Vehicle Types for Open Transport: The perfect choice for regular cars and daily driver automobiles - Open-Air

2/18/2025

When it comes to moving cars from one place to another, open car shipping is a popular choice. This method involves transporting vehicles on an open trailer, where they are exposed to the elements but securely fastened for safety. If fully insured by the car hauler, this is a great way to ship a regular car or daily driver.

Open Auto Transport is perfect for Regular Cars and Daily Drivers.

Here are the vehicle types that normally use open transport:

Standard Sedans
Compact Cars
SUV's
Crossovers
Pickup Trucks
Minivans
Economy Cars
Used Cars

Vehicles Types for Open Transport

Types of Vehicles Perfect for Open Car Shipping

Let's take a look at the regular cars [1] that are perfect for open car shipping:

Standard Sedans

Standard sedans, like Honda Civics and Toyota Camrys, are ideal for open car shipping. These cars are designed for everyday use and are built to withstand regular road conditions, making them well-suited for this type of transport.

2017 Toyota Camry

Examples:
Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion
Why They're Ideal:
Durable and commonly shipped, standard sedans can handle exposure to weather and road debris.

Compact Cars

Compact cars are small and lightweight, making them easy to load and transport on open trailers. Their smaller size allows transporters to fit more vehicles on a single trailer, optimizing space and cost.

2020 Hyundai Elantra

Examples:
Hyundai Elantra, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Spark
Why They're Ideal:
Their size and weight make them easy to load and transport efficiently.

SUVs and Crossovers

SUVs and crossovers are commonly shipped using open car transport due to their popularity. These vehicles are built to handle a variety of road conditions and are generally robust, making them a good fit for open trailers.

2021 Ford Escape

Examples:
Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape
Why They're Ideal:
Sturdy and designed for various road conditions, they can handle exposure during transport.

Pickup Trucks

Pickup trucks are often transported on open trailers. These vehicles are typically used for work and can withstand harsh conditions, so a bit of weather exposure during transport is not a concern.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado

Examples:
Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, RAM 1500
Why They're Ideal:
Built tough, pickup trucks are well-suited to the open car shipping environment.

Minivans

Families often ship minivans when relocating. These vehicles are designed for everyday use and can easily be transported on open car carriers without issues.

Toyota Sienna 2023

Examples:
Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica
Why They're Ideal:
Practical and robust, minivans are well-suited for open car transport.

Economy Cars

Economy cars are budget-friendly and often chosen for open car shipping. These cars are usually used for daily commutes and can handle the exposure during transit.

2023 Mitsubishi Mirage

Examples:
Nissan Versa, Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Mirage
Why They're Ideal:
Affordable and durable, making them a practical choice for open shipping.

Used Cars

Used cars are frequently shipped using open car transport, especially when bought from dealerships or auctions. Since these cars have already been driven, owners are often less concerned about exposure to the elements.

Used car dealership

Examples:
Any pre-owned vehicle.
Why They're Ideal:
Cost-effective shipping for vehicles that aren’t brand new.

Open car shipping is a great option for a wide range of vehicles. Standard sedans, compact cars, SUVs, crossovers, pickup trucks, minivans, and economy cars are all well-suited for this method. Whether you're relocating, buying a car from afar, or selling a vehicle, open car transport offers a reliable and affordable way for moving a vehicle safely.

References

Law Insider: Regular Use Vehicle Definition

Open-Air Auto Transport