Enclosed Car Shipping — Fully Covered Transport for Luxury, Classic & Exotic Vehicles
Enclosed car shipping protects your vehicle from weather, road debris, and prying eyes with a fully covered trailer. It's the standard for luxury, classic, exotic, and high-value vehicles ($75K+). Get a binding enclosed quote in 30 seconds.
When You Need Enclosed Car Shipping
Enclosed is worth the ~30% premium for:
- Luxury vehicles ($75K+): Porsche, Mercedes AMG, BMW M-series, Cadillac Escalade
- Exotics: Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Aston Martin, Bentley
- Classic & antique cars (any pre-1990 or restored)
- Show cars and concours-condition vehicles
- Low-clearance vehicles requiring a lift gate
- Electric vehicles with expensive body panels (Tesla, Lucid, Rivian)
Open vs Enclosed: The Real Difference
Open trailers carry 7–10 vehicles on 2 decks, exposed to weather and road debris. Enclosed trailers carry 2–7 vehicles inside a covered shell — no sun, rain, salt, or rocks. Enclosed trailers also often include soft tie-downs (vs chains) and hydraulic lift gates to prevent bumper scrapes.
Enclosed Car Shipping Cost
Expect enclosed to run 30–60% more than open transport on the same lane. Sample enclosed ranges (2026): 500 miles → $900–$1,300 · 1,500 miles → $1,600–$2,200 · Coast-to-coast → $2,000–$3,000. Rare exotic pickups (single-car enclosed) can run higher.
How ShipCargo Handles Enclosed
Toggle 'Enclosed' in our calculator to see live enclosed pricing. We pre-filter for carriers with soft tie-downs, lift gates when needed, and $200K+ cargo coverage. Your car is only loaded once you approve the assigned carrier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does enclosed car shipping cost?
Roughly 30–60% more than open transport. Expect $1,600–$2,200 for 1,500 miles or $2,000–$3,000 coast-to-coast on a standard luxury vehicle. Get a live binding quote in 30 seconds.
Is enclosed car shipping worth it?
For vehicles worth $75K+, classics, exotics, or show cars: yes. The 30% premium is trivial compared to a stone chip on a $200K paint job. For daily-driver sedans, open transport is usually the smarter spend.
Do enclosed carriers offer a lift gate?
Yes — mark 'low-clearance vehicle' in the quote and we filter for lift-gate-equipped carriers. Standard for lowered vehicles, exotics, and cars under 4 inches of ground clearance.
How long does enclosed car shipping take?
Similar to open: 1–7 business days for pickup, then 1 day per 400 miles in transit. Enclosed capacity is smaller, so pickup can occasionally take 1–2 extra days on rural lanes.
Related Resources
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