Our Enclosed Auto Transport Services

When it comes to covered car shipping services, Ship Vehicles provides the highest level of safety and security in the auto transport industry. With over 30 years of experience, we have, without a doubt, perfected the transport of cars, motorcycles, and virtually any type of vehicle. We offer domestic, international, and door-to-door enclosed auto transport to fit your car shipping needs. Whether it’s your first time buying a car from an auction or you’re an auto manufacturer looking to meet a deadline, our professional team of transport experts and drivers make car shipping easy.

All of our trailers have a lift gate feature, ensuring easy and safe loading and unloading of cars with lower ground clearance. Since our trailers are fully enclosed, your vehicle is completely protected from the outside elements for the duration of its transport journey.

What is Enclosed Auto Transport?

When you need to ship a vehicle, you essentially have two options for methods of transport: Enclosed Transport or Open Transport. While open auto transport is the more popular and affordable choice, it does not offer quite the same level of protection that comes with enclosed car shipping. Enclosed auto transport, or covered car shipping, is the process of transporting a car, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, boat, or any other type of vehicle inside of a covered trailer.

This service is most often used for those that have luxury, expensive, or especially fragile vehicles. Shipping a car in a covered container removes any possible outside interference while it is moving along the road. As a result, your vehicle is fully protected from snow, rain, dust, debris, and any road hazards. Another added benefit to choosing enclosed auto transport is the fact that they hold fewer vehicles at a time. This means that less loading over the course of the transport will result in a faster overall transit time.

Enclosed Auto Transport vs. Open Auto Transport

If you’re having a difficult time deciding between open and enclosed car shipping, ask yourself the following questions:

Will the vehicle be moving to or from an area with bad weather?

Covered car shipping can be used to transport vehicles all over the country. If you’re shipping a car during wintertime and the route includes areas that may experience hail, snow or any other inclement weather, enclosed transport may be worth it. On the other hand, when you transport a car in an open carrier, it is fully exposed to the elements and is much more susceptible to damage. You can decrease the chances of dings, dents and scratches caused by unpredictable weather conditions by shipping your car via an enclosed carrier.

How much is the vehicle worth?

Choosing enclosed auto transport over open-air shipping may be worth the premium if you have a high-valued vehicle. Covered car shipping keeps your car fully protected from dust, debris, and potential damage while on the highway. This service also comes with higher insurance coverage, insuring peace of mind for the shipment of your expensive vehicle. Ship Vehicles generally transports antique and luxury vehicles via enclosed carriers, as it makes the most sense for vehicles that are collectibles and investments.

Is your vehicle capable of being shipped via open transport?

This is an important question to consider since some vehicles don’t even have the capability of being shipped via open transport. For instance, if your vehicle is non-operational, it cannot be driven on and off an open carrier. Alternatively, enclosed trailers have additional features that can accommodate a car that does not run such as articulating racks, moving clearance, lift gates, and much more.

Soft-Sided Enclosed Auto Transport Services

When it comes to the types of enclosed auto transport options, you can choose from either soft-sided or hard-sided carriers. An enclosed auto transport carrier that is soft-sided is a great solution for cross-country car shipping. It is less expensive and although it does not have a hard-outer layer, the heavy canvas will protect your vehicle from harsh weather conditions along the transit route.

 Our soft-sided enclosed car shipping carriers work great for shipping sports or luxury cars. When your vehicle arrives at its final destination, it will have maintained its gorgeous appearance due to the lack of exposure to the elements. This type of carrier protects both the interior and exterior of your vehicle from blowing debris, low-hanging branches, and any other road hazards. Just like all other auto transport options, this service will help you to avoid accumulating unnecessary miles on your odometer.

Hard-Sided Enclosed Auto Transport Services

On the other hand, hard-sided enclosed transport involves a trailer that is fully enclosed and offers optimal protection for your vehicle in the unlikely event of your car being exposed to potential damages. This option is the ideal choice for owners of collectible or exotic vehicles. These carriers have the ability to haul up to six cars on two levels with a hydraulic lift for loading and unloading.

Using a hydraulic lift for loading is absolutely essential for cars with a lower ground clearance. It also helps to keep the vehicle level, effectively preventing any fluid loss or spillage during transit. Although, all of our hard-sided enclosed transporters have drip pans to protect the cars below from any fluids that could become displaced.

The most common reason for choosing hard-sided over soft-sided is to enjoy the full benefits that come with enclosed transport. Hard-sided enclosed auto transport offers the most protection and security of the two choices. These carriers consist of a nearly-impenetrable outer shell and offer climate control to protect your car from extreme heat and harsh cold temperatures.

How Much Does Covered Car Shipping Cost?

Enclosed auto transport is a premium service that comes with a premium price. However, the cost is quite possibly the only disadvantage that is associated with this method of auto transport. The price you can expect to pay for enclosed auto transport depends on a few factors including the type of vehicle you are shipping, where the vehicle is being shipped from, and your intended destination.

Each of these, along with other inconspicuous factors, have a direct impact on your covered car shipping quote. In fact, enclosed car shipping is a very different price when compared to the enclosed shipping of motorcycles. Because of this, the shipping experts at Ship Vehicles always create fully customized quotes that are specific to your shipment needs.

Have Questions or Need a Covered Car Shipping Quote?

Get in touch with one of our shipping specialists by filling out our online quote request form or giving us a call at (888) 231-0113. We’ll provide you with your FREE, no-obligation covered car shipping quote. Our experts are always standing by and look forward to giving you all of the information and answers to any questions you may have.

By choosing enclosed auto transport, you get the peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is in the hands of an experience professional. At the end of the day, our primary goal is to ensure that our customers receive the best service in the auto shipping industry, at a reasonable price. With us, we guarantee that you’ll always get the best price, without compromising quality auto transport.