Due to rising insurance premiums, inflation, and higher repair costs in Canada, car transport across Canada has become increasingly expensive. So whether you’re purchasing a new car from another city or simply moving, it’s best to research beforehand and find your cheapest option to transport car across Canada.
Here we’ve discussed different methods for auto shipping across Canada and also compared which one will be the cheapest depending on your situation.
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What is the Most Affordable Way to Transport Car Across Canada?
Canada is a massive country with vast distances between its cities, which makes car shipping service the most affordable way to transport your car across Canada. Especially at present, when fuel prices in Canada are the highest and it’s very costly to own and maintain a vehicle.
According to a survey by Turo, average car owners in Canada now spend $5,497 per year on their vehicle, which is a 9% increase since 2024. Seeing the fuel prices, and the cost of owning the car with high maintenance costs, driving the car yourself to long distances is out of the question if you want something affordable, safe, and convenient. Shipping the vehicle makes more sense in this case. However, you can explore other options as well and find your best fit based on your requirements.
5 Cheapest Methods for Auto Shipping Across Canada?
- Use a Car Shipping Service
- Drive It Yourself
- Hire a Driver
- Auto Transport Via Train
- Rent a Truck
When it comes to moving your car across the country, there are 5 different methods you can explore. Hereunder, learn about each in detail and see which one is the most affordable for you.
1. Use a Car Shipping Service
Hiring a car shipping service is undoubtedly the most affordable method for auto shipping. Also, it’s less of a hassle when moving long distances. Experienced professionals will pick up your car from your location and drop it off at the destination within a calculated timeline.
And you won’t have to worry about the wear and tear or the increased mileage. Professional drivers will deliver your vehicle in its original condition and they’re insured as well. So in case damage occurs, you will be covered for the repair.
However, do keep in mind that the exact price for car shipping service mainly depends on your shipping company, the distance involved, and your preferred shipping method. But the good news is that if you book in advance and you’re flexible about the dates, you can get discounts even in the peak season.
Also, you can use multiple other tactics to lower your car shipping costs. For instance, choose a terminal-to-terminal delivery service instead of door-to-door shipping, or transport car across Canada via open trailer shipping. Enclosed car shipping is 30-40% more expensive than open car shipping when shipping through the same routes.
Moreover, prefer using the car shipping service in the off-peak season, as it’s the cheapest during these times and it’s safe as well. Weather-related vehicle collisions contributed to over 20% fatal accidents in Canada between 2018 and 2022, making winter the leading cause. Therefore, it’s best to opt for auto shipping during this season.
Best Recommended When: Car transport across Canada or vehicle shipping Canada to U.S.A or exporting vehicle from U.S.A to Canada for long-distance moving. Call (888) 370-1041 today for free, no-obligation car transport quotes.
2. Drive It Yourself
Driving the car yourself to your new location is also an inexpensive method, especially when you’re moving short distances. But whether it’s cheaper than the car shipping service or not, well, that’s debatable. As per industry experts, if you factor in the wear and tear, fuel charges, overnight accommodation fees, and food, plus post-road trip fatigue, hiring a carrier might not be as expensive. .
An average hotel in Canada will cost you around $90 per night. And food per day will be around CA$50, if you stay on budget.
And the Transportation Research Board suggests that after 3-4 hours of continuous driving, your performance declines and you might need a 30-minute break to recover, adding more to your moving time. But you can save all of this time, energy, and money simply by going for a car shipping service.
Best Recommended When: Moving a short distance (100-200kms).
3. Hire a Driver
Hiring a driver is not affordable and definitely not as much as driving the car yourself to the new location.
Also, though on the surface level it looks like in this method you’re paying for the same: food, accommodation, and fuel; there are additional fees too. Professional drivers have labor charges and this could be either daily flat rates or per-km rates, depending on the driver.
On average, it’s $800 per day when you hire a private driver for yourself. Moreover, you might also have to pay for the return charges and an extra insurance fee in case the standard liability insurance doesn’t cover your luxury car.
And if damage occurs, you will have to arrange for repair, claim handling, and suffer through potential premium increases. However, still hiring the driver is worth it, if you’re short on time and you want to avoid travel fatigue. Plus, it’s affordable compared to hiring a truck or transportation via train.
Best Recommended When: When schedule is tight and you can’t drive yourself
4. Auto Transport Via Train
Shipping via train is another affordable method when shipping long distances. It’s best recommended for those moving along the CN’s routes and who want an environmentally friendly option. The Railway Association of Canada is putting in efforts through efficiency and technology to reduce emissions.
However, keep in mind that there’s limited availability and you may need to book way in advance to ship your vehicle at affordable rates. Let’s say you’re moving from Toronto to Vancouver, this route falls in the Canadian National Rail map, so you can opt for the rail-based option.
Plus, if you don’t mind dropping off your vehicle at one railway terminal and picking it up at another, this option is for you.
Best Recommended When: Moving long distance along the CN’s routes.
5. Rent a Truck
This method is recommended when you’re moving houses with all your house items. It’s a good idea to move all the household stuff with the rented truck and tow your car along instead of moving furniture and car separately.
This way, you won’t add mileage to your car while it’s still moving with you. And you don’t have to go through the extra stress of tracking your vehicle. All you need is a rented truck with an attached dolly.
However, do keep in mind that fuel charges for trucks are comparatively higher, and there’s an additional fee for a tow dolly. Plus, daily truck rental fees and mileage charges can spike the prices quickly. Still, it’s an affordable option for those moving a short distance with other household items and they don’t mind driving a large vehicle.
Best Recommended When: When shifting houses with household goods.
Cost Comparison Between Different Car Shipping Methods in Canada – 1,500 kms
Generally, there are 5 methods to transport car across Canada. Let’s do an average cost comparison to see which one is the cheapest and most suitable, when considering the finances.
Let’s compare them across 1,500 km distance.
- Car Shipping: The cost of shipping a car for 1,000-2,000 kms is CA$0.85 estimated. So for 1,500 kms, its (CA$0.85 x 1,500) = CA$1,300
- Drive It Yourself: Calculated cost is for a gas passenger car with CA$1.35/L gas price in Ontario (CAA). As per National Energy Use Database Canada, the average mileage of a vehicle is 7.8L per 100km. So to drive 1,500kms, you’ll need (7.8×15) liters = CA$117 for fuel only. Then comes accommodation cost for at least a night (CA$91 for a budget motel) and food cost for 2 meals (CA$50 for 2 meals). Your total rises to $258. Then consider vehicle depreciation cost from wear and tear, car wash, resale value loss due to 1,500kms increase on odometer, time cost of driving, toll costs, any mechanical issues that may appear after long distance driving. All in all, we’re looking at CA$400 to CA$600 in total.
- Hire A Driver: We’re not fully sure about this as these companies are not upfront with the costs but according to web estimates, it can cost CA$ 500 to CA$800 per day to hire a driver to drive your car to its destination. If we take 100 kmh as average speed then it should take them 15 hours of continuous driving. Of course they will take breaks, have some sleep, grab a bite so it’s safe to say it will take 2 days for them to deliver your car. So consider $1,000 to $1,500 in total cost. Then there are things like terrain condition, driver expertise, your vehicle value (higher value means more careful driving), weather and so on.
- Car Shipping by Train: If you ship via a train then as per some estimates, it can cost $0.4 to $0.6 per kilometer and sometimes more depending on your vehicle’s size and weight. However, even though Canada has the 5th largest rail network in the world, its still not spread across all the cities. It’s more focused on trade and freight specific regions like Toronto or Vancouver etc. So you may have to drive from one city to another to pick and drop the vehicle to the terminal. Plus, access to rail terminals can add additional costs and inconvenience.
- Rent a Truck: The current price of towing trucks fuel in Canada is CAD 1.51 per liter. (com). And let’s say if the truck consumes 40 liters per 100 kms = 40 × 1.51 = it consumes $60.4 per 100 km. Multiply it by 15 and we get CA$900 in fuel for 1,500 kms of travel. Then there’s the cost of renting a tow truck or a heavy-duty dolly at least, which can be a few hundred Canadian dollars as well. Food stops, motel stay, time cost, and car wash would bring the total to well within the range of car shipping at CA$1,200 to CA$1,400.
Note: These are just estimated prices based on average rates in Canada, and exact charges will depend on several factors, including distance, car type, model, and size.
| Shipping Method | Average Cost Range For 1,500 KMs |
|---|---|
| 1. Car Shipping Service | Around CA$1,300–$1,500 |
| 2. Drive It Yourself | Around CA$400–600 for 1,500 kms for a passenger car that runs on gas |
| 3. Hire a Driver | CA$1,000 to $2,000 |
| 4. Auto Transport via Train | Around CA$600–$900 or more depending on the size of your car and the distance involved (terminal to terminal only) |
| 5. Rent a Truck | CA$1,200 to $1,400 for 1,500 kms |
Want Convenience & Time-Savings? Call Canadian Car Shipping For Free Quotes:
Though car shipping across Canada is not the cheapest way to move your vehicle, it’s certainly not expensive either, especially if the vehicle needs to be moved long distances. Plus, you save time, you save the hassle of driving for hours, and you also save mileage on the vehicle, which in turn preserves its resale value.
Ready for the seamless and safe car shipping service? Call (888) 370-1041 today for free, no-obligation car transport quotes.
