How much does it cost to ship my car?

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.

Can I leave personal belongings in my car?

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.

How long does shipping take?

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.

How do I track my vehicle?

Every client gets a personal tracking portal at shipmycar.railautocanada.ca where you can check your vehicle's latest status at any time. While your car is in transit, the location status is updated every 2 to 3 days — this is status tracking, not a live GPS feed. 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.

Is my car safe on the train?

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.

Car Shipping Routes Across Canada

Rail Auto Canada operates terminal-to-terminal car shipping along Canada's national rail network, with service connecting Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. Every corridor below shows an approximate price range and total timeline, and links to a full route guide with terminals, transit times, and corridor-specific FAQs.

Rail Car Shipping Across Canada

Shipping a car between Canadian provinces is one of the most common reasons Canadians look for an alternative to a long cross-country drive. Whether you're moving from Toronto to Vancouver, taking your vehicle from Calgary to Montreal for the winter, or relocating from Halifax to Edmonton for work, rail gives you a fixed-schedule, low-risk option that protects your odometer and keeps your car off the highway.

Every route below is a real terminal-to-terminal service operated along the Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP) rail networks. Each line links to a dedicated route guide with the exact drop-off and pickup terminals, transit timelines, cost guidance, and the most common questions for that specific corridor — and expands to show more corridors it covers, like car shipping from the surrounding communities we pick up in. For a full breakdown of what drives your price — fuel surcharge, vehicle size, taxes — see our car shipping cost page.

Most-booked corridors

Toronto → Vancouver Toronto → Calgary Toronto → Montreal Vancouver → Toronto Vancouver → Calgary Calgary → Toronto

Car Shipping From Vancouver, BC

Departing the Delta Terminal — serving Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster. Approximate pre-tax, terminal-to-terminal price ranges with total drop-off to ready-for-pickup timelines.

Vancouver to Toronto Car Shipping$1,350 – $1,9003–4 weeks