You are weighing open against enclosed for an Illinois move, and the price gap stings. Here is the wrinkle no Sun Belt state has: Illinois road salt is brutal on a car's underside, which changes the math for a valuable vehicle. We ship both ways into and out of the state daily, so here is exactly when the enclosed premium earns its keep — and when it just burns money.
The short answer: Open car shipping to Illinois is cheaper, faster to book, and right for about 97% of vehicles. Enclosed costs 40% to 60% more but seals the car off from winter road salt, slush, and debris — a stronger argument here than almost anywhere. Choose open for a daily driver; choose enclosed for a classic, collector, or high-value car, where the salt belt and the vehicle's worth justify the premium.
For most people moving a normal car, open transport is the right call — cheaper, easier to book, and perfectly safe. The Illinois twist is the salt belt, which makes enclosed genuinely worth more here for a valuable vehicle than it would be in a warmer state.
This guide weighs the two honestly. For the broader price picture, see our cost to ship a car to Illinois guide. Let us start with the money.
Enclosed transport runs about 40% to 60% more than open. On a typical Illinois open move of $775 to $1,325, that puts enclosed roughly in the $1,150 to $2,100 range, depending on distance and vehicle.
The percentage gap looks biggest on a short, cheap route, where a $1,200 enclosed quote sits against a $775 open one. The dollar difference is what actually matters to your budget. For a daily driver, that premium buys protection you do not need. For the right car, as we will see, it buys something real.
This is the heart of the Illinois decision. The state treats its roads with heavy salt all winter, and salt is exactly what accelerates undercarriage rust over time. An open trailer leaves the car exposed to salt spray and slush on a winter interstate.
An enclosed trailer seals it off completely. For a daily driver, the brief exposure of a single open trip is no real concern — it sees far worse just being driven through an Illinois January. But for a classic, collector, or low-mileage car you are actively preserving, keeping it away from road salt is a legitimate reason to pay more. Our salt-belt protection guide goes deeper on pre-ship washing and post-delivery rust checks.
Open is the default for a reason. It carries about 97% of all vehicles, costs the least, and books the fastest because far more open trucks run every lane.
If your car is a standard commuter, an everyday SUV, or any vehicle you are not specifically protecting, open is the right answer even for a winter Illinois move. The honest caveat is simply exposure — your car rides in the open air. For a normal vehicle, that is no different from sitting in a parking lot.
Enclosed is the choice when the car's value or finish is the point. A classic, an exotic, a fresh restoration, or a low-mileage collector car all belong on a covered trailer leaving Illinois.
Beyond salt, enclosed blocks slush, ice, and winter road debris, and it adds discretion and usually higher cargo insurance. It is the standard for cars heading to the Chicago Auto Show or a nearby Mecum auction — covered in our classic and exotic car shipping guide and our enclosed car transport guide. The trade-off: fewer enclosed trucks run, so book a little earlier, especially around collector-car season.
Decide on the car, not the habit. Ask one question: am I actively protecting this vehicle's finish or value? If the honest answer is no, ship open and pocket the savings. If yes — a classic, collector, exotic, or show car — the salt belt tips the scale toward enclosed.
When you are genuinely unsure, weigh the replacement cost of the paint and finish against the price gap. For a six-figure collector car, the premium is rounding-error insurance. For a daily driver, it is money better kept. Price both options for your exact route on the calculator, and start at the Illinois auto transport hub to tie it all together.
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
Enclosed runs about 40% to 60% more than open. On a typical $775 to $1,325 open move, expect roughly $1,150 to $2,100 enclosed. The percentage gap can look larger on a short, cheap route. We tell clients the dollar difference is what matters — and for the right car, the salt-belt protection earns it.
Illinois uses heavy road salt all winter, and salt is what accelerates undercarriage rust. An enclosed trailer seals the car off from salt spray and slush entirely. For a daily driver the brief exposure of open transport is fine, but for a classic, collector, or low-mileage car leaving the state, enclosed is genuinely worth more here than in a Sun Belt state.
No. About 97% of vehicles ship open, including most cars moving to and from Illinois. Your car rides exposed, just as it does in your driveway, and a single transport trip will not rust a daily driver. Save enclosed for a vehicle whose finish or value you are actively protecting, not a standard commuter.
It can be, because far fewer enclosed trucks run. Matching one to your route may add a day or two to pickup, especially around the fall snowbird rush or a collector-car event. The drive itself is similar. If your timing is tight and the car does not require cover, open is usually faster to book.
It is part of the case. Beyond salt, an enclosed trailer shields the car from slush, ice, and road debris kicked up on a winter interstate. It will not change transit weather risk, but it keeps the finish cleaner. For a show car or fresh paint job moving in January, that protection is a real point in enclosed's favor.
For a high-value or show vehicle, almost always. The Chicago Auto Show and the nearby Mecum Indy auction draw cars that are too valuable to risk on an open deck. Enclosed protects the finish from weather and salt and adds discretion. Our classic and exotic car shipping guide covers the collector-event logistics.
Yes, and many owners do. A non-running collector car needs a winch or liftgate to load, and enclosed transport is the natural pairing to protect an irreplaceable vehicle. Disclose the exact condition when booking so the right equipment arrives. Combining enclosed with careful documentation is how owners protect a high-value, non-running car.
Enclosed carriers often carry higher cargo coverage because they routinely haul expensive vehicles, but it is not automatic. The method does not set the coverage — the carrier does. Always ask for the certificate of insurance and confirm the limit comfortably exceeds your car's value, and check your own policy for any transit gap.
Both seal out salt and weather. Hard-side offers the most protection and privacy with solid walls — the choice for a show or seven-figure car. Soft-side, a curtained trailer, costs a bit less and is more available. For a winter Illinois move, either blocks the salt; the choice comes down to the car's value and what is bookable.
Match it to the car, not habit. Open for a daily driver — it is cheaper, faster to book, and perfectly safe for a standard vehicle. Enclosed for a classic, exotic, collector, or low-mileage car, where the salt belt and the vehicle's value justify the premium. When unsure, weigh the replacement cost of the finish against the price gap.
Tell us where you're shipping — we'll handle the rest. No obligation, no hidden fees.