Quotes, Pricing & Payments

Your shipping price is based on the details of your route, vehicle, service type, and the carrier or rail options available at the time of shipping. The main factors include:

• Pickup and delivery locations — major-city terminals are usually more economical than smaller towns, remote areas, or door service.
• Distance and route availability — cost is affected by how often trucks or rail service operate on that route, not just mileage.
• Vehicle size and weight — compact cars usually cost less than large SUVs, vans, pickup trucks, or heavy-duty vehicles.
• Vehicle condition — non-running, modified, oversized, lifted, or low-clearance vehicles may require special handling or equipment.
• Transport method — truck, rail, or a combination of both, depending on the route.
• Service type — terminal-to-terminal is usually less expensive than door pickup or door delivery.
• Trailer type — open transport is generally more affordable than enclosed transport.
• Season and demand — pricing can change during busy moving seasons, winter weather, and high-demand periods.
• Fuel costs — fuel prices at the pump can affect carrier, rail, and overall transport costs.

In general, the most affordable option is terminal-to-terminal shipping between major-city terminals. For example, if you’re shipping from Kitchener, ON to Canmore, AB, the most economical option is usually to drop off at our Greater Toronto Area terminal and pick up at our Calgary terminal, instead of adding door service at both ends.

Please note that if you book well in advance — especially more than 14 days before the vehicle actually ships — the price may change before your shipping date if carrier rates, fuel costs, rail costs, or route availability change.

Some services and vehicle details can change your quote because they affect carrier availability, loading requirements, handling time, insurance options, or the amount of space your vehicle takes.

Common price adjustments include:

• Door pickup or door delivery instead of terminal service. Door service may be handled by a smaller transport truck or flatbed tow truck, which can be more expensive. In some cities, we may also offer a driving service where your vehicle is driven to or from the terminal, which is usually more economical than sending a truck. Door service is not available in all locations and should be requested when quoting or booking.
• Enclosed transport, which is more expensive than open transport but may be recommended for exotic, classic, high-value, low-clearance, or specialty vehicles.
• Inoperable vehicles, when we’re able to accommodate them. Non-running vehicles usually require special handling and may only be available by enclosed trailer for an additional fee.
• Oversized or modified vehicles, including lifted vehicles, oversized tires, heavy-duty trucks, unusually wide vehicles, or vehicles over 7 feet tall. These may require special approval and can cost more because they may take up extra trailer space.
• Hot-shot Direct service, where a dedicated truck and trailer move only your vehicle. This is significantly more expensive than standard transport, often around 5× the regular shipping price, but may be available in many areas when faster or more direct service is needed.
• Deductible Buy-Down, an optional $50 program that eliminates the $750 deductible on eligible approved damage claims.
• Credit card payment, which is subject to a 3% service fee charged by the payment processor.

Please let us know about any special service requests, vehicle modifications, non-running issues, low ground clearance, oversized dimensions, or payment preferences at the time of quoting. We’ll include the correct options upfront so there are no surprises after booking.

Quotes are valid for 14 days from the date they are issued. If you book and your shipment is scheduled to begin within that 14-day window, the quoted price is generally locked in for the standard service, route, and vehicle details quoted.

If you book farther in advance — for example, several weeks or a few months before your preferred shipping date — the price may change before your vehicle ships. Carrier rates, rail costs, fuel prices, seasonal demand, and route availability can change over time. In these cases, we will review the rate and send a revised quote approximately two weeks before your order start date if an adjustment is needed.

Your quote may also change if the shipment details change after booking, including:

• Adding door pickup or door delivery
• Changing the pickup or delivery location
• Switching from open to enclosed transport
• Shipping a different vehicle than originally quoted
• Providing incorrect vehicle size, condition, or modification details
• The vehicle being inoperable or not as described at pickup
• Adding optional services, such as Deductible Buy-Down

We will discuss any required price adjustment with you before applying additional charges.

Yes. All quotes are provided in Canadian dollars and include applicable taxes, unless your quote clearly states otherwise.

The applicable GST or HST is calculated based on your shipment details and included in the quoted total. Your final invoice will show the shipping charge, tax amount, and total price for your records.

If your shipment details change after quoting — such as adding door pickup or delivery, enclosed transport, oversized vehicle handling, or other optional services — the final price may be updated, and any applicable taxes will be included in the revised total.

For special situations, such as cross-border shipments, dealership billing, business accounts, or tax-exempt customers, your shipping representative can confirm how taxes apply before booking.

We do not offer formal price matching, but if you have received a lower quote from a reputable, established vehicle shipping company, send it to us and we’ll review it. If the service is comparable, we’ll let you know whether we can match or improve the price.

When comparing quotes, make sure you are comparing the same details, including:

We do not typically run seasonal sales or promotional discounts. Pricing can change throughout the year based on fuel costs, route demand, carrier and rail capacity, weather, and overall shipping volume.

The main discounts available are usually for multi-vehicle shipments, especially if you are shipping several vehicles at the same time. Contact us with the shipment details and we’ll let you know whether volume pricing is available.

The lowest quote is not always the best option. A very low price may come with slower service, limited communication, unrealistic transit estimates, or fewer service options, so it’s important to compare the full value of the shipment — not just the number on the quote. For more on comparing quotes from different shippers, see Choosing the Best Car Shipping Company and How to Compare Car Shipping Quotes.

The best way to reduce your shipping cost is to choose the most efficient route and service type for your move. In most cases, the lowest-cost option is terminal-to-terminal shipping between major city terminals, especially when rail service is available.

Ways to save include:

• Use major-city terminals whenever possible. Our main car shipping hub cities include Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver. Major terminals usually have more frequent service and better pricing.
• Drive the vehicle to the closest major terminal yourself. For example, if you live in Hamilton, ON and are shipping to Vancouver, dropping off at our Toronto terminal can avoid the added cost of moving the vehicle from Hamilton to Toronto.
• Pick up from a major destination terminal. Choosing terminal pickup instead of door delivery can reduce the final cost, especially if the destination is a smaller town, rural area, or remote location.
• Ship by rail when available. Rail is often the lowest cost-per-kilometre option, but it is only available between certain cities. Routes that require truck-only service, especially to remote locations, are usually more expensive.
• Choose open transport instead of enclosed transport. Open transport is the standard and more economical option for most vehicles. Enclosed transport costs more and is usually reserved for exotic, classic, high-value, low-clearance, or specialty vehicles.
• Avoid expedited or Hot-shot Direct service unless needed. Faster or dedicated service costs significantly more than standard shared transport.
• Be flexible with your timing. More flexible pickup and delivery windows can make it easier to use the most economical carrier or rail option.
• Ship multiple vehicles together. If you are moving 5 or more vehicles, we may be able to offer a volume discount.
• Provide accurate vehicle details. Oversized, lifted, modified, very heavy, or unusually tall vehicles can cost more because they may take up extra trailer space.

For a deeper breakdown, see The Cheapest Way to Ship a Car which explains how vehicle size, service type, rail availability, major terminals, and remote locations affect pricing.

Once your order is confirmed, we’ll send you a payment email link with all available payment options and instructions.

We accept:

• Credit Card — Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Credit cards are processed online through a secure SSL-encrypted payment system through Bambora/Worldline. A 3% service fee applies to all credit card transactions.
• Direct Deposit — Available at any Bank of Montreal branch. Deposit instructions will be included in your payment email.
• Email Transfer — E-transfers can be sent in multiple payments if your bank has a daily sending limit.
• Wire Transfer — Contact our office or refer to your payment instructions for wire details.
• Certified Cheque — Contact our office for mailing instructions before sending payment.

Please do not send credit card details by email. All payments must be made directly to MVS Canada using the instructions provided. Terminals, drivers, towing companies, and other agents are not authorized to accept payment for your shipment.

Payment is normally due when you submit your order. This allows us to confirm your booking and reserve space for your vehicle.

If you are booking well in advance of your pickup or drop-off date, payment can usually be arranged closer to your shipping date. Please discuss this with your booking representative before placing your order.

If you are not comfortable paying the full amount upfront, we may be able to accept a deposit instead, with the balance due before shipping. Your booking representative can explain the available options.

All payments must be made directly to MVS Canada. Terminals, drivers, towing companies, and other agents are not authorized to accept payment for your shipment.

Credit card payments may be subject to a processing fee. Your invoice or booking representative will confirm the accepted payment methods and any applicable fees before payment is processed.