What open car transport is
An open carrier is the long, two-level trailer you see on the highway stacked with eight to ten cars. It is the workhorse of the auto transport industry: dealerships, rental fleets, manufacturers and most private customers ship this way. The vehicles are secured to the deck with wheel straps or chains, exposed to the air the same way they are in a driveway, and driven on and off by the carrier at each end.
Because an open carrier moves many vehicles at once, the cost of the trip is shared across all of them. That is why open transport is consistently 40 to 60 percent cheaper than enclosed shipping and why it is available on almost every lane in the country, with the shortest pickup windows.
When open transport is the right choice
- Daily drivers. Commuter sedans, family SUVs, pickups and minivans are built to be outdoors; a week on a trailer is no different from a week in a parking lot.
- Relocations. Moving out of state and sending a second car ahead is the single most common reason people ship, and open transport keeps the cost reasonable.
- Dealer and auction purchases. Cars bought online or at auction almost always ship open unless they are high-value collectibles.
- Students and military. Reliable transportation at the lowest price, with no need for a climate-controlled trailer.
- Fast timelines. There are far more open carriers than enclosed, so an open shipment is usually assigned sooner.
How the process works
Get an instant quote with your pickup and delivery ZIP codes, your vehicle and a pickup timeframe. Book, and a vetted carrier with active cargo insurance is assigned to your route. The driver calls ahead, meets you at your address or an agreed spot nearby, inspects the vehicle with you and records its condition on the bill of lading. The car rides to its destination, where the process repeats in reverse: inspection, signature, keys. You receive updates at pickup, in transit and on delivery day.
Is my car protected on an open carrier?
Yes. Every carrier in Big Bear's network carries active cargo insurance, verified before your vehicle is assigned, and the bill of lading documents the car's condition at both ends. Damage on open carriers is rare; the vehicles are strapped down, the drivers are professionals, and the trailers are designed for exactly this. The real exposure is the same one your car faces on any highway: weather, dust and the occasional stone. For most vehicles that is an acceptable trade for the savings. For a vehicle where it isn't, see enclosed auto transport.
What open transport costs
Price depends on distance, vehicle size, season and how flexible your pickup window is. As a rough guide, regional runs of 300 to 500 miles typically land between $400 and $700, cross-country shipments between $1,100 and $1,700 for a standard sedan. Larger vehicles cost more because they take more than one slot. The instant quote above prices your exact route from live carrier rates. See the car shipping cost guide for a full breakdown.
Top-load and other options
On a two-level carrier, the top deck is slightly more protected from road spray and debris kicked up by the truck. Some customers request a top-load slot, which carriers accommodate when they can for a small premium. A single-level open carrier, often used for taller trucks and lifted vehicles, is another option when the vehicle will not fit on a standard deck. Mention either when you quote.