You have booked open transport, or you are about to, and you are picturing your car on one of those big two-level trailers — wondering how it gets up there, how it stays put, and what actually happens on pickup day. The mystery is what makes people nervous. So here is the whole process, start to finish, the way it really runs. Once you see it, open transport stops feeling like a leap of faith.
The short answer: You book a carrier, a driver collects your car and secures it on an open multi-car trailer with wheel straps, drives it to the destination, and delivers it door-to-door — with an inspection at both ends. The car rides exposed but firmly strapped, alongside 8 to 10 others, and is only driven on and off the trailer.
It starts with a quote and a booking. You give your pickup and delivery locations, the vehicle, and your ready date, and the company posts your order to its carrier network. A driver whose route matches your lane accepts it — this is called dispatch.
Once dispatched, you get the carrier's details and a pickup window. Open transport moves fast here because open carriers are the bulk of the fleet, so there are far more trucks competing for your load than with enclosed. Our open car transport service page covers how to choose a carrier and what the method includes.
On pickup day, the driver brings the open carrier as close to your address as a large truck can safely reach. If your street is narrow or tight, you will have arranged a nearby meeting spot — a wide road or a shopping-center lot — because a full 75-foot trailer simply cannot fit everywhere.
The driver is often working a tight schedule with several cars to collect, so the exact arrival time can shift by a few hours. Staying flexible and reachable on pickup day keeps everything smooth.
Before the car loads, you and the driver do a walk-around together. The driver notes every existing dent, scratch, and chip on the bill of lading, usually with photos. This is the official record of your car's condition before the trip.
Review it carefully, make sure it matches reality, and sign it. Then take your own time-stamped photos from every angle. This five-minute step is your protection — it is what makes a clean delivery provable if anything were to change in transit.
Here is the part everyone wonders about. The driver drives your car up ramps onto the open trailer, positioning it among the 8 to 10 vehicles a full carrier holds across its two decks. The loading order is deliberate — the driver balances weight and plans for the delivery sequence, so cars coming off first go on last.
Once your car is in place, the driver secures each wheel to the deck with heavy-duty nylon straps and ratchets. The straps hold the tires, not the body or suspension, so the car cannot shift even over rough roads. If you want your car higher up and away from road debris, that is the top-load option — our top load vs bottom load guide explains it.
On the road, your car rides strapped down and exposed to the weather, exactly as it would parked outside. It is not driven during the trip; it only moves on and off the trailer at each end. That is why you leave just a quarter tank of fuel — enough for loading, not the journey.
"Exposed" is what makes open transport cheap and what makes some people pause. In practice the risk is cosmetic and small — road grime and the rare stone chip over a multi-day haul. Our is open car transport safe guide gives the honest risk picture and how insurance covers you.
How long the trip takes depends on distance, not the trailer. Plan on 1 to 3 days for a regional move, 3 to 5 days cross-region, and 5 to 9 days coast to coast. Add the pickup window, and you have your realistic timeline.
Most carriers keep you updated through the driver or dispatcher rather than a live map. You will typically have the driver's number and get a heads-up as the delivery window firms up. Ask how the company communicates when you book, so there are no surprises.
At the destination, the driver unloads your car and you do a second inspection together. Compare the car to the pickup report in good light, walking the same sides and panels. If anything looks new, note it on the bill of lading before you sign.
When the car matches its pickup condition — which is the norm — you sign off, take the keys, and the move is done. Keep your signed copy of the paperwork. That document, plus your photos, is your complete record of the shipment.
Most open shipments are door-to-door, the convenient default described above. The alternative is terminal-to-terminal, where you drop the car at a depot and collect it from another. Terminal service can cost a little less but adds steps and storage logistics. Our door-to-door vs terminal guide weighs the trade-off, and for the price side of open shipping, see the open car transport cost guide.
Open car transport works the same way millions of cars move every year, including new vehicles delivered to dealerships. You book, a driver loads and straps your car on a multi-car trailer, it travels exposed but secure, and it arrives with an inspection at both ends. Knowing each step turns it from a leap of faith into a routine errand. Compare your options in our open vs enclosed guide, then price your route on the calculator and verify any carrier with our FMCSA lookup.
Skip the averages. Our calculator pulls live diesel prices and real Google Maps distance for an actual price range on your exact route and vehicle — no spam, no obligation.
Calculate My Costor talk to a dispatcher: 1-888-706-8784
You book a carrier, a driver picks up your car at your address, secures it on an open multi-car trailer with 8 to 10 other vehicles, drives it to the destination, and delivers it to your door. Both ends include an inspection. The car rides exposed to the weather but strapped firmly to the deck.
With wheel straps. The driver positions the car on the trailer deck and locks each wheel down with heavy-duty nylon straps and ratchets, so the car cannot shift in transit. The straps hold the tires, not the body or frame, which protects the suspension. Chains on the wheels are an older alternative some carriers still use.
A full-size open carrier holds 8 to 10 vehicles across two decks. Smaller "hotshot" trailers carry 3 to 5. Loading that many cars is why a driver plans the sequence carefully and why pickup or delivery can shift by a few hours as the route fills.
Usually, yes. The driver picks up and delivers as close to your address as a large truck can safely and legally get. On a narrow street or in a tight neighborhood, you meet at a nearby wide spot like a shopping center. Terminal-to-terminal is an alternative — our door-to-door vs terminal guide compares them.
The driver does a walk-around inspection, noting any existing dents, scratches, or chips on the bill of lading, usually with photos. You review and sign it, then hand over the keys. Take your own photos too. This inspection is your record of the car's condition before transit.
Transit depends on distance: 1 to 3 days regional, 3 to 5 days cross-region, and 5 to 9 days coast to coast, plus a 1-to-3-day window for the driver to collect the car. Open carriers run the most routes, so they often match and move faster than enclosed.
It is best not to. Carriers are licensed to move vehicles, not household goods, and personal items are not covered by the carrier's cargo insurance. Loose items can also shift and cause damage. Some carriers allow a small amount in the trunk, but the safe answer is to ship the car empty.
No. Once loaded and strapped down, the car stays put for the whole trip — it is only driven on and off the trailer at each end. That is why you only need about a quarter tank of fuel: enough for loading and unloading, not for the journey.
The driver unloads the car and you do a second inspection together, comparing the car's condition to the pickup report. Check it over in good light, note anything new on the bill of lading before signing, and keep your copy. If everything matches, you sign off and the move is complete.
Usually through the driver or dispatcher rather than a live map. Most carriers give you the driver's contact and update you on progress and the delivery window. Ask how the company communicates when you book, so you know what to expect during the trip.
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