Enclosed Car
Shipping

Hard-sided enclosed trailers feature rigid aluminum or fiberglass wall panels and a solid roof structure. They provide the highest level of physical protection — the rigid shell protects against impacts, hail, extreme weather, and any external force. Hard-sided construction is standard for ultra-high-value exotics, show cars, and vehicles where absolute protection is required. Most enclosed carriers used for exotic and collector vehicle transport are hard-sided units.

Soft-sided enclosed trailers use a weather-resistant fabric or canvas exterior stretched over a rigid frame. They fully protect against rain, wind, dust, road debris, and most weather conditions. Soft-sided units are less common for ultra-high-value vehicles but are used in some specialty transport scenarios. They are more flexible in certain loading configurations. For most enclosed transport needs, hard-sided carriers are the more widely available and preferred option.

Single-car enclosed trailers carry one vehicle only — providing dedicated handling, maximum driver attention, and the highest possible care standard. For vehicles valued at $500,000 or more, irreplaceable historical vehicles, or situations where shared transport is simply not appropriate, single-car enclosed transport is the appropriate choice. It is the most expensive enclosed option and typically requires the most booking lead time due to the small number of single-car operators.

Multi-car enclosed trailers carry between 2 and 8 vehicles in a sealed environment. This is the most common configuration for enclosed transport. Vehicles are loaded on one or two decks within the sealed trailer and secured using soft-strap wheel net systems. For the vast majority of enclosed transport needs — Ferrari, Porsche GT, classic cars, luxury SUVs — a quality multi-car enclosed carrier provides excellent protection at the most reasonable pricing.

Liftgate-equipped enclosed carriers use a hydraulic platform lift at the rear of the trailer to load vehicles horizontally — completely eliminating the ramp angle that creates underbody scraping risk for ultra-low-clearance vehicles. The hydraulic platform descends to ground level, the vehicle is rolled or driven onto it, and then the platform raises the vehicle to trailer floor height. This is the required loading method for vehicles with less than 5 inches of ground clearance — Lamborghini Huracán, Ferrari 488, McLaren 720S, Porsche 911 GT3 in track configuration. Not all enclosed carriers have liftgate capability — it must be requested at booking.

True climate-controlled enclosed transport adds temperature and humidity management within the sealed trailer environment. This is available for vehicles with extreme environmental sensitivity — freshly painted surfaces requiring controlled curing conditions, classic vehicles with original rubber components, or high-value vehicles being moved between dramatically different climate zones. It is rare, more expensive, and requires significant advance planning. Contact EZ Auto Movers to discuss whether climate-controlled transport is appropriate for your specific vehicle and route.

Ferrari transport requires the enclosed carrier standard — no exceptions. All Ferrari models, from the entry-level Portofino to the limited-production LaFerrari Aperta, carry paint finishes, carbon-fiber aerodynamic elements, and ground clearances that are incompatible with open carrier exposure. The Ferrari Portofino M has a ground clearance of approximately 4.7 inches. The 488 Pista, in sport mode, sits even lower. EZ Auto Movers works with enclosed carriers experienced in Ferrari transport, including liftgate-equipped units for ultra-low-clearance models. The Bill of Lading for Ferrari transport includes detailed photographic documentation of all surfaces.

Lamborghini and McLaren vehicles represent the leading edge of exotic car engineering — and the most demanding enclosed transport requirements. Lamborghini Huracán ground clearance is approximately 4.7 inches in standard configuration. The McLaren 720S sits at 4.5 inches. Both vehicles have complex carbon-fiber aero body kits, wide body configurations, and paint finishes of exceptional value. Loading these vehicles without liftgate capability risks underbody damage on standard ramp angles. EZ Auto Movers specifically coordinates liftgate-equipped enclosed carriers for Lamborghini and McLaren transport, ensuring zero ramp-angle risk at both pickup and delivery.

Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles occupy a tier of automotive luxury where any cosmetic imperfection is simply unacceptable. The Starlight Headliner, hand-applied paint (in colors mixed to individual order), bespoke coachwork, and polished alloy details on a Phantom, Ghost, or Continental GT represent not just financial value but personal significance. These vehicles are virtually always transported in enclosed carriers as a matter of professional standard. EZ Auto Movers coordinates enclosed transport for Rolls-Royce and Bentley across all domestic routes — dealer delivery, cross-country relocation, seasonal transport, and auction acquisition.

High-performance and high-value electric vehicles — Tesla Model S Plaid, Porsche Taycan Turbo S, Lucid Air Grand Touring, Rivian R1T Performance, Rimac Nevera — are increasingly being transported in enclosed carriers. Beyond the obvious value consideration, high-performance EVs often have active air suspension systems that affect ground clearance, complex electronic systems that require specific transport modes, and battery systems that benefit from stable temperature environments during transit. For any EV valued over $80,000 or with special handling requirements, enclosed transport is the recommended choice.

Classic and muscle cars represent decades of ownership history, restoration investment, and automotive cultural significance. A numbers-matching 1969 Camaro Z/28, a survivor-condition 1957 Thunderbird, or a show-quality 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 carries value far beyond the mechanical — it's irreplaceable. Original paint, original chrome, hand-stitched interiors, and correct date-coded components are vulnerable to road salt (critical on Midwest and Northeast winter routes), UV degradation, stone chips, and debris impact during open transport. For any classic or muscle car where condition matters, enclosed transport is the professional recommendation.

The major collector car auctions — Barrett-Jackson (Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Las Vegas), Mecum (Kissimmee, Indianapolis), RM Sotheby's, Gooding & Company (Pebble Beach, Scottsdale), and Bring a Trailer — are the primary sourcing events for collector vehicle acquisitions nationwide. Vehicles purchased at these auctions are almost universally transported in enclosed carriers. The Scottsdale auction week in January alone generates hundreds of enclosed transport requests. EZ Auto Movers coordinates enclosed auction pickups for all major collector events, including gate pass verification, buyer number coordination, and storage deadline management.

Ultra-luxury SUVs — Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, Mercedes-AMG G63, Range Rover SVR — represent a growing segment of enclosed transport demand. These vehicles combine exceptional financial value with the daily practicality that makes cross-country transport common. A Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan crossing the country from a seasonal home in Florida to a summer property in the Hamptons is a typical enclosed transport scenario. These large-format luxury SUVs fit standard multi-car enclosed units and benefit from all the same protection advantages as enclosed exotic car transport.

Porsche GT-series vehicles — 911 GT3, 911 GT3 RS, 911 GT3 Touring, GT4 RS, Cayman GT4 — occupy a particularly significant space in the enclosed transport market. These vehicles carry allocated pricing that often exceeds sticker value, carry PDK or manual transmissions with specific trailer loading requirements, and feature carbon-ceramic brake systems and carbon-fiber aero components that require careful handling. Many GT3 RS owners transport their vehicles to track events across the country — loading a track-prepped Porsche into an enclosed carrier for a destination track day is a common and growing use case.

The highest-volume enclosed transport corridor in the US. LA and Bay Area owners regularly ship exotics and collector vehicles to winter residences in Miami, Palm Beach, and Sarasota. Booking 2–3 weeks ahead is strongly recommended during October–January.

New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey to Los Angeles and San Francisco is a consistent luxury transport corridor. Entertainment industry, financial sector, and collector moves drive demand on this coast-to-coast lane.

Spring snowbird return northbound — March through May — is peak demand for this corridor. Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Miami to New York and Connecticut enclosed moves are extremely common during this window.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January creates a massive regional surge in enclosed transport demand. Vehicles purchased at Barrett-Jackson need immediate dispatch coordination. Book well before the auction week — enclosed carriers fill up rapidly.

Miami is one of the highest-concentration markets for exotic vehicles in the US. South Florida to New York, California, Texas, and the Caribbean gateway are all consistent enclosed transport lanes.

Los Angeles has the highest concentration of exotic and ultra-luxury vehicles in the US. LA-based enclosed carrier density is high, which keeps pricing competitive on outbound routes. Inbound routes from less-served markets may carry higher pricing.

Chicago-area collector and luxury vehicle owners are a major segment of the Florida-bound enclosed transport market. Fall southbound demand (October–December) and spring northbound (March–May) are peak windows on this corridor.

Dallas, Houston, and Austin are growing markets for exotic and collector vehicles. Texas-to-California and Texas-to-Florida are the highest-volume enclosed lanes. The Mecum Dallas auction event also generates significant seasonal demand.