Open carrier auto transport is how most cars in America get from one place to another. Your vehicle rides on a two-level hauler that carries seven to ten cars at once, the same kind of truck that drops off new inventory at dealerships every day. Because the cost of the trip is shared across a full load, open transport is the most affordable way to ship a car, and with thousands of these trucks on the road, it is also the fastest to schedule.
Sahara Auto Transport books open carrier shipments for daily drivers, family SUVs, work trucks, leased cars and dealer units in all 50 states. We match your route with a vetted carrier that already runs your lane, confirm its active authority and cargo insurance, and stay on the line with you from the first quote to the moment you get your keys back.
The only real trade-off is exposure. On an open deck your car sees the same weather and road dust it would if you drove it, minus the miles, the tolls and the wear. For the vast majority of vehicles that is a smart exchange, and it is why open carriers handle the bulk of everyday car shipments.
Who picks open carrier transport
- Everyday cars, crossovers and SUVs moving to a new home
- Drivers who want the lowest price and the most pickup dates
- Leased and financed vehicles heading to a new state
- Dealer trades, auction buys and online car purchases
- Work trucks and pickups with standard ride height
- Anyone shipping more than one vehicle on the same route
What you get
Why customers choose Sahara for this
Lowest cost per mile
Sharing a truck with other vehicles spreads fuel, tolls and driver time across the whole load, so you pay only for your share of the trip.
More trucks, faster pickup
Open haulers make up the largest part of the national fleet, which means more carriers on your route and shorter waits for a pickup date.
Vetted, insured carriers
Before a carrier hauls for Sahara, we check its operating authority and confirm cargo insurance is active for your trip.
Door-to-door by default
The driver picks up and delivers as close to your address as a full-size truck can safely reach, often right at the curb.
Written inspections
Your car's condition is recorded on the Bill of Lading at pickup and checked again with you at delivery, so there is always a clear record.
Step by step
How Open Carrier Auto Transport works
Mile 01
Share your route and dates
Tell us the pickup and delivery locations, the vehicle and the first day it is ready. We reply with a written price for open transport on your exact lane.
Mile 02
We assign a carrier on your lane
Once you book, we place your car with a checked open hauler already scheduled through your area and send you the pickup window.
Mile 03
Inspection and loading
The driver calls ahead, walks around the car with you, notes its condition on the Bill of Lading and secures it on the deck with wheel straps.
Mile 04
Delivery and sign-off
You get a call before arrival, inspect the car together against the pickup report, sign, and drive away.
Pricing
What shapes your price
- 01Total distance and how busy the route is (major interstate lanes cost less per mile)
- 02Vehicle size and weight, since larger SUVs and trucks take more deck space
- 03Whether the car runs, rolls, brakes and steers on its own
- 04Season and demand, such as snowbird months and summer moving season
- 05How flexible your pickup window is
- 06Rural or hard-to-reach addresses that add extra miles for the driver
How to get the most from open transport
A few small steps make open shipping smoother. Wash the car a day or two before pickup so existing marks are easy to spot during inspection, take dated photos from every side, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Remove toll tags, loose accessories and personal items, fold in the mirrors, and let us know about any leaks, modifications or low ground clearance ahead of time.
If your car is rare, freshly restored, very low to the ground or simply irreplaceable to you, ask us about enclosed transport instead. For everything else, an open carrier gives you the best balance of price, speed and availability, and Sahara keeps the whole trip organized from your first quote to final delivery.