Enclosed Car Transport: how it works
Enclosed transport places your vehicle inside a fully covered trailer, shielded from road debris, weather and prying eyes. Carriers use soft straps, hydraulic lift gates and low-clearance ramps designed for supercars, restorations and collector vehicles.
Every shipment is booked through a named transport coordinator who verifies the carrier's FMCSA operating authority, active cargo insurance and safety record before dispatch. You receive the driver's name, contact number and pickup window before any payment is processed, and the rate you approve is the rate you pay at delivery.
What's included with enclosed car transport
- Hard-sided trailer with climate-shielded interior
- Soft-strap tie-downs and lift-gate loading for low clearance
- Higher cargo insurance limits up to $500,000 per vehicle
- Two-car and single-car exclusive options available
- Digital bill of lading with time-stamped condition photos at pickup and delivery
- Milestone tracking updates plus direct driver contact throughout transit
What enclosed car transport costs
Pricing starts at From $0.92/mile and moves with five variables: distance, vehicle size and weight, transport type, route density and season. Short regional hauls carry a higher cost per mile because the carrier cannot amortize fuel and hours over a long run; coast-to-coast lanes deliver the lowest per-mile rate.
Cost factors in plain terms
- Distance: roughly $1.05–$1.35 per mile under 500 miles, falling to $0.55–$0.70 per mile beyond 2,000 miles.
- Vehicle size: full-size SUVs and pickups add $75–$200 because they consume more deck space and weight allowance.
- Season: January snowbird southbound lanes and summer relocation season can lift rates 10–20% on affected corridors.
- Operability: a non-running vehicle needs winch or lift-gate equipment, adding $150–$250.
Want an exact number?
Use the car shipping cost calculator or request a free instant quote — both return real carrier-backed pricing, not a teaser rate designed to get you on the phone.
Timeline and preparation
Carrier assignment typically takes one to three business days on dense lanes and up to five on rural routes. Transit runs about 500 miles per day once loaded. Before pickup, wash the vehicle so existing cosmetic damage is visible, remove toll tags and personal items, leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel, disable alarms, and note any fluid leaks or mechanical quirks for the driver.
Who this service is for
Enclosed Car Transport suits customers who value maximum protection and discretion over the lowest possible price. Relocating families, online car buyers, dealerships, collectors, military personnel under PCS orders and college students all move vehicles this way every week.
Not sure this is the right service?
Compare every option on our how car shipping works page, or call a coordinator and describe your vehicle and timeline.
Get a free quote- Licensed & bonded
- No deposit until dispatch
- All 50 states
- Locked-in pricing