Enclosed Auto Transport

Enclosed carriers come in two styles. A hard-sided trailer has solid walls and a roof and carries one to seven vehicles; it is the choice for show cars and exotics. A soft-sided trailer uses heavy canvas over a frame and carries up to about seven; it costs a little less and still keeps weather and debris off. Both use soft tie-downs that secure the vehicle at the wheels rather than the frame, and most hard-sided carriers have a hydraulic liftgate so a low-clearance car never touches a ramp.

Enclosed drivers tend to carry fewer vehicles and handle higher-value cargo, so they are used to white-glove handling and often carry higher cargo insurance limits. We verify the carrier's coverage before dispatch and can share the certificate on request.

Wisconsin winters are hard on paint, and the salt and brine on I-94, I-90 and I-41 from November through March is the main reason our customers choose enclosed for a new or collector vehicle. Enclosed carriers are fewer than open ones, so pickup windows run a day or two longer and booking a week or two ahead gets you the best price. On the snowbird lanes to Florida and Arizona there is strong enclosed capacity every fall and spring.

Expect to pay roughly 30 to 50 percent more than open transport on the same route. For a vehicle worth protecting, that premium is small next to a single paint repair.