Open car transport

Open car transport, the way most vehicles ship.

About nine of every ten cars ship on open carriers — daily drivers, dealer deliveries, and everything in between. It's the safe, standard, most affordable way to move a vehicle across the lower 48. A specialist confirms your locked, all-in price and assigns a vetted carrier.
Licensed & Bonded
Carrier-backed network
USDOT #3314113
MC-1053256
✓ No obligation
✓ No spam — one specialist

The basics

The standard way to ship a car — not the "cheap" one.

Open car transport carries your vehicle on a multi-level open trailer alongside seven to ten others. It's the same method dealerships use to move new cars from the factory to the lot. Roughly 90% of vehicles in the country ship this way, because for everyday cars it's safe, reliable, and the most cost-effective option on the road.

Your car rides exposed to the weather, the same way it would if you drove it yourself — for a fraction of the time. Cosmetic issues are rare, and every carrier we assign is vetted and insured before it touches your vehicle.

Daily drivers — sedans, SUVs, trucks, and motorcycles
Vehicles roughly under $70,000 in value
Anyone who wants the most affordable, widely available option
Standard road exposure is acceptable for the vehicle
A car carrier truck transports multiple vehicles, including a red sports car and several trucks, on a highway under a cloudy sky.

Open vs enclosed

A 30-second way to know which you need.

Most vehicles ship open. Enclosed is for cars whose value or build justifies full protection. Here's the quick read:

Choose open transport if

It's a daily driver — sedan, SUV, truck, or motorcycle

Market value is roughly under $70,000

You want the most affordable, widely available option

Image

Open carrier

7–10 vehicles · widely available

Consider enclosed transport if

The vehicle is worth more than $70,000

It's classic, vintage, exotic, custom, or low-clearance

It has rare paint, sentimental value, or show-quality finish

Image

Enclosed carrier

2–6 vehicles · full protection
Factor Open transport Enclosed transport
Weather protection Exposed to the road Fully enclosed
Vehicles per trailer 7–10 2–6
Carrier availability High More limited
Relative cost Most affordable Higher
Best for Daily drivers, dealer shipments Luxury, classic, exotic, low-clearance
Shipping something high-value? See Enclosed Car Transport

The process

Three steps, and a real person on every one.

Same honest process as every Carvato shipment: a specialist prices the move, owns it, and stays reachable until your car is in your driveway.

Get your quote and lock the price

Tell us the route and vehicle. A specialist confirms a real, all-in price and locks it at booking — no automated number that climbs once you're committed.

We assign a vetted open carrier

Your car is matched to an open carrier through Central Dispatch. Before anyone is assigned, we check active operating authority, insurance, and safety record.

Door-to-door delivery

The carrier picks up as close to your door as legal access allows and delivers anywhere in the lower 48. The price on delivery is the price you locked
See the full walkthrough

What it costs

A real sense of price before you commit.

Open transport on common routes. These are honest ballpark ranges — your locked price depends on distance, vehicle, season, and timing. Get your exact, locked number from the quote.

California ➞ Texas

$900–$1,200

~3–5 days · estimate

Florida ➞ New York

$700–$1,000

~2–4 days · estimate

Illinois ➞ Arizona

$850–$1,150

~3–5 days · estimate

Washington ➞ Florida

$1,200–$1,600

~5–7 days · estimate

What changes your price

Distance — longer routes cost more in total, but less per mile.

Vehicle size and weight — SUVs and trucks take more space than sedans.

Pickup and delivery location — metro areas have more carriers and better rates than rural ones.

Season — peak demand periods can run higher.

Vehicle condition — an inoperable car needs winch loading, which costs more.

Lead time — booking a few days ahead usually beats a next-day request.

A twilight scene of a highway shows streaks of car lights, flanked by greenery and sound barriers, under a softly lit sky.
See the full cost breakdown

How we vet carriers

Every carrier is checked before it touches your car.

Carvato is the auto-transport arm of an established, licensed and bonded transport company, so vetting isn't a box we tick. Before an open carrier is assigned to your shipment, we confirm three things:

Established-company backed

Backed by an established, licensed and bonded company — a real operation behind the booking, not a hollow reseller.

Licensed & bonded

FMCSA authority on file and public — look us up before you book.

Vetted carriers

Active authority, insurance, and safety record, verified before dispatch.
Want to vet us the same way we vet our carriers? Our own FMCSA authority is public — look us up before you book. We'd rather you did:
MC-1053256
USDOT #3314113

Straight talk

When we'd tell you to choose enclosed instead.

Open Car Transport

The affordable, most-used way to move a vehicle. Sedans, SUVs, trucks, and daily drivers ship safely on open multi-car carriers across the lower 48.
Shipping something high-value? See Enclosed Car Transport

Did you know

A few things the car-shipping industry would rather you not ask.

Misconception
I have to drop everything the moment the driver arrives.
The Reality

You or someone you designate needs to be there to inspect and sign at pickup and delivery, but carriers call ahead — usually the day before — to set a window.
Misconception
Open transport means my car isn’t insured.
The Reality

Every open carrier Carvato assigns must carry active cargo insurance, verified before pickup.
Misconception
The cheapest open quote is the best deal.
The Reality

A lowball price often leaves your car unbooked, because no carrier will haul it at that rate. A realistic price is what actually gets your car assigned and moving.
Misconception
You can’t ship a non-running car on an open carrier.
The Reality

Many open carriers handle inoperable vehicles with winch loading. It costs more and has to be arranged up front, but it’s routine — tell your specialist when you book.
Misconception
Open and enclosed use the same trucks, so the choice doesn’t matter.
The Reality

They’re different equipment. Open trailers carry seven to ten cars and are widely available; enclosed carry fewer, cost more, and fully shield the vehicle. The right choice depends on your car’s value and clearance.
Misconception
My car rides exposed for weeks.
The Reality

Most lower-48 routes are picked up within a few days and delivered in roughly two to seven days. Your car is on the trailer for the trip, not for weeks.
Misconception
Only economy cars should ship open.
The Reality

Most daily drivers — sedans, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles — ship open safely. Enclosed is for high-value, classic, exotic, or low-clearance vehicles, not for ordinary cars.
Misconception
Open is the “cheap” option, so it must be lower quality.
The Reality

Open is the standard, not a downgrade. The same vetted carriers and the same insurance apply. It costs less because one trailer carries seven to ten cars — not because corners are cut.
Misconception
Open transport will damage my car from road exposure.
The Reality

Open carriers move about nine of every ten vehicles in the country, including new cars from the factory to dealers. Damage is rare, and your car faces the same road it would driving itself — for far less time.
Misconception
“Door-to-door” means the truck pulls up to your exact front door.
The Reality

The carrier gets as close as the truck can legally and safely reach. On narrow or restricted streets you may meet a short distance away. It’s still door-to-door — bound only by what’s safe and legal.

    Open transport questions

    Quick answers.

    Get a Quote

    Ready to price your open transport?

    Get a real, locked price from a real specialist. No obligation.
    Call (224) 506-3676
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