A weekend car is often the car one cares about the most and is more difficult to repair or return to top condition if any damage occurs. When a car is vintage, original parts can be difficult to replace. If it is a luxury piece, even a small cosmetic flaw can cost an arm and a leg. Regarding sports cars, loading them on steep ramps introduces a major risk. This is why your choice of transport – and more importantly, of transport provider – matters so much when looking to relocate a weekend car.

Open vs. enclosed transport at a glance

Before you choose a provider, determine whether your car should travel open or enclosed. Open car transport is the industry’s workhorse and involves loading more vehicles onto a multi-car carrier, the same way dealerships use to deliver new inventory. It’s the cheaper and more common option, suitable for everyday cars or weekend cars that don’t need extra protection and can handle road conditions like dirt and weather. Enclosed transport, on the other hand, is more relevant for low-clearance sports cars, cars with custom paint, luxury vehicles, exotics, and classics. In short, we talk about cars whose value or condition makes that extra protection a priority. Enclosed transport places the vehicle inside a fully covered trailer, either alone or alongside only a few other vehicles, compared with the multi-car deck of an open carrier that’s designed to transport more. Because enclosed cars transport fewer vehicles at a time, rates are typically higher to compensate for the extra equipment and operational expenses involved. Now that these differences are clear, we can proceed with comparing three car transport providers: Ship That Car, Montway, and Ship a Car Direct. 

Ship That Car 

Ship That Car offers both enclosed and open car transport, the former usually carrying two to six cars per trailer and the latter up to nine. Ship That Car’s enclosed service relies on hard-side enclosed trailers for high-value cars, using steel or aluminum walls to shield the car against debris, weather, and casual contact for the entire trip. This offers extra security, rigidity, and protection from impact that may occur during loading and transit, which is a reason why the cost can be 30-50% higher compared to open transport. To exemplify, the provider mentions that a 2,789-mile lane could add another $400-$800 for enclosed over open. Soft-side trailers, which use a fabric skin over a steel frame that makes them lighter and slightly cheaper, are also available, commonly used for automobiles valued between $50,000 and $100,000.

Another layer of protection comes from the specialized equipment the provider uses. Hydraulic lift gates load the car securely without steep ramps, a feature designed for low-clearance cars, exotics, and inoperable classics. At the same time, for lowered or show-quality automobiles, the provider offers soft-tie protocols using padded straps that grip only the wheels, so nothing touches the body, suspension arms, or undercarriage. Both options are available on request. Every carrier is authorized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and cargo coverage starts at $250,000. Vehicles declared over $250,000 are matched with carriers holding $500,000-$1 million cargo coverage based on the vehicle’s value, with no deductible billed to the customer. 

Ship That Car’s enclosed service is suitable for anyone looking to transport an exotic, classic, low-clearance sports car, a recently restored vehicle, or any car that’s a collector’s piece. Enclosed transportation can usually take between three and seven days to arrange, and booking early is generally recommended to meet delivery dates. For more modest weekend cars, Ship That Car also offers open transport, which costs less and is quicker to schedule. No deposit is taken at booking – the carrier is paid on delivery. 

Montway Auto Transport 

Montway Auto Transport is another logistics broker and connects customers with carriers within a network of over 30,000 carriers, by its count. It offers both open and enclosed transport to suit different protection, budget, and car value levels. Enclosed transport usually carries a few vehicles, up to seven in some cases. The service is similarly oriented towards classic, rare, or high-end cars, which warrant extra protection from road elements like debris. Open trailers carry between eight and ten vehicles per transport, being the cheaper and faster option. Costs differ depending on distance; short routes come with a fee of $1.85 per mile, medium routes charge $0.91 per mile, and long routes cost $0.59 per mile, as per the specified 2025 prices. Enclosed prices for standard vehicles hover around $2.53 per mile for short routes, $1.25 per mile for medium routes, and $1.84 per mile for long routes. Nothing is charged at booking. 

Carriers generally have between $100,000 and $250,000 in cargo insurance. However, owners with cars that exceed this ceiling should talk to the provider ahead of booking. 

Ship a Car Direct

There are two options for enclosed transport with Ship a Car Direct: shared enclosed trailers, which usually hold four to six cars, and single-car trailers that carry only one. As expected, shared trailers are more affordable since more cars split the expense of the trip. Delivery, on the other hand, is a strong selling point for single-car trailers because it’s faster, as the driver doesn’t have to make any extra stops. This tier is better suited for rare, vintage, or ultra-luxury cars. Rates revolve around $2 for longer routes and $1 for shorter routes for enclosed transport, but the type of enclosure and car size also affect the final price. 

When it comes to open transport, Ship a Car Direct offers three main carrier options, including: 

• Single-level with multiple cars for typical sports and high-end cars
• Two-level with multiple cars for everyday cars 
• Single-level tow trailer with a dually pickup for short moves to a close destination. 

Every carrier must have up-to-date insurance and meet a set of safety standards. Shipments are also protected by the provider’s Damage Free Guarantee Program, which steps in if the insurance doesn’t cover the entire damage.

Before you book a car transport service, ask yourself questions such as: 

• How much damage risk can my weekend car take?
• How hard or expensive would it be to repair?
• What does the insurance cover?

A weekend car has a value you want to protect, and this care starts with making the right transport choice.