Policies, Terms & Restrictions

Certain vehicle types, conditions, and modifications must be disclosed before booking. If important details are missing or inaccurate, your shipment may be delayed, refused, re-quoted, moved by a different transport method, or subject to additional charges.

Please tell us in advance if any of the following apply:

• Non-running or inoperable vehicles — including vehicles that cannot start, drive forward and backward under their own power, roll, steer, brake, or be safely loaded without special equipment. Undisclosed non-running vehicles may result in additional charges of at least $300 CAD, plus any towing, storage, or equipment costs required to complete the shipment.
• Vehicles with low ground clearance — including sports cars, lowered vehicles, body kits, front splitters, or vehicles with less than 6 inches of clearance.
• Oversized vehicles — including vehicles taller than approximately 7 feet, lifted trucks, oversized tires, dually wheels, extended body kits, unusually wide vehicles, or anything that may take extra trailer space.
• Modified vehicles or exterior accessories — including ladder racks, light bars, snorkels, roof tents, truck caps, oversized mirrors, aftermarket bumpers, spoilers, canopies on pick up trucks or other non-factory parts. All aftermarket features should be disclosed before booking.
• Vehicles with special start or operating procedures — including push-button start, fob-only ignition, immobilizer codes, alcohol interlocks, hidden kill switches, alarm systems, manual transmissions, special shift procedures, or parking-brake instructions.
• Electric vehicles — please disclose that the vehicle is electric and confirm charge level. EVs must have at least a 75% battery charge before shipping.
• Older, classic, project, high-value, imported, right-hand-drive, or specialty vehicles — vehicle age, value, condition, and purpose can affect the recommended transport mode, pricing, loading requirements, and insurance coverage.

We may also request photos, dimensions, ground-clearance measurements, vehicle value, condition details, or other information before confirming the best transport method.

Personal property may not be left inside the vehicle unless we explicitly approved it in advance. Even when items are approved, they travel at the customer’s risk and are not covered by carrier insurance.

The following items are strictly prohibited inside the vehicle:

• Firearms or ammunition
• Flammable products, fuels, or explosives
• Narcotics, illegal drugs, or contraband
• Alcohol
• Jewelry, precious metals, furs, cash, or money
• Pets or live animals
• Plants
• Any other prohibited, illegal, dangerous, or restricted goods

If prohibited or unapproved items are found, the carrier may remove, confiscate, or dispose of them, and government authorities may be contacted where required. Improperly packed or unapproved personal items may also result in removal fees, delays, refusal of shipment, or charges for damage caused by those items. A minimum $200 CAD removal/disposal fee may apply in these situations.

Only limited vehicle-related items may be allowed, such as properly stowed tires, secured child seats, jumper cables, factory tools, the owner’s manual, emergency kit, snow brush, spare tire tools, or a car cover, and only if they meet the rules for your transport method.

When you book with MVS Canada, you are responsible for making sure the vehicle is accurately described, properly prepared, accessible, and ready to ship.

At booking, you must:

• Provide accurate pickup and delivery details
• Provide the correct year, make, model, VIN, and vehicle value
• Disclose modifications, low clearance, oversized dimensions, non-running issues, leaks, weak batteries, poor tires, alarms, special start procedures, or anything else that could affect loading
• Declare if the vehicle is electric, imported, right-hand-drive, high-value, older, classic, modified, or not in standard running condition
• Provide names and phone numbers for anyone authorized to release or receive the vehicle
• Disclose any third-party tracking device, such as an AirTag, and provide any required documentation

Before pickup or drop-off, you must:

• Make sure the vehicle is clean enough to inspect
• Remove personal items, valuables, prohibited items, and unapproved belongings
• Remove or secure loose parts, fragile accessories, low-hanging parts, and non-permanent exterior racks
• Confirm the vehicle can start, drive forward and backward, steer, roll, and brake safely, unless otherwise approved
• Leave the required key or fob, attached securely if more than one key is provided
• Provide any alarm, immobilizer, start, shift, or operating instructions
• Ensure an internal-combustion vehicle has at least 1/4 tank of fuel, with no more than 1/2 tank recommended
• Ensure an electric vehicle has at least 75% charge
• Check fluids, battery, tires, mirrors, and make sure the vehicle is not leaking
• Take and submit at least 24 high-quality origin photos through your tracking page

If a condition report cannot be completed at origin, such as at some terminals or after-hours drop-offs, your photos become the main record of the vehicle’s condition. Failure to complete a condition report or provide proper photos may affect or prevent a damage claim. Vehicles that are snow-covered, dirty, or otherwise difficult to inspect may not be insured for hidden scratches, dents, or damage.

At pickup or delivery, you must:

• Be available by phone during the pickup or delivery window
• Ensure the vehicle is accessible and not blocked, snowed in, or parked somewhere the carrier cannot safely reach
• Have keys, fobs, access devices, and special instructions ready
• Arrange an authorized agent in advance if you cannot be present
• Bring the vehicle’s VIN and government-issued ID when picking up from a terminal

At delivery or terminal pickup, you must:

• Inspect the vehicle carefully before signing anything
• Report any possible damage immediately to the driver, delivery agent, or terminal staff
• Do not move the vehicle until any possible damage has been reviewed, photographed, and documented
• Note all damage on the Bill of Lading, release form, or condition report before signing
• Report damage to MVS Canada immediately and submit photos within 24 hours
• Follow the claim process in Insurance, Coverage & Damage Claims

At all times, you are responsible for:

• Paying all required fees before shipping or release, unless written payment arrangements have been approved by MVS Canada
• Keeping your own auto insurance active during the full shipment, including terminal wait time
• Following the personal-items and prohibited-items rules
• Providing accurate information and responding promptly if MVS Canada, a carrier, terminal, or driver needs to contact you

Accurate information is the best way to avoid delays, extra charges, refused loading, insurance issues, or problems at delivery.

The following fees may be applied if specific conditions or rules are not met. They exist to cover real costs the carrier or terminal incurs, and are detailed in our terms and conditions:

A few rules govern what happens to your vehicle at terminals on either end of the trip:

• Origin terminals hold your vehicle from drop-off until the carrier collects it for the main leg of the journey. Wait time depends on route and capacity.
• Destination terminals hold your vehicle until you or your designated agent picks it up. Prompt pickup is in your interest — extended storage may trigger relocation fees.
• Terminals do not guarantee insurance coverage. Standard carrier insurance applies during transit on a truck or rail car. Time spent waiting at a terminal typically falls outside that coverage. Improved Coverage (available on open transport) extends protection to terminal wait times.
• MVS Canada is not liable for loss, theft, or damage that occurs while your vehicle is at a terminal. Keeping your own auto insurance active during the entire shipment is the broadest protection.
• Storage windows vary by terminal. If your vehicle is approaching the end of the standard storage window at the destination, we’ll reach out so you can arrange pickup or alternative storage in time.

Vehicle shipping involves many independent parties — carriers, rail companies, terminals, drivers, weather, and infrastructure. The following are situations that can affect your shipment but are outside our direct control:

• Weather, road, and rail conditions — snow, ice, flooding, wildfires, road closures, freezing rain, severe heat
• Acts of God and force majeure — earthquakes, avalanches, rockslides, washouts, fires, expropriations
• Strikes, lockouts, and labour disputes — affecting carriers, terminals, ports, or rail operators
• Government actions — searches, seizures, regulatory restrictions, border processing
• Mechanical failures and equipment availability — at the carrier or rail level
• Rail switching and routing schedules — once a rail car is part of a longer freight train, its movement is governed by rail company schedules
• Customer-side delays — vehicles not ready for pickup, undisclosed conditions discovered at loading, unreachable receiver at delivery

When delays happen for any of these reasons, we work with the carrier to resolve them as quickly as possible and reach out with updates. Per our terms, MVS Canada and our carriers are not liable for indirect costs that result from delays.

If you use a third-party tracking device (such as an AirTag) in your vehicle during shipment, disclosure to MVS Canada is required. This protects everyone involved — the vehicle, the carrier, and other vehicles on the same load.

Required documentation:

• A copy of the device owner’s driver’s licence with current address.
• A utility bill with current address (if the licence address isn’t current).
• If the device owner doesn’t have a driver’s licence, a copy of the shipper’s licence instead.

Undisclosed tracking devices found inside a vehicle may be removed or disposed of by the carrier and may not be returned. For the full tracking device policy and how it interacts with our online tracking.

When you book a shipment with MVS Canada, you agree to the terms and conditions that apply to your transport mode:

• Open transport bookings are governed by our Open Transport Terms & Conditions.
• Enclosed transport bookings are governed by our Enclosed Transport Terms & Conditions.

These documents set out the complete legal agreement between MVS Canada and the customer, including jurisdiction (Nova Scotia), liability limits, claim procedures, and the role of the carrier in transporting your vehicle. We recommend reviewing them at the time of booking — and reaching out to your shipping representative with any questions before the vehicle ships.