Open car transport experiences

SGT Auto Transport delivers on-time, reliable, car shipping and excellent customer service

Chris M.
Great experience - deliver was faster than expected. Thank you!!!
Doug P
This was the best transport company I have used from start to finish. Everything was smooth and the people were great.
Gary Paduana
I had a great experience going with SGT to ship a vehicle approximately 1400 miles. They arrived on time, loaded up quickly, and met me on the receiving end at my convenience.
Jeff Sundin
They made it easy to transport a car from Oregon to Alabama and returned calls fairly quickly. Thank you for the efficient service.
Mike B.
This is the second time I used SGT and I was just as happy with my service this time as the last time. Very responsive and competitive prices.
Robert B.
Was great all around experience, driver was great and professional at pick up. Good outfit to work with
Open car transport service

What is open car transport?

Open auto transport is the most common type of car shipping service. It’s easy to arrange, convenient, and excellent value for money. A car shipping company transports your car, together with other vehicles, using open trailer transport.

They pick up and load your vehicle from a location of your choice and deliver it to your chosen location. It exposes your car to the elements, but it’s still the safest and most secure option if you’re on a tight budget.

Open auto transport options

What is the difference between enclosed and open auto transport?

Open vs enclosed car transport are two very different things. Book open carrier auto transport and your vehicle is transported on an open trailer. The cost is lower but your vehicle is exposed to the elements. It's the preferred method for our customers because it's easy, quick and secure. Enclosed auto transport means your vehicle is protected on all sides for extra protection.

When you are making the decision of car transport, open vs enclosed, you’ll want to keep all of these things in mind. We find that for most vehicles and their owners, open air car transport is sufficient for their needs. While there is a slightly higher risk of road damage, it is minimal and the open car transport cost is lower.

Open transport cost and price

When is open car transport recommended?

There’s lots of choice when it comes to choosing car shipping, but we recommend open carrier car transport if your vehicle is standard and you want to keep the cost to a minimum. Car dealerships choose it for this reason, and because it’s a safe, reliable, and fast option.

Open and enclosed car transport are both reasonable options, but they are each needed for specific circumstances, and we find that open car carrier transport will accommodate the vast majority of car transports.

Open car transport is door-to-door

Is open car transport a door-to-door service?

Yes it is door-to-door transport. Shipping your vehicle using open carrier transport means the carrier picks it up from a location of your choosing and delivers it to your door. If it’s not safe or legal to do so, the open car transport company will make alternative arrangements. Rest assured, they will arrange pick-up and delivery locations as close as they can to your door.

Open car transport is safe

Is open car transport a safe option for shipping your vehicle?

Yes it is. It exposes your vehicle to the elements, but that’s no different than if you parked your vehicle on the street. The construction of an open trailer provides a high level of protection from road debris. Your vehicle will also be carefully secured or locked into the trailer.

You get added peace of mind knowing your vehicle has full insurance coverage. Enclosed car carrier transport in an enclosed trailer is mainly preferred for the most expensive and rare, classic cars.

Is open auto transport the cheapest way to ship a car?

Open carrier auto transport is the most common and cheapest way to ship a car. There are more open transport carriers, which means the price to transport a car is more affordable. Carriers are able to transport more cars on one truck, which also helps to keep the price low. To get a car shipping quote, use the link below.

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DistanceType of 
transport
Avg. price
per mile
Sample distanceSample price
0 - 500 milesOpen$0.80250 miles$200
500 - 1000 milesOpen$0.73700 miles$511
1000 - 1500 milesOpen$0.701000 miles$700
1500 - 2000 milesOpen$0.481750 miles$840
2000 - 2500 milesOpen$0.372400 miles$888
2500 - 3000 milesOpen$0.352700 miles$945
3000+ milesOpen$0.333200 miles$1122

The Avg. price per mile rates shown up above are reflective of current market conditions as of 2024. The rates are subject to change due to seasonal fluctuations, price of gas, pick-up/delivery locations, etc.

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We go above and beyond with our open car transport

Check out some of our valued customers stories

How our open car transport services works

Ship your vehicle in 3 easy steps

1

Get a quote and book your order

Get your free instant quote using our online calculator. It’ll take just a few seconds of your time. Provide us with some basic information, such as: pick-up city and state, delivery city and state, vehicle year, make and model, condition of vehicle, transport type, and first available shipping date (this is the first date your car will be ready to be picked up).

It’s also possible, if you prefer, to call, email, or use Live Chat. Our dedicated open auto transport shipping advisors are always on hand to help.

The open trailer transport price you receive is fully inclusive. It includes insurance coverage, and there are no hidden fees, guaranteed. When you make your booking, we require no payment in advance. Cancellation is possible, free of charge, if you decide not to book at this time.

If you’re not satisfied with the price, contact us immediately. We’ll do our best to meet your price expectations, or do what we can to match the price you received from a direct competitor.

Click on the link in your emailed quote when you’re ready to complete your booking. Alternatively, call (864) 546-5038 and book your open transport car shipping service direct. Live Chat and email are two further options, if you prefer.

We’ll then search through our vast network of open car carriers to find one that fits your needs. We vet all the carriers in our network to ensure the service they provide meets our very high standards. We will confirm your booking by phone. We’ll confirm the pick-up date and fill you in on the rest of the process. You’ll also receive an automated email with the carrier’s contact information.

If you’ve opted for a Discounted Cash Price, we’ll then take a small partial payment from your credit or debit card. You pay the remaining balance upon delivery of your vehicle, either in cash, by cashier’s check, or money order. If you opt for the Regular Price, we’ll collect the whole amount to secure your spot on the trailer.

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2

We pick up your vehicle

A few hours before your assigned carrier is scheduled to pick-up your vehicle they will contact you. This is to confirm the arrangements and check that the pick-up location is accessible for large commercial vehicles. If it’s not legal or safe, you can make alternative arrangements at this time. There are a range of different locations you can use for the pick-up, for example, a nearby parking lot, where you work, or in a wider street close by. The carrier also needs to make sure someone is available to release the vehicle. You can nominate a third party, such as a neighbor, friend, relative, or colleague, to act on your behalf.

You and the driver must closely inspect your vehicle for any existing damage, before the carrier can load it. Inspect the car for any dings, dents, or scratches and record these on the Bill of Lading. This is a very important document, so make sure you keep your copy safe.

Once you've completed the paperwork, the carrier can load your baby onto the open transport trailer. Say a fond farewell to your motor, and the carrier can get on their way. For peace of mind, you can check on its progress with the driver throughout its journey. Regular updates are also available over the phone, by Live Chat or email.

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3

You receive your vehicle

It won’t be long before your vehicle is almost home. Before you know it, you’ll be getting a call to let you know delivery will be in a few hours. If you’re unavailable at the scheduled time, you can nominate a representative to accept the delivery on your behalf. It could be a neighbor, relative, friend, or acquaintance. They do, however, have to be 18 years of age or older.

Upon delivery of your vehicle, you have to inspect it to make sure everything is in order. The last step in the process is to sign the Bill of Lading as acceptance of the delivery. For those who opted for the Discounted Cash Price, this is when you pay the balance by either cash, cashier's check, or money order.

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Why car owners prefer our open carrier auto transport service

Learn why we are one of the top car shipping companies

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Zero payment required upfront

Book your open transport service with us and you pay nothing in advance. Get a free instant open car transport quote using our online quote calculator. Alternatively, phone or use our Live Chat. Only when we find a carrier and dispatch your vehicle is payment taken.

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The most trusted car transport company at uShip

In uShip’s list of most trusted car transport providers we come in at number one. Spend a few minutes reading our customer reviews and you’ll understand why they put us in such an excellent position.

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Full insurance coverage for your vehicle

You get peace of mind knowing your vehicle is fully insured and secure because we include full insurance coverage in our open auto car shipping rates.

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Customizable transport and personal service

We can tailor your open auto transport service to meet your needs. No two customers are the same, which is why we decided to make it fully customizable. Get in touch with our shipping advisors by phone or Live Chat. They’ll secure the best car shipping rates and be on hand to guide you through the car shipment process.

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Customer support available 24/7

We’re able to provide a smooth and trouble-free shipping service for all our customers because we keep our eye on the ball at all times. Our committed team of shipping advisors are available around the clock so they can monitor your shipment and be available for questions.

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$0 to pay if you cancel

You pay no penalties if you want to cancel your order before we assign a carrier. If you cancel after we’ve assigned a carrier, we’ll keep the non-refundable small partial payment. You can use the deposit if you decide to ship a car with us again, within six months.

Want to know the cost of shipping a car with us?

The benefits of using our open car shipping service

Learn about the advantages of open car transport

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Fast and efficient service

Open carrier auto transport is one of the fastest ways to ship a car. More than 90% of trucking companies use an open trailer. With so many to choose from, you stand a better chance of finding the right open car shipping service when you need one and the best car shipping rates.

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A guaranteed pick-up can be arranged

If your schedule is tight and you need your vehicle picked up on a specific day, a guaranteed pick-up is the best auto transport service.

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Top load placement is an option for additional protection

With open car transport you can request top load placement. This means that the carrier will not load a vehicle above yours. Choose this option if you'd like a little extra protection for your vehicle. Speak with one of our shipping advisors for an all-inclusive rate.

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Trusted network of open car carriers

We have a trusted network of open car carriers at our disposal. They’re chosen because of their high quality standards. We put each one through a strict vetting process before adding them to our list of approved open auto transport carriers.

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Best open transport prices

Get your free instant quotes using our online calculator, by phone or Live Chat, and you’ll see how good our prices are. Our goal is to secure the fairest and most competitive open trailer transport rates for you.

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Your vehicle is completely safe

Your car is exposed to the elements during an open car transport service, but that’s no different than parking your car on the street. Open transport car shipping is one of the safest and most secure transport services. It also saves unnecessary mileage and wear and tear, saving you even more money.

When we recommend open car transport

If you’re looking for an auto transport option that fits your budget, open transport car shipping is what we recommend. If your vehicle is a standard model, and you want to keep the cost of shipping your car to a minimum, open auto transport is the best option. Open car shipping is one of the safest, most secure, and budget-friendly ways to ship a car.

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When open car transport is not recommended

Open car transport suits many people but there are occasions when it’s not the recommended auto transport service. If you’re the proud owner of a custom, classic, vintage, antique, luxury, or high-end vehicle, for example, we’d recommend you opt for enclosed auto transport. Similarly, if you have modified your vehicle or it has low ground clearance, enclosed auto transport should be the service of choice.

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4.7
/ 1,024 reviews /
4.7
/ 7,012 reviews /
4.5
/ 285 reviews /
4.8
/ 3,203 reviews /

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Open car transport hints & tips

Open car transport advices from experienced car shippers