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Enclosed Car Shipping
Nationwide door-to-door enclosed car transport services—your price appears on screen in seconds, not in a callback.
Over 1 million vehicles safely delivered
Licensed & insured carriers in all 50 states
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- 1Route & Date
- 2Vehicle
- 3Shipper
Watch an Enclosed Delivery, Start to Finish
A real enclosed shipment, filmed end to end by Brink of Speed — the enthusiast channel we sponsored to document the pickup, the ride, and the delivery. Their cameras, their verdict.
- Liftgate loading and soft-strap tie-down
- The enclosed interior, mid-route
- Filmed and published by Brink of Speed
Enclosed Auto Transport Reviews
"I had my 2025 BMW M340i shipped from Tennessee to Arizona in enclosed trailer and RoadRunner did a fantastic job and my vehicle arrived with no damages."
"Fast pickup. Faster delivery. Schedule for Wednesday pickup on Monday, car delivered enclosed following Monday from CA to NY. Great communication throughout. Car in perfect shape."
"Used Roadrunner Auto Transport to move my Porsche from SC to TX in an enclosed carrier. Driver (George) kept in close contact before, during and delivery of my car. No issues and no problems and no damage. Highly recommend them."
"Had a Corvette C8 brought from a dealership in mid Kentucky all the way up to NW Ohio with no issues. Took 2 days from when I contacted them until I was in the drivers seat. Enclosed trailer at just above half of what I was quoted by dealership. Totally worth it."
Difference Between Open and Enclosed Transport
Enclosed car transport and open transport both get your car from door to door with a vetted, insured carrier — the difference is what stands between your paint and the road. Here is the honest version of the choice.
Enclosed is the right call when
- You are shipping a classic, exotic, collector, or high-value vehicle
- Ground clearance is low — roughly four inches or less needs liftgate loading, and liftgates ride on enclosed rigs
- Custom paint, wraps, or fresh restoration work would be costly to redo
- The route runs long through winter weather or coastal salt
- The car is headed to or from an auction, show, or museum
Open is the smarter buy when
- You are shipping a daily driver — a standard sedan, SUV, or truck
- Budget matters more than showroom arrival condition
- You need the fastest possible pickup — open carriers far outnumber enclosed
- A layer of road dust at delivery is a car wash, not a problem
Also called covered car transport, covered auto transport, closed car transport or an enclosed carrier — one service, several names. The hard-sided enclosed transport trailer is the same, and so are the enclosed auto transport services behind it.
When it comes to transporting vehicles, there are two main options – open and enclosed transport. While both methods are designed to get your car from point A to point B, there are significant differences between the two.
Enclosed Transport

Enclosed transport is the preferred method of transporting luxury or high-end vehicles, but it's also a popular choice with people who want greater peace of mind when it comes to their vehicle's safety during transport.
As the name suggests, vehicles are transported in an enclosed trailer, which provides complete protection from the elements. Enclosed transport trailers can also transport fewer vehicles at a time, thereby reducing the risk of vehicles being damaged by one another.
The key advantage of enclosed transport is greater security. With closed trailers, it's much harder for anyone to access or damage the transported vehicles. And, as the vehicles are always in pristine condition, the method is popular with people who own high-end cars that require extra care and security during transportation.
However, enclosed transport is typically more expensive than open transport, given that fewer cars can be transported at the same time. If you’re only transporting one vehicle or have a low budget, enclosed transport may not be your best option.
The choice between open and enclosed transport comes down to your budget and what's more important to you personally. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, open transport is the way to go. If you have a higher budget and want greater peace of mind, then enclosed transport is the way to go. In any case, both options are viable, and choosing the right method for you comes down to making an informed decision based on your needs and preferences.
Open Transport

Open transport is the most common method of transporting cars and is often used by dealerships to move multiple cars simultaneously. As the name suggests, vehicles are transported on an open trailer, which is an uncovered carrier designed to carry up to 10 cars at once.
One advantage of open transport is that it’s usually a cheaper option than enclosed transport. Because multiple cars can be transported at the same time, individual transport costs are significantly reduced. Additionally, open trailers are much more common than enclosed trailers, which makes them more readily available at short notice.
Enclosed Car Shipping Cost
How much does enclosed car shipping cost?
The cost of enclosed car shipping can vary depending on a few factors, such as distance, vehicle size and weight, and the level of service required. On average, the cost of enclosed car shipping can typically range from $1,000 to $3,000. Visit our car shipping cost calculator to get an instant enclosed car shipping quote and find out the price for your specific shipping route.
Average Enclosed Car Shipping Price Estimations Based On Mileage
What Enclosed Car Shipping Costs on the Lanes People Actually Ship
These are the enclosed transport lanes our enclosed car transporters run most, with the average enclosed transport price and the average open price on the same route side by side. The gap between the two tags is the enclosed premium — and it is not one number.
Distance moves the price, not the enclosed transport premium
| Lane | Distance | Open (avg) | Enclosed (avg) | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California to Texas | 1,510 mi | $1,200 | $1,860 | +55% |
| Texas to California | 1,540 mi | $970 | $1,520 | +57% |
| California to Florida | 2,620 mi | $1,450 | $2,280 | +57% |
| New York to Florida | 1,230 mi | $1,020 | $1,740 | +71% |
| Florida to California | 2,630 mi | $1,330 | $2,100 | +58% |
| Florida to New York | 1,230 mi | $1,080 | $1,860 | +72% |
| New Jersey to Florida | 1,180 mi | $940 | $1,480 | +57% |
| Texas to Florida | 1,170 mi | $850 | $1,350 | +59% |
| Florida to Texas | 1,180 mi | $1,000 | $1,530 | +53% |
| Illinois to Florida | 1,190 mi | $940 | $1,620 | +72% |
| New York to California | 2,780 mi | $1,500 | $2,340 | +56% |
| Illinois to California | 2,050 mi | $1,150 | $1,830 | +59% |
How Enclosed Auto Transport Works: Trailers, Liftgates & Loading
Enclosed car shipping — sometimes called covered car transport — is a different machine, not just a roof. The enclosed car carriers in our network run purpose-built trailers, and which one your shipment needs is what sets an enclosed vehicle transport price apart from an open one. Equipment is what separates enclosed auto transport services from open ones.

Single-Car Enclosed Transport
Coverage: verified, not just promised
White-glove handling, as standard practice
- Soft tie-down straps or wheel nets — chains never touch a vehicle shipped enclosed
- Low-angle ramps or hydraulic liftgates for low-clearance loading
- Enclosed car carriers are specialty operators: drivers who move classics, exotics, and auction cars for a living
- Online shipment tracking from pickup to delivery, on every enclosed vehicle transport order
Enclosed Car Transport Coverage Map
Select a state below for more information about enclosed car shipping in that area.
Click two states to set the route, or use the lists — Alaska and Hawaii are served too, and listed under West.
The Enclosed Transport Calendar: Spring Peaks, Steadier Winters
Enclosed transport rides the same spring peak as the rest of the fleet — April and May are its busiest months — but it swings less. When open bookings thin out in the fall and winter, enclosed holds up, and its share of everything we ship is highest from October to February.
| Month | Enclosed index | All shipments index | On the calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71 | 68 | Scottsdale & Kissimmee auctions |
| Feb | 76 | 65 | — |
| Mar | 84 | 83 | Amelia Island Concours |
| Apr | 100 | 95 | — |
| May | 100 | 100 | — |
| Jun | 79 | 89 | — |
| Jul | 76 | 86 | — |
| Aug | 74 | 82 | Monterey Car Week |
| Sep | 72 | 65 | — |
| Oct | 83 | 68 | — |
| Nov | 73 | 65 | — |
| Dec | 70 | 65 | Salt season begins |

The enclosed year starts in the desert. In January, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale and the auctions that share its week fill Arizona with collector cars, while Mecum Kissimmee in Florida runs what it bills as the world’s largest collector-car auction. Thousands of cars change hands in a few days, and nearly all of them arrive and leave on enclosed trailers — a surge of collector cars at the moment the open-carrier fleet is at its quietest, one reason enclosed’s share of what ships runs highest through the winter months.
Spring belongs to the concours and the big regional sales: The Amelia on Amelia Island in March, with the Broad Arrow and Gooding auctions alongside, then Mecum Indianapolis in May. August brings Monterey Car Week, where Pebble Beach, The Quail, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and five auction houses share one peninsula for a week. Concours entries ship out weeks ahead, and their new owners ship them home after the hammer falls.
Between the peaks a steady calendar keeps the trailers full without ever showing as a spike: the major auto shows, whose display cars travel enclosed between Detroit, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles; the SEMA Show in Las Vegas each November, where show builds ship in and out under cover; vintage racing weekends and club track days, where the car arrives on a transporter and the owner arrives by plane; and the online auctions that never close — a Bring a Trailer or Cars & Bids sale ends every day, and the winning bidder usually books enclosed transport that afternoon.
Motorcycles ride the same calendar. Mecum’s Las Vegas motorcycle auction in January is billed as the largest of its kind; Daytona Bike Week in March, Sturgis in August and the Barber Vintage Festival in October each move bikes across the country — and a motorcycle, like a collector car, almost always ships enclosed.
The practical point for anyone planning around these dates: enclosed transport capacity tightens in the weeks before each of these events, so a shipment timed to Scottsdale, Amelia or Monterey books earlier than the same lane in May.
Enclosed Car Shipping Calendar: Key Auction, Concours & Rally Dates
- JanBarrett-Jackson Scottsdale
- JanMecum Kissimmee
- JanMecum Las Vegas motorcycle auction
- MarThe Amelia
- MarDaytona Bike Week
- MayMecum Indianapolis
- AugMonterey Car Week: Pebble Beach, The Quail, the auctions
- AugSturgis Motorcycle Rally
- OctBarber Vintage Festival
- NovSEMA Show
- NovMecum Las Vegas
- DailyBring a Trailer and Cars & Bids
The rigs enclosed car transport companies run carry two to six vehicles against seven to ten on an open carrier, and they are a small share of the national fleet, so enclosed enclosed transport pickup windows book out further ahead than open. Once your car is loaded, transit runs the same corridors at the same pace either way. Price enclosed car shipping services for your route now: no upfront deposit, and you can cancel anytime before pickup.
The Makes We Ship Enclosed Most
Enclosed car transportation is not only for museum pieces. These are the makes that use our enclosed transport services most often, plus the exotic and grand-touring marques — and, for each, how much of it is collectors’ classics versus new deliveries.









Over 30 Years of Reliable Enclosed Auto Transport Services
Enclosed vehicle shipping is available for an elevated level of transport.
Benefits of Fully Enclosed Auto Shipping
The safest way to transport vehicles is through fully-enclosed transport. Fully-enclosed car transport refers to using enclosed carriers to ship cars instead of open carrier trucks and other means. Let's dive into the benefits of fully-enclosed transport and why it should be considered for transporting cars.
Improved Security
Security is a primary concern when it comes to the transportation of vehicles. Fully-enclosed transport offers better security than open trucks and other means of transport. Enclosed transport provides a storage space that is sealed off from the outside world, making it difficult for unauthorized persons to tamper with the goods. This makes it suitable for transporting high-value vehicles, such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other high end vehicles, where security is a top priority. In addition, fully-enclosed transport provides a safer option for transporting classic cars as they are safely contained and won't be exposed to inclimate weather.
Protection from Weather Elements
Poor weather conditions can be undesirable during transportation on an open carrier. Fully-enclosed car transport offers protection from weather elements and other undesirable objects during shipment. The trucks used in fully-enclosed transport are weatherproof, which means they are designed to withstand the effects of weather elements. This ensures that vehicles are delivered in the same condition they were in when they were loaded onto the carrier.
Reduced Risk of Damage
When vehicles are transported on open trucks, they are exposed to more elements throughout the course of the transport. When vehicles are transported through fully-enclosed carriers, the expose to risk is significantly reduced. The trucks used in fully-enclosed transport are designed to keep vehicles secure and out of reach of many elements, reducing the risk of damage. In addition, fully-enclosed transport eliminates the risk of damage caused by other road users, such as rocks and debris that could hit the goods when they are being transported on open trucks.
Enclosed Car Shipping, Handled Like Everything We Ship
See how RoadRunner ships cars nationwide: instant pricing, door-to-door pickup, and real-time tracking — the same process behind every enclosed shipment.
- Door-to-door pickup and delivery nationwide
- 30,000+ vetted carriers, open and enclosed
- Track your shipment in real time
A Car's Journey, Enclosed: What Happens and What You Should Do
Six moments decide whether a high-value enclosed transport goes perfectly — and most of them are yours. Here is the whole trip, and what to do at each step.
- 1
Photograph your car
Walk around it in good light — every panel, the wheels, the interior, the odometer. Date-stamped photos are your baseline if anything is ever in question.
- 2
Pickup inspection & Bill of Lading
The driver inspects the car with you and records its condition on the Bill of Lading — the legal record of how it left. Read it before you sign; note anything you disagree with.
- 3
Loading
Liftgate or low-angle ramp for low clearance; soft straps or wheel nets, never chains. Alarms off, fuel at a quarter tank, personal items out (they are not covered).
- 4
In transit
Your car rides inside the trailer, out of the weather and out of sight. Track the shipment online from pickup to delivery.
- 5
Delivery walk-around
Inspect the car with the driver against your photos and the pickup Bill of Lading before anything is signed. Note any difference on the delivery copy.
- 6
Sign, and the claim window
Your signature closes the shipment. If you noted damage, the claim runs against the carrier’s cargo policy — start it promptly; we help you file and follow it through.
What enclosed customers mention most
Four things come up again and again in the verified reviews that describe an enclosed shipment with us — ranked by how often, each in a customer’s own words.
“The driver communicated with me prior to pick up and then before drop off.”
“Excellent communication on everything and received my vehicle from California to Indiana a day early.”
“The 24/7 online tracking kept me informed the whole way, and the car arrived safely ahead of the estimated window with zero issues or damage.”
“My car was delivered in great shape, and sooner than expected.”
I recently engaged RoadRunner Auto Transport to bring my new car from Denver CO to SoCal. Company had most competitive rates, I easily secured an enclosed 3-car transport, driver Russ Lee was professional, and everyone was communicative from pickup to delivery. Honestly, a great experience. I strongly / loudly recommend RoadRunner Auto Transport & Mr. Lee!
- Your price appears on screen in seconds
- No upfront deposit
- Cancel anytime before pickup
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle transportation process.
RoadRunner Auto Transport is a legitimate and well-established auto transport company that has over 30 years of reliable nationwide vehicle shipping to their name. The company is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). RoadRunner Auto Transport has also received thousands of 5-star reviews and ratings from customers on various review platforms.
Shipping an expensive car requires special attention and care to ensure that it arrives at its destination safely and in the same condition as when it was shipped. Here are some tips on how to ship an expensive car:
- Choose a reputable and experienced auto transport company like RoadRunner Auto Transport.
- Ask the transport company about their experience in transporting high-end or luxury cars.
- Check the company's insurance coverage and verify that it is adequate for your car's value.
- Ensure the transport trailer is fully enclosed to protect your car from weather and debris.
- Consider adding extra security measures, such as an alarm system or GPS tracking device.
- Take detailed photos of your car before shipping it to document any existing damage.
- Remove any valuable items from inside the car.
- Disable any car alarms or other security systems.
- Provide clear instructions to the transport company on how to load and unload your car.
- Finally, inspect your car carefully upon delivery and document any damage before signing off on the delivery.
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