Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Bakersfield, California to Montreal

Importing a car from the USA to Canada involves costs like the RIV fee (around $325 CAD), GST/HST, potential $100 AC tax, transport fees (often $800-$2,500+), and mandatory provincial inspections/modifications, with total costs often ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars beyond the car's value, depending on shipping, province, and vehicle age. Key costs are the RIV fee, GST (5%), AC excise tax, transport, safety/emissions inspections, and possible compliance modifications (like daytime running lights or km displays).

It's usually cheaper to drive for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, shipping can become competitive or even cheaper when you factor in the "hidden" costs of driving (gas, hotels, food, wear-and-tear) versus the upfront shipping fee, especially if you're moving with others or have an unreliable car.

Generally, shipping a car by train is cheaper than by truck, especially for long distances (over 500 miles) and major routes, due to rail's higher capacity and lower cost-per-mile, but trucks offer door-to-door convenience and faster transit, while trains have limited routes and require station drop-off/pickup. For specific, popular corridors like the Amtrak Auto Train, it's very affordable and offers enclosed transport, but truck transport provides more flexibility for varied locations.