Types of Trucks and Trailers for Shipping a Car

Have you ever wondered what kind of truck or trailer moves your vehicle over hundreds of miles? Perhaps you would like to ensure that your car is transported properly with specialized auto transport trailers? Look no further, this detailed guide has the answers you need.

A trailer is one of the most economical ways to ship a car, motorcycle, or any other vehicle to a new destination. The majority of reputable auto shipping companies have a fleet of trailers to meet the specific auto transportation requirements of clients.

Choosing a trailer for auto transport requires consideration of several factors, including the type of vehicle to be hauled, customization options, and trailer dimensions.

Here, we will discuss the different types of trailers and their features to help you make an informed decision. The end of the post will also touch on which option or options might be best for you.

Key Highlights

• Open trailers are cheaper but offer no protection from the elements, while enclosed trailers provide the most security but are more expensive.
• Open trailers come in single-level and multi-level options, with capacities ranging from 1 to 9 vehicles.
• Enclosed trailers can be single-level or multi-level, with capacity ranging from 1 to 8 vehicles.

Types of Car Transport Trailers

Undoubtedly, your car transport company will offer you two options for shipping your car: an open trailer or an enclosed trailer. The open trailers you see on the highway are the double-decker trailers carrying about seven to nine vehicles.

Enclosed trailers are one of the best transportation options, especially for vehicles that need extra protection. Trailers can be enclosed or open and there are several options within those two types of trailers.

Let’s explore both options in more detail.

Using Open Auto Transport to Ship a Car

An open trailer is a trailer without side panels. While there are different types of open car carriers, all of them expose the vehicles they transport to the environment. Open carriers transport your vehicle along with other vehicles without any additional protection.

Almost all cars and trucks are shipped via open carriers many of them can be hauled on open carriers that can hold from one to nine cars. Open carrier truck drivers are well-trained and know exactly how to pack and strap vehicles down to keep them safe while on the road.

Using Enclosed Auto Transport to Ship a Car

Enclosed trailers transport provide extra security for the car(s) they carry. They protect the vehicles by transporting them in covered areas such as containers. Whether it rains, snows or the trailer goes through a thunderstorm, your car will be well protected.

The cost of shipping a car in an enclosed container is higher than in an open container due to the extra security. In most cases, classic cars, antique cars, rare cars, luxury cars, custom cars, and race cars are transported in enclosed carriers that can hold one to five vehicles.

Several types of trailers are available, from open to enclosed, depending on your auto transport company. When you’re shipping a car on an open car transport trailer, it may end up riding on any of the following carriers:

One-Vehicle, Small Hotshot Trailers

A hotshot is a pickup truck with dual rear wheels pulling a gooseneck trailer that can haul just one car or truck. Because hotshots are the smallest and most compact transport option, they can transport vehicles into hard-to-reach areas, down narrow roads, or through areas with low clearances.

Hotshots are beneficial and handy for expedited door-to-door auto transport. They are used to transport vehicles over short distances as well as long-distance transport.

Single-Level, Multi-Car Open Trailer

There are single-level, multi-vehicle trailers that can haul from two to six cars, trucks, or small RVs. Car carriers of this size are typically larger than hotshots, yet nimble enough to fit in narrow streets and go to places where the biggest carriers cannot.

Like the single-vehicle trailer, they have a single ramp on which all the cars are strategically parked and secured in place. Due to the extra power needed to move this trailer over long distances, semi-trucks are utilized for vehicle shipping with this trailer.

Multi-Level, Multi-Car Open Trailer

In the auto shipping industry, multi-level trailers with multiple vehicles are the standard form of open transport. If you reserve open car transport, your car is likely to be transported on a semi-truck-towed trailer. Thanks to their incredible engineering and great operators, these trailers can move up to nine vehicles at once.

Transporting bulk shipments door-to-door using these movers is a must from terminal to terminal, from dealerships to auctions, and more. Almost any car, truck, or SUV on the road today has been on one of these at one point or another.

In an enclosed car transport trailer, your car will ride in one of these types of trailers:

Single Car Enclosed Trailer

Normally, this type of transportation is used for shorter distances when transporting especially valuable cars and trucks. Same as the open version, the single-covered car is usually hauled behind a dual-wheeled truck.

They can also be used as motorcycle haulers and can sometimes hold three or four motorcycles when palletized. A covered, single-car hauler can also be used for expedited door-to-door car delivery but is the most expensive option if you have to move a single car long distance.

Enclosed trailers offer the most security and safety when transporting classic cars, exotic cars, and high-end luxury vehicles.

A Single-Level, Multi-Vehicle Enclosed Trailer

The enclosed trailer can typically carry three vehicles and is pulled by a semi-trailer. These trailers are usually limited to two vehicles, or three if they are smaller. They can, however, often carry up to eight bikes in a single load, just like closed trailers for one car.

Multi-Level, Multi-Car Enclosed Trailer

Multi-level, multi-car enclosed trailers can accommodate two stacked rows of vehicles (usually between six and eight in total) and sit closer to the roadbed than most enclosed carriers. Oftentimes, you will find them in both soft-sided and hard-sided trailers.

These trailers can safely pass under freeway and highway overpasses, with extra precautions taken while approaching low-clearance bridges.

Some companies use an exterior ramp to move cars to the second level, while others utilize an independent top-level. Semi-trucks are required to transport these trailers due to their size and weight.

How Do I Choose the Right Car Shipping Trailer?

We will now discuss how to choose the best auto carrier for your vehicle since there are so many ways to ship a car. Security should be your top priority. While a family sedan can be transported on an open trailer, enclosed shipping may provide the best value – especially if your car is old, unique, or highly valued (financially or otherwise).

No matter what type of shipping method you use, get quotes from at least three to five auto-shipping companies. You can compare the cost of shipping a car from your location to your destination and decide which company has the best service.

One of the easiest ways to find out how a company treats its customers is by speaking with a representative.
When choosing a trailer, you should take into account the size, weight, and type of vehicle that you need to transport.

Call us at 888-802-8250. If you have more questions about these trailers or loading/unloading in car shipping. Fill out our instant quote form to get a price estimate for your next move, including international vehicle shipping.

AutoStar Transport Express Uses The Best Auto Carriers

Here at AutoStar Transport Express, we take great pride in offering a safe and secure auto transport service for your car. We can handle everything from cars, trucks, motorcycles, and classic cars, to tall and heavy equipment. We are there for you every step of the way, no matter where you want the vehicle picked up or dropped off.

Mark Dugger

Born and raised in Southern California, grew up in an athletic environment where he excelled at football, baseball, wrestling, golf, skiing, and water skiing. He chose computers as his professional calling, accepting the position of Systems Officer for a prominent cruise line. For the next ten years, he would circle the globe multiple times, visiting over 100 countries. Mark joined AutoStar Transport Express just 1 year after it was created. He is one of the pillars the company was built on. He started off as a coordinator, he excelled though the years with his hard work and dedication. His job performance not only grew his career but our company and as a whole. Mark now holds the position of operations manager overseeing the engine that makes our company run.

View all posts