What Is Open Vehicle Transport?

How open transport works

An open vehicle transporter is a flat-deck trailer — sometimes single-level, more often a double-decker — with no roof or side walls. Vehicles are driven up ramps onto the deck, positioned to balance the load, and secured with soft wheel straps. A full-size open trailer typically carries six to nine cars.

Because the trailer carries more vehicles per trip, the per-car cost drops. That’s the main reason open transport is cheaper — it spreads fuel, driver, and trailer costs across more jobs. The trade-off is exposure: cars ride in the open air, visible to other road users and subject to whatever the weather is doing.

Which vehicles are suited to open transport?

• Standard road cars — anything that’s a daily driver, a family car, or a company vehicle.
• Dealer stock — forecourt-to-forecourt transfers, auction collections, part-exchanges.
• Fleet vehicles — company cars, lease returns, rental-to-dealer movements.
• Short-distance moves — where exposure time is limited.
• Cost-sensitive jobs — where the vehicle’s value doesn’t justify the enclosed premium.

What exposure means in practice

Open transport is safe and standard — most new cars are delivered to dealerships this way. But you should go in with realistic expectations:

• • Road spray and rain are normal.
• • An occasional stone chip from other traffic is possible.
• • The vehicle may arrive dusty or needing a quick clean.
• • The car is visible during transit — not a concern for a standard vehicle, but worth noting for discretion-sensitive moves.

None of this affects mechanical condition or safety. If any of it concerns you, enclosed is the answer.

Cost vs enclosed

Cost depends on distance, vehicle dimensions, route availability, and timing. Every job is different, and costs can vary considerably depending on the specific requirements of your movement. Open transport is generally the more affordable option thanks to higher load capacity per trailer, but the exact saving over enclosed depends on the route and vehicle. We give fixed, all-in quotes so you know exactly what you’re paying before anything is booked.

For an everyday car, open is the sensible choice. For a car where damage, mileage, or paint matters, enclosed transport is almost always worth the premium.

When to choose open vs enclosed

Still unsure? Tell us what the vehicle is and where it’s going — we’ll recommend the right method before quoting.