Around 348,370 Canadians moved between provinces and territories in 2022/2023. And many also relocate across the border annually, often needing to move their vehicle along with them – Car Freight in Canada.
But with over 40,000 businesses in local freight trucking in Canada, it’s really hard to find the right one. Car owners usually tend to choose cheap, low-priced car freight Canada options around them but is it really a smart decision? Let’s find out.
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No, hiring the cheapest car freight Canada is not really a smart decision. In fact, you might end up paying more with potential delays and damages. Plus, if a company is offering you the absolute lowest price, it’s a red flag, because either you’ll receive poor service quality or there are hidden charges that you’ll have to pay later.
And there could be a lot of other things. For instance, the insurance will not be fully covered, or the company is relatively new with no experience in your route. In short, focusing on the price factor alone is not the right thing. Instead, you must consider all the essential factors when hiring auto movers Canada.
Although price is an important factor when you’re hiring a car freight Canada service, especially due to the current inflation rates in Canada. You must also consider other crucial factors when hiring a car shipping company in Canada.
Let’s go through these 7 important factors to consider when hiring a car freight in Canada.
The first and most important thing that speaks of the reliability of a shipping company is its license and insurance. So make sure the company you choose is first and foremost licensed and insured. It must have its Certificate of Insurance (COI) and a valid National Safety Code (NSC) certification.
Plus, depending on the province, check their Safety Fitness Certificate or CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration) number (for Ontario province). Either ask the company directly about their licensing and insurance or you can check through their website. For instance, check their home page, footer, or ‘About Us’ page for licensing and insurance details.
Another factor that can help you find a reliable yet affordable shipping company is the online reviews. Read through the internet, especially reputable review platforms (Google, BBB, BirdEye) to learn about the reputation of a business online. Good companies maintain at least a 4.3-star rating on these platforms and they’re quite responsive there, making sure they’re answering all queries and concerns regarding them.
Or you can also learn about a company’s reputation from its past clients. Ask for the past references from your potential company and make sure to compare apples with apples. Look for past clients with similar vehicle types and ask about their experience. This will save you from a lot of suffering in the long run.
The next thing you must consider is the delivery time and flexibility. Check on the detailed car transport quote you’re given if the company has mentioned the exact delivery date and time, and in case you want a door-to-door service, whether they’re offering it or not. A reliable delivery time is equally important as a cost-effective car shipping service.
Moreover, if you’re short on time and you need to transport car across Canada within a day or two, check if you can opt for expedited shipping. Though it will cost additional fees, in that case, you can opt for terminal-to-terminal service for some flexibility.
Make sure your potential transport company offers different transport methods. Reputable car transport companies in Canada offer two main transport methods:
Choose a car transport method that is best for the safety of your vehicle, and as a second option, consider pricing.
Another factor you must consider for the safe transport of your vehicle is the customer service and tracking option. Reputable shipping companies offer 24/7 customer support via email or phone. And with the Canadian weather, fast communication is a necessity.
Cherry on top, if you get the live tracking option, either via phone, email, or SMS. This is very important for your peace of mind and it also speaks of the reliability of a service.
Experience is a very important factor that decides whether you get a smooth service or not. For instance, if you’re planning to transport car across Canada, make sure the company has cross-provincial transport experience and is familiar with the popular and alternative routes plus it knows about all the provincial regulations.
And if you need to transport your vehicle across the border (to the U.S.), make sure the company is familiar with both Canadian and U.S. import regulations. A good cross-border car shipping company knows the rules inside out and they help you with the paperwork as well.
This is the point many car owners often miss. But to ensure your vehicle’s safety, make sure your potential car shipping company offers cross-border coverage. For many US to Canada car shipping companies or vice versa, their insurance might not cover across the border. That means, if your vehicle suffers damage outside of Canada, it will not be covered.
Ask your shipping company as many questions as you can regarding their insurance coverage, liability limits, and supplementary insurance. A good car shipping company will be transparent about its insurance policy and chances are it will offer cross-border coverage.
Okay, so going rock-bottom cheap for car shipping is usually risky. We get that. But sometimes, maybe, it could work out okay with only minor headaches. Here’s a look at those rare situations where rolling the dice on the lowest quote might not totally backfire.
Think short hops. Moving your car within the same province fits here. Distances under 300 kilometers often mean simpler logistics.
Major city pairs like Toronto to Montreal or Vancouver to Calgary also have high shipping volume. More trucks run these routes frequently. This reduces the chance your car sits waiting for weeks. The carrier can likely fill a truck faster on these popular lanes.
Standard vehicle types like common sedans or SUVs ship easily too. They fit standard carriers without special needs. No modifications and extra equipment means fewer potential surprise fees.
You absolutely don’t need your car urgently and are okay with a flexible delivery window. Think about needing it within 2-3 weeks, not 7-8 days. Delays are common with budget operators. You must genuinely not care if it arrives next Tuesday or the Tuesday after. Having other wheels is essential too. Reliable access to alternative transportation makes waiting bearable. This could mean:
The financial risk is smaller with certain vehicles. An older car, say 5+ years, has lost 50% of its market value. Minor transit damage might be less catastrophic financially.
Non-luxury, standard domestic models are also simpler to repair if needed. They lack complex electronics or rare parts. Common sedans from major manufacturers fit carriers easily. They are the bread and butter of auto transport. Insuring them is typically straightforward and cheaper. The table below shows vehicle types where cheap shipping might be less risky:
| Vehicle Type | Examples | Why It Might Be Less Risky |
|---|---|---|
| Older Vehicles | 5+ years old | Lower value, cheaper repairs |
| Non-Luxury Cars | Standard domestic models | Common parts, simple repairs |
| Standard Sedans | Common makes/models (e.g., Honda Civic, Toyota Camry) | Easy to transport & insure |
Choosing the absolute cheapest freight requires accepting significant uncertainty. It only makes a little bit of sense under these specific, lower-risk conditions. You trade cost savings for peace of mind and reliability. Know exactly what you’re signing up for.
If your budget is tight and you’re going with a relatively low-priced car shipping company, here are four things you must consider to avoid getting scammed.
When looking for the cheapest car shipping rates, know the difference between brokers and lead aggregators.
Brokers are auto movers that will offer you a quote directly and ship your vehicle while lead aggregators only collect your information to sell it to the highest bidding movers. And they don’t even know if the price they’re offering you is accurate or not.
This means, if you choose to work with a lead aggregator, chances are you might end up with a shipping company that’s vastly overpriced or unreliable. So you must verify beforehand if the website is a broker or lead aggregator.
Legitimate auto movers Canada are licensed and they’ve got their license number. However, the licensing and numbers differ by province. So, if a business is licensed under Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, they will have their CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration) number, which you can verify through the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website. Keep in mind, you cannot directly check a company’s CVOR number or detailed carrier record online for free.
Instead, there’s a different procedure for it with a small fee, which you’ll get to know about once you visit the website. But in short, a reliable car shipping company has a provincial license number and they’re insured. And you must check these two important details before hiring one to ensure your safety. Plus, you can also check a company’s accreditation status through the Better Business Bureau.
There are many news reports about Canadians being scammed by auto shipping companies, once they’ve made an advance payment. So make sure to never make an advance payment, especially when hiring a cheap car shipping company.
It’s a risk you’re taking, and you won’t be able to recover your money if the company goes dark or your vehicle suffers some damage. So it’s better to always pay once your vehicle has been delivered or at least not pay the full money in advance.
Remember, even if you’ve decided to go with a lower priced car shipping company that doesn’t guarantee value for money. To ensure you can secure your vehicle and money as much as you can, ask these questions.
Suspiciously cheap shipping quotes often mask hidden costs, vague commitments, and poor service. These quotes can lure customers with a low initial price that later increases due to add-ons like fuel surcharges, insurance upgrades, and terminal fees.
Unrealistic delivery estimates lead to delays and frustration, as actual transport times exceed promises. Communication breakdowns, such as ignored calls or emails and lack of vehicle tracking, create uncertainty.
Contracts may omit key terms or hide them in fine print, and refusal to provide written confirmation exposes customers to verbal misrepresentations. Frequent changes in pickup or drop-off locations and undisclosed storage conditions further erode trust and convenience.
| Problem Area | Red Flag |
|---|---|
| Price Manipulation | Initial quotes rise post-deposit (e.g., $1,200 → $1,800); hidden 20–30% fees |
| Delivery Issues | Unrealistic timeframes; vague pickups; long terminal storage delays |
| Communication Gaps | Voicemails ignored; delayed or no emails; missing tracking data |
| Contract Problems | Unclear terms; vague insurance; refusal to email quotes |
| Location Issues | Last-minute terminal changes; remote drop-offs; unknown storage conditions |
Always verify the total shipping cost upfront, demand written contracts, confirm delivery schedules, and avoid companies that provide vague or shifting terms.
Do you need your vehicle delivered safely, timely, and at affordable pricing? Great, you know the real meaning of getting value for your money and Canadian Car Shipping can make that happen. We have a massive network of carriers going up and down Canada and to/from the US.
Whether you need to ship the vehicle within Canada or across the border, we can help you find the best carrier for the job from our vetted partners fast and at affordable rates. Call (888) 370-1041 to get free quotes for car freight in Canada today!
Hidden fees that increase cheap car shipping quotes after booking include fuel surcharges, rural delivery fees, insurance upgrades, non-operable vehicle fees, terminal storage costs, expedited shipping charges, and seasonal surcharges. These are often excluded upfront and added later, especially with discount carriers.
Choosing the lowest-priced carrier risks your vehicle’s delivery timeline through overbooking, poor communication, equipment breakdowns, or bait-and-switch tactics. Budget carriers may delay pickups, offer vague updates, or demand more money for timely delivery, putting your schedule at risk.
Saving money with budget freight is worth the risk when shipping a low-value vehicle, your delivery timeline is flexible, and you’re comfortable managing logistics yourself. If you can tolerate delays, insurance gaps, and extra follow-up work, budget freight can offer significant savings.
Red flags of an unreliable cheap quote include prices 30–40% below market, large upfront deposits, lack of credentials, missing contact info, vague contracts, and outdated or insecure websites (without HTTPs encryption). These signs often signal scams or poor service with hidden costs.
Basic insurance from discount carriers covers transport damage during loading, transit, and unloading, with a legal minimum of $100,000. Low-cost carriers may offer limited payouts and high deductibles.
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