Low Clearance Car Transport on a Flat Liftgate
Updated · AutoBox Express, Romeoville, IL
AutoBox Express does low clearance car transport in enclosed trailers we own and drive ourselves. Instead of climbing a steep ramp, your car rolls onto a liftgate that lays flat on the ground and gets lifted level into the trailer. We load Ferrari F1 race cars this way, so a lowered street car, a stanced build or an exotic with a front splitter is a regular job for us.
Why lowered cars scrape on a regular car carrier
Most car haulers load with ramps that run from the ground up to the trailer deck. The steeper the ramp, the sharper the angle the car has to climb. That angle is the approach angle. If your nose sits lower than the ramp allows, the splitter or bumper hits before the tires do.
Draw a line from the bottom of your front tire up to the lowest point on your front end. If the ramp is steeper than that line, something touches. Lowered cars and race cars have a very shallow line, and so do most exotics.
The splitter usually takes the first hit, but it's not the only thing at risk. When the front tires reach the deck and the rears are still on the ramp, the middle of the car passes over the edge where the ramp meets the deck. That's where exhausts, oil pans and side skirts get scraped. A driver in a hurry will try to "just make it," and a slammed car pays for it.
How AutoBox Express loads a low clearance car
Our trailers have a liftgate that lays flat on the ground at the back of the trailer. The car rolls onto a level platform. There's no climb. The platform lifts the car up to trailer height and it rolls straight inside on the flat. These liftgates are built for race cars and low vehicles, and it's about as low and flat as loading a car gets.
That's a Ferrari F1 car on the liftgate in the photo above. An F1 car has about as little clearance as anything on wheels. If it loads without touching, your lowered Civic, bagged Supra or Huracán with a splitter will too.
The liftgate is also extra wide. It fits G-Wagons and the Mercedes 4x4 Squared, and the trailers take vehicles up to 90.5 inches wide, so a widebody kit isn't a problem either.
Inside the trailer, your car is tied down with soft straps that go around the tires, not through the rims. Hard straps or straps run through the spokes can scratch a finish or bend a rim.
Liftgate vs low-angle ramps vs wood blocks
You'll hear three answers when you ask carriers how they handle a low car.
Wood blocks or stacked race ramps. The driver builds up the ground in front of the ramp to soften the angle. It's a guess every time, and the blocks can move under load. Most drivers also don't carry enough of them for a really low car.
Low-angle ramps. Longer ramps make a shallower angle. They help, and some enclosed carriers use them well. Still, there's a breakover point at the top where the ramp meets the deck, and a long car with a low middle can still touch there.
A flat liftgate. The car never climbs anything. It rolls onto a platform sitting on the ground, gets lifted, and rolls off onto a level deck. This is what we run on every truck.
In the photo above, the top shot is an open trailer with steep ramps behind a pickup. The bottom one is a Ferrari 599 sitting on our liftgate.
Enclosed vs open transport for a lowered car
Go enclosed. Open carriers are built to move volume. The ramps are steep, and the upper deck is reached by an even steeper one. The car also rides outside, exposed to weather and road debris. For a car that scrapes on a driveway apron, that's the wrong truck.
Enclosed transport costs more. The trailer protects the paint and body, and the loading is gentler. People who run enclosed trucks also see a lot more low cars. The full comparison is in our enclosed vs open transport guide.
Our enclosed transport also carries coverage up to $4,000,000. Many companies carry around $250,000, which doesn't go far on a car that's worth more than that before you count the wheels.
How to prep a lowered car for shipping
A few minutes of prep saves a lot of standing around at pickup.
- Measure your lowest point, not your ride height. Ride height gets measured at the rocker. The splitter, exhaust tips or oil pan are usually lower. Measure those and tell the carrier.
- Raise the car as high as it goes. Air suspension to max height. Adjustable coilovers up if you can. If the car has a nose lift, raise it before the truck arrives and leave it up. The flat liftgate doesn't need the extra height, but it makes the drive into the trailer easier.
- Park on level ground. A sloped driveway changes the angle before the car ever reaches the platform. If your street is too tight for a large truck, we'll work out an open spot nearby.
- Point out anything loose or already damaged. A splitter on quick-release pins, a repaired diffuser, a cracked lip. Say so at pickup so it's in the inspection photos.
- Confirm the car gets strapped at the wheels. Tire straps, not chassis hooks. Ask before you book, not when the truck shows up.
At pickup our driver takes time-stamped, location-stamped inspection photos in an app, then does the same at delivery. Before getting in, the driver puts a plastic seat cover, a steering wheel cover and floor mats in the car. You don't have to be there if you approve it ahead of time and tell us who's handing over the keys.
Race car transport, supercars and cars that don't run
Race cars are what the liftgate is built for. We've hauled Ferrari F1 cars, a LaFerrari, a Pagani Huayra and a Lamborghini Aventador. We work with dealers like Chicago Motor Cars and with private collectors, and we handle antiques too. A race car with a splitter two fingers off the ground loads the same way as the F1 car: roll on flat, lift, roll in.
If the car doesn't run, we can still take it as long as it rolls, steers and brakes. The rate is higher. Tell us up front so the driver comes prepared.
Every truck has GPS tracking and the office is available 24/7, so a race team working against a Friday gate time can check where the car is.
What to ask a car carrier before you book a low car
Most of the companies you'll find searching "low profile car carrier" are brokers. They don't own a truck. They post your car to a load board, and whoever bites hauls it. Ask these before you pay a deposit:
- Do you own the truck that's picking up my car, or are you booking it out to someone else?
- How does your trailer load? Ramps or a liftgate? If ramps, how steep are they?
- Has the driver loaded a car with this little clearance before? What was it?
- How do you strap the car down? Around the tires or through the wheels?
- How much insurance is on the trailer, and is my car covered for its full value?
- Is the quote final, or can the price change once a driver is assigned?
- Will I get inspection photos at both ends?
Here's how we answer. We own the trucks and load on a flat liftgate, with straps around the tires. Coverage is up to $4,000,000. The quote you get by email is the price you pay. There's a longer list in 7 things to ask before shipping your vehicle.
What it costs to ship a lowered car
We don't publish a lowered car surcharge because every low car is different. A static drop on coilovers is a different load from a show car on air with a full lip kit. Send us the car, the pickup and delivery addresses, and your lowest-point measurement, and you'll have a custom quote by email within 24 hours. That price is final. Deposit at booking, balance on delivery.
Our weekly routes include Chicago to Miami, New York to Florida, California to New York and Texas. We pick up from and deliver to homes, dealerships, auctions and storage facilities nationwide.
Get a free quote or call (630) 418-7311 and tell us what you're shipping. If it's low, we've probably loaded something lower.
Low Clearance Car Transport FAQ
How low can a car be and still ship with AutoBox Express?
Low enough that we load Ferrari F1 race cars on the same liftgate. The platform lays flat on the ground, so the car rolls on level and gets lifted into the trailer instead of climbing a ramp. Send your lowest-point measurement (splitter, exhaust or oil pan) with your quote request and we'll confirm.
Can you transport a race car that doesn't run?
Yes, as long as it rolls, steers and brakes. The rate is higher than for a running car. Tell us when you request the quote so the driver comes prepared.
How much does it cost to ship a lowered car?
Low cars are quoted case by case, and there's no published surcharge. Email us the car, the pickup and delivery addresses and your lowest-point measurement and you'll have a custom quote within 24 hours. That price is final, with a deposit at booking and the balance on delivery.
Should I raise my air suspension before shipping?
Yes. Set air suspension, adjustable coilovers or a nose lift to the highest setting before the truck arrives. Our flat liftgate doesn't need the extra height, but it makes the drive into the trailer easier.
Is enclosed or open transport better for a lowered car?
Enclosed is better for a lowered car. Open carriers use steep ramps that scrape splitters and exhausts. The car also rides exposed to weather and road debris. Our enclosed trailers load on a flat liftgate and carry insurance up to $4,000,000.
Do I have to be there when my car is picked up?
No. If you approve it ahead of time and tell us who's handing over the car, the driver can pick up without you. You get time-stamped, location-stamped inspection photos from pickup and delivery.
Will a widebody or wide exotic fit on the liftgate?
Yes. The liftgate is extra wide and our trailers fit vehicles up to 90.5 inches wide, including G-Wagons and the Mercedes 4x4 Squared.