Free tool · Vehicle shipping profile
How should I ship my car?
Select your vehicle and get a personalized shipping recommendation based on its size, weight, clearance, value, condition and modifications — open or enclosed, the equipment the carrier needs, and exactly what to tell them before pickup.
Open vs. enclosed
Open or enclosed car shipping: which one you need
About 9 in 10 cars ship on open carriers. Enclosed transport is worth paying for when the car's value, finish or ride height makes weather and road debris a real risk.
| Open carrier | Enclosed trailer | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Daily drivers, new cars from dealers, SUVs and pickups | Cars worth $100k+, classics, exotics, very low or show cars |
| Protection | Exposed to weather and road dust, like driving it | Fully covered; hard-sided trailers also stop stones |
| Price | Baseline | About 40–60% more |
| Truck size | 7–10 cars on two decks | 1–7 cars, often with a liftgate |
| Availability | Easy to book, pickup in 1–5 days | Fewer trucks, allow extra days |
| Insurance | Carrier cargo policy, usually $100k–$250k per load | Higher cargo limits, often $250k–$1M+ |
Reference
How each type of vehicle usually ships
Typical sizes and weights by vehicle class, and the transport most carriers use for them. A standard car carrier takes vehicles up to about 6′ 8″ tall on either deck and up to about 8′ on the bottom deck.
| Vehicle | Length | Height | Weight | Ground clearance | Usual transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small car | 12.5–14.7 ft | 4′ 4″–4′ 10″ | 2,400–3,200 lb | 4.8–5.8 in | Standard open carrier |
| Compact car | 14.3–15.5 ft | 4′ 7″–4′ 10″ | 2,800–3,400 lb | 5–6 in | Standard open carrier |
| Midsize sedan | 15.5–16.3 ft | 4′ 8″–4′ 10″ | 3,100–3,700 lb | 5.3–6 in | Standard open carrier |
| Full-size car | 16.2–17.5 ft | 4′ 9″–5′ | 3,700–4,600 lb | 5–6 in | Standard open carrier |
| Sports car | 12.9–15.4 ft | 3′ 11″–4′ 4″ | 2,500–3,700 lb | 4–5 in | Open, or enclosed with liftgate if low or valuable |
| Wagon | 15–16.3 ft | 4′ 10″–5′ 1″ | 3,300–4,200 lb | 5.5–6.5 in | Standard open carrier |
| Compact SUV or crossover | 14.2–15.8 ft | 5′ 4″–5′ 9″ | 3,300–4,300 lb | 7–8.7 in | Standard open carrier |
| SUV | 15–16.7 ft | 5′ 7″–6′ | 3,800–4,800 lb | 8–9 in | Standard open carrier |
| Full-size SUV | 16.3–18.8 ft | 5′ 10″–6′ 6″ | 4,800–6,200 lb | 8–9.5 in | Standard open carrier |
| Minivan | 16.5–17.3 ft | 5′ 8″–5′ 11″ | 4,300–4,800 lb | 5.5–6.5 in | Standard open carrier |
| Midsize pickup | 17.5–18.8 ft | 5′ 10″–6′ 1″ | 4,000–4,800 lb | 8.5–10 in | Standard open carrier |
| Full-size pickup | 17.5–20.8 ft | 6′ 2″–6′ 8″ | 4,500–6,000 lb | 8.5–10 in | Standard open carrier |
| Heavy-duty pickup | 19.8–22.2 ft | 6′ 6″–6′ 9″ | 6,500–8,700 lb | 8–9 in | Open carrier, bottom deck (surcharge) |
| Full-size van | 17.7–19.7 ft | 6′ 10″–8′ 4″ | 5,200–6,500 lb | 6.5–8 in | Open carrier, bottom deck (surcharge) |
| High-roof van | 19.5–24.2 ft | 8′ 10″–9′ 5″ | 5,500–7,200 lb | 6.5–8 in | Flatbed or step-deck trailer |
| Motorcycle | 6.7–8.3 ft | 3′ 6″–4′ 10″ | 400–900 lb | 4–6 in | Motorcycle carrier or crate |
Special cases
When your car needs more than a standard truck
Low cars
Under about 5 inches of clearance, a steep ramp scrapes the front lip. Ask for extended ramps, or an enclosed trailer with a hydraulic liftgate and soft wheel straps.
Lifted trucks and tall vans
Anything over about 6′ 8″ needs a bottom-deck spot; over 8′ — high-roof vans, campers — it goes on a flatbed or step-deck trailer.
Heavy trucks and EVs
Over about 6,000 lb a vehicle rides on the bottom deck and costs more; over 8,000 lb some carriers can't take it at all.
Cars that don't run
If it rolls, steers and brakes, the truck needs a winch (+$150–$300). If it doesn't roll, it needs a forklift, tire skates or a flatbed.
Classics and exotics
Enclosed, ideally hard-sided, with a liftgate and a carrier whose cargo policy covers the full value. Ask for the certificate.
Motorcycles
Most car carriers can't secure a bike safely. Use a motorcycle carrier with wheel chocks and soft ties, or have it crated.
Know how it should ship? Estimate the price for your route, then check the company before you book.
Should I ship my car on an open or enclosed carrier?
Open transport is the right choice for most cars: it is how dealers move new vehicles, it costs 30–50% less and trucks are easier to book. Choose an enclosed trailer for cars worth more than about $100,000, classics and collector cars, exotics, very low cars, and cars with fresh paint or show finishes that shouldn't face weather and road debris.
Is enclosed car shipping worth the extra cost?
It is when the car's value or finish makes a rock chip or a dusty delivery a real loss. For a daily driver, open transport is just as safe mechanically — damage on open carriers is rare, and the carrier's cargo insurance covers it. If you are in between, ask for a top-deck spot on an open carrier: nothing drips on your car from above.
Can a lifted truck or a tall van go on a regular car carrier?
Usually a lifted truck can, but it takes a bottom-deck spot and carriers charge more for it. Once a vehicle is taller than about 8 feet — high-roof vans, campers, trucks with big lifts and racks — it won't fit under the top deck of a car carrier and has to go on a flatbed or step-deck trailer. Always give the carrier the real height, including roof racks.
How do you ship a low car?
Cars with less than about 5 inches of ground clearance need extended ramps or, better, an enclosed trailer with a hydraulic liftgate that lifts the car level instead of driving it up a steep ramp. Tell the carrier the clearance under the front lip and any splitter or side skirts before they send a truck.
Can I ship a car that doesn't run?
Yes. If it rolls, steers and brakes, the carrier winches it on — expect about $150–$300 extra. If a wheel is locked, missing or the car can't steer, it needs a forklift, tire skates or a flatbed with a winch at both ends, and you must say so upfront: many carriers can't take it.
Does it cost more to ship an electric car?
Sometimes. Most EVs are 15–25% heavier than similar gas cars, and very heavy ones like the Hummer EV, Rivian R1T or Silverado EV count against the carrier's weight limit and usually ride on the bottom deck. Ship with the battery at 30–50%, and tell the driver how to put the car in transport or tow mode.
How do you ship a dually or heavy-duty pickup?
Heavy-duty and dual-rear-wheel pickups weigh 6,500–8,700 lb and a dually is about 8 feet wide, so they take a bottom-deck spot or go on a flatbed or hotshot trailer. Expect a higher price than a half-ton pickup and mention the dual wheels, bed accessories and any hitch when you ask for a quote.