Top-load car shipping
Top-load car shipping means the car sits on the upper deck of an open trailer instead of the lower deck. People ask for it to keep the car farther from road spray. It is still open to sun and rain, and the driver may not be able to grant the spot if the deck is already planned.
Key facts
- What top-load is
- A position on the upper deck of an open car carrier. The car is still outside.
- What it is not
- It is not enclosed transport. Weather still reaches the car. A covered trailer is the product that blocks that.
- Who decides the spot
- The driver, based on weight, height, and the other cars. A request is not an order the driver must follow.
- Write it down
- If a carrier charges for the upper deck, that charge and what happens if the deck is full belong in the contract.
The sources are listed on this page.
Top-load car shipping puts the car on the upper deck of an open carrier. People request it because the lower deck takes more spray from the highway. The fact that decides the price, and whether you get the spot, is the rest of the load. The driver has to fit height, weight, and the order of stops. A preference you paid for can still lose to a trailer that will not balance with your car on top.
The car is outside either way. Sun, rain, and dust reach the upper deck. If the goal is a dry car, you are shopping for enclosed transport, not a higher parking spot.
What top-load costs against ordinary open transport
A top-deck request is usually priced as open transport, sometimes with a small position charge the carrier names, sometimes with no charge and no promise. These estimates are the open baseline. A sedan from Chicago to Atlanta is $540–$823 as of , model v1 RideShipper estimate, updated 2026-11-09, based on 3,588 prices that customers reported paying in MoveAdvisor reviews, adjusted for U.S. diesel at $6.13 a gallon for that week (U.S. Energy Information Administration). In testing, the typical difference between an estimate and a reported price was about 20% of the estimate. This is an estimate, not a quote: the carrier sets the price. No pickup date was supplied, so this estimate uses November 2026. There is no seasonal direction adjustment for this route and month.. A sedan from Los Angeles to Denver is $639–$974 as of , model v1 RideShipper estimate, updated 2026-11-09, based on 3,588 prices that customers reported paying in MoveAdvisor reviews, adjusted for U.S. diesel at $6.13 a gallon for that week (U.S. Energy Information Administration). In testing, the typical difference between an estimate and a reported price was about 20% of the estimate. This is an estimate, not a quote: the carrier sets the price. No pickup date was supplied, so this estimate uses November 2026. There is no seasonal direction adjustment for this route and month.. The same two lanes in a covered trailer are in this table, so you can see the shelter gap rather than guess a percent:
| Route | Open | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Atlanta, GA | $540–$823 | $810–$1,234 |
| Los Angeles, CA to Denver, CO | $639–$974 | $959–$1,461 |
Read top-load pricing before you pay extra for a deck the contract calls a request. Where the car sits explains top, middle, and lower as risk, not as a button the driver must obey. How many vehicles fit is why your spot depends on strangers' cars.
Do not pay an enclosed price for an upper-deck promise. They are not substitutes. If a quote uses both words, ask which trailer is coming.
How a top-deck request is handled
- Say you want the upper deck, and say why. A soft top or a fresh lower-body repair is a reason. "I heard it is better" is not a loading plan.
- Ask whether the price changes, and whether the booking cancels or reprices if the upper deck is full.
- Give the true height, including racks. A roof cargo box can make the upper deck impossible. The rack guide says what to remove.
- On pickup, ask the driver where the car will sit before it is tied down. If the contract promised the upper deck and the driver is loading you lower, stop and call the company you paid. Do not argue with a strap already tight and sort it out later.
- Walk the car and note existing marks, including the roof and the hood, which take sun and debris on the upper deck.
- At delivery, check those same panels before you sign.
Have the car able to drive the ramp. The upper deck is a steeper path. A car that barely idles, or a car with a low splitter, may be refused or may need a winch. Say that before the day. Fuel, alarm, and personal items follow the same prep as any open load. The prep guide is the list.
What to ask, and the mistakes
Ask if "top load" in the quote means a promise, a request, or a marketing line. Ask what you paid if the deck is unavailable. Ask whether a different carrier can ignore the note. Check the company on SAFER. Public liability under 49 CFR 387.9 does not choose your deck and does not set the cargo limit. The open transport page says which trucks that minimum covers. Read the cargo terms.
People pay a premium, then accept whatever deck is free because the driver is in a hurry. If the position matters, the time to refuse is before the car is on the trailer. People also buy top-load when they needed enclosed, then blame the rain. Rain on the upper deck is normal.
A very cheap "top-load special" by text is still the pattern in the Better Business Bureau's 21 July 2023 alert: a low number, a deposit that is hard to reverse, and a truck that does not match the story. Look the company up first.
Limits
A driver can refuse a top placement that makes the trailer unsafe or illegal. Top-load does not cover the car, does not speed the trip, and does not let you skip the inspection. RideShipper does not assign decks, set a position fee, take a deposit, or insure the car. World Media Group LLC operates the quote service. Companies that receive a request may pay RideShipper.
If the car cannot sit in the weather at all, stop here and price enclosed on the same route. The upper deck is a better open spot for some cars. It is still an open spot.
Questions
Does the top deck keep the car cleaner?
It can reduce spray from the road compared with a lower position behind the truck's wheels. It does not stop rain, sun, or dust. If cleanliness is the point, price an enclosed trailer and compare the two offers.
Can I require the top deck?
You can request it and you can refuse a booking that will not write it down. On the day, the driver still has to balance the trailer. If the contract says the upper deck is a request and not a promise, the driver can load you lower. Read that sentence before you pay a premium for the spot.
Is a top-load car more likely to be damaged?
The different risks are falling debris, sun, and the ramp up to the deck. The lower deck has more road spray. Neither spot is a damage-free ride. Photograph the car and note existing marks either way.
Do tall vehicles go on top?
Often the opposite. Height and weight decide what fits under bridges and on the upper rack. Measure a lifted truck or a roof box before you assume a deck. The height guide is the place to start.
Does RideShipper assign the deck?
No. RideShipper does not load trailers. The carrier's driver places the car. A quote request can say you prefer the upper deck. That sentence does not bind the driver unless the carrier's contract says so.