Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from San Francisco, California to Montreal

Driving is usually cheaper for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, the cost difference shrinks, and shipping can become comparable or even cheaper once you factor in gas, lodging, food, wear-and-tear, and your time, making the decision depend on distance, vehicle, your schedule, and budget. Driving saves money on carrier fees but adds wear on your car, while shipping costs more upfront but saves time, fuel, and stress.

The cheapest international car shipping method is Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO), where you drive your car onto a specialized ship, offering significant savings over container shipping for standard vehicles, though it leaves the car exposed; for better protection on high-value cars, shared containers are cheaper than dedicated ones, while air freight is the most expensive but fastest option. To find the best deal, compare quotes from several international shippers like those found on uShip or Shiply or Shiply, and factor in potential customs duties.

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).