenix taking flight, the fewer other contracts the carrier companies can fulfil within their network. This unavoidable aspect of the business becomes even more relevant if moving from Phoenix to San Diego, California.

Moreover, necessitating travel to remote locations may mean that drivers get fewer rest stops, and may encounter a lack of good accommodations or amenities en route. These conditions, much like the travails of the legendary phoenix, might be components that drive up the shipment cost. A quick projection on your calculator might help you understand how costs could climb if moving from Phoenix to San Diego, or even across a greater distance in California.

In a more general sense, shipping your vehicle to urban areas or opting for door-to-terminal shipping is cost-effective when compared to door-to-door transport. Thus, depending on the specifics like shipping your vehicle from Phoenix to an urban hub like San Diego in California might affect the pricing.

Distance

Most carrier companies maintain their own flat fees per mile although many strive to keep their charges within the competitive range of their counterparts. To get a clear comparison, it would not hurt to have a calculator and a good copy of all the costs associated with hauling your car from a place like Phoenix to an urban destination as busy as San Diego, California, to ensure you’re getting the best deal. However, it can set you back up to $2 per mile if you opt to ship a car using a standard, open car hauling service, especially if you’re shipping a vehicle over shorter distances.

For longer distances, the rate per mile is relatively cheaper. Not only can these networks of carriers fulfill multiple shipments, but drivers also achieve better mileage over extended distances. Therefore, the operational costs are lower.

Turning our attention to enclosed car shipping, the rates can experience an upward shift, often being 30% to 40% higher, depending on demand, the carrier, the season, and other factors. One way to lower enclosed transport costs is to ship a vehicle over distances greater than 1,000 or 1,500 miles. That will help you secure a better rate per mile.

With that in mind, it will still be comparatively pricier due to the added service, extra coverage, and protection associated with enclosed transport.

Is It the Service for You?

Making a selection of enclosed car hauling for an inexpensive car rarely aligns logically. However, vintage cars, luxury vehicles, and even cars with sentimental value should probably be transported via enclosed trailers when within your financial reach.

There’s considerably less risk involved when moving a vehicle hundreds or thousands of miles in an enclosed space where sunlight, rain, road debris, snow, hail, or other vehicles can’t impact it directly.

Furthermore, it’s an excellent way to ship a vehicle to an event, ensuring it arrives clean and ready to showcase to the crowd. Enclosed car hauling might not be the most economical method to ship a vehicle, but it’s the safest, and carriers can justifiably charge extra because of the numerous added perks you benefit from.

There’s much less risk involved when moving a vehicle hundreds or thousands of miles in an enclosed space where sunlight, rain, road debris, snow, hail, or other cars can’t hit it directly.

It’s also a great way to ship a vehicle to an event and have it arrive there clean and ready to show off to the crowd. Enclosed car hauling might not be the cheapest way to ship a vehicle, but it’s the safest, and carriers can charge extra because of the many additional perks you get.

If you’re looking to ship a vehicle and want it to get the best care and attention possible, feel free to reach out and get your quote and more information on how we can tackle your transportation needs.