When relocating, the thought of shipping your car may initially seem intimidating. However, there's no need to worry. While driving your vehicle to the destination may be a practical option for short distances, there are more cost-effective and convenient choices for longer journeys.

Transport companies offer a range of car shipping methods, including trailer transport, to make your move as stress-free as possible.

Transportation companies understand that every customer's needs are unique. That's why they offer a variety of car shipping methods. One of them is open car transport, which is the most commonly used method. In this article, we will briefly discuss open transportation.

What is Open Car Transport?

Open Car Transport is a method of transporting cars from one place to another. It involves transporting your vehicle with several other vehicles on an open trailer, which is exposed to elements of road weather conditions like rain, dust, debris, snow, and thunderstorms. An open trailer can carry up to 8 - 10 vehicles at once, reducing the cost of transportation. 

Open car shipping is the most popular and common car transportation method offered by most transport companies, making it always available in the market.

Car manufacturers and dealers also use this method to transport their vehicles nationwide. Open shipping is the best option for transporting your daily commuter vehicles across the country.

How much does it cost to ship a vehicle?

The cost of transportation can be affected by many factors, like distance or vehicle type.

The estimated cost of transporting a vehicle on open trailers is mentioned here.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Transportation.

Several factors that affect the cost of transportation are mentioned here.

• Distance: The longer the distance, the costlier the transportation.

• Vehicle type: Heavy and oversized vehicles generally cost more.

• Transportation method: Open car shipping is a cheaper option in the market, but if you choose door to door service, it will cost you more than terminal to terminal shipping.

• Time and date: Summer and winter are the peak seasons, and shipping cars during these can be costly. Transportation companies charge more to arrange for trailers to ship cars. 

• Location: Rural area locations are hard to drive for a trailer truck, and it costs more to ship a vehicle.

• Fuel cost: Transportation gets costly if fuel price goes high.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Open Car Shipping?

Advantages 

Some key advantages of using open car shipping are mentioned here.

• Cost-effective: An open trailer can haul more at a time than an enclosed trailer, which reduces the cost per car.

• Availability: Open car shipping is the most common transportation method because 

Most transportation companies offer this service, which is why it's always available.

• Flexibility: An open trailer provides excellent flexibility in carrying multiple vehicles of different makes and models. If you have numerous cars, you can ship all your vehicles simultaneously with an open trailer.

Disadvantages 

Some key disadvantages of using open car shipping are mentioned here.

• Exposed to weather: Open trailers are entirely exposed to weather conditions and road elements, such as snow, thunderstorms, dust, debris, and rain. 

• Limited protection: Open car shipping does not provide any safety from potential damage during transportation, which is unsuitable for valuable cars. 

• Not for all vehicles: Open transport is primarily used to transport daily commuter vehicles like sedan SUVs or pickup trucks. It is unsuitable for vehicles with unique dimensions, like sports cars that are low to the ground.

How does open car shipping work?

Open-car shipping is the most common transportation method and involves several steps.

• Book transport: The first step is to get a quote from a transportation company and provide the shipment details. The details you might need to get a quote are mentioned here.

• Enter the pickup and delivery address along with the postal zip code.

• Enter the date and time of the shipment 

• Select your vehicle type and model 

• Select shipping method 
  

• Prepare your vehicle for transport: After booking the shipment, you must prepare your vehicle for transportation. Here are some tips to help you prepare your vehicle.

• Remove personal belongings from the vehicle. 

• Remove or secure the accessories of the vehicle.

• Check for any mechanical or engine issues.

• Check tire pressure for any fluid leakage.

• Deactivate or remove toll tags. 

• Turn off the alarm system.

• Clean your vehicle from the inside.

• Wash your vehicle.

• Click on a picture of your vehicle.

• Get your keys ready for pickup.

• Pickup: On the shipment date, a trailer will come to your given location and load your vehicle on it. Your vehicle is now ready to go to the delivery location.

• Delivery: The final step of car shipping is to deliver your car to the given location. You or your substitute can take the delivery. 

How Much Time Does Open Transport Take to Ship A Car?

Several factors can affect the delivery time while transporting your vehicle. Also, longer distances take longer to deliver a car, and stormy weather might delay delivery time. The average time of the delivery is mentioned here according to distance.

Factors That Affect The Delivery Time

• Shipping distance: A longer distance means more drive time to reach the delivery address. 

• Routes and traffic: Diversions, accidents, and traffic between the routes can delay the shipment.

• Accessibility of locations: Rural areas and narrow streets make it difficult to drive trucks, which can cause shipping delays.

• Weather conditions: An open trailer fully exposed to the environment can cause a delay in bad weather conditions. Truck drivers slow down or are forced to stop to protect vehicles in bad weather.  

•  Extra stops: Open trailers can ship 7–8 cars at once. The driver has to make stops to deliver other vehicles, which might cause delays.