Your exotic or luxury car is more than an investment; it’s a passion, and in some cases, a work of art. From a Porsche to a Ferrari to a vintage car to a supercar to a custom build, you can’t just leave it on a car transport service and hope for the best. Enclosed auto transport is the sensible way to move your valuable automobile.
Standard open carriers are common for basic transportation, but an exotic car deserves, and should receive, the ultimate protection and care. Preowned Auto Logistics specializes in enclosed transport that ensures your high-end automobile receives the “white-glove” treatment. Enclosed transport services offer essential transportation for exotic and luxury vehicles requiring the utmost care and protection.
Why Luxury and Exotic Cars Require Special Handling
These aren’t everyday cars, after all. These vehicles represent a massive investment—sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in some cases even millions. Because of that, they need extra protection during transport to avoid being damaged or stolen before they ever see the road.
Physical vulnerabilities
In addition to their monetary value, luxury and exotic vehicles generally have physical attributes that make them more prone to damage than your everyday sedan. These include:
• Low clearance: Many exotic and luxury vehicles sit low to the ground, making them easy to scrape during loading or unloading.
• Lightweight materials: Aluminum or carbon fiber body panels may dent or scuff more easily than standard steel.
• Unique components: Custom designs, specialty paint, custom stitching, and rare characteristics can’t be replaced at your local auto body repair facility.
Environmental risks
Weather poses an unusual risk as well. Hail, rain, or heavy snow packs can cause real damage to finely-tuned instruments or sensitive paint finishes. Road salt, gravel, dirt, and other debris can chip the finish or cause windshield cracks if exposed on an open carrier.
Most open transport carriers leave your vehicle completely defenseless to the elements. While they offer sufficient protection for everyday vehicles, they don’t cut it when it comes to luxury and exotic cars.
What Is Enclosed Auto Transport?
Enclosed auto transport is when your vehicle is transported inside a completely covered trailer, rather than on an open carrier. You might also think of it like choosing to ship an item in a box versus shipping it exposed to the elements. Your car is shielded from bad weather, road debris, dirt, and more, ensuring it arrives in the same pristine condition as when it was loaded.
Types of enclosed carriers
There are a few types of trailers when it comes to enclosed auto transport, including the following:
• A single-car enclosed trailer provides the highest level of protection possible and is the best choice for transporting ultra-rare or valuable vehicles.
• Multi-car enclosed carriers can haul a handful of vehicles at once, such as high-end cars or luxury SUVs, while still protecting them with full coverage.
• Climate-controlled carrier – Depending on what type of car you own, a climate-controlled carrier may be a worthy investment to keep your precious cargo at a controlled temperature and humidity level.
The primary distinctions(aside from the obvious cost difference) between enclosed and open transport are the level of vehicle protection and the availability of carriers. In most instances, the benefits of enclosed auto transport will far outweigh the costs, especially when it comes to high-end, luxury, or exotic vehicles.
Benefits of Using Enclosed Carriers for Luxury Vehicles
The most important benefit of enclosed transport: total protection. Your car is shielded from rain, snow, hail, UV rays, and windblown grit for the entire trip inside an enclosed trailer. Road debris – rocks, gravel, and sand – won’t touch your vehicle.
What does that do for you? It eliminates the chance of cosmetic damage, which can cost you thousands on luxury cars with custom paint and special coatings. Enclosed transport does away with most of the things that can hurt your paint job.
What you get for premium price
• Total weather protection: Shields vehicle from rain, snow, hail, UV exposure, extreme heat, and cold.
• Total debris protection: No exposure of your vehicle to road rocks, gravel, road salt, or flying debris.
• Total security: Nobody can see a high-value vehicle, or anything else, in an enclosed transport carrier.
• Most carriers have gps tracking: In addition, many transport companies bring vehicles inside overnight and/or have fenced/patrolled lots.
The biggest benefit of enclosed transport is the peace of mind it brings. When you’re sending a classic car or other vehicle worth tens of thousands of dollars, it’s understandable to want to know that someone is ‘watching’ your car and keeping it safe. An enclosed carrier justifies that surprisingly high cost, allowing you to focus on other crucial aspects of your move or your car purchase without worrying about your car getting scratched or otherwise damaged.
Cost Considerations: Why Enclosed Transport Is Worth It
Enclosed transport will always be more expensive than open transport – typically 30% to 60% more. Nationally, you might pay $1,500 to $2,500 for an enclosed long-distance auto transport vs. $800 to $1,200 for open auto transport.
What causes the price difference?
Many factors contribute to pricing:
• Distance: cross-country routes are more expensive
• Vehicle dimensions and weight: large vehicles take up more room on the trailer
• Route: remote locations or places without many available carriers cost more
• Season: summer is the busiest season, and prices go up; winter can(though not always) offer lower rates; when demand goes down, so do rates
So, the big question is: is it worth the extra cost? A tiny paint chip repair on a standard vehicle may cost only a few hundred dollars. If the same car had extremely difficult paint and an unseen damage, would you be willing to pay thousands for that tiny repair? Or scratched glass? Or stone chips? Or slightly bent/out of shape metal?
Think of the extra cost of enclosed auto shipping as “insurance” against damage. Would you rather pay high thousands up front or at the end? In both scenarios, you’re spending the same money, but the risk and potential stress of damage to your vehicle are different. When you risk even thousands on your vehicle, it’s worth the extra money to not have to worry about it.
Preparing Your Luxury or Exotic Vehicle for Transport
Before shipping, even with enclosed transport, you still want to ensure you prepare your vehicle for transport. Follow these guidelines to make the pickup and delivery process easier and protect yourself in the event of a problem.
Complete your pre-transport checklist
Removing personal belongings from the inside, glove compartment, trunk, and special compartments simplifies car inspection. Auto transport companies rarely take responsibility for anything left in automobiles. Empty your car before pickup to reduce car shipping costs.
Take pictures of everything
The front, back, sides, roof, and inside. Take pictures of scratches, dents, and dings. Get date stamps on your pictures or write down the date you took the pictures and keep them with your invoice.
Make sure your vehicle is mechanically ready
• Charge the vehicle battery.
• Ensure tires are( properly inflated.
• Fix any fluid leaks.
• Leave 1/4 of a tank of gas at maximum.
• Disable or turn down any alarm or security systems.
If your vehicle is inoperable, check with your transport company ahead of time to make sure they have the equipment available to load inoperable vehicles.
Choosing the Right Auto Transport Provider for High-End Vehicles
Not all auto transport companies are equipped to deliver vehicles like Buicks, Cadillacs, or even high-end SUVs. Whether you’re looking for enclosed transport or open transport, finding the right company is just as important.
What qualifications are important?
Before speaking with a company about their experience, do a little research on your own. Here is what they should have if they have experience transporting an expensive vehicle:
• Experience with high-end vehicles
• Be sure they’re registered with the Department of Transportation
• Don’t forget to confirm if your provider has active Motor Carrier (MC) number.
• Ask for a copy of their insurance to determine whether it’s sufficient.
• Some transport companies have policies that provide additional coverage.
What qualities show a good experience?
Look for reviews from previous customers, particularly those that had luxury or exotic vehicles shipped, about the quality of service when things went smoothly and when glitches occurred. You also want to see reviews from customers like you, near points A, B, and C of the schedule, where those customers’ vehicles live, work, and stay parked.
• Door-to-door service: You wouldn’t want to have to drive your luxury car to a terminal in another city to leave it in an unattended parking lot. The best companies will pick up your vehicle where it’s garaged – at the house, office, airport, or hotel – and deliver it in the same manner.
• Communication: A shipper’s communication methods are vital. Search for another company if you can’t find online references providing contact information and reviews of reliable service.
• Written contract: The company should give you a written contract with the pick-up and delivery window, including the arrival date; pricing; insurance; and inclusions, such as covering fuel surcharges, tolls, and other possible costs.
Conclusion – Safe, Stress-Free Transport for Your Luxury Car
Traveling or moving a high-end or exotic automobile shouldn’t feel like a game of chance. Using an enclosed carrier is the safest way to transport your vehicle by providing protection against the elements, road debris and hazards, and accidents. While it costs more than open transport, the cost of enclosed transport is just a drop in the bucket compared to your car’s value and the repair bills you’ll need to pay.
The most important part of enclosed transport is hiring a company that values and understands luxury car transports, characteristics for taking the necessary protective measures, and the preparation from start to finish required for ensuring reliable transport for high-end cars and vehicles.
At Preowned Auto Logistics, we provide enclosed transport services for exotic or luxury vehicles. Every transporter and driver is trained to treat vehicles with the diligence and professionalism required to keep your investment safe. Whether you are transporting your exotic automobile over long distances or preparing your luxury vehicle for an event, auction, or show, we have transported them all across town and nation.
Are you ready to book an enclosed transport for your luxury car or high-end vehicle? Call Preowned Auto Logistics for an instant quote today and see for yourself the impact of an enclosed transport. Your investment is worth the best.
