Open or enclosed.
Which one, and when.
Open carriers move most of the cars in America, and they are the right call for most of them. Enclosed exists for the cars that are not most cars. Here is the difference, without the sales pitch.
Side by side
| Open carrier | Enclosed, at Brandt | |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure | Weather, road debris, dust and salt for the whole trip | Sealed inside a hard-sided trailer |
| Loading | Drive-on ramps, steep on the upper deck | Lift-gate, level, then soft straps on the wheels |
| Cars aboard | Up to nine or ten on two decks | A few, or one alone on a private trailer |
| Who sees it | Everyone on the interstate | Nobody |
| Stops and transfers | Terminals and hand-offs between trucks are common | Loaded once, unloaded once |
| Insurance | Cargo cover sized for everyday cars | $1M+ cargo cover, certificate before pickup |
| Cost | The lowest way to move a car | Higher, and quoted firm |
When open is fine
A daily driver, a lease return, an ordinary car moving with a household, anything where a chip in the paint would be an annoyance rather than a loss. Open carriers are plentiful, quick to book and cheaper, and for that work they are the sensible choice. Brandt does not run them, and will say so rather than sell you a trailer you do not need.
When enclosed is the right call
- The car is worth more than a claim would comfortably cover on an open truck
- Fresh paint, a wrap or paint protection film that should arrive as it left
- Low ground clearance: a splitter or diffuser that a ramp would catch
- A collector car, an auction consignment or a show entry that needs to arrive with no new miles and no new marks
- A move in winter salt, summer hail or a hurricane season
- Privacy: a car that should not be photographed on the interstate
- A new delivery, where the first drive should be yours
What Brandt does
Enclosed only, in Brandt's own trailers, a few vehicles at a time or one alone on a private trailer. One specialist quotes the move and runs it. If your car belongs on an open truck, that specialist will tell you.
Questions on this
Is enclosed transport worth it for a car under six figures?
Often, yes. The question is not the badge but what a repair or a repaint would cost against the difference in price, and whether the car has clearance, paint or history that an open truck puts at risk. A wrapped daily driver and a clean classic both qualify. A high-mileage commuter usually does not.
Does enclosed transport take longer than open?
Not by design. Open carriers are more plentiful, so they can be quicker to book, but the trip itself is the same road. A Brandt private trailer leaves when the car is loaded and drives straight to the address, which is usually faster than either.
Can a low car go on an open carrier?
It can, and it is where splitters get damaged: the upper deck is reached by a steep ramp. Enclosed trailers with a lift-gate raise the car level and roll it in. For anything with a low front lip, that is the reason to choose enclosed before you even get to weather.
