Open auto transport
Open Auto Transport for Everyday Cars
Open trailers move most cars in the country. We put yours on a vetted, fully insured carrier running your route and confirm the pickup and delivery windows before the truck rolls.
- The standard way to ship a car
- Cars, SUVs, trucks, EVs and more
- One point of contact from quote to drop-off
What open transport is
Open auto transport moves your car on an open trailer, the kind you see on the interstate carrying cars on two levels. Your car is strapped down and rides with other vehicles headed the same way. It is exposed to weather and road dust, the same as when you drive it.
Open is how most cars in the country are shipped, including most new and used dealer inventory. Because open trucks carry more cars and there are more of them on the road, it is usually easier to find a carrier on your route.
Who open transport is for
Open is the right fit for most everyday cars: sedans, SUVs, minivans, pickup trucks, EVs and compact cars. Individuals use it for a move to a new state, a car bought out of state, a snowbird car going south, or a student's car headed to campus. Dealers use it for dealer trades, auction pickups and customer deliveries.
When the car is a classic, an exotic or worth a lot, we recommend enclosed transport instead. Walls and a roof keep out rain, dust and road debris. The open vs enclosed guide lays out both side by side.
How open car shipping works with FCT
- Request a quote. Pickup and drop-off, the year, make and model, whether it runs, and when it is ready. Use the quote form or call (980) 552-1101.
- A real person quotes it. No price tables and no instant quote. We look at your route and your car.
- We vet the carrier. Every carrier is checked before it touches the car, every shipment is fully insured, and the driver and truck are confirmed before pickup.
- We confirm the windows. You get the pickup window and the expected delivery window before the truck rolls. If anything changes on the road, you hear it from us first.
- Delivery and the BOL. You check the car over and sign the bill of lading. The delivery BOL is saved in the client portal at fctorders.com, which also shows live driver location while the driver is active.
Pickup and delivery happen as close to your addresses as the truck can safely and legally get. A two-level open trailer is long, so on some streets the driver meets you at a nearby open lot instead. See door-to-door transport.
Getting your car ready
Wash the car so its condition is easy to see, take photos from every side, remove personal items and toll tags, and keep the fuel tank around a quarter full. Take off anything loose on the outside, like a bike rack. Our vehicle prep guide has the full list, and the car shipping guide covers the rest of the process.
Cars that do not run can ship on an open trailer too. Tell us up front, because it changes the equipment the carrier needs.
Vehicles we ship on open trailers
Open transport for:
- Compact cars
- Sedans
- SUVs
- Minivans
- Pickup trucks
- Luxury and exotic cars
- Classic cars
- Electric vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Cargo vans
Open transport questions
Is my car safe on an open trailer?
The car is strapped down and rides exposed to weather, the same as when you drive it. Every carrier is vetted and every shipment is fully insured. For classic, exotic or high-value cars we recommend enclosed.
What is the difference between open and enclosed?
An open trailer carries the car out in the weather. An enclosed trailer has walls and a roof that keep out rain, dust and road debris.
Can you ship a non-running car on an open trailer?
Yes. Tell us when you ask for a quote, because a car that does not run needs different loading equipment.
How is open transport priced?
A real person quotes every move based on your route, your car and your timing. Send the details through the quote form or call (980) 552-1101.