Enclosed transport, arranged by people who own trucks.
Some vehicles should not ride outside. We do not own an enclosed trailer and we are not going to tell you we do — we place these moves with vetted enclosed carriers under our brokerage authority and manage the job end to end, so you deal with one company that is accountable for it.
Illustrative photography — not Prime Trans equipment.What is enclosed auto transport?
Enclosed auto transport moves a vehicle inside a covered trailer rather than on an open carrier, protecting it from weather, road debris and view. It typically costs thirty to sixty percent more than open transport and is used for collector, exotic, classic, low-clearance and high-value vehicles.
It usually is not. Sometimes it absolutely is.
- ValueIf a rock chip costs more to repair than the difference between open and enclosed, take enclosed. That threshold is lower than most people think on a repainted classic.
- Ground clearanceAnything under about four inches of clearance needs a lift gate and low-angle ramps. An open stinger's ramps will scrape it.
- FinishFresh paint, a wrap, a show car heading to a judged event, or bare metal on a restoration.
- DiscretionA pre-release vehicle, a manufacturer prototype or anything that should not be photographed from the next lane.
One company accountable, not a lead sold five times.
- 01
You tell us the vehicle
Year, make, model, running or not, ground clearance, modifications, and both addresses. A photo helps more than a paragraph.
- 02
We place it with a vetted enclosed carrier
We check authority, insurance and safety record before the truck is assigned, using the same checklist we ask shippers to apply to us.
- 03
You get the carrier's details in writing
Company name, MC number, insurance limits and the driver's contact. If a company will not tell you who is actually hauling your car, that is the answer to a different question.
- 04
We stay on it to delivery
Condition report and photographs at both ends, and one number to call if anything moves sideways.
The honest comparison.
| Open carrier | Enclosed carrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Baseline | Typically 30–60% more |
| Availability | Thousands of trucks; capacity most weeks | Far fewer trucks; plan two to four weeks ahead |
| Exposure | Weather and road debris, same as driving it | None |
| Ground clearance | Ramp angle limits it | Lift gate handles very low cars |
| Capacity per truck | Up to 9 vehicles | Usually 2 to 7 |
| Right for | Daily drivers, dealer inventory, fleet units | Collector, exotic, classic, show, pre-release |
Honest scope: Prime Trans owns open equipment. Enclosed moves are placed with vetted partner carriers under our brokerage authority ([Broker MC - pending]) and we say so on the phone, in the quote and on the paperwork. Any company that will not tell you whether it owns the truck is telling you something.
Straight answers
How much more does enclosed transport cost?
Typically thirty to sixty percent more than open transport on the same route. The gap is widest on short runs, where the fixed cost of a scarcer truck is spread over fewer miles, and narrowest on long cross-country moves.
Is my car insured during enclosed transport?
Yes, under the hauling carrier's cargo policy. Ask for the certificate of insurance and read the per-vehicle sub-limit rather than the headline number — that sub-limit is what actually applies to your car, and on a high-value vehicle it is the number that matters.
Can you ship a car that does not run in an enclosed trailer?
Yes, with a winch or a lift gate. Say so at booking. A non-running vehicle that also will not roll, steer or brake needs different equipment again, and finding that out at the pickup wastes a day for everybody.
How far ahead should I book enclosed transport?
Two to four weeks for most routes. There are far fewer enclosed trucks than open ones, and the ones with immediate availability in peak season are usually available for a reason.
Where to go next
Auto transport
Open car hauling across the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee with photo-documented eBOLs, winch capability and same-day dispatch.
Read onCar shipping (individuals)
Shipping one car to or from South Carolina: what it costs, how long it takes, what open transport actually means, and a straight answer about when we are not the right carrier for your route.
Read onInoperable vehicles
Winch-equipped transport for non-running, wrecked, seized and salvage vehicles across the Carolinas and Georgia, with the three questions that decide the equipment asked before the truck is dispatched.
Read onBrokerage & capacity
How Prime Trans places freight it cannot haul on its own trucks: vetted partner carriers under our brokerage authority, disclosed in writing, with the carrier's name and insurance shown to you before the load moves.
Read onA unit on the lot costs you every day it sits there.
Tell us the origin, destination, units per week and first pickup date. A written quote comes back the same business day.