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title: "Terminals and Rail Shipping"
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published_at: "2026-05-12T16:42:10+00:00"
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# Terminals & Rail Shipping

[Help & FAQs](https://www.mvscanada.ca/help-and-faqs/)
 »  Terminals & Rail Shipping▾  [Quotes, Pricing & Payments](https://www.mvscanada.ca/quotes-pricing-and-payments)
 [Booking & Order Changes](https://www.mvscanada.ca/booking-and-order-changes)
 [Pickup & Delivery](https://www.mvscanada.ca/pickup-and-delivery)
 [Vehicle Photos Documentation](https://www.mvscanada.ca/take-photos-of-your-vehicle)
 [Transit Times & Tracking](https://www.mvscanada.ca/transit-times-and-tracking)
 [Terminals & Rail Shipping](https://www.mvscanada.ca/terminals-and-rail-shipping)
 [Open vs Enclosed Transport](https://www.mvscanada.ca/open-vs-enclosed-transport)
 [Insurance Coverage & Damage Claims](https://www.mvscanada.ca/insurance-coverage-and-damage-claims)
 [Policies, Terms & Restrictions](https://www.mvscanada.ca/policies-terms-and-restrictions)

### How Terminals & Rail Shipping Work

Terminals are the commercial facilities where your vehicle is received, briefly stored, loaded, and released — and on many long-distance routes, rail is a fast and cost-effective way to cover the distance between them.

### How a Rail Shipment Flows

Depending on your route, your vehicle may move by rail, truck, or a combination of both. A typical rail shipment goes:

**1. Drop-off or first-mile pickup** — at the origin rail terminal, or by flatbed or driving service from a residence.

**2. Origin inspection & photos** — take at least 24 high-quality photos, since rail gate staff may not complete a condition report.

**3. Wait time, then loading** — your vehicle waits for the next suitable departure, then is loaded and secured by wheel chocks.

**4. Rail transit** — the autorack travels between major terminals and switching yards.

**5. Arrival & processing** — the vehicle is unloaded, checked in, and processed at the destination terminal.

**6. Release & pickup** — MVS Canada sends pickup instructions once the vehicle is confirmed ready for release.

#### Wait for Your Instructions

Terminal addresses are not published online. Drop off only after MVS Canada confirms your order, and wait for release instructions before destination pickup.

#### Rail Rules Are Stricter

Vehicles must run, roll, steer, and brake safely, and personal items are heavily restricted — only approved vehicle-related items may stay inside.

#### Keep Your Insurance Active

Terminals provide temporary storage but no guaranteed insurance coverage. Keep your own auto policy active for the entire shipment, and pick up promptly.

## Terminals and Rail Shipping

[b What Is A Terminal?](#)

A terminal is a designated commercial facility or approved location where vehicles are received, temporarily stored, loaded, unloaded, or released during the shipping process.

Terminals are used at the origin while vehicles wait for the next available truck, rail car, or transfer, and at the destination while vehicles are unloaded, processed, and made ready for pickup by you or your authorized agent.

Our terminal network includes several types of locations:

- **Major-city terminals** — In cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, terminals are often rail yards, transport yards, or large commercial lots. These locations handle much of our rail and long-haul truck volume and may be shared with other transport companies.
- **Regional terminals** — In smaller cities, terminals may be commercial lots, dealerships, towing yards, or facilities operated by trusted trucking partners.
- **Approved meeting or staging locations** — In towns where there is no dedicated terminal, the pickup or drop-off point may be a truck stop, dealership, parking lot, or another accessible commercial location. These are arranged based on route, carrier access, and safety.

Terminals are not MVS Canada offices and usually cannot answer questions about pricing, payment, scheduling, or tracking. All shipment questions and payments should be handled directly with MVS Canada.

A few important things to know:

- Do not drop off your vehicle until MVS Canada has confirmed your order and sent your terminal instructions.
- Terminal hours, procedures, and storage rules vary by location.
- Some rail terminals or security gates may not complete a condition report at drop-off, so you must document the vehicle yourself with high-quality photos.
- When picking up, you or your authorized agent should bring the vehicle’s VIN and government-issued photo ID matching the release name provided to MVS Canada.
- Tracking may show that your vehicle has arrived in the destination area before it is ready for pickup. Wait for release instructions from MVS Canada before going to the terminal.
- Most main terminals do not charge short-term storage, but some smaller-city terminals, towing yards, or third-party facilities may charge daily storage fees.
- Terminals provide temporary storage only and do not provide guaranteed insurance coverage while the vehicle is on their premises. We recommend keeping your own auto insurance active until the shipment is complete.

[b When Will I Receive My Terminal Address?](#)

After your order is confirmed and processed, usually within **one business day**, your shipping representative will email your **origin terminal address**, hours of operation, and any special drop-off or access instructions.

Please do **not** drop off your vehicle until you have received your confirmed terminal instructions from MVS Canada.

We do not publish terminal addresses on our website because:

- Terminal locations can change as we update our carrier, rail, and partner network
- Some terminals have specific check-in, security, or access procedures
- Shared facilities may have rules about who can drop off or pick up
- Smaller-city terminals, towing yards, or meeting locations may be arranged based on the specific shipment
- We want to make sure you receive the correct location for your route, service type, and timing

For destination pickup, we will send the **destination terminal pickup instructions** once your vehicle has arrived, been unloaded, processed, and confirmed ready for release. Tracking may show that the vehicle has reached the destination area before it is actually ready to be picked up.

We can usually provide the **destination postal code in advance**, but not the exact pickup location until the vehicle is confirmed ready for release. This helps prevent customers from arriving before the terminal has processed the vehicle or before the release instructions are available.

If your order has been confirmed and you have not received your terminal information, contact your shipping representative. Order confirmation, payment instructions, and terminal details are usually sent the same business day or the next business day.

[b Are Terminals Insured?](#)

Terminals provide temporary storage while vehicles wait to be loaded, transferred, unloaded, or picked up. They do **not** provide guaranteed insurance coverage while your vehicle is on their premises.

Standard carrier or rail coverage generally applies while the vehicle is in the carrier’s possession or actively being transported, subject to the terms, exclusions, vehicle age, vehicle value, and mode of transport. However, time spent waiting at an origin or destination terminal may fall outside that coverage. MVS Canada’s terms state that terminals do not guarantee insurance coverage and that MVS Canada is not liable for loss, theft, or damage that occurs while a vehicle is stored at a terminal.

We strongly recommend:

- Keeping your own auto insurance active for the entire shipment, including any time the vehicle waits at an origin or destination terminal
- Taking the required high-quality photos at drop-off or pickup before the vehicle is moved
- Inspecting the vehicle carefully before leaving the destination terminal
- Reporting any possible damage to the terminal staff before moving the vehicle, then contacting MVS Canada right away
- Picking up your vehicle promptly once it is released, since extended storage may result in storage, relocation, or removal fees

Optional coverage programs may be available at booking. The **Deductible Buy-Down** costs **$50 per vehicle** and removes the $750 deductible on eligible valid damage claims. **Improved Coverage**, when available, includes the Deductible Buy-Down and may allow valid claims for damage that occurs during waiting time at a terminal. Improved Coverage is not available for enclosed transport shipments.

[b How Does Rail Shipping Work?](#)

Rail is an important part of many long-distance shipments in Canada, especially between major hubs such as Toronto and Vancouver. Depending on your route, your vehicle may move by rail only, truck only, or a combination of truck and rail. Not every city pair has direct rail service, so some shipments include local truck or driving service to connect your vehicle to the nearest rail terminal.

Vehicles shipped by rail travel in specialized enclosed rail cars. These rail cars are enclosed over the roof and partially enclosed on the sides, which helps protect vehicles from large road debris and weather exposure. Each rail car can hold roughly **10–15 vehicles**, depending on vehicle size and load configuration.

Here’s the typical rail shipment flow:

1. **Drop-off or first-mile pickup** You drop your vehicle at the origin rail terminal, or we arrange door pickup where available. If door pickup is from a residence, the vehicle may be moved to the rail terminal by flatbed tow truck or driving service.
2. **Origin inspection and photos** At some rail terminals, security or gate staff may not be authorized to complete a condition report. You must take at least **24 high-quality photos** at the time of drop-off or pickup to document the vehicle’s condition. If a condition report cannot be completed, your photos become the main origin record and may be required for any future damage claim.
3. **Wait time before loading** Once your vehicle is ready at the correct origin location, it waits for the next suitable rail departure. Loading depends on route volume, railcar availability, vehicle size and weight, transfer priority, and available capacity. Vehicles are generally staged in queue, but loading is not always strictly first-come, first-served.
4. **Loading onto the rail car** When space is available, trained rail terminal staff load the vehicle and secure it in place. Rail vehicles are typically secured using wheel chocks, so only the tires contact the securing equipment; the vehicle is not strapped or chained.
5. **Rail transit** The rail car is added to a freight train and moves between major terminals and switching yards. Once clear of switching yards and urban congestion, rail can be a fast, reliable, and cost-effective way to move vehicles long distances.
6. **Destination arrival and processing** When the rail car reaches the destination terminal, the vehicle must be unloaded, checked in, processed, and released before it can be picked up. Tracking may show the vehicle has arrived in the destination area before it is ready for pickup.
7. **Release and pickup** MVS Canada will send the destination pickup instructions once the vehicle is confirmed ready for release. You or your authorized agent should bring the VIN and government-issued photo ID matching the release name provided to MVS Canada.

Rail shipments follow MVS Canada’s **Average Days** system, which includes both wait time and transit time based on recent shipment history for that route. Average days are estimates, not guarantees, and can change due to rail operations, terminal delays, weather, holidays, vehicle size, route volume, or capacity.

Personal items are very restricted for rail shipments. Unless MVS Canada gives permission, only approved vehicle-related items may remain in the vehicle, such as tires, secured child seats, jumper cables, basic factory tools, the owner’s manual, emergency supplies, an ice scraper or snow brush, spare tire and tire-changing tools, and a car cover or bra.

For more on why rail is often a strong option for long-distance shipping, see [Top 3 Reasons to Ship Your Car by Train](https://www.mvscanada.ca/3-reasons-to-ship-your-car-by-train/)
.

[b What Are Autorack / Auto Carrier Railcars?](#)

**Autorack railcars**, also called **auto carrier railcars**, are specialized railcars designed to transport vehicles by train. They are commonly used to move cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, and other passenger vehicles over long distances.

Unlike a regular freight car, an autorack has multiple internal levels, or decks, so vehicles can be loaded above and below each other without touching. The most common types are **bi-level railcars**, often used for taller vehicles like SUVs and trucks, and **tri-level railcars**, often used for standard-height cars. A typical autorack may carry roughly **10–15 vehicles**, depending on the vehicle sizes and railcar configuration, though some specialized railcars can carry more.

Autorack railcars are enclosed or semi-enclosed with a roof, side panels, and end doors. This gives vehicles more protection than an open transport truck, but it is **not the same as enclosed truck transport**. The railcar sides may have ventilation or perforated metal panels, so dust, moisture, or fine road/rail debris can still enter during transit. For vehicles that are very low-clearance, exotic, classic, high-value, or require maximum protection, enclosed truck transport may be a better option.

Vehicles are driven slowly onto and off the railcar using loading ramps. Once loaded, they are secured in place so they do not move during transit. On MVS Canada rail shipments, vehicles are secured using a specially designed wheel chock system; only the tires contact the securing equipment, and the vehicle is not strapped or chained to the railcar.

Because vehicles travel together inside shared railcars, rail shipments have stricter rules than some truck shipments. Vehicles must be in good running condition, have working brakes, proper tires, a charged battery, and meet clearance and size requirements. Personal items are also heavily restricted; only approved vehicle-related items may remain inside.

Autorack railcars are one reason rail can be an efficient and cost-effective option for long-distance vehicle shipping. They allow many vehicles to move together between major terminals, especially on high-volume routes such as Toronto to Vancouver. Depending on your route, your shipment may move by rail only, truck only, or a combination of truck and rail.

[b Why Are The Rules Stricter For Rail?](#)

Rail shipping has stricter requirements because vehicles travel in shared, enclosed rail cars and are handled under railway safety, loading, and inspection rules. These rules help protect your vehicle, railway staff, and the other vehicles loaded in the same rail car.

The main restrictions include:

- **Personal items are heavily restricted.** Unless MVS Canada gives permission, only approved vehicle-related items may remain in the vehicle, such as tires, secured child seats, jumper cables, basic factory tools, the owner’s manual, emergency supplies, an ice scraper or snow brush, spare tire and tire-changing tools, and a car cover or bra. Rail rules do not allow the vehicle to be used like a moving container.
- **The vehicle must be in good running condition.** Standard rail service requires the vehicle to start, drive forward and backward under its own power, roll, steer, and brake safely. Rail loading areas are not equipped to handle non-running vehicles with winches, booster packs, or special recovery equipment.
- **Brakes, battery, tires, and fluids must be ready for transport.** The vehicle needs working foot brakes and parking brake, a strong battery, tires that hold air, proper fluid levels, and no leaks. Problems with any of these can make the vehicle unsafe to load, unload, or store at a terminal.
- **Ground clearance, dimensions, and modifications must be declared.** Low ground clearance, oversized tires, lifted suspension, dually wheels, body kits, spoilers, racks, canopies on pick up trucks or other aftermarket modifications can affect whether the vehicle can safely fit on the rail car or loading ramps. Vehicles with less than **6 inches of ground clearance** or non-stock dimensions should be disclosed before booking.
- **Loose, leaking, or unsecured items create risk.** Rail cars carry multiple vehicles close together. Anything that shifts, leaks, breaks loose, or falls off can damage your vehicle, another vehicle, railway equipment, or loading staff.
- **Access is limited once the rail car is loaded.** After the rail car is sealed and in transit, the vehicle cannot be easily accessed for forgotten items, battery boosts, mechanical issues, alarms, or personal belongings.

These requirements are set by the rail carriers, terminals, and transport rules we must follow. If a vehicle or its contents do not meet rail requirements, it may be refused, delayed, moved by a different transport method, or subject to additional charges.

[b What Personal Items Can I Leave In A Rail Shipment?](#)

Almost none. Rail shipments have the strictest personal-items rules, and your vehicle cannot be used to move household goods, luggage, or loose belongings.

Unless MVS Canada gives written permission in advance, only the following vehicle-related items may remain in the vehicle:

- Tires or winter tires, properly stowed
- Properly secured child car seats
- Jumper cables
- Basic factory tools that came with the vehicle
- Owner’s manual
- First-aid or emergency kit
- Ice scraper or snow brush
- Spare tire and tire-changing tools
- Car cover or front-end bra

Everything else must be removed before drop-off, including luggage, boxes, clothing, electronics, sports equipment, gifts, documents, valuables, household items, tools not related to the vehicle, and anything loose or unsecured.

Approved items must be safely stowed and must not block windows, interfere with the driver’s seat, pedals, steering, shifter, parking brake, or inspection process. Items must never be placed in the bed of a pickup truck.

Personal items are not covered by carrier or rail insurance. If unapproved items are found in the vehicle, the shipment may be refused, delayed, or require the items to be removed before the vehicle can move.

If you are unsure whether something is allowed, ask your shipping representative before drop-off.

[b What Should I Expect At Rail Destinations?](#)

When your vehicle arrives in the destination area, it is **not always ready for pickup right away**. Rail shipments must go through an unloading and release process before the vehicle can be collected.

Here’s what typically happens:

1. **The rail car arrives in the destination area** Your tracking may show that the vehicle has arrived, but the rail car may still be in a switching yard or waiting to be moved to the unloading terminal.
2. **The rail car is moved to the unloading terminal** This can take additional time depending on rail schedules, switching yard activity, terminal capacity, and staffing.
3. **Vehicles are unloaded and processed** Terminal staff unload the vehicles, check them in, and prepare them for release.
4. **Release documents are processed** The rail company, terminal, and MVS Canada must complete the required release steps before the vehicle can be picked up.
5. **MVS Canada sends pickup instructions** Once your vehicle is officially ready for release, we will send you the destination pickup instructions, including the terminal address, hours of operation, and any special pickup requirements.

The time between “arrived” and “ready for pickup” can range from a day to several days, depending on the terminal and rail schedule. Please do **not** go to the terminal until MVS Canada has confirmed that your vehicle is ready for release. This applies even if your tracking page, AirTag, GPS device, or built-in vehicle tracker shows that the vehicle is already in the destination city.

When you arrive for pickup, you or your authorized agent should bring:

- The vehicle’s **VIN**
- Government-issued photo ID matching the release person provided to MVS Canada
- Your MVS Canada order number, if available

Before signing for the vehicle or moving it, inspect it carefully. If you notice any possible transit damage, report it immediately to the person at the pickup terminal. Do **not** move the vehicle until the damage has been reviewed and documented. Make sure the damage is noted on the release form, Bill of Lading, or condition report, take clear photos, and contact MVS Canada right away.

Once the vehicle is signed for and removed from the terminal, it may be much harder to verify a damage claim.

[b How Are Vehicles Released From A Terminal?](#)

Vehicles are released only to the person named on the booking or to an authorized agent the customer has provided to MVS Canada in advance. Terminals may refuse to release a vehicle if the person picking it up is not listed on the order or cannot provide proper identification.

To pick up a vehicle, you or your authorized agent should bring:

- Government-issued photo ID matching the release name provided to MVS Canada
- The vehicle’s **VIN**
- The vehicle year, make, and model
- The MVS Canada booking or order number, if available

Please wait until MVS Canada confirms that the vehicle is ready for pickup before going to the terminal. Tracking may show that the vehicle has arrived in the destination area before it has been unloaded, processed, and released.

At pickup, inspect the vehicle carefully before signing any release form, Bill of Lading, or condition report. If you notice possible transit damage, report it immediately to the person at the pickup terminal. Do **not** move the vehicle until the damage has been reviewed and documented. Take clear photos, make sure the damage is noted on the paperwork, and contact MVS Canada right away.

Until pickup, the terminal holds the vehicle temporarily on your behalf. Terminals do not provide guaranteed insurance coverage while vehicles are stored on their premises, so we recommend keeping your own auto insurance active and picking up promptly once the vehicle is released.

If a vehicle remains at a destination terminal beyond the standard pickup window, the terminal may charge storage fees or relocate the vehicle to longer-term storage at the customer’s expense. Any storage, relocation, removal, or related fees caused by delayed pickup are the customer’s responsibility. MVS Canada will make reasonable efforts to contact you when your vehicle is ready or approaching a storage deadline, but prompt pickup is strongly recommended.

## Request Your Free Quote Now!

*Risk-free and no obligations!

[Request Your Free Quote](https://www.mvscanada.ca/request-a-quote/)

I will remember my dealings with MVS as a standard-setting, high-end, very reasonably-priced and stress-free service. Those will be the words I will be using when recommending MVS.#### Rick B