Car shipping in Vancouver

From Vancouver the US border is under an hour away, but the places BC snowbirds actually go are not. Phoenix is about 2,650 km (1,650 mi) by road and Palm Springs about 2,200 km (1,400 mi). Driving it in late fall means three long days on I-5, including the Siskiyou Pass in southern Oregon, where winter weather often closes in first. Shipping the car lets you fly down and meet it there.

Work moves, students heading to US schools and cars bought south of the border each come with their own paperwork, so tell us which one you're planning.

We arrange pickup across Metro Vancouver and out through the Fraser Valley, with the Okanagan as a longer trip. Here's what each area tends to mean for the truck:

For BC snowbirds the usual destinations are the desert Southwest and Southern California. Vancouver to Arizona serves Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Tucson. Vancouver to California runs straight down I-5 to the desert communities around Palm Springs, Los Angeles and San Diego.

If you've bought a car in Washington state or farther south and want it registered in BC, that's a full import with US export paperwork and Canada's RIV program. US to Canada car shipping walks through it, and Canada to US car shipping covers the southbound file for a winter stay.

Metro Vancouver combines dense towers, steep hills and a lot of water to get around. A car carrier can reach most of it with a little planning:

• Strata towers downtown, in Yaletown, Coal Harbour, Metrotown or Brentwood: parkades are far too low for a carrier, and many strata bylaws require you to book the loading bay. Bring the car up for a street-level handoff.
• The North Shore: carriers generally use the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, and the winding roads above Marine Drive in West Vancouver are no place for a 75-foot truck. Meet on Marine Drive or another main road.
• Rain: a wet car hides scratches. Do the walk-around under cover if you can, and note anything you're unsure about on the bill of lading.
• The Okanagan means mountain passes in winter. Pickups are planned around conditions on the Coquihalla and Highway 3, and a carrier may cross at Osoyoos instead of coming back to the coast.

BC snowbirds tend to leave between late October and early December and come home in March or April. Rain is the usual Lower Mainland issue rather than snow, though the passes are another matter. Book four to six weeks ahead for a November pickup. If the car comes home before the end of March, remember that BC requires winter tires on many highways from October 1 to March 31, and on some routes into April; DriveBC lists them.

BC also sets its own limit on how long residents can be out of the province and keep MSP, and it has changed over the years, so confirm the current rule before you book. Keep your ICBC insurance active and ask whether it covers the full US stay. The US day counts are in our snowbird guide.

YVR has US preclearance, so you clear US customs before you fly and land as a domestic arrival. If you'd rather fly from Bellingham, you'll need a ride, and check the registration section of our snowbird guide first, since entering by land can change what you need to file.

• Your ICBC vehicle registration, in the registered owner's name.
• A passport scan for that owner.
• Current insurance documents, plus ICBC's confirmation that coverage extends to your US stay.
• A lienholder or lessor letter if the car is financed or leased, permitting it to leave Canada temporarily.