Enclosed Car Shipping in Fort Lauderdale (Classic, Exotic & Luxury)

Fort Lauderdale has a lot of cars that never sit outside. They live in garages on the Las Olas Isles, in Harbor Beach, in Coral Ridge and Rio Vista, and in the climate-controlled bays of Boca and Parkland homes. When one of those cars has to travel, it usually goes enclosed. This page covers what enclosed transport is, when it’s worth the extra cost, and how we arrange it out of Broward.

What enclosed transport is

An enclosed carrier is a fully covered trailer, either hard-sided or soft-sided, that keeps the car out of rain, sun, road grime and flying debris for the whole trip. Many enclosed trucks carry fewer cars than an open carrier, and many have a hydraulic liftgate in place of a ramp. That matters for low cars. A liftgate raises the car level, so a long nose or low splitter never has to climb a steep ramp.

Typical enclosed equipment includes:

• Soft tie-downs (wheel nets or straps) instead of chains on the frame
• Liftgates or extended low-angle ramps for low-clearance cars
• Fewer vehicles per load, so less shuffling and fewer stops

When enclosed is worth it

• Classics and collector cars. Original paint, chrome and convertible tops you don’t want exposed to I-95 for 1,200 miles.
• Exotics and supercars. Low ground clearance, expensive paint protection film and wheels that don’t belong on a chain.
• New luxury cars. You’d rather the car arrive with no road rash on the front bumper.
• Show cars and concours entries. The car needs to arrive ready to display, not ready for a detail.
• Summer moves. From June through November, South Florida’s afternoon storms and hurricane season make a covered trailer appealing for any car you care about. See our hurricane season shipping guide.

For a typical daily driver, open transport is safe, routine and much cheaper. Dealerships move new cars on open carriers every day.

Starting estimates on key Fort Lauderdale lanes

Enclosed costs more than open because there are fewer trucks and fewer cars per load. Here are the starting estimates on some common Fort Lauderdale lanes, from the live route pages:

Lane	Open, from	Enclosed, from	Route page
Fort Lauderdale to New York	$985	$1,480	view lane
Fort Lauderdale to Boston	$1,055	$1,580	view lane
Chicago to Fort Lauderdale	$1,020	$1,530	view lane
Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale	$615	$920	view lane
Fort Lauderdale to Orlando	$350	$525	view lane
Fort Lauderdale to Key West	$350	$450	view lane

These are ballpark starting estimates. They change with fuel, the season and events, and the final price depends on the car, your dates and the equipment it needs. You get a firm price once a carrier commits.

Book early, especially in fall

Fort Lauderdale’s busy season for enclosed starts in October. Winter residents bring their weekend cars down, collectors move cars for the winter show and auction calendar, and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show draws a crowd to town. Enclosed trucks are a much smaller pool than open carriers, and the good ones book up. If you’re shipping an enclosed car into South Florida between October and December, start talking to us a month or more ahead if you can. Our guide to shipping a classic or exotic car for show season goes deeper.

Pickup tips for high-value cars

• Plan for the truck’s size. Enclosed rigs are long and tall. They won’t fit down many streets on the Isles or in Harbor Beach, and they never fit in a condo garage. A nearby lot with level pavement works best for a low car.
• Tell us the specs. Ground clearance, any front lift system, aftermarket splitters, a non-standard tow hook and battery quirks all affect loading.
• Photograph everything. Take dated photos from all sides, plus the wheels and the interior, before the driver’s inspection. Keep a copy of the signed inspection report.
• Ask about insurance. Confirm the carrier’s cargo coverage limit fits the car’s value, and check what your own policy covers in transit.
• Leave the battery healthy. Some exotics drain fast in storage. A trickle charger at both ends helps.

Enclosed and expedited

You can add an expedited pickup to an enclosed move. Because enclosed trucks are scarce, it’s harder to fill a narrow window, so the more lead time you give us, the better.

Enclosed car shipping questions

Is enclosed always safer than open?

It protects against weather and road debris, and liftgates help low cars load. Both kinds of transport are routine and handled by licensed carriers. Choose enclosed when the car’s value, finish or clearance makes the extra cost worthwhile.

Can you move a non-running classic enclosed?

Often, yes, with a winch-equipped truck. Tell us when you request the quote so we match the right equipment.

Will the truck come to my house on the Las Olas Isles?

Sometimes. Many Isles streets are narrow dead ends that a long enclosed rig can’t turn around in. We’ll plan a nearby level lot ahead of time if needed.

How far ahead should I book?

Two to four weeks is a good minimum. Book a month or more for October through December into South Florida.

CTA: Tell us the car, the route and your timing. We’ll come back with a ballpark starting estimate for enclosed and line up equipment that suits the car.