Overview: Car Shipping & Auto Transport Companies
Car shipping in Canada is mostly long-haul work. A job transfer from Halifax to Calgary, a car bought from a seller in another province, a student's car heading to school, or a snowbird's car going south for the winter. The car rides on a carrier's truck, and you'll rarely meet the driver who loads it.
The first question is who actually owns the truck. Many companies that advertise are brokers who pass the job to a carrier. That's normal, but the carrier is the one you deal with when a car arrives with a dent, so get its name in writing.
Distance and weather set the schedule. Winter storms close highways across the Prairies and through the mountains, and every pickup behind a closure moves. Snowbird season, late in the fall and again in spring, fills trucks fast, so book early if your dates are fixed.
Our listings show what each company states on its own website about routes, trailers and insurance. Search the province and city lists below for services that pick up in your area.
Cost of shipping a car in Canada
Match the route, vehicle and pickup window before comparing prices. The priced route below gives a benchmark for a major interprovincial move. Domestic passenger-vehicle transport. Route direction and delivery method are part of the price.
| Service | Budget estimate | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open carrier: Toronto to Vancouver | CA$1,400–2,250per vehicle, one way | Running compact or midsize sedan; door-to-door service.Flexible pickup window; confirm taxes, insurance terms and access at both addresses. |
| Enclosed carrier | Get an itemized quoteper vehicle, one way | Same route and car, protected inside an enclosed trailer.Quote vehicle value, ground clearance, pickup window and address access. |
| Rail with terminal drop-off and collection | Get an itemized quoteper vehicle, one way | Quote the exact terminals and any truck connections.Compare the rail fare plus any collection, delivery or terminal-storage charges. |
| Non-running or oversized vehicle | Get an itemized quoteper vehicle, one way | State whether it starts, rolls, steers and brakes; give dimensions.Winch loading, clearance and occupied trailer space change the carrier and price. |
What changes the price
- Route direction, season and pickup flexibility
- Vehicle size, clearance and running condition
- Open or enclosed transport; terminal or address delivery
Ask before you book
- Does the total include fuel, loading, terminals and both local connections?
- What insurance limit, deductible and exclusions cover my vehicle?
- When can the price change, and what are the cancellation and storage terms?
Comparing offers
Compare the full shipment total and delivery window. Confirm whether “door-to-door” means your address or a nearby accessible meeting point.
Ask whether taxes are included.
Frequently asked questions
Broker or carrier, and does it matter?
It matters when something goes wrong. The broker books the job. The carrier moves the car and holds the cargo insurance a damage claim runs against. Brokers reach more trucks, so they're useful. Before pickup, get the carrier's legal name and its safety registration, which for a truck plated in Ontario is a CVOR certificate, and check that the name matches the paperwork the driver hands you.
Open or enclosed transport?
Open is how nearly every car moves, and it costs less. In winter, though, an open trailer means salt spray and slush for the whole trip, and the car arrives looking like it drove there. Enclosed is worth it for low cars, fresh paint, classics and anything you'd never park on a salted highway. Book enclosed early, because there are far fewer of those trailers.
What paperwork do I need to ship a car from the US?
Start on the American side. US Customs and Border Protection wants the export documents, including the title, at least seventy-two hours before the car crosses. Canada's Registrar of Imported Vehicles program needs recalls cleared before import. After it crosses, there's a federal inspection, then your province's own safety inspection and registration. Ask the carrier who files what, because most of it lands on you.
Should I declare my car's value on the bill of lading?
Yes. In Ontario, the standard conditions of carriage limit what a carrier owes for loss or damage to an amount per kilogram of the shipment, unless a value is declared on the bill of lading. For many cars, that weight-based figure falls well short of what the car is worth. Other provinces set their own rules. Write the value in, keep your copy, and check the carrier's cargo insurance is high enough.
Do I need to re-register a car shipped to another province?
Yes, once you've moved there. British Columbia gives new residents thirty days to register, license and insure a private vehicle. Most provinces also want a safety inspection before a car from another province can be registered, though some cars are exempt. Book that inspection early, because a failed one means repairs and another visit before you get plates.
