Help Center
Help Center
International car shipping can be a tricky endeavour. As such, there are many questions customers frequently ask about the process. Take a look below regarding your specific situation to see if your question has been answered. If it has not, or if you require more clarification, feel free to call us at (800) 381-6907 Monday through Friday, or send an email to [email protected] at your leisure.
Helpful Links
Import/Export
CBP - Importing A Motor Vehicle
CBP - Exporting A Motor Vehicle
Visitors/Snowbirds
Best US Destinations for Canadian Snowbirds
Why You Should Ship Your Car Instead Of Drive It
Frequently Asked Questions
A temporary import of a Canadian registered vehicle into the U.S.
Yes, absolutely. However, the United States border crossing is still practicing its Covid protocols regarding Canadian temporary imports. What this means is that the United States border crossing will not allow us to cross the border with the vehicle until the registered owner is physically in the United States prior to pickup of the vehicle.
It depends on where the vehicle is crossing through. The United States border crossing is not allowing vehicles crossing the border commercially (i.e. with a transport company) to have any personal items in the vehicle if they are coming from the following provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Foundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or New Brunswick. Any items left in the vehicle would be subject to being thrown out at the border crossing - we therefore are not allowing any personal items to be left in the vehicle.
Canadian Car Shipping is an American company based out of Youngstown, Ohio. Therefore all charges will be in U.S. dollars.
Yes and no. Yes you can register the vehicle in the U.S., However the vehicle does have to return to Canada first. The paperwork and process of a full import versus a temporary import are different at the border crossing.
- Yes there are. The fee to file the paperwork at the border crossing is $150 USD on top of your quoted rate.
A permanent import of a Canadian registered vehicle into the U.S.
Yes we do. We contract with a customs broker called Cole International. If you want to make your experience with customs and border crossing smoother, we can have Cole International work with you in filing customs. This makes the process easier as it eliminates the need for a third party customs broker and therefore takes a lot of work off of your plate.
With a permanent import into the U.S., I’d send your quote to Cole International and have them walk you through exactly what to expect for customs. Every full import into the U.S. is unique and whereas I would be speculating as to what the customs would look like, my Cole International will be able to tell you exactly what to expect. This consultation would be free and at this point in time strictly for information. If you want to work with them on this then you can set up an account with them, but to reiterate this first consultation is just for your information.
Yes you can. We would get the order in the system on my end and then once that is taken care of I will work with your broker and coordinate the filing with them. A third party may require more of your involvement.
No, because our carrier will be carrying more than just your vehicle, it must be filed through a customs broker.
We cannot, we only file customs on orders we cross ourselves.
I personally cannot as I am not a customs broker. In order to tell you what the customs fees would be I’d send your quote to Cole International, my customs team. I can only speculate on the fees, and even then it is a rough speculation.
Because once the vehicle has been registered outside of the U.S., the U.S. will consider the move a full import formally and will charge the taxes.
If you were the original American owner of the vehicle who imported the vehicle into Canada and are now trying to bring it back, there may be exceptions to that rule. This would be something to ask a customs broker, whether Cole International or an independent broker.
It depends on where the vehicle is coming from. If it is coming from the following provinces, than unfortunately, the U.S.’ current border policy is not allowing any personal items to be in vehicles being shipped commercially: Ontario, Quebec, New Foundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or New Brunswick.
A U.S. registered vehicle returning to the U.S. from Canada
Yes, for a U.S. registered vehicle returning there is a paperwork filing fee of $150 USD
Because the border charges commercial carriers to file paperwork at the border crossing. We therefore pass this charge onto you.
No, we can pick it up from a friend or family member
It depends on where the vehicle is crossing through. The United States border crossing is not allowing vehicles crossing the border commercially (i.e. with a transport company) to have any personal items in the vehicle if they are coming from the following provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Foundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or New Brunswick. Any items left in the vehicle would be subject to being thrown out at the border crossing - we therefore are not allowing any personal items to be left in the vehicle.
A U.S. registered vehicle going to Canada on a work permit
There is a paperwork filing fee of $250 USD
It is not. A work permit is classified by the Canadian government & the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) as a temporary import. This means that the vehicle will remain a U.S. registered vehicle for as long as the work permit is valid and as long as you’re allowed to work in Canada.
We do not. The vehicle will not be registered as a Canadian registered vehicle, as CBSA classifies a work permit as a temporary import for as long as the work permit is valid. This means there will not be any taxes or duty applied to the vehicle as it will remain a U.S. registered vehicle. When the owner self-clears the vehicle from the bonded facility, CBSA will provide a temporary operating permit which will allow the U.S. registered vehicle to be used in Canada for as long as the work permit is valid.
Unfortunately no, the U.S.’ current border policy is not allowing any personal items to be in vehicles being shipped commercially.
A U.S. registered vehicle going to Canada under a permanent residency
It is not, we will deliver to the closest bonded facility to your desired destination. We do this because it gives you the opportunity to self-clear the vehicle directly from CBSA. This is important because if you self-clear the vehicle from CBSA at this bonded facility, you do not have to pay the taxes on the vehicle.
There is a customs filing fee of $250 USD.
We do not, we are not involved with registration.
Unfortunately no, the U.S.’ current border policy is not allowing any personal items to be in vehicles being shipped commercially.
Full import of a U.S. registered vehicle to Canada
Yes we do, we would send you a list of documents we would need copies of as well as 2 forms for you to fill out and sign - these 2 forms will have step by step instructions included.
There is a customs filing fee of $340 USD.
5% GST for federal tax, provincial tax (depending on which province the vehicle is being moved to). If the vehicle was manufactured outside of North America and is younger than 15 years old, an additional 6% will be charged for duty.
If you own the vehicle already, it is the Kelley Bluebook Fair Market Value for a private seller. If you are purchasing the vehicle, it is the bill of sale purchase price.
Yes it is as long as our truck can physically fit at the pickup/dropoff location. If not, we would coordinate the nearest safe location to meet.
Unfortunately no, the U.S.’ current border policy is not allowing any personal items to be in vehicles being shipped commercially.
A U.S. registered vehicle coming into Canada temporarily
It is not, a temporary import must be self-cleared from the bonded facility nearest to the desired delivery city. This is a Canadian border policy.
There is a paperwork fee of $250 USD.
Up to 6 months
You would have to return it to the U.S. first as the import paperwork and process is different for a temporary versus a permanent import.
Unfortunately no, the U.S.’ current border policy is not allowing any personal items to be in vehicles being shipped commercially.
General Questions
Every situation is different, but it generally takes up to 2 weeks for your vehicle to arrive at its destination. In some cases, the transport time will be less, and others may exceed the standard 2 weeks. If your transport is likely to take more than 2 weeks, we'll let you know ahead of time. The transit time is determined by the distance between the pickup and drop off locations and the closest terminal along the border, as well as weather, transport type, and more.
Price is dependent on many factors, including the size and weight of the vehicle, pickup and drop off locations, distance, transport type, and more.
We accept all major credit cards, PayPal, Cashier's Checks, and Money Orders. If none of these options work for you, just let us know and we can discuss other arrangements.
We highly suggest against it, as this is a very risky practice, and many drivers won't pick up a vehicle with anything in it for a few reasons. Any personal items in your vehicle will not be insured, and they can be tossed around inside your car during transport, potentially damaging the items and the car itself. Carriers can be inspected at any time, and any items in your car will have to be removed from the car and inspected. They may be left behind or damaged. Adding items to your vehicle also adds weight, which will increase the price of your transport. We handle these situations on a case by case basis.
We not only have our own cargo insurance, but also verify the insurance of every carrier we assign a shipment to. We have an extensive vetting process for our carriers, so no matter what, you're always covered.
Yes, we can ship vehicles that are inoperable, as long as the vehicle can roll, steer, and brake. There will be an additional fee for this service, as it requires special equipment to load and unload.
Yes, which is determined on various factors, including the number of vehicles. All car have to be on the same carrier and be picked up and dropped off at the same location in order to qualify for the multi-vehicle transport rates. Give us a call at (800) 381-6907. We will inform you of the kind of discount you can expect to receive.
We know that situations happen and things change. If your car hasn't been assigned to a car carrier yet for pick up, you will receive your full refund. If your car has been assigned to a carrier and they are already en route to your car, you will only receive a refund of the full deposit you paid, minus any fees charged by the car carrier for a "dry run".
Of course! From pickup to delivery, the car is covered by both our carriers' cargo insurance and our own. This insurance will covers a minimum of $100,000 should there be any damages or loss. But remember, this policy will not cover any personal items left inside your car.
No, we do not require you to pay for a deductible.
Although it is not a requirement, we recommend that you have your own insurance coverage for your vehicle. It doesn't hurt to have extra coverage, even with our double insurance.
We can offer you guaranteed dates and times, but for an extra fee. If you require guaranteed dates and times, please give us a call for a special quote.
Someone will need to be available and present for both pickup and delivery. If you are not able to be there, make sure someone you trust is there. They are required to be over the age of 18 and must be able to provide their identification. They will also be responsible for inspecting the car closely for any damages, and marking it correctly on the Bill of Lading at both pick up and drop off.
For the best price and carrier options, we suggest booking at least 2 weeks prior to your desired pick up date. Giving us about a month to secure the best pricing and route for you is ideal. We know that a large window isn't always a beneficial option for every scenario. If you find yourself needing quick transport, we have transport specialists that are well trained in ASAP transport. This option will generally cost more money, but it is still an option to look into.
Having no less than 1/4 of a tank is sufficient. Any lower than that is okay, but you might run out of gas on your way home after delivery.
Of course! As soon as your car is dispatched, you will get an email with an estimated pickup date and time, as well as the name of your driver and their phone number. Your driver will most likely call you a couple hours before they arrive.
No you do not need them. We only require the vehicle and its keys.
So long as a driver has not already been assigned to your transport, you are able to change your first available date for pickup.
We do provide Door-to-Door car shipping, but there are a few circumstances where it is not able to happen. If you live on a street that is narrow, or on a road with big, low-hanging trees where a car carrier would be unable to park or drive, you can meet with them in a parking lot close by. If you live in a more rural area that is out of the way, you might be able to save some money by arranging pickup or delivery in the closest large city or by the closest interstate.
Canadian Car Shipping has enclosed car shipping options and standard open car carrier options.
Yes, but it usually costs an extra 50 United States dollars to cover permit costs.
Yes, we are able to pick up or deliver at any storage facility, so long as there is plenty of room. You will have to settle any bills with the people at the storage facility beforehand, to avoid any issues. If your car is inoperable, this has to be disclosed when you book your transport, as some car carriers do not have the right equipment to load and unload cars that are inoperable.
A car is seen as operable if it is able to start up, be driven in reverse and forward, and be steered properly with the steering wheel, all without using any outside help. Otherwise, it is considered inoperable, which requires a special loading process and an extra fee. If your vehicle is inoperable, this has to be disclosed when booking your shipment.
We do offer refunds on any cancelled orders, so long as they qualify. To receive a full refund, your transport cannot be assigned to a driver yet. If your transport has already been dispatched, your payment is still refundable, excluding the $195 service fee or the total of your initial deposit, whichever price is less. We require this servicing fee because a reservation for your car has already been made, and this extra fee covers the services done. This is a non-negotiable requirement.
