Services
What you can choose,
and what it does to the price.
Every option below shows up on your quote as its own line. Nothing is hidden inside one number.
01 · Baseline rate
Open transport
Your vehicle rides on an open multi-car trailer, exposed to weather and road dust like any car parked outside. It is how most passenger vehicles are shipped, which is why it has the most trucks and the shortest waits on busy lanes.
What it costs and depends on
- This is the baseline: the road-mile rate bands and your vehicle size set the price.
- Season and lane matter. Popular lanes in peak months are cheaper to fill; thin lanes can take longer to assign.
- Extras (fuel adjustment, multi-vehicle discount, expedite) show as their own lines.
Watch out for
Open means open. If a rock chip or a rain shower would bother you, price enclosed too.
Common questions
Is open transport safe?
It is the normal method and carriers are insured for it. The difference from enclosed is exposure to weather and road debris, not a different level of care by the driver.
How many cars are on the truck?
Usually several, which is how the cost is shared. Your vehicle’s position on the truck is the driver’s call.
02 · Premium over open
Enclosed transport
A fully walled trailer shields the vehicle from weather and debris. Fewer vehicles ride per trip, and enclosed carriers are a smaller pool, so it costs more and may take longer to assign.
What it costs and depends on
- Priced as a multiple of the open rate. The exact multiple is set by dispatch and shown as its own line on your quote.
- Low-clearance, very valuable or very rare vehicles may need a liftgate or a specific carrier; tell us in the notes.
- Insurance limits on the carrier’s policy matter more for high-value vehicles. Ask for the carrier’s certificate before you book.
Watch out for
Enclosed is not the same as higher insured value. Check the carrier’s cargo limit against your vehicle’s value.
Common questions
When is enclosed worth it?
Classics, exotics, low-slung cars, recently restored vehicles, or any vehicle where a chip or a storm would be a real loss. For a daily driver, open is usually the sensible choice.
03 · Flat handling fee
Inoperable vehicles
A vehicle that does not start, steer or brake normally has to be winched on and off. Not every driver or truck can do that, so the load is assigned to one who has agreed to it.
What it costs and depends on
- A flat handling fee is added as its own line.
- The fee assumes the vehicle rolls and steers. If wheels are locked, it is on blocks or has no keys, tell us: it can need extra equipment or time.
- Tell us in the quote, not at pickup.
Watch out for
A surprise at the curb can cancel the load and leave you with a trip charge. Describe the real condition.
Common questions
What counts as inoperable?
Anything that cannot be started and driven on and off the trailer under its own power: dead battery, no keys, engine out, or brakes or steering that do not work.
04 · Discount per extra car
Multi-vehicle, dealer and auction moves
Several vehicles on the same lane can share a truck. This covers a family moving two cars, a collector, a dealer sending inventory, and pickups from or deliveries to an auction or lot.
What it costs and depends on
- Each extra vehicle on the same lane earns a percentage discount up to a cap, shown as its own line.
- Dealer and auction moves depend on lot access: gate passes, release paperwork, pickup hours and storage fees at the lot are outside the transport price.
- Regular dealer volume can be quoted by contacting dispatch; no standing rate card is published.
Watch out for
Auction pickups often need a release or gate pass in hand before the driver arrives, and many lots charge storage after a few days.
Common questions
Can the cars go to different addresses?
Yes, but the discount applies to vehicles on the same lane. Different pickups or deliveries are priced as separate legs.
How do auction pickups work?
You give us the lot, the buyer or release number and the gate-pass details. The driver collects the vehicle once the lot releases it. Delays at the lot move the schedule.
05 · Urgency surcharge
Expedited pickup
If your first available date is only days away, we ask carriers to take the load ahead of their normal planning. It increases the chance of a quick pickup. It is not a guaranteed pickup time.
What it costs and depends on
- A percentage surcharge applies when the pickup date is inside the expedite window. The window and percentage are set by dispatch and shown on the quote.
- The surcharge pays for priority, and it does not buy a guarantee.
- Flexible dates are cheaper. A week of flexibility often costs less than the surcharge.
Watch out for
No broker can promise a pickup hour on a shared truck. If you need a firm time, ask whether a dedicated option exists.
Common questions
Can you guarantee pickup by a date?
We cannot guarantee a pickup date unless your booking confirmation says so in writing. We will tell you promptly if the load is not moving.
06 · Depends on access
Door-to-door or terminal
Door-to-door means the truck comes as close to the address as safe, legal road access allows. Large trucks cannot enter some streets, so the driver may ask you to meet them at a nearby wide, safe lot. Terminal service means you drop off or collect at a storage yard.
What it costs and depends on
- Door-to-door is the default price basis.
- Terminal drop-off or pickup depends on the terminals available on your lane. Availability, storage fees and hours are the terminal’s, not ours.
- Rural or restricted addresses may need a meeting point; tell us about gates, low trees, steep driveways.
Watch out for
Terminal storage is billed by the terminal after a free period. Confirm the period before you choose it.
Common questions
Why can the driver not reach my door?
Auto transport trucks are long and heavy. Narrow streets, low branches, weight limits and some HOA rules can stop them. A nearby parking lot is the usual fix.
07 · Date-driven
Military and relocation moves
A permanent change of station, a job relocation or a home closing puts a deadline on the vehicle. The transport itself is the same; the date is what makes it harder.
What it costs and depends on
- Nothing is discounted automatically. Any military or relocation discount is the company’s decision and would appear as its own line if offered.
- A tight pickup date can trigger the expedite surcharge and shrink the pool of available trucks.
- Booking early and giving a delivery-by date is the cheapest way to meet a deadline.
Watch out for
Delivery dates are estimates. If a missed day would cost you money, build slack into your plan.
Common questions
Do you offer a military discount?
Ask dispatch. We do not advertise a fixed rate for it. If one applies to your booking it will appear as a line on the quote and in the booking confirmation.
Can someone else hand over the vehicle?
Yes. Name the person at booking. They sign the bill of lading and must have the keys. They should know the vehicle’s condition.