Car Shipping Canada FAQ

Pricing depends on your route, vehicle type, and current fuel surcharge rates. The fastest way to get your exact price is our instant quote wizard — takes about 60 seconds, no phone call needed. Your quote includes insurance and shows tax separately. No hidden fees, no surprises. What you see is what you pay.

No. Your vehicle must be completely empty — no clothes, no electronics, no luggage, no kitchenware, nothing. Personal items are not insured, can shift during transit, and may result in your vehicle being refused at the terminal. The only things that can stay in the car are items that belong to the vehicle itself: spare tire, jack, and jumper cables (these are not insured either). We send a full vehicle prep checklist after you book so nothing gets missed.

The total time from drop-off to ready-for-pickup includes four phases: (1) you drop off your vehicle at the terminal, (2) the car waits for the next scheduled rail departure — this can take up to 10 days, (3) your vehicle travels by rail, and (4) your car is unloaded and processed at the destination terminal — 2 to 3 days. For most routes, you should plan for 2 to 4 weeks total from drop-off to ready-for-pickup. Coast-to-coast routes like Toronto to Vancouver are typically 3 to 4 weeks. We always give you a realistic range upfront so there are no surprises.

Every client gets a personal tracking portal at shipmycar.railautocanada.ca where you can check your vehicle's status 24/7. You also receive automated email and SMS notifications at every milestone — when your car is received at the terminal, when it's loaded onto the train, when it's in transit, when it arrives, and when it's ready for pickup. You never have to chase us for an update.

Rail is one of the safest ways to transport a vehicle. Your car is secured on a rail car — nobody drives it. It never touches a highway, so there's no exposure to road debris, rock chips, or weather damage that you'd get with an open truck carrier. We photograph your vehicle at check-in to document its condition. Insurance is included on every shipment at no extra cost. The damage rate on rail transport is extremely low.

Four things: (1) your vehicle with fuel at or below a quarter tank — this is a rail safety requirement, (2) one set of keys — keep any spares with you, (3) valid government-issued photo ID, and (4) your job number from your booking confirmation. If you're shipping an EV, the battery should be charged to approximately 85% — not full, not near empty. Make sure all personal items are removed and any external accessories like roof racks are taken off before you arrive.

We ship 4-wheeled personal passenger vehicles: sedans, SUVs (including large ones like Escalade and Suburban), pickup trucks up to F-350 class, crossovers, minivans, hybrids, and electric vehicles. Your vehicle must be fully operational — it needs to start and drive onto the rail car under its own power. We do NOT ship: motorcycles, commercial or work vehicles, vehicles older than 25 years, non-operational vehicles, vehicles with less than 6 inches of ground clearance, or vehicles with major exterior modifications like lift kits or wide-body kits. Not sure if your vehicle qualifies? Just ask us.

Full payment is required to confirm your booking. Everything is handled online through your client portal — fast, secure, no back-and-forth. We accept credit and debit cards. Your quoted price already includes insurance, and tax is shown separately. Once payment is confirmed, you'll receive your booking confirmation with your job number, drop-off instructions, and terminal details.

Insurance is included in every shipment — you don't need to add it or pay extra. Coverage is in effect from the moment we receive your vehicle at the origin terminal until it's handed over to you at the destination. It covers physical damage caused during loading, transit, or unloading. It does NOT cover personal belongings left in the car, pre-existing damage documented at check-in, or mechanical issues unrelated to transport. If you notice any new damage at pickup, note it on the delivery receipt before leaving the terminal and file a claim within 5 business days with your pre-shipment photos.

No. We specialize in 4-wheeled passenger vehicles only. Motorcycles cannot be accommodated on auto rack rail cars.

No. Rail Auto Canada ships within Canada only — coast to coast by rail. All 8 of our terminals are domestic, from Halifax to Vancouver.

We do not ship vehicles older than 25 years. Classic and antique vehicles have a higher risk of damage claims due to age and fragility, and they require specialized enclosed transport. We can point you toward a specialty carrier if needed.

We can only ship fully operational vehicles. Your car must be able to start and drive onto and off the rail car under its own power. Non-operational vehicles are not accepted.

Absolutely — this is one of our most common use cases. Whether you bought from a dealer or a private seller in another province, we can ship it to your nearest terminal. The seller or a representative just needs to drop the vehicle off at the origin terminal. Get a quote at shipmycar.railautocanada.ca/quote-request and we'll handle the rest.

Your vehicle travels on the CN (Canadian National) rail network — the same rail infrastructure that crosses Canada from coast to coast every single day. Your car rides secured on a rail car alongside the same trains Canadians see rolling through every city in the country.

With an open truck carrier, your car sits on a trailer on the highway for days — exposed to road debris, rock chips, weather, and other vehicles. With rail, your vehicle is secured on a rail car. It never touches a highway. No road exposure, no weather damage, no rock chips. Rail also produces up to 75% lower carbon emissions than trucking. And unlike driving it yourself, rail adds virtually zero kilometres to your odometer — the only movement is a few hundred metres driving on and off the rail car at the terminal. On long-haul routes like Toronto to Vancouver, rail is often comparable in price to truck carriers, with significantly better protection.

Our pricing includes a fuel surcharge component that is reviewed and updated monthly based on diesel fuel price indices — similar to how airline ticket prices fluctuate with fuel costs. The price in your quote is locked once you book. But if you wait and the fuel surcharge changes, your new quote will reflect the updated rate. That's why we recommend booking sooner rather than later if you're happy with your quote.

Yes. Our main service is terminal-to-terminal, which is the most affordable option. But we also offer home pickup, home delivery, or full door-to-door where we handle everything from your driveway to your driveway. These options are available across a wide list of cities near each terminal. When you get your quote at shipmycar.railautocanada.ca/quote-request, you can select your preferred pickup and delivery method.

We operate 8 terminals across Canada: Vancouver (Delta, BC), Calgary (AB), Edmonton (AB), Saskatoon (SK), Winnipeg (MB), Toronto (Vaughan, ON), Montreal (QC), and Halifax (NS). For security, exact terminal addresses are only shared after your booking is confirmed and payment is received.

If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible. Cancellation fees may apply depending on how far along the shipment process is and any costs already incurred with our carrier. Details are outlined in our Terms & Conditions.