Car Shipping

[STeeLy]

I don't know if anyone here has shipped cars (The dealership people definitely have I'm sure).

I am considering (also the most likely choice) shipping my car to Calgary rather than driving back (don't really want to put that many miles on my car). I am wondering if the collective TM3 mind could point me in the right direction.

How much should I expect to be paying if I was to ship from Ottawa to Calgary?

I am, however, willing to drop my car off at a terminal (Most likely Toronto) and pick up at a terminal in Calgary. If anyone has any recommendations, i'd be much appreciated.

Thanks TM3!

[mazdabetty]

That'd be crazy expensive... no? I'd have no idea where to even start to ship a car haha... But for the km's from Ottawa to Calgary, I think I put on about the same amount in a month or two traveling back and forth to Toronto. haha, it's not so bad..... i think.... lol

[STeeLy]

It's roughly 3700km from Ottawa to Calgary if I stay within Canadian Borders. Do realize that I have to drive it back to Ottawa at the end of summer. that's quite a few km...

[GHANNAH86]

Shipping cars is not cheap at all. If you look int he yellow pages look for moving companies and give some a call. I know when I have moved and we needed to ship a car it was either shipped in the moving truck or a seperate car hauling company would transport it. Like I said it isn't cheap. We shipped a car from Halifax Nova Scotia to Ottawa and the cost was about $2000.

[mazda lover]

Shipping cars is not cheap at all. If you look int he yellow pages look for moving companies and give some a call. I know when I have moved and we needed to ship a car it was either shipped in the moving truck or a seperate car hauling company would transport it. Like I said it isn't cheap. We shipped a car from Halifax Nova Scotia to Ottawa and the cost was about $2000.

rent a small moving van-truck from U Hual and a car dolly and tow it yourself, might be cheaper doing it that way.

[x_o_k_x]

rent a small moving van-truck from U Hual and a car dolly and tow it yourself, might be cheaper doing it that way.

+1 assuming you can leave the truck there

[STeeLy]

The problem is that I need to be in Calgary early because I'm working starting July, and I can't exactly get back in time driving back... and since I love my car, I don't want to leave it in Ottawa.

I have places quoting me at around $1000 which is basically what I had expected, I'm just wondering if anyone here knows anymore about it or something cheaper.

Thanks for all the suggestions though, much appreciated.

[Malcolm991]

It's only 3700km! I don't get it, probably be a nice drive!

[ZeroChalk]

I would drive it across to Calgary but go through the US side vs Canada. More to see, more accomodations, better roads.

If you ship it by rail you run the risk of the car being damaged (scratched or broken in to). I also read that it is quite difficult to get compensated for the damages by the freight companies. (Researched this when I wanted to move to Vancouver).

[STeeLy]

It's only 3700km! I don't get it, probably be a nice drive!

I have no time to drive it because from when I can leave Ottawa to when I start work in Calgary, I don't have much time.

[Anrky]

You just need someone to take the road trip with ya and drive straight out...

[whiteomega]

with searail, it's about $2000 to ship a car from Ottawa to Calgary; in a closed rail container. you want to use a closed container; if you don't, expect it to pick up rail dust, and potentially damage from yahoos throwing rocks at passing trains, while it's in-transit (or it was going from calgary to toronto, for me..but i didn't have to pay for it :D)

it's not worth it for the summer to ship your car; you're better off either parking it, and using the transit in Calgary (it's not that bad, but it's not spectacular either), or biting the bullet on the mileage and driving it there and back.

from Ottawa, if you're brave (or perhaps somewhat looney) you can make it to Calgary in about 40 hours straight....not the recommended way to drive that distance.

edit: i just noticed you don't have time to drive it out there; i would suggest parking & storing it here (maybe have a family member or trusted friend turn it on and drive it around a bit once a week), and just using Calgary Transit while you're there for summer.

[yearoftherat]

I had my car shipped by Searail when I moved from Winnipeg to Toronto. It was close to $900.

[STeeLy]

I had my car shipped by Searail when I moved from Winnipeg to Toronto. It was close to $900.

Thanks for that. Searail is one of the companies I got a quote with and it was roughly $1000. Which is again, right around what I expected.


it's not worth it for the summer to ship your car; you're better off either parking it, and using the transit in Calgary (it's not that bad, but it's not spectacular either), or biting the bullet on the mileage and driving it there and back.

edit: i just noticed you don't have time to drive it out there; i would suggest parking & storing it here (maybe have a family member or trusted friend turn it on and drive it around a bit once a week), and just using Calgary Transit while you're there for summer.
My family is in Calgary... I know how the transit is there, this is what I did last summer and it was fine when I was at transit accessible locations, but when it's not it's hard to get around. My family has two vehicles and my parents use them both. My parents start work before I do so I can drive the car to work, but I would have to pick them up after, yet I finish work later than they do so that's not a possibility.


You just need someone to take the road trip with ya and drive straight out...
I don't know if anyone actually would take a road trip with me as all my friends from Calgary are staying here for the entire summer...

[laksman91]

Personally I think that around 1000 is reasonable considering, IF you were to drive it there (which you're not) it would take about 5 or so tanks to get there, so around 200 dollars. Followed by an oil change so another 50 dollars.

I would also rather train it across. I've been considering to go to school out west (UBC) and I thought i would prefer to ship my car west over driving it.

[iconicrocket]

Do car rentals places do monthly rental? and can u rent from a dealership?

Could be cheaper.

[///M]

I've shipped a car before and would not recommend it. Expect it to be very expensive ($2000-3000 depending on distance), to experience delays (car took 6 weeks to arrive), and have the car to sustain some sort of damage during shipping. Never again.

[STeeLy]

The company that I will most likely go with gave me a quote for under $1000, has a guarantee that the car will arrive within the guaranteed amount of time or they're going to cover the rental. They also have zero deductible insurance if any damage was sustained by my car.

They're a reputable company that a lot of dealers use (I was recommended by a Mercedes Benz dealer) If the dealers trust them, I don't see why I wouldn't.

I could rent... but I'm not 21, I will have to actually hunt down for a car rental that rents to people under 21

[Fezuki]

Hey Steely,

What did you end up doing? I will be moving to Edmonton and just wanted to know how the whole process went.

[STeeLy]

I did end up shipping with L. Hansen's Forwarding. My car arrived in Calgary in the same condition except for a bit of dust but that's expected, they took very good care of my car. I would highly recommend them to anyone and everyone who is looking to ship.

http://www.lhf.com/

you can book ahead if you know when you're moving.

[PCLoadLetter]

Good stuff, glad to see your baby arrived safe.

[STeeLy]

but my baby's back in Ontario after 2 and a half days driving.

I think I'm just going to drive it back next summer... I don't think it's going to be too big of a deal anymore with the mileage being put on the car.