Enclosed Car Transport: Meaning and Cost

In plain English

Enclosed trailers carry fewer vehicles, often one to six, and use softer loading equipment such as hydraulic lift gates. Classic, exotic, collector and high-value cars usually go this way.

Many enclosed carriers carry higher cargo insurance limits, but check the policy for your car’s value.

Why it matters when you ship

It is worth it for cars that are rare, expensive or low to the ground. For most daily drivers the premium is not worth it.

What it looks like in our data

From our own pricing data. The premium varies by lane and season. See the Car Shipping Price Index.

Example

A buyer ships a classic Corvette from Florida to California in an enclosed trailer. The car is protected from weather and view the whole way.

Related terms

• Open car transport
• Car hauler
• Door-to-door
• Inoperable vehicle (INOP)
• Enclosed motorcycle transport

Learn more

Enclosed car transport: common questions