Car shipping in Montreal

Montreal's snowbirds have a well-worn path south: the A-15 to Lacolle, I-87 through upstate New York, and on toward Florida. Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and the rest of South Broward have long had a large Quebec winter community. A carrier collects the car from your street or a nearby artery, takes it through the crossing, and delivers it wherever in the US it's headed.

Not every Montreal shipment is a winter stay. A permanent relocation, a student's semester away, or a vehicle purchased in the States and headed into Quebec each carries a different set of documents, so let us know the purpose of the trip in your quote request.

We arrange pickup across the island, in Laval and on both shores. The street layout changes from one borough to the next, and so does where a carrier can stop:

Montreal to Florida runs about 1,900 km (1,200 mi) to Jacksonville and close to 2,600 km (1,600 mi) to Miami. Many Quebec snowbirds winter on the east coast around Fort Lauderdale and Miami. From Gatineau or the Ottawa Valley, see Ottawa to Florida for the crossings closer to you. Arizona and California are possible too, as long hauls that need more lead time.

Southbound customs paperwork is covered on Canada to US car shipping. For the spring return, or for importing a car you bought in the US, see US to Canada car shipping.

Dense boroughs, one-way grids, back lanes and winter snowbanks make Montreal a hard city for big trucks. Most pickups work best on a main artery:

• Snow-clearing operations: when the city posts temporary no-parking signs for snow removal, cars left on the street get towed. If your car is waiting at the curb, watch the signs, and expect the pickup date to move a little after a big storm.
• Snowbanks narrow side streets enough that a carrier can't get through. In winter, meet the driver on a main street or in a commercial lot.
• The Plateau and Mile End: one-way streets, bike lanes and tight corners. Bring the car to an artery such as Papineau or Avenue du Parc.
• Downtown and Griffintown condos: the car comes up from the garage for a street-level handoff.
• July 1: Quebec's traditional moving day fills the streets with moving trucks. Avoid a pickup in the days around it.
• Construction season: summer detours change week to week, so the meeting point gets confirmed with the driver shortly before pickup.

Departures run from late October into December, and northbound trips come back in March and April. Book both at once, and give the carrier a pickup window of a few days. Quebec's winter-tire law shapes the return: from December 1 to March 15, passenger vehicles registered in Quebec must have winter tires. If the car comes home before March 15, it needs them before it's driven on Quebec roads, so plan the return date and the tire swap together.

Your RAMQ coverage sets a limit on the trip too. At the time of writing, Quebec requires 183 days of presence in the province per calendar year to keep it; confirm the current rule with RAMQ before you leave. The American side of the calendar, from visitor limits to the IRS day-count test, is laid out in our snowbird guide.

Trudeau has US preclearance: the CBP interview happens in Montreal, and the flight lands in Florida like any domestic arrival. Some Montrealers drive down to Plattsburgh for cheaper fares instead. Be aware that entering by road may not generate an I-94 record, which changes whether a stay past 30 days has to be registered with USCIS. Check the current rules before choosing an airport.

• Your SAAQ registration certificate. The name on it is the person who signs the customs authorization.
• That owner's passport, scanned.
• Permission from the lienholder when there's a loan or lease on the car, stating it may travel to the US for the season. Banks can be slow, so request it first.
• Written confirmation from your insurer that your Quebec policy applies while you drive in the US.