Open Car Transport Services Across the U.S.
Open carriers move most of the vehicles on the road today. It is the standard, lowest cost way to ship a daily driver, dealer inventory, or any car that does not need a covered trailer.
- FMCSA licensed broker, USDOT 4321158
- $2M cargo insurance on every shipment
- Pickup typically 1-3 days after booking
- Door to door in all 48 contiguous states
Open auto transport moves your vehicle on an uncovered trailer, the same equipment dealerships and manufacturers use to move new inventory. It is the most widely available and least expensive way to ship a car in the United States. Car Haul Direct arranges open transport door to door through FMCSA licensed carriers, with $2M cargo insurance on every shipment and status updates from pickup through delivery.
Defined Windows, Documented Coverage
The figures that govern a Car Haul Direct open transport booking, on every lane.
48
Contiguous States Covered
Door to door coverage, plus Hawaii and Alaska coordination through the dedicated ocean service.
$2M
Cargo Insurance Coverage
On every vehicle CHD ships, documented at the pickup and delivery inspections.
1-3
Day Pickup Window
Typical metro pickup after booking; outlying areas can add 1-2 days.
7-10
Days Coast to Coast
Typical transit on lanes over 2,500 miles; shorter lanes run faster.
Why most vehicles ship open
The default for daily drivers
Sedans, SUVs, crossovers, and pickups ride open every day. Unless a vehicle is rare, low clearance, or freshly restored, open transport is the sensible choice.
The deepest carrier network
Far more open carriers run every lane than enclosed ones, so an open booking draws from the widest pool of trucks in almost any part of the country.
Faster dispatch
Because open capacity is deeper, an open shipment usually finds a carrier sooner than the same lane booked enclosed.
Door to door, not terminal to terminal
Pickup and delivery happen at the addresses you choose. If a street cannot take a full size carrier safely, the driver meets you at a nearby lot.
$2M cargo insurance
Every vehicle Car Haul Direct ships is covered by $2M cargo insurance while it is on the carrier, documented at both inspections.
One coordinator, start to finish
One person handles dispatch, the pickup window, and delivery, so you are never re-explaining your shipment to a call queue.
Who ships on open carriers
Open transport carries the widest mix of customers of any service we run.
Households relocating
A move across the state or across the country, with the car meeting you there instead of adding days behind the wheel.
Online and auction buyers
Buy the car anywhere, then have it collected from the seller, the dealer, or the auction lot and delivered to you.
Dealerships and wholesalers
Single units or repeat inventory movement, on the same open equipment the factories use to deliver new cars.
Fleets and rental operators
Repositioning vehicles between branches, regions, and seasons on a predictable process.
Students and military families
Semester dates and report dates set the schedule, and the pickup window is built around them.
Snowbirds
The seasonal run south in the fall and back north in the spring, booked ahead of the peak.
How open car transport works: 5 steps
From quote to delivery, the same process runs on every lane.
1. Get a quote
Run the route through the instant quote calculator on this page. A Car Haul Direct quote is held for 7 days.
2. Book with no deposit
Nothing is charged until a carrier is actually assigned to your vehicle. Booking puts your shipment into dispatch.
3. Pickup and inspection
Metro pickup typically lands within 1-3 days of booking. You and the driver walk the car and record its condition on the Bill of Lading.
4. In transit with updates
Transit scales with distance, and coast to coast lanes over 2,500 miles typically run 7-10 days. You get status updates along the way.
5. Delivery and final walkaround
Meet the carrier at the delivery address, compare the vehicle against the pickup inspection, and sign the Bill of Lading.
Open transport questions people ask before booking
The three points that decide most open versus enclosed calls.
Is an open carrier safe for my car?
It is the same equipment manufacturers use to deliver new vehicles to dealerships. The vehicle is secured to the trailer for the whole trip and is exposed to weather and road spray in the same way it would be if you drove the route yourself.
When is enclosed worth the premium?
Enclosed transport typically runs 40 to 60 percent above open pricing. That premium makes sense for classics, exotics, show cars, freshly restored vehicles, and very low clearance cars. For a daily driver it usually does not.
Can a non-running vehicle ship open?
Yes, as long as it rolls, steers, and brakes. Loading a non-running vehicle needs a winch, so tell your coordinator at quote time. An inoperable vehicle typically adds $100 to $200.
Open car transport FAQ
Cost, timing, insurance, and condition, answered in plain terms.
Open car transport moves your vehicle on an uncovered trailer, usually alongside several other vehicles. It is the most common form of vehicle shipping in the United States and the same method dealerships and manufacturers use to move new inventory.
Yes. Vehicles are secured to the trailer for the entire trip and inspected at both ends, with the condition recorded on the Bill of Lading. The vehicle is exposed to weather and road spray, the same conditions it would meet if you drove the route.
Pricing depends on distance, vehicle size and condition, route demand, and timing, so it is quoted per shipment rather than sold off a rate card. Run your route through the calculator on this page. A Car Haul Direct quote is held for 7 days, and no deposit is charged until a carrier is assigned.
Pickup typically happens within 1-3 days of booking in metro areas, and outlying areas can add 1-2 days. Transit scales with distance: coast to coast lanes over 2,500 miles typically run 7-10 days, and shorter lanes run faster.
Every vehicle Car Haul Direct ships carries $2M cargo insurance while it is on the carrier. Condition is documented at the pickup inspection and again at delivery on the Bill of Lading.
Yes, as long as it rolls, steers, and brakes. Loading needs a winch, so disclose the condition when you request the quote. An inoperable vehicle typically adds $100 to $200.
Yes. Pickup and delivery happen at the addresses you choose. If a street cannot safely take a full size carrier, because of low branches, tight turns, or weight limits, the driver arranges to meet you at a nearby lot.
Open is the default for daily drivers and standard inventory. Enclosed typically runs 40 to 60 percent above open pricing and is the right call for classic, exotic, show, freshly restored, and very low clearance vehicles.
You or another adult you designate needs to be present at both ends to hand over the keys, walk the vehicle with the driver, and sign the Bill of Lading.
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Get Your Open Transport Quote
Run your route through the instant quote calculator and see what open transport costs on your lane. The quote holds for 7 days, and nothing is charged until a carrier is assigned to your vehicle.