Enclosed vs Open Trailer: Which One Should You Choose?

Auto shipping needs are as varied as your taste in cars. Therefore, the lowest cost option is not necessarily the best option for your car moving needs. Besides the usual cost determinants: shipping distance, shipping time, and size of your vehicle, your shipping cost will also depend on whether you choose an open trailer or an enclosed trailer to ship your vehicle.

Auto transport companies will quote a higher price if you decide to choose an enclosed trailer as opposed to an open trailer. However, an enclosed trailer also offers the most protection for your car. So understanding your vehicle transport needs beforehand allows you to narrow down your choice of auto transport companies.

An Open Trailer is the most frequently used and the least cost option for transporting cars. An open trailer is also a very safe form of auto transport and is also the widely used option for transporting cars. However, as the name suggests this option exposes your car to dust, debris, moisture, and other weather-related elements as it would during the regular use of your vehicle.

If you need to ship an exotic and classic car or one that has extreme sentimental value to you then an Enclosed Trailer is the best option as it provides the maximum protection. The cars with larger investments also require more protection and special care during transportation. If exposure to weather-related wear and tear including dirt, debris, and moisture are a concern for you then a weather-controlled enclosed trailer should be your choice. At Nexus Auto Transport, we take additional care to ensure that your cars receive the best protection with high strength tie-down straps to keep your vehicle safely in place inside the trailer, car cover to protect it from any dirt, debris, or moisture, and low clearance loading ramps for safe and easy loading and unloading

Whether you choose an open trailer or an enclosed trailer, it is always advised to take pictures of the car from several different angles, make a written note of any chips, scratches and damage on the car, and remove custom products and personal items before the transport. Also, make sure that the auto transport company that you choose is fully insured, licensed and bonded to protect your investment from any unforeseen circumstances. Do a little research of your own on the authenticity of the company and on the service quality of the company based on reviews online. You can also talk to agents over the phone to get a sense of the service that you would be receiving so that you can enjoy your peace of mind while your vehicle is on the road without you.

Understand Your Auto Shipping Estimates

Your vehicle is a big investment and shipping it to a new destination requires careful planning. When choosing an auto transport company, there are a few considerations to be made apart from securing the lowest price for your shipping needs. Before you start shopping around for auto shipping quotes, it is important that you understand your shipping requirements: urgency, flexibility in pick up and drop off times and locations, and affordability. An auto shipping cost estimate is primarily based on these five factors:

1. Shipping Distance: Distance between the place of origin and the destination will be the biggest factor in determining your shipping cost. When requesting a quote, pick up and drop off locations can allow you to cut down costs if your pick up and drop of locations are in populated cities and providing easier pick-up and delivery access for your auto transport company.

2. Size and Type of the Vehicle: The shipping cost of your vehicle will also depend on the size of your vehicle(e.g., large van, small pickup, motorcycle, etc.)and on the type of vehicle (consider a Honda Civic vs. Ferrari). Transporting smaller and less expensive vehicles will cost less.

3. Condition of your vehicle: The condition of your vehicle will also be factored in when determining the shipping cost. If your vehicle runs, it will cost less than if your car is a work in progress since it will require winch load and unload.

4. Open vs Enclosed Trailer: If you are transporting exotic and classic cars or cars that have extreme sentimental value and safety is of utmost importance including protection from exposure to dust, dirt, moisture and weather-related elements, you need to choose an enclosed trailer rather than a standard open trailer. An enclosed trailer option will cost more but will provide the highest degree of protection for your prized possession.

5. Shipping time: The flexibility of picking up times is also an important determinant of the shipping cost. Nexus Auto Transport offers three different shipping estimates.

• Standard Price is the lowest price we offer with a pickup window of 5 business days.  This option is recommended when you have adequate flexibility with your pick up times.

• The pick-up window at the Expedited Price is 3 business days.

• And finally, the Rush Price offers pick up within 2 business days to meet your urgent shipping needs.

Cost is usually a major deciding factor, however, be sure to look out for information on how long the auto transport company has been in business, whether it is adequately insured, and reviews on the service the company has provided. At Nexus Auto Transport, we provide you with an industry leading cost calculator to give you a personalized shipping estimate without asking for any personal information until you are ready to schedule a pick-up with us.