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
Compare the same route, vehicle and transport method. These rail-route budgets exclude collection or delivery at your address.
| Service | Estimated cost | Scope and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rail, Toronto to Winnipeg | CA$850–CA$1,250one-way vehicle shipment · Taxes extra | Operable passenger vehicle, one way; terminal drop-off and collection. Vehicle size and booking date change the quote. |
| Rail, Toronto to Calgary | CA$1,400–CA$2,000one-way vehicle shipment · Taxes extra | Operable passenger vehicle, one way; terminal drop-off and collection. Vehicle size and booking date change the quote. |
| Rail, Toronto to Vancouver | CA$1,600–CA$2,200one-way vehicle shipment · Taxes extra | Operable passenger vehicle, one way; terminal drop-off and collection. Vehicle size and booking date change the quote. |
| Enclosed carrier, Toronto to Vancouver | Get an itemized quoteper vehicle, one way · Confirm tax treatment | Enclosed truck transport; quote the same origin, destination and vehicle.Enclosed truck capacity, vehicle dimensions and collection terms must be priced for your booking. |
| Collection or delivery at your address | Get an itemized quoteper end of the trip · Confirm tax treatment | Local connection to the quoted terminal.The charge depends on each address, terminal and collection arrangement. |
What changes the price
- Route direction, season and pickup flexibility
- Vehicle size, clearance and running condition
- Open versus enclosed carrier and address access
Ask before you book
- What is the total including fuel, terminal and delivery charges?
- What damage cover and deductible apply to my vehicle?
- What can change the price after booking, and what are the cancellation terms?
Canadian context
Cross-border trips, duties and import paperwork need a separate quote; these examples stay within Canada.
Domestic, terminal-to-terminal rail examples for operable passenger vehicles; truck transport requires its own quote.
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.
