Car shipping in Toronto

For most people shipping a car from Toronto to the US, it's a winter trip. You fly from Pearson, the car follows by carrier, and a few days later it's in Florida or Arizona with its Ontario plates and insurance, ready to drive. We arrange the pickup at your address, the border crossing and the delivery at the other end.

A permanent move south, or a car bought in the US and brought home to Ontario, follows different rules from a winter stay. Tell us which applies when you request a quote.

Pickup covers the GTA and the towns around it. Where the truck can actually stop varies from one part of the region to the next:

Florida is the usual destination. Toronto to Florida covers roughly 1,850–2,580 km (1,150–1,600 mi), depending on the coast. Gulf Coast cars tend to cross at Windsor or Sarnia and run down I-75, while Atlantic Coast cars often cross at Niagara.

Toronto to Arizona is a much longer haul, about 3,500 km (2,200 mi) to the Phoenix area, and fewer trucks run it, so book early. In spring, Florida to Toronto brings the car home.

Canada to US car shipping explains the southbound file, and US to Canada car shipping covers the return and importing a car bought in the US.

A loaded car carrier is longer than a city bus and far too tall for an underground garage, so most Toronto pickups come down to choosing a good meeting spot:

• Condo towers in CityPlace, Liberty Village, Humber Bay Shores or around Yonge and Eglinton: bring the car up from the garage and meet the driver on a wider street nearby. Ask your concierge where a large truck can briefly stop.
• Older neighborhoods such as Leaside, Rosedale and the Annex have narrow streets, low tree canopies and truck restrictions. Plan to meet on a main road like Bayview or Avenue Road.
• The 905: in Oakville, Vaughan or Markham the driver can often stop at the end of your street or in a plaza lot. Get permission if the lot is private.
• The 401: drivers avoid it at rush hour, so morning and mid-day pickups are normal. A meeting point near a highway ramp can save an hour.
• Your 407 ETR transponder comes out of the car before pickup, along with garage remotes and parking passes.

Most southbound departures fall between mid-October and mid-December. Cross-border trucks fill first in that window, so start planning a November pickup in September, and give the driver a few days' window, since a December squall on the 401 can push a pickup back a day. Northbound trips return in March and April, around Easter; book the return when you book the trip south.

Check your health coverage before you settle on how long you'll stay. At the time of writing, OHIP allows Ontario residents up to 212 days away in any 12-month period, but confirm the current rule with the province. Our snowbird guide covers the US side of the day count.

With US preclearance at Pearson, you clear US customs in Toronto and land as a domestic passenger. Air travelers usually receive an electronic I-94, which matters for the US registration rule on stays of 30 days or more, so confirm the current CBP and USCIS rules before you go. Schedule pickup a few days before your flight:

• Your Ontario vehicle permit (the ownership), in the registered owner's name.
• A passport scan for that same owner.
• Proof of insurance, plus your insurer's confirmation that the policy covers your full US stay.
• A lender or leasing letter if the car is financed or leased, allowing a temporary US stay.