Classic cars
Classic Car Transport
Built for cars that no longer come off a factory line.
Wheel-net or soft-tie loading, climate-controlled, photographed at pickup and delivery. Based in Austin, TX, door-to-door, nationwide.
What Is Classic Car Transport?
Enclosed transport built around the way old cars need to be handled.
Classic car transport moves antique and collector cars enclosed by default: hard-sided trailer, lift-gate loading, and no exposure to weather or road debris from pickup to delivery. That matters more on old metal than on anything modern. Original paint, lacquer finishes, and older resprays are softer than modern clearcoat, and covered transport with minimal handling is how they arrive as they left. Open transport is available on request for project-grade vehicles, but for a finish worth protecting, enclosed is the default.
Old metal asks for a different loading discipline. Wheel nets or soft ties only, never chains on a 50-year-old chassis, and padded webbing wherever a strap wraps a component. If your car marks its territory, a drip pan underneath is normal practice, worth stating plainly. Handling stays minimal: the car is loaded once, secured, and left alone until it comes off the lift gate at delivery, with one driver responsible end to end. The car rides; it does not get driven.
Most of the vintage car transport we run falls into a handful of jobs: auction wins coming home from Mecum, Barrett-Jackson, or a Bring a Trailer purchase, estate moves, museum and show cars, barn finds headed to restoration, and cars sold across the country. Antique car shipping follows the same standard regardless of the reason for the move. Non-running classics are fine; the winch loads them onto the lift gate. Tell us whether the car rolls, steers, and brakes, and the right equipment shows up.
Who Collector Car Shipping Is For
From pre-war antiques to last weekend's auction win.
If age, originality, or scarcity makes a car hard to replace, collector car shipping is the service built for it.
Pre-war & post-war antiques
- Brass-era and pre-war antiques
- 40s and 50s sedans, coupes, and convertibles
- Early pickups and panel trucks
- Original-paint survivors
Muscle & American classics
- 60s and 70s muscle (Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle)
- Early Corvettes and Thunderbirds
- Classic Broncos and vintage trucks
European & Japanese classics
- Air-cooled Porsche 911s
- Jaguar E-Types and British roadsters
- Vintage Mercedes-Benz SLs
- Datsun Z-cars and early Toyotas
Projects, barn finds & auction wins
- Mecum and Barrett-Jackson purchases
- Bring a Trailer wins
- Barn finds headed to restoration shops
If this describes your vehicle, send us the route. Estimates are free and take about a minute.
How Our Classic Car Transport Works
01
Tell us about the car
Origin ZIP, destination ZIP, year/make/model, and when you can ship. The estimate comes back by text, usually within minutes.
02
Lock in the rate and date
We confirm a price, schedule a pickup window, and dispatch a carrier we've worked with. You get the driver's name and MC number before they leave.
03
Pickup
The driver walks the car with you before loading, photographing every panel with extra attention to existing patina and known flaws, then signs the Bill of Lading with you. Non-runners are winched onto the lift gate.
04
Delivery
You receive updates en route. The vehicle is photographed again at drop-off, and you inspect and sign the Bill of Lading to close out the shipment.
Classic Car Shipping Cost
What enclosed transport for a classic typically runs, and what moves the number.
Classic, antique, and collector cars price as enclosed shipments, and the ranges below reflect that equipment. Once the car is picked up, transit runs about one day per 400–500 miles.
- DISTANCE
- Per-mile rates fall as trips get longer. A cross-country run costs less per mile than a short regional move.
- CONDITION & HANDLING
- A non-runner adds winch loading, and whether the car rolls, steers, and brakes determines the equipment the carrier brings.
- TRAILER & TIMING
- Fewer enclosed trucks operate than open, so pickup windows typically span 3–7 days. Firm dates and dedicated single-car trailers price above flexible windows.
- Regional (under ~500 miles)
- $800–$1,200
- Cross-country
- $1,300–$2,200
Send the route and the vehicle. We'll text your classic cars estimate within minutes.
Why Choose Nick's Auto Transport for Classic Car Transport?
You have maintained the car for years, sometimes decades. The way it is loaded, documented, and insured should meet the same standard.
Loading discipline for old metal
Wheel nets or soft ties with padded webbing, never chains on a vintage chassis. Non-runners are winched onto the lift gate, and a drip pan goes under any car that needs one.
Condition documented at both ends
Every panel is photographed at pickup and again at delivery, with notes on existing wear taken before the car moves. The Bill of Lading is signed at both ends.
Coverage matched to agreed value
Enclosed carriers typically run $250,000–$1M+ in cargo coverage. For high-value cars we share the carrier's certificate of insurance before pickup and confirm the limits match the car's agreed value.
Drivers who work classics routinely
We dispatch these shipments to enclosed operators who move collector cars as their regular trade. Mileage accumulation between pickup and delivery is little to none.
What Our Customers Say
Fast and efficient service. Nick was able to find me a driver who took good care of my vehicle, and at a very reasonable price. I highly recommend Nicks Auto Transport, for anyone looking to ship your vehicle!
Nick is deff the guy to talk to when moving exotic cars in the state of Texas! Deal in confidence! 🙏🏻
Nick’s Auto Transport is by far the best! He was so kind and helped us with any questions we had about the process. Our vehicle arrived safely, on time, and exactly as promised. Would definitely recommend!!
Nick was great at getting our vehicle transported, his team was communicating to us the entire transport. From pick up to drop off we had ZERO issues. I would highly recommend him and if I need another vehicle transported I'll use him again. Thanks for your…
Frequently Asked Questions About Classic Car Transport
Still have a question? Text or call 1-866-512-1871.
Should my classic car ship open or enclosed?
Enclosed, in almost every case. A hard-sided trailer removes weather, road debris, and sun from the trip, which matters most on finishes that predate modern clearcoat. Open transport is available on request for project-grade cars headed to full restoration. If the paint, chrome, or trim is worth protecting, ship it enclosed.
Can you transport a non-running or barn-find classic?
Yes. Non-running classics are winched onto the lift gate, and barn finds headed to restoration shops are among our most common jobs. Tell us whether the car rolls, steers, and brakes when you request the estimate; those three details determine the equipment the carrier brings.
How do you protect original paint and patina in transit?
Two things: covered transport and a written record. The car rides in a hard-sided trailer, secured with wheel nets or soft ties and padded webbing, never chains. Original lacquer and older resprays are softer than modern finishes, so handling stays minimal. The driver photographs every panel and notes existing patina and known flaws at both ends.
Is my classic insured to its actual value during transport?
It should be, and we check. Enclosed carriers typically carry $250,000 to $1 million or more in cargo coverage. For high-value cars we share the carrier's certificate of insurance before pickup so you can confirm the limits against the car's agreed value, and if your collector policy values the car above typical figures, tell us at booking and we will dispatch a carrier whose coverage matches.
What does classic car transport cost?
As an enclosed shipment: regional moves under roughly 500 miles typically run $800–$1,200, and cross-country moves run $1,300–$2,200. A non-runner adds winch loading, and a tight pickup window prices above a flexible one because fewer enclosed trucks operate. Request an estimate with the route and the car's condition, and the price you book is the price you pay.
Why book classic car transport through Nick's Auto Transport?
You deal with one person from the first estimate to the delivery photographs. We dispatch classic shipments to enclosed operators who handle collector cars as their regular work, and we confirm the carrier's insurance against the car's value before it loads. Every panel is photographed at both ends, and no cash is due at delivery.
Will the price change after I book?
Rarely, and never without your say-so. The price you book is the price you pay, and we hold it. Two things can move a locked price: a change to the shipment itself, such as a new destination or a vehicle that turns out to be non-running, or an unusual market swing on your route, meaning diesel, driver supply, or seasonal demand shifting enough that no carrier will run the lane at the quoted rate. That second one is uncommon. If it happens we call you before anything is charged, and you decide whether to go ahead.
The man behind it all
Hi, I'm Nick.
“Cars have been my obsession for as long as I can remember. I build them, race them, and drive them. That hands-on background means I understand the care every vehicle deserves, whether it's an exotic, a restored classic, or a daily driver.
When you book with Nick's Auto Transport, you're not routed through a call center. You deal with me personally, from the first text to final delivery. I treat every car like my own, and my reputation rides on every shipment.”
Let's move it the way it deserves.
Tell us where the car is and where it's going. We'll text your classic cars estimate within five minutes. Fully insured, door to door.