Service
Enclosed car shipping
Enclosed auto transport moves your car inside a hard-sided or soft-sided trailer, protected from weather, road debris and prying eyes. Our model prices it 42% above open transport, about $1,270–$1,580 for a 1,000-mile sedan move in October 2026. It is the usual choice for classic, exotic and high-value vehicles; check the per-vehicle limit on the carrier’s cargo certificate against the car’s value. Source: HaulFare price model, October 2026 edition.
Updated October 2026
Hard-side vs soft-side, and why liftgates matter
Hard-side enclosed trailers are fully sealed boxes, usually carrying 2–6 cars, and many have hydraulic liftgates so a car with 3 inches of ground clearance never touches a ramp. Soft-side trailers use canvas curtains over an open frame: cheaper and lighter, protective against weather and debris, but not against dust or a determined thief.
Ask for a liftgate whenever the vehicle is lowered, has a long front overhang, or is a vintage car with a fragile exhaust. Many enclosed carriers also use soft straps or wheel nets; ask when you book.
What enclosed costs in 2026
In our model an enclosed sedan move runs about $1.96 per mile at 500 miles, $1.41 at 1,000 miles and $0.82 coast to coast. For October 2026, Los Angeles to New York estimates at $2,130–$2,650 enclosed and Chicago to Miami at $1,745–$2,175.
Enclosed trucks are scarcer, so the pickup window is often a day or two longer, and a fast enclosed pickup is harder to arrange than a fast open one.
Enclosed car shipping prices by distance
+42% (1.42× in our model). Sedan baseline unless noted; October 2026. For your exact ZIP codes use the car shipping calculator; for every distance, vehicle and month see how much it costs to ship a car.
| Miles | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $620–$775 | $880–$1,100 |
| 1,000 | $895–$1,115 | $1,270–$1,580 |
| 1,500 | $1,095–$1,360 | $1,555–$1,940 |
| 2,500 | $1,370–$1,700 | $1,945–$2,420 |
HaulFare price model 2026.09-seed, October 2026. Ranges, not quotes.
- Instant estimate, no email gate
- The licensed broker confirms the actual price before anything is booked
- Free to use: you pay HaulFare nothing
From estimate to delivery
What happens after you ask for a quote, whichever service you choose.
Get your estimate
Enter ZIPs and vehicle details. You see a typical price range instantly, before you share contact information.
Request a quote
If you want a quote, your request goes to our licensed transport partner, an FMCSA-licensed auto transport broker. We send it to that one broker only, never to a list of companies.
Price, dates and carrier
Our licensed transport partner contacts you to confirm the actual price, pickup dates and vehicle details, then books the shipment and assigns an FMCSA-registered carrier. Ask about deposits and payment terms before you book.
Pickup and delivery
The assigned carrier usually calls 12–24 hours ahead. You both sign a Bill of Lading with a condition report at pickup, then check the car against it at delivery. Most shipments arrive in 2–10 days.
Related services
All services
Sources
- FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements (no federal cargo insurance minimum for non-household-goods carriers), fmcsa.dot.gov
- NHTSA, vPIC VIN decoder (vehicle weight rating), vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Enclosed car shipping FAQ
How much more does enclosed shipping cost than open?
42% more in our model. For a 1,000-mile sedan move in October 2026 that is about $1,270–$1,580 enclosed versus $895–$1,115 open. The open vs enclosed comparison prices both for your route.
What insurance comes with enclosed transport?
Cargo limits vary by carrier, and cargo insurance is not federally required for auto haulers. Before pickup, ask the broker for the assigned carrier’s cargo insurance certificate and confirm the per-vehicle limit fits your car’s value. A damage claim is made against the carrier’s cargo insurance, not against HaulFare; ask the broker that booked the shipment how it supports claims, and keep the Bill of Lading notes and photos as evidence.
Can enclosed carriers do door-to-door?
Usually yes; enclosed trailers are shorter than full-size open haulers and reach more residential streets. Some gated communities and narrow roads still require meeting at a nearby lot.
Do I need enclosed for a Tesla or other EV?
Not for protection reasons. EVs ship on open carriers like other cars; what matters is weight, which adds 5% in our model, and leaving a partial charge for loading. The vehicle transport class lookup reads your VIN’s weight rating.
Is enclosed worth it for a new or leased car?
Value and lease terms decide it, not age: new cars travel from the factory to dealers on open haulers as a matter of routine. For a leased car, read the excess-wear clause, because a stone chip can be billed at turn-in; if the car is worth more than about $70,000 (our rule of thumb) or the lease is strict, the 42% premium can make sense. Either way, note any damage on the bill of lading before you sign at delivery.
