Open Car Transport

Open Car Transport: how it works

Open car transport moves your vehicle on a multi-car carrier — the same equipment dealerships and manufacturers use for new inventory. Roughly 90% of all vehicles shipped in the United States travel this way because carrier availability is high, pickup windows are short, and the cost per mile is the lowest in the industry.

Every shipment is booked through a named transport coordinator who verifies the carrier's FMCSA operating authority, active cargo insurance and safety record before dispatch. You receive the driver's name, contact number and pickup window before any payment is processed, and the rate you approve is the rate you pay at delivery.

What's included with open car transport

• Lowest cost per mile of any transport method
• Largest carrier network means faster pickup, often 1–3 days
• Full carrier cargo insurance included on every load
• Ideal for daily drivers, leases, fleet and dealer moves
• Digital bill of lading with time-stamped condition photos at pickup and delivery
• Milestone tracking updates plus direct driver contact throughout transit

What open car transport costs

Pricing starts at From $0.58/mile and moves with five variables: distance, vehicle size and weight, transport type, route density and season. Short regional hauls carry a higher cost per mile because the carrier cannot amortize fuel and hours over a long run; coast-to-coast lanes deliver the lowest per-mile rate.

Cost factors in plain terms

• Distance: roughly $1.05–$1.35 per mile under 500 miles, falling to $0.55–$0.70 per mile beyond 2,000 miles.
• Vehicle size: full-size SUVs and pickups add $75–$200 because they consume more deck space and weight allowance.
• Season: January snowbird southbound lanes and summer relocation season can lift rates 10–20% on affected corridors.
• Operability: a non-running vehicle needs winch or lift-gate equipment, adding $150–$250.

Want an exact number?

Use the car shipping cost calculator or request a free instant quote — both return real carrier-backed pricing, not a teaser rate designed to get you on the phone.

Timeline and preparation

Carrier assignment typically takes one to three business days on dense lanes and up to five on rural routes. Transit runs about 500 miles per day once loaded. Before pickup, wash the vehicle so existing cosmetic damage is visible, remove toll tags and personal items, leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel, disable alarms, and note any fluid leaks or mechanical quirks for the driver.

Who this service is for

Open Car Transport suits customers who value a proven balance of cost, speed and carrier availability. Relocating families, online car buyers, dealerships, collectors, military personnel under PCS orders and college students all move vehicles this way every week.

• Licensed & bonded
• No deposit until dispatch
• All 50 states
• Locked-in pricing