67, 217 vehicles have been involved in fatal and non-fatal crashes in 2025 so far. Open vehicle transport is a common method to deliver standard cars, trucks, and SUVs all across the United States. It accommodates multiple vehicles on a single carrier, reducing the cost and carbon emissions. It is an efficient method indeed — but is it safe? To find out the answer to the safety question, we will have to look at this matter subjectively.
How Safe Is Open Vehicle Transport?
In the United States, around 90% of cars are transported via open vehicle transport these days. Open carrier auto transport provides a high protection level, but there is no denying that it exposes the vehicle to different harmful elements and potential road debris. In most cases, you can opt for open transport, but for a few cases, an enclosed transport will surely be a better option.
To determine whether an open car carrier is safe or not, you must determine the value of your car. If you own a luxury, limited edition, or vintage car, open carrier shipping may not be the best choice for you. However, there have been incidents where citizens were spotted shipping high-value cars via open trailer car shipping.
| When Open Transport Is Safe And Better | When Enclosed Transport Is Better |
| If you have standard passenger vehicles, such as sedans, SUVs, etc. | If you have high-value cars, such as exotic, luxury, classic, and collectible cars |
| If your vehicle value does not exceed $100k, typical insurance will apply even if there is some kind of damage during the transit | If your vehicle value is over $100k, it remains underinsured on open carriers |
| If you are looking for inexpensive shipping cost and you can accept small cosmetic wear such as chips and dirt on the vehicle | If you require optimal and pristine condition, and prevent debris or even small chips from appearing on the vehicle |
| If you car shipping location have routes which carry cars frequently, for example I-95 | If your car transit route has severe weather where the snow, hailstorm, or debris exposure risk is high |
How Companies Ensure Open Transport Remains Safe
Despite being the cheapest car transport companies take proper precautionary measures to ensure your car remains safe throughout the transit. You can ask your open car shipping service to take certain measures to ensure your vehicle is safe.
Choose A Safe Route And Minimize Risks
Open carriers can accommodate up to 12 cars at once, which is the reason why it is essential to use safer, less complicated routes without any bridges and roadside constructions to drop off the vehicles.
A professional open car shipping service takes ample measures to minimize debris and provide the ultimate weather protection by planning routes smartly and using tarps or protective layers when required. Ideally, your car carrier should avoid all the construction zones and high-debris areas which keeps the car safer.
Another factor which keeps the cars safe during the transit is smart placement of the car. Many car shippers tightly load the delicate or valuable vehicles on the trailer in a protective lower position. Taking proper precautions is the key to safely shipping a car.
Inspect Your Car And Prepare It For Shipping
Before an expert carefully loads the car, an expert inspects your vehicle thoroughly to ensure there is no existing damage, take photos and notes of all the chips, and prepare the car to prevent any further damage during the transit. Preparation of the car includes:
- disabling alarms
- removing loose items
- adjusting tire pressure
- securing antennas and spoilers
- tapping mirrors and door edges
- covering brakes with guards
- installing floor mats to protect the interior
Secure Loading/Unloading
Enclosed trailers are generally deemed safer, but with the help of advanced engineering open carriers have become just as safe. Open trailers also have some advantage as it prevents condensation buildup by providing better ventilation which keeps your car safe from rust and minor water damage.
Apart from that, expert handling is required to ensure your vehicle is safe in an open carrier car shipping. A decent open car shipping service uses specialized equipment such as heavy-duty tie-downs, chains, wheel straps, ratchet straps, and load bars to ensure the cargo is safe and does not shift during the transit.
Real-Time Communication and Tracking
Open car carriers are one of the fastest ways to ship your car to a desired destination. It is the reason behind most car carrier shipping companies deploying modern tracking methods to ensure your consignment is delivered right on time.
Reputable open carrier shipping companies leverage latest technologies to effectively track and measure the carrier progress and update its consumers. Real-time tracking and communication ensures the load location is exact and also keeps the user updated with the latest weather conditions of the area. In case of emergencies, these real time communication tools help in establishing contact with the carrier to ensure your vehicles are safe and secure.
How To Mitigate Risks For Your Car’s Safety
To ensure your car remains safe from damage during transit and to prevent environmental exposure, you can take proactive steps to mitigate risks.
Choose A Trustworthy Car Carrier
You must always prioritize companies that offer fully insured service (up to $100k), are registered with DOT, and have consistently great reviews.
Document Your Car Thoroughly
Do not rely on your car shipping company to take pictures and document your vehicle’s condition solely, do it yourself too. You can take comprehensive notes of the existing condition, make videos of the exterior and interior of the car to ensure you can get any insurance claim in the future.
Ask Your Company Questions
The thumb rule is to question your open car carrier shipping service regarding the safety measures and route planning to ensure your car is in safe hands. Some companies share it without asking, but if yours don’t, never hesitate to ask for the plan.
