Car shipping is something most people don’t think about until they need to do it. If you’re moving long-distance or have just purchased a car that’s hundreds or thousands of miles away, finding a reliable auto transport company quickly becomes a priority.
Enclosed shipping is the safest way to ship a car, but also the most expensive. This shipping method places your vehicle in an enclosed carrier that’s safe from the elements. Where open auto shipping places your car on an open-air carrier with up to 10 vehicles, an enclosed carrier usually hauls up to three at a time.
The added security and limited space are what drive up enclosed shipping costs. It’s also more expensive because there are fewer enclosed car shipping trailers compared to the open carriers. You should start shopping earlier to book a shipment because availability is so limited.
We’ll discuss why you might choose enclosed auto transport and how it works. We’ll also share some enclosed vehicle transport quotes from a few of the best car shipping companies.
Best enclosed auto shipping companies
Along with booking your vehicle shipment as far in advance as possible, we suggest comparing car shipping quotes from multiple companies to get the best rate. We recommend including Montway Auto Transport, Mercury Auto Transport and AmeriFreight in your comparison shopping for enclosed car transport.
Montway Auto Transport
Montway combines an excellent industry reputation, affordable rates and standout customer service, which is why it’s one of our top picks for the best car shipping companies. In business since 2006, the Illinois-based company has become one of the most popular auto shipping brokers in the U.S.
Montway has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and 4.6 out of 5 stars on the platform based on more than 2,100 customer reviews. Note that the company does not offer terminal-to-terminal shipping.
Mercury Auto Transport
The Florida-based Mercury Auto Transport has an A rating from BBB and 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 600 customer reviews on the site. Mercury stands out for its guaranteed pricing, which ensures that the free quote you receive won’t change once you book your shipment.
It’s also our top choice for cheap car shipping, as it has the lowest rates out of all the providers we pulled quotes from.
Mercury offers open and enclosed transport to all 50 states and both door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal service.
AmeriFreight
AmeriFreight offers unique discounts, including savings for returning customers and shipping multiple vehicles at once. The Atlanta-area company also offers more insurance coverage options than many competitors, which means you can ship your car confidently.
AmeriFreight holds an A+ rating from BBB and 4.8 out of 5 stars from customers on the site.
Along with door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal shipping options, AmeriFreight offers three tiers of timing for your shipment. You can pick Economy, Priority or First Class car shipping depending on your transport needs.
How much does enclosed auto transport cost?
Based on our research, enclosed auto transport can cost anywhere from $1,145 to $3,280 for a 1,530-mile trip. However, the quote you receive varies depending on the provider you choose, your vehicle type and distance.
Enclosed auto transport quotes
We contacted our top-ranked auto transport companies for quotes to give you a better idea of how much enclosed car transport services cost. The following estimates are for shipping an operable 2020 Toyota Camry about 1,530 miles from Salt Lake City to Memphis, Tennessee, with door-to-door service in an enclosed trailer.
| Car Shipping Company | Estimated Cost for Enclosed Transport | Start Comparing Quotes |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $1,145 | {Get Quotes} |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,579 | {Get Quotes} |
| AmeriFreight | $1,816 | {Get Quotes} |
For comparison, here are quotes for the same shipment through open auto transport:
| Car Shipping Company | Estimated Cost for Open Transport | Start Comparing Quotes |
| Mercury Auto Transport | $835 | {Get Quotes} |
| Montway Auto Transport | $1,109 | {Get Quotes} |
| AmeriFreight | $1,068 | {Get Quotes} |
Factors that affect car shipping costs
The cost of car shipping depends on various factors, but enclosed auto transport is typically about 40% to 60% more expensive than open auto transport. Here are a few of the metrics that determine the price of a vehicle shipment:
- Shipping distance: Long-distance car shipments come with lower per-mile rates but higher overall costs.
- Pick-up and delivery locations: Terminal-to-terminal shipments are cheaper than door-to-door service. Keep in mind that not all providers offer terminal-to-terminal shipping.
- Transport method: Enclosed transport is more expensive than open-car shipping.
- Type of vehicle: SUVs and trucks weigh more and take up more space than standard cars, so they cost more to ship.
- Vehicle condition: Inoperable vehicles cost more to ship than running cars because they require extra effort to load and unload.
- Fuel costs: When gas prices increase, so does the cost of car shipping.
- Shipment time frame: Booking your vehicle shipment several weeks in advance will yield a more affordable price than waiting until the last minute.
- Time of year: Summer is peak auto shipping season, so you can expect to pay more during that time of year. January also sees higher shipping costs as snowbirds head south for the winter.
How does enclosed auto transport work?
Enclosed auto transport involves shipping your car in an enclosed container that protects it from adverse weather and road debris. This is the best way to prevent vehicle damage during shipping, but it’s also more expensive than the more common open-carrier shipping method.
Enclosed car haulers can ship two or three vehicles at a time while open trailers can ship up to 10. There are also two-tiered enclosed car containers that transport five or six vehicles at once. Most enclosed transport trailers are hard-sided, but you can also find soft-sided covered trailers for the most valuable cars.
Once you’ve decided on the type of enclosed trailer, you can choose which delivery method you want. Door-to-door service involves having your car picked up from and dropped off at a specific address (or as close as possible). Some shipping companies allow you to select terminal-to-terminal transport, which uses centrally located shipping terminals and is typically more affordable.
Remember that it’s generally tougher to schedule an enclosed car shipping service than an open car shipment. This is because the market for enclosed shipping is smaller and there aren’t as many enclosed car carriers available at any given time. You’ll want to book your enclosed car shipment as far in advance as possible to get the best rate and match your desired timeline.
Open vs. enclosed auto transport
While open car transport typically involves loading as many vehicles as possible onto a trailer, enclosed car haulers often ship just two or three high-value cars at a time. Single-car enclosed shipping is available at a higher price.
When should you use enclosed car shipping?
You should use enclosed shipping for your vehicle when it needs extra protection. If you don’t want to risk debris damaging your vehicle on an open trailer and you’re willing to pay more for that security, then enclosed shipping is a good choice.
Additionally, classic, exotic or luxury cars are safer in enclosed trailers, so it could be worth the higher car shipping cost for your peace of mind.
You could also use enclosed car shipping if you’re not on a strict timeline. As mentioned, finding an available carrier with enclosed trailers can take longer. You probably don’t want to choose enclosed auto shipping if you’re on a short deadline.
Along with extra protection against road hazards and bad weather conditions, enclosed car transport offers higher insurance policy limits than open car transport. For owners of high-end autos, this makes the extra cost of enclosed auto shipping worthwhile.
What are the pros and cons of enclosed auto transport?
Enclosed auto transport provides greater protection at a cost. Here are the key pros and cons:
What’s next?
We recommend getting quotes from Montway, Mercury and Amerifreight Auto Transport for enclosed car shipping services. If you’re willing to pay more for your auto shipment and aren’t on a tight timeline, enclosed auto transport services can take some of the worry out of the process, especially if you own a luxury vehicle.
Get quotes from at least three providers offering enclosed car shipping before deciding. Once you choose, book as early as possible. To start the process, compare quotes from the following reputable companies:
Our rating methodology for auto shipping companies
We base our auto shipping ratings and recommendations on our proprietary detailed methodology. We’ve assessed key aspects of the customer experience, including pricing, breadth of services offered and overall reputation, to determine which auto shipping companies offer the best service.
Auto shipping providers that meet our standards carry the required licensing and registration as a prerequisite. Each company has also maintained a good reputation via high customer ratings, which cite clear pricing, timely service and multiple shipping options for different vehicle types.
BBB ratings are accurate as of May 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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