Have you wondered how much car shipping costs? We will explain your options here
If you need Vehicle Shipping within Canada, you have a few routes, but they aren’t all equal. So here we will explain the differences and give you the good and the bad too. Simple Moves & Storage are experts at Long Distance Moving
Car Moving in Canada
Vehicle Shipping from or to Vancouver via Train
- The best practice is to have your vehicle shipped via train. It is inexpensive, does not add kilometres, and your vehicle is safe in a train car.
- You get the “door-to-door vehicle moving service” for the same price as booking the “depot to depot” when booking Simple Moves.
- You are allowed to transport an emergency package and up to 4 spare tires (+1 the one that already came with your vehicle), but shipping any other item with the vehicle is not allowed.
- Your vehicle has to have a working e-brake, and please have the fuel tank only half-full.
- Comes with body insurance.
- Your vehicle may get dusty from its adventure.
- From Vancouver to Toronto or Toronto to Vancouver, it takes about 4 weeks and costs ~$2200-$3200 in 2024, depending on your make and model.
- Vehicle Shipping from Vancouver to Montreal or Montreal to Vancouver is approximately a 5-week wait and costs ~$2400-$3400 in 2024, depending on your make and model.
- From Vancouver to Edmonton and Calgary or Edmonton and Calgary to Vancouver to Alberta, it takes about 2 weeks and costs ~$1700-$2700 in 2024, depending on your make and model. Interestingly, Edmonton is en route, and Calgary is an extra trip, so Edmonton is typically cheaper.
Move Your Car with a Dedicated, Enclosed Trailer Service
- Let’s start with this: unless you have a very valuable vehicle, you will not need an enclosed vehicle transportation service because it is very expensive compared to shipping via train.
- The safest and fastest way to ship cars, with door-to-door service and dedicated shipping times.
- If you live in a remote area, this may make sense as it’s a faster solution.
Ship Your Car Overseas or International Car Shipping with Containers
- This is fun! Stuff as many things in your car as you can! The payment is calculated by the volume and not by the weight of your vehicle.
- Container Car Shipping happens via Container Ships, which typically takes 8-16 weeks wherever you go.
- Depot to Depot service only.
- Relatively cheap. However, you will have to deal with a lot of documentation and possible (almost certainly) extra charges at your destination country.
Have someone drive your car across Canada
- Don’t do it.
- You will not have appropriate insurance coverage.
- Your car will accumulate kilometres, burn tires, oil, and wipers, and your windshield has a high potential to arrive cracked.
- You are leaving your car to the elements and to chance even if the driver is excellent.
- You aren’t saving money on car shipping, and here’s the math. Vancouver to Toronto is 4400 kilometres. An average car’s fuel consumption is 10 litres/100 kilometres. Thus, we are using 440 litres of fuel, which equals approximately $800. Let’s add a cracked windshield and a popped tire because this one is unlucky. That’s $100 to fix the tire and $100 for a small crack. Change your oil every 5000 kilometres? This is the time to do it: spend another $150. Our cost is $1150 for the car, and the driver hasn’t been paid yet… Another $1000, and your total is $2150. Shipping via train? ~$2500. Is it worth it? I will let you answer that for yourself.
Car Shipping to the US
- There are experts at exporting your Canadian car to the US. Please search online and call professionals to help export vehicles to the US.
