Open Vs Enclosed: Which One To Choose For Car Shipping?

Open Vs Enclosed: Which One To Choose For Car Shipping?
5 min read
09 February 2023

Are you traveling along with your vehicle from one place to another? Are you are looking for high-end shipping companies? If yes, then this article can help in many ways. 

When it comes to car shipping, most users face a challenging time selecting between open and enclosed car shipping services. Open and enclosed auto transport services are the most common and widely preferred shipping options across the globe. Some customers prefer open-car shipping service due to low shipping prices and high availability, while others choose enclosed transport service due to its high safety and security standards. 

Depending on your shipping requirements and needs, you should always consider the options that offer the best shipping experience at affordable prices. Most misleading and fraudulent shipping companies offer services at unrealistic prices to attract users’ attention and take advantage. Hence, you should avoid selecting shipping services without having in-depth knowledge about the service providers. 

Before getting deep into the article, let us first understand the difference between shipping and transportation services. 

What is the difference between shipping and transportation? 

Transportation services are used to transport goods, cargo, people, and more. Whereas, shipping services are limited to shipping vehicles from one place to another. Some transportation companies offer both, shipping as well as transportation services to their customers. However, if you’re looking for companies that transport only vehicles, then it is best to hire services from companies that specialize in vehicle shipping services. 

Doing this will help you avoid any unnecessary expenses and avail the benefits of shipping services. Additionally, it will also save you time in searching for the right service provider near your locality or area you want to transport your vehicle from. 

What is open car shipping? 

Open car shipping services are one the most popular and readily available services across the nation. In this method, your car is transported in an open trailer exposed to certain shipping elements and different weather conditions. This method is preferable for customers looking to transport more than one vehicle at a time at affordable prices. Compared to enclosed and other car shipping services, open car shipping services are more easily available all year round. 

What is enclosed car shipping? 

The enclosed car shipping service is another more popular shipping option to choose from. In this method, vehicles are transported in a closed container or shipping truck protected from various shipping elements such as theft, damage, and more. It is the best shipping option to consider when shipping vehicles during harsh and uncertain weather conditions. Additionally, this shipping method is also preferable to ship luxury, limited edition, racing, and new cars. The only drawback of this shipping method is that it costs nearly double or more than open car shipping services. 

How much does it cost to ship a car? 

No matter which shipping method your choose, here are certain shipping factors that can easily influence your shipping costs. 

  1. Distance

It is important to note that greater shipping distances can significantly increase the overall shipping cost. A good and reliable car shipping company will always let you know about the cost structure of your shipping services based on the distance. To avoid getting involved with misleading companies, compare the shipping rates of different companies. You can also visit several reviewing websites to learn more about their services. 

  1. Shipping services 

Another factor that influences your shipping cost is the type of shipping services. As mentioned above, open-car shipping services are more affordable than enclosed shipping services. If you are looking for ways to save some money during the shipping process, consider opting for terminal-to-terminal shipping services over other options. 

  1. Location 

For some locations, it is extremely challenging for shipping companies to travel in huge-size shipping trucks. To complete their shipment, they use extra resources and labor that eventually result in an increase in the overall shipping cost. Hence, while selecting your location ensure to check the travel availability to avoid paying extra costs. 

  1. Vehicle condition 

Poor and non-running vehicle conditions always require extra resources to load and unload your vehicles. At times, shipping companies might also charge extra money to maintain high security and safety measures to transport your vehicle to your desired destination. Hence, it is always best to run a quick maintenance check on your vehicle before confirming your services. 

  1. Time of the year 

Bad weather conditions, an increase in customer demands, and other related factors can also majorly affect your shipping costs. If you are not in a haste to transport your shipping from one place to another, then avoid booking your shipping services during the peak time of the year. 

  1. Others 

Labor riots, infrastructure development, economic crisis, and more are some of the others that can easily affect your overall cost to ship your car from one place to another. These situations are beyond the control of car shipping companies and most of the time unavoidable. 

We hope this article helped you find the right solutions for all your ‘how much does shipping by trucks cost?’ concerns. 

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