Vehicle transport comes in many different methods. Some auto shippers specialize in overseas vehicle transport, where they use giant barges to move cars across the ocean. Still other vehicle transport companies only do vehicle transport by rail. However, most all vehicle transport companies have two main methods of vehicle transport: open vehicle transport and enclosed vehicle transport.

Most vehicle transport trucks on the road today are known as open vehicle transport trucks. What this means is that the truck is open to the elements. Many times you can see open vehicle transport trucks driving on the interstate – those goofy-looking trucks with what looks like a million cars hanging off the back of them. These are open vehicle transport trucks, and they are the most commonly found vehicle transport trucks on the road. Most auto shippers use open vehicle transport for their customers, because it is by far the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to ship a vehicle. Open vehicle transport is considered the standard of the vehicle transport industry.

Enclosed vehicle transport is just the opposite – an enclosed vehicle transport truck is just like one of those huge semi trucks you see on the road all the time. They offer vehicle transport for vehicles that can’t suffer the hazards of daily driving or being open to the elements during vehicle transport – most of the time enclosed vehicle transport is used by auto shippers for incredibly rare, expensive or classic vehicles. However, enclosed vehicle transport is incredibly expensive when compared to open vehicle transport – there are few enclosed trucks on the road that haul vehicles around, so finding an enclosed vehicle transport carrier can be a challenge for auto shippers.

When it comes to choosing which vehicle transport method is best for you, there are several factors that go into it. First off, what type of vehicle are you shipping? If the vehicle in question is your daily driving vehicle that you service every few months and drive to work every day, chances are you don’t need enclosed vehicle transport because you actually get less wear and tear on your vehicle during open transport than you would driving it across the country. If your vehicle is, however, a collectable car that you only drive under perfect conditions, chances are you’ll need enclosed vehicle transport.

Another major factor in deciding on open vehicle transport versus enclosed vehicle transport is the cost. If you only have a thousand dollars to ship your vehicle across the country, chances are you’ll be looking at open vehicle transport. Enclosed vehicle transport is incredibly expensive, especially when you’re looking at vehicle transport across larger distances.

Ultimately it’s up to you what method of vehicle transport you choose, but always take into consideration the cost, the time and the rarity of your vehicle before making your choice.