The Canadian auto logistics market is expected to grow to $162 billion approximately by 2033. Consumer car shipping is a part of that trend and we wanted to know how this segment is doing, especially when it comes to cars being shipped across different routes in Canada. So we took a small data set from our 5 years of shipping volume (2020 to 2025) at Canadian Car Shipping and prepared this report with findings, insights, and analysis.
Table of Contents
Geographic Analysis of Car Shipping Routes in Canada
Our data helped us map out where the cars go. We saw Canada auto transport routes to find that people ship vehicles from one province to another more than moves over short distances. We collected data to paint a clear picture of country-wide shipments. And we found that most shipments headed West, and Ontario served as the central hub for all the shipments.
Canadian Car Shipping Volume by Route
We saw that the most frequent routes are not random. According to our data, most trips are concentrated along key economic corridors.
We saw that the Toronto to Calgary pipeline has the highest volume of specific city-to-city shipments. We noticed that this long-haul lane is the busiest lane we have.
There was also a significant volume feeding into smaller regional hubs, such as Holland Landing. We think it might be serving as distribution points.
| Rank | Origin | Destination | % of Total Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toronto, ON | Calgary, AB | ~1.7% |
| 2 | Ottawa, ON | Holland Landing, ON | ~1.4% |
| 3 | Calgary, AB | Toronto, ON | ~1.1% |
| 4 | Montreal, QC | Holland Landing, ON | ~0.9% |
| 5 | Montreal, QC | Calgary, AB | ~0.9% |
Canadian Regional Car Shipping Volume
Our data suggested that most of the shipping is inter-provincial. We saw 86% of shipments were crossing provincial lines as compared to 14% shipments staying within the same province.
We deduced that the primary use case for vehicle transport in Canada is long-distance sales or major life moves.
Car Shipping Hotspots and Cold Zones
Our data highlighted that the focal point of Canada car shipments is Ontario. We saw that around 48% of shipments were from Ontario, while it received around 41% vehicles. So, basically, we observed that Ontario is the central node that connects the West and East.
Our data suggested that the West is the major magnet as Alberta received 23% shipments and British Columbia got 19% shipments. It showed that the Atlantic provinces are the “cold zones” in comparison.
Long Haul Car Shipping Advantage in Canada
One of the most remarkable observations we made is on costs for cross-country shipping routes.
Our data shows that Toronto to Calgary is almost 3,500 km. We saw incredible cost-efficiency on this route, with cost often dropping up to $0.36 per km.
We compared the price to shorter regional hops such as Ottawa to Holland Landing, which is only 430 km. And we saw that the costs can spike to around $1.00 per km.
Urban vs. Rural Car Shipping Network
Our data showed that urban-to-urban routes are the most common with 38% shipments. We also saw that rural-to-urban shipments are a strong runner-up, with 29% moves. We noted that most vehicles move from small towns to major urban centers.
All in all, we saw the most overlooked part of common car shipping routes were rural areas that feed the main arteries.
US to Canada Border Proximity Effects on Canadian Car Shipping Routes
We tracked 9% shipments that started or ended in the key border cities, such as Windsor, Surrey, or Sarnia. It helped us study a significant slice of the market, which indicated that these popular vehicle shipping routes serve as gateways for cross-border trade or snowbird migrations.
Temporal Car Shipping Trends in Canada
Our data showed us that timing is everything. We saw the massive seasonal waves and very specific scheduling habits that dictate how the shipping industry moves.
Seasonal Patterns: The Spring Rush
Our data suggested that “spring rush” is the real phenomenon. We saw an absolute whopping 28% of shipments only in the month of April, while May saw 11% vehicle moves. We combined both numbers to see that people prefer shipping cars as soon as the snow melts.
Our data showed that the second quarter, from April to June, is usually the dominant time of the year. We saw around 45% of all annual traffic in these months. In contrast, we saw only 4% vehicle shipments during the fall months.
Lead Time & Scheduling: The “Monday Mania”
We collected enough data to see when people want their jobs done. Our data showed that Monday sees around 40% of shipments. We couldn’t help but notice that most people want to start the week fresh.
- Monday: ~40% – The clear favorite for getting things moving.
- Wednesday: ~16% – A distant second, likely for mid-week adjustments.
- Tuesday: ~15% – The spillover from the Monday rush.
- Weekend (Sat/Sun): ~6% – Almost nobody wants to deal with logistics on their days off.
Year-Over-Year Car Shipping Demand Comparisons
We used the data to analyze the present and predict future activity. Around 74% of the total shipments were in the years 2024 and 2025. Our data suggested that there is a surge in demand and we captured a lot of pre-planned moves for the upcoming seasons.
Our data highlighted that earlier years, from 2020 to 2022 were a bit thinner. We concluded that it did not represent the current booming market.
Canadian Car Shipping Cost Analysis By Routes
Our car shipment data from 2020 to 2025 helped us reach the bottom line. We found out that shipping a vehicle is a complex process, involving different factors. We noticed that shipping price depends on distance, route popularity, carrier type, and even the vehicle type. Also, We tracked our data to find out where the costs hide and how customers can save money..
Price Volatility Across High Volume Car Shipping Routes in Canada
We noticed that not all routes are created equal when it comes to stable prices. Our data showed that the Montreal to Vancouver route is the most volatile, as it sees a standard deviation of $1,148. Our data helped us see the big picture that two people shipping the same car on the same route could pay a different amount depending on the day of shipment.
Here are the top routes where pricing is all over the map:
| Route | Avg Cost | Fluctuation (Std Dev) |
| Montreal, QC to Vancouver, BC | $2,577 | ±$1,148 |
| Brampton, ON to Vancouver, BC | $1,400 | ±$531 |
| Calgary, AB to Toronto, ON | $1,542 | ±$488 |
Price Premium By The Shipping Route
Our data showed that distance usually dictates price, but some routes command a serious premium regardless of the kilometers.
We analyzed that the most expensive route per kilometer is Mission, BC to Calgary, AB, which is clocking in at $2.53 per km.
The premium is huge if we compare it to the cross-country average. We found out that niche routes with lower carrier volume allow for higher markups.
Cost by Carrier Type: The “Enclosed” Premium
Our data gave us a clear answer when we compared open carriers with enclosed ones. We found out that the average cost for an open carrier is around $1,343 and $1,565 for enclosed carriers.
Our data showed that this 16-17% premium is what people pay to protect their cars from different elements.
Open carrier is the value winner for daily drivers, but exotic vehicles like Porsche owners also don’t mind paying $200 extra to protect their vintage car.
Cost by Vehicle Characteristics: The “Luxury Tax”
Our data showed us that a fancy car costs more to ship. We broke the price down and found out that high-end brands consistently sit at the top of the cost pile.
Our data highlighted that shipping a Porsche costs $2,435, but shipping a Toyota and Honda costs much less. Interestingly, MG has a high average as well of $1,843.
Regional Price Variations
We found that Newfoundland (NL) is the most expensive province with an average cost of nearly $3,295, which is understandable considering its far from other provinces and also requires ferry transport as well.
On the other hand, we found out that the price of shipping a vehicle out of Quebec is a bargain, averaging at just $982. Our data highlighted how carrier availability and back-haul opportunities drive the regional prices.
Car Shipping Customer Segmentation in Canada
Our data showed a fascinating glimpse into the customers’ choosing different vehicle transport. We saw the market split into distinct lanes from the daily drivers moving for a job to the collectors shipping their priceless classic cars.
Vehicle Value Tiers: The Luxury Gap
We observed a very different behavior of people who ship luxury cars from brands such as Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche. We noticed that the shipping cost average is around $1,375 for both tiers. Our data suggested that the base shipping rates are determined by distance and route rather than the brands.
However, we found that the way that vehicles are shipped is where the money shows up. We found out that luxury vehicle owners are nearly twice as likely to opt for premium protection. Our data showed that around 24% luxury vehicle owners ship via enclosed carriers. And around 12% economy or mid-range car owners use enclosed carriers.
Carrier Type Preferences by Vehicle Age: The Vintage Factor
Our data showed that owners of new cars (0-3 years of age) are surprisingly practical as only 4.5% chose enclosed transport and most of them are fine with the standard open trailers.
| Vehicle Age Group | % Using Enclosed Carrier | % Using Open Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| New (0-3 yr) | 4.5% | 95.5% |
| Mid (4-10 yr) | 7.3% | 92.7% |
| Old (11-25 yr) | 6.3% | 93.7% |
| Vintage (>25 yr) | 49.3% | 50.7% |
Around 50% classic car owners chose enclosed transport for vehicles older than 25 years. Our data showed that car owners pay more for vehicles with sentimental value and scarcity.
Canadian Shipping Route Preferences by Vehicle Type
We saw how different vehicles live different lives. We analyzed the vehicle categories to find the unique patterns in how they move across the map.
- Sports Cars (Porsche, McLaren, etc.): We saw that the highest average shipping distance is 3,300 km and the highest average cost is $2,544. Our data suggests that these shipments are either cross-country for specific buyers or seasonal relocations (snowbirds).
- Trucks (Ram, GMC): We noted that people move their trucks over shorter distances, usually 2,370 km, and shipping costs around $1,398. We realized that either it is due to practical utility or work relocations.
- Compact Cars (Mini): We also saw small cars traveling very long distances, averaging 2,877 km, and the cost is lowest, around $887. Our data highlighted how budget-conscious movers ship their daily runabouts cross-country efficiently.
Canadian Car Shipping Market Dynamics
We analyzed 5 years of vehicle shipment data (2020 to 2025) and found that the auto transport market is a living, breathing ecosystem.
We found out that the industry depends on customer confidence, seasonal demand, and even the type of cars rolling off the lots. When we looked at the data, we saw broader trends and how the industry operates.
Popular Carrier Types: The “Open” Standard
Our data confirmed that open transport made up 85% of the market. We noticed that it is a default choice for dealerships, auctions, and regular people trying to move their sedans.
On the other hand, our data showed 15% of vehicles are shipped via enclosed transport. We noticed that it aligned perfectly with the “luxury” and “vintage” segments we looked at earlier. We deduced that enclosed shipping is for specialized customers, not the mass market solution.
Capacity Indicators in Canadian Car Shipping Routes
Our data underlined an interesting fact regarding the top 5 busiest routes for vehicle shipping. We identified the top 5 popular lanes at the start of this report, which collectively account for 6% of the total shipping volume, with the Toronto-to-Calgary route leading the pack at 1.7%. Also, We noticed that 94% of traffic is scattered over a hundred unique, lower-volume point-to-point connections.
We saw that carriers cannot just rely on the “milk runs” and need a flexible network of origins and destinations. Our data showed that the demand is not concentrated in just a few massive pipelines, but scattered across a vast web of smaller routes.
Emerging Corridors of Car Shipping in Canada
We collected the data to oversee the evolution of the market and saw that new lanes opened up that were not active in the previous years. We also noticed that some of the micro-corridors appeared fresh in 2025. According to our data, these routes are not just major city pairs, but rather specific connections suddenly seeing repeat traffic:
- Etobicoke, ON to Airdrie, AB: We noticed this newly emerging specific sub-route of the Toronto-Calgary pipeline. We assumed that most shipments on this route are due to suburban growth or specific dealership connections.
- Winnipeg, MB to Montreal QC: This new east-bound connection also popped up on the map.
- Ottawa, ON to Calgary, AB: We noticed fresh activity on this direct capital-to-oil country link.
Our data showed these emerging lanes which indicated a shift towards more direct, point-to-point shipping that bypasses the usual routes. We assumed that it might be driven by digital platforms matching carriers with specific loads more efficiently.
Looking to Ship Your Car? Canadian Car Shipping Hauls Across Canada:
If you’re looking to ship your vehicle anywhere to and from Canada, we at Canadian Car Shipping can safely and timely move it across the country. Contact our team at (888) 370-1041 for free, no-obligation auto transport quotes.
