You’ve spent years — maybe even decades — building, restoring, or collecting your classic car. It’s not just a vehicle; it’s a piece of automotive history, a labor of love, and in many cases, a significant financial investment. So when the time comes to ship it across the state or across the country, one question rises above all others: should you choose open or enclosed transport?
At First Haulers, we specialize in transport classic car services across the USA, and this is one of the most common questions our customers ask. In this guide, we’ll break down both options in detail so you can make the smartest choice for your prized vehicle.
Understanding the Basics: What Is Open Transport?
Open transport is the most widely used method in the auto shipping industry. You’ve almost certainly seen it on the highway — a large multi-level trailer carrying six to ten vehicles exposed to the open air. It’s efficient, widely available, and typically the most affordable way to ship a vehicle anywhere in the USA.
For everyday cars, open transport works perfectly well. However, when it comes to classic cars, the open-air environment introduces a handful of risks that every collector and enthusiast should seriously consider before booking.
The Risks of Open Transport for Classic Cars
When your classic car rides on an open carrier, it is exposed to the elements throughout the entire journey. Road debris like rocks, gravel, and dirt can chip paint or crack glass. Rain, hail, and UV rays can fade custom finishes or damage soft-top convertibles. Additionally, exhaust and fluid drips from vehicles stacked above yours on a multi-level trailer can leave stains that are difficult — and expensive — to remove from a freshly restored body.
None of this means open transport is dangerous for classic cars across the board. For a driver-quality classic that sees regular road use, open transport can be a cost-effective and perfectly reasonable choice. But for a show-quality vehicle, a rare collector’s piece, or a frame-off restoration, the stakes are simply too high to leave things to chance.
What Is Enclosed Transport?
Enclosed transport places your classic car inside a fully covered, weatherproof trailer — completely shielded from road debris, weather conditions, dust, and prying eyes. It is the gold standard of transport classic car services in the USA and the preferred method for luxury vehicles, exotic automobiles, and irreplaceable vintage cars.
Enclosed trailers come in two main configurations. Soft-sided enclosures offer protection from weather and light debris. Hard-sided enclosures provide the highest level of protection, guarding against everything from severe weather to physical impact. At First Haulers, our enclosed transport fleet uses hard-sided trailers to ensure your classic car arrives in exactly the same condition it left.
The Benefits of Enclosed Transport for Classic Cars
The advantages of enclosed transport go well beyond physical protection. Many enclosed carriers offer lower vehicle-to-trailer ratios, meaning fewer cars share the space and there is more room to carefully load and unload your vehicle using hydraulic lift gates — eliminating the risk of scraping low-clearance classics during loading.
Enclosed transport also typically comes with higher insurance coverage limits, which is critically important when shipping a vehicle whose value may far exceed the standard coverage offered on open carriers. If your classic car is appraised at $50,000, $100,000, or more, you need a transport classic car service that offers coverage to match.
Beyond the practical benefits, there is simply peace of mind. Knowing your 1967 Ford Mustang or 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is riding in a climate-controlled, fully enclosed trailer — rather than exposed on a highway in the middle of a rainstorm — is a comfort that many classic car owners consider priceless.
So, Which Option Should You Choose?
The answer depends on three key factors: the value of your vehicle, its condition, and your personal risk tolerance.
If you own a daily-driver classic that you take to weekend cruises and local shows, open transport is a practical and budget-friendly option. If you own a show-quality restoration, a rare limited-production model, a high-dollar muscle car, or any vehicle with custom paintwork and interior, enclosed transport is the clear choice. The additional cost — typically 30 to 50 percent more than open transport — is a small price to pay compared to the potential repair bills or loss in value from transport-related damage.
At First Haulers, we always recommend enclosed transport for collector-grade vehicles. It’s what we would choose for our own cars, and it’s what we recommend for yours.
Trust First Haulers for Your Transport Classic Car Services Needs
When it comes to transport classic car services across the USA, First Haulers delivers the expertise, equipment, and white-glove care that your investment deserves. Whether you choose open or enclosed transport, our team handles every shipment with the highest level of professionalism and attention to detail.
Your classic car has a story. Let First Haulers help you protect it — mile after mile, state after state, all across the USA.
