Home Car Shipping Guide What Changes by Vehicle Type
What Changes by Vehicle Type
The quote asks for the vehicle because height, length, and whether it runs change the trailer. These are loading notes, not a tariff.
Most running sedans and everyday SUVs ship on an open carrier. Trucks and vans need enough deck space and height. Luxury and classic cars are the usual reason to ask about a covered trailer. A vehicle that does not run needs equipment that can load it. Enter the actual year, make, and model. There is no one price for “a car,” and there is no separate published Tesla tariff.
Key facts
- Everyday cars
- Running sedans and most SUVs are an open-carrier conversation
- Larger vehicles
- Pickups, vans, and tall SUVs need space and clearance called out in the quote
- Specialty
- Classic, exotic, and freshly finished cars are why enclosed exists
- Electric
- Quote the specific model. Disclose if it runs.
- Not running
- Say so. The search is for winch-capable equipment.
What “vehicle type” changes
Type is not a marketing label. It is how the car occupies a trailer: length, height, weight on the ramp, ground clearance, and whether it can move under its own power. A compact sedan and a crew-cab long bed are both “vehicles.” They are not the same assignment.
People get this wrong when they pick the cheapest body style in a form, or when they omit a lift kit because the truck “still drives.” The driver discovers the difference at the curb. That is the expensive moment to be accurate.
How to describe the vehicle
Use the real year, make, and model
The calculator is built around that, not around “sedan” as a guess. A newer electric crossover and an older compact are different shapes even if both are daily drivers.
Say whether it runs and drives
Operable means it can be driven onto the trailer. Inoperable means it cannot, and the quote uses that option because the equipment changes. See inoperable vehicle transport.
Mention height and clearance
Lifts, roof racks you cannot remove, very large tires, and a severe drop all change loading. A lowered car can scrape a normal ramp. That belongs in the quote.
Choose open or enclosed for a reason
Open is the common deck. Enclosed is a covered trailer and a narrower set of trucks. The choice is discussed on open or enclosed. Neither is the universal right answer.
Keep dealer and private cars distinct
Dealer and auction transport is still the same kind of carrier job, but the pickup may be a lot with its own rules. Describe the location and the condition, including auction notes the driver will see.
Notes by type
Sedans
A running sedan is the simplest open-carrier fit. It still needs an accurate model, a fuel level around a quarter tank, and an honest note if it is lowered or does not start.
SUVs and crossovers
Most are fine on open equipment if the height is ordinary. A very tall SUV or one with a lift should be called out. Enclosed is optional, not the default, unless you want the covered trailer.
Pickups and vans
Truck shipping exists because length and cab configuration matter. A long bed and a work van take space another customer’s sedan does not. Do not book them as a car and hope the driver sorts it out.
Electric vehicles, including Teslas
Ship the specific model. Say whether it runs and drives, and mention anything unusual about transport mode or ground clearance. Bigfella does not publish a separate EV price list. The quote is the price. There is also no claim here that every carrier has the same charging or loading preference. Ask when the carrier is assigned if the model needs a particular setup.
Luxury, classic, and modified
Luxury and classic guides cover the covered-trailer conversation. Low splitters, wide tires, and fresh paint are loading issues. Enclosed does not erase the need to inspect the car. Modified cars must be disclosed even if they are not classics.
Oversized and non-running
Oversized means the vehicle may not fit a standard deck the way a sedan does. Non-running means winch or other equipment. Salvage or unusual title situations should be described so a carrier can say whether it can load the car. This page does not promise that every salvage vehicle is accepted.
| Vehicle | Usually discussed as | Tell the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Running sedan | Open carrier | Model, and any drop or damage |
| Everyday SUV | Open, unless you want enclosed | Height, lift, roof equipment |
| Pickup or van | Space on the deck | Bed length, height, racks |
| EV, including Tesla | The specific model | Whether it runs |
| Classic or exotic | Often enclosed | Clearance and condition |
| Does not run | Winch-capable equipment | Exactly what does not work |
How Bigfella prices a type
Bigfella Auto Express is a Houston-based transportation broker. It coordinates vehicle shipments across the 48 contiguous states with FMCSA-authorized motor carriers and checks cargo insurance before assignment. Bigfella does not drive the truck. You get a Direct Quote, you can submit the booking request for $0, and you review the assigned carrier and the final price before payment is processed. The vehicle you enter is the vehicle that gets searched. There is no hidden “SUV national rate” on this page.
What to have ready for the vehicle
- Year, make, and model
- Operable or inoperable, in plain language
- Lifts, drops, racks, and oversized tires
- Open or enclosed, chosen for a reason
- Photos of anything that changes loading
- Auction, dealer, or base pickup rules if those apply
Common mistakes
Picking a body style that is close enough
Close enough fails when the truck is too tall for the assigned trailer or the car will not start.
Assuming every EV needs a special national program
It needs an accurate model and an honest condition. It does not need a made-up EV average.
Assuming an SUV must go enclosed
Many SUVs move open. Choose enclosed when you want a covered trailer and one is available, not because the badge says utility.
See your own shipment
Enter the real vehicle. The quote is more useful than a type chart. Get a Direct Quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship a Tesla or another EV?
Yes, as the specific vehicle on the quote. Include the year and model, and say whether it runs and drives. There is no separate published EV tariff and no invented national EV fee on this page. If the assigned carrier needs a particular loading note for that model, you will see it when you review the carrier. Do not describe an electric car as a generic sedan and correct it at the curb.
Do I need enclosed transport for an SUV?
Not by default. Open transport is the usual equipment for a running daily-driver SUV or crossover of ordinary height. Enclosed is a choice when you want a covered trailer and a carrier with that equipment is available. A lift, a very tall roof, or a fresh custom finish can change the conversation. Those are reasons to disclose the vehicle, not reasons to assume one trailer type is always correct.
What if the truck is longer than a normal pickup?
Say so. Bed length, cab style, racks, and lifts decide whether the vehicle fits the deck the way a half-ton does. The truck shipping guide is the service page. The quote should use the real model rather than “pickup.” If it will not fit a standard position, the carrier search has to know that before someone drives to your address.
Can a dealership ship with Bigfella?
Dealership and auction moves are coordinated when the vehicle, the lot, and the condition are described. The pickup rules at an auction can be stricter than a house. Inoperable auction cars still need that condition selected. Nothing on this page promises a standing lane rate for a store. Each unit is still a described shipment.
What about a lowered or modified car?
Disclose it. Ground clearance and added width decide whether a normal ramp and a normal deck position work. A car that looks runnable in a photo can still hang up on the approach. Photos of the stance help. Enclosed equipment does not solve a car that physically will not crest the ramp. That is an equipment question, not a paint question.
Do you publish a price for each body style?
No. Body style is a factor, not a menu of national prices. Two SUVs on two routes will not match, and a running sedan is not a template for a dually. Use the calculator with the real vehicle and the two ZIPs. Route pages can explain the lane. They are not a body-style rate card.