Car Shipping to Canada (and From Canada to the USA)
Shipping a car across the U.S.-Canada border is mostly a trucking job, but it's also a customs job on both sides. In 2026 it's also a trade-policy job: the rules for importing a car depend heavily on where that car was built. Here's what to know before you book.
Starting Prices
Estimated starting rates for cross-border transport:
USA to Canada
starting at $1,999
Canada to USA
starting at $1,999
These are estimated starting rates. The final price depends on the vehicle's size, make, model, and condition, your pickup and delivery locations, port and terminal requirements, carrier availability, seasonal demand, and open or enclosed transport where applicable. We provide a final quote after reviewing the complete vehicle and route details.
Freight is only part of the cost of moving a car permanently across the border. For other destinations, see our guide to international car shipping. Duties, taxes, and registration come on top, and we cover them below. Border paperwork is typically handled by a customs broker, and we confirm exactly what's included in your quote.
How a Car Ships Across the Border
Unlike an ocean route, this is a land shipment: the car is trucked across the border by a carrier. Two filings bracket the trip:
U.S. export filing
An Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing, which generates an Internal Transaction Number (ITN), is generally required at least 72 hours before the vehicle crosses at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Canadian customs entry
At the Canadian border, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declaration is made with the title, bill of sale, and recall clearance.
Importing a U.S. Vehicle Into Canada
For a permanent import, the steps generally run in this order:
- 1.Check admissibility. The vehicle must be on the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) list of admissible vehicles, meaning it can meet Canadian safety standards. Most recent U.S.-market cars qualify, but some don't.
- 2.Get a recall clearance letter from the manufacturer confirming there are no outstanding safety recalls.
- 3.Clear customs at the border and pay the applicable duty and taxes.
- 4.Pay the RIV fee, currently around $325 CAD plus tax, and complete the RIV inspection, generally within 45 days of entry.
- 5.Register the vehicle in your province. Provincial sales tax varies widely, from 13% HST in Ontario to no provincial sales tax in Alberta.
Two smaller items catch people out: a $100 CAD federal excise tax on vehicles with air conditioning, and modifications such as daytime running lights or a km/h speedometer, which some vehicles need. All told, duties, taxes, and registration commonly add roughly $1,500 to $5,000 or more on top of the shipping cost.
Canada's 25% Surtax on U.S.-Made Vehicles
As of October 2026, Canada's retaliatory surtax on U.S.-made motor vehicles remains in force at 25%. For vehicles imported by individuals for personal use, the Canada Border Services Agency applies the 25% to 85% of the vehicle's value for duty, which works out to roughly 21% of that value, on top of regular GST and provincial tax. That is a large cost, and it's the single biggest variable in whether importing a U.S.-built car is worth it.
How it applies depends on the vehicle:
Origin is presumed to be the U.S.
For personal importations, CBSA treats goods as originating in the United States by default, and the burden of proof is on you. A car built in Canada, Mexico, or elsewhere is treated differently only if you can show where it was made. Standard duty is 0% for North American-built vehicles under the trade agreement and 6.1% for vehicles built outside North America.
Temporary visits are different
The surtax doesn't apply to personal vehicles temporarily imported by non-residents for personal use. A U.S. resident can generally drive a U.S.-registered car in Canada for up to 12 months.
Older vehicles
Vehicles 15 years or older are exempt from most Canadian safety standards, which removes the RIV process. Vehicles 25 years or older in original, unmodified condition can generally be imported duty-free, including exemption from the surtax on U.S.-made models.
Canada has also introduced remission measures that relieve the surtax for certain eligible automakers, but those do not apply to an individual importing a personal vehicle. If you're moving to Canada and establishing residency, a vehicle that's part of your household goods may qualify for a duty and tax exemption under the settlers' effects provision, though how that interacts with the surtax should be confirmed for your situation. These rules have changed repeatedly, so we confirm how your specific vehicle is classified and what applies before you book.
Shipping a Car From Canada to the USA
Bringing a car into the United States has its own requirements. A vehicle generally has to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards or qualify for an exemption, and vehicles 25 years or older are generally exempt from the safety standards. Most passenger cars carry a 2.5% U.S. import duty.
See our classic and exotic car shipping guide for how the 25-year rule works
As of October 2026, U.S. trade measures on Canadian vehicles are in flux, but the import exclusion is narrow. Since September 29, 2026, the U.S. has excluded one category of Canadian motor vehicle from importation altogether: motorcycles over 800 cc that are products of Canada. Passenger cars are not on that list. Separately, a 50% duty applies to a list of other Canadian goods under the motor vehicle measures, a list revised on September 15 that includes all-terrain vehicles, while certain passenger and commercial vehicles are carved out because they're covered by separate Section 232 tariffs. These rules have moved several times since July, so we confirm the current treatment for your specific vehicle before any Canada-to-USA shipment is booked.
What Affects the Price
- Vehicle size and conditionLarger vehicles cost more, and a non-running vehicle typically adds roughly $150 to $300 for winch or flatbed loading. See our non-running vehicle guide
- Distance and seasonThe same principles as any shipment apply: longer routes cost less per mile, and summer is the busiest period.
- Open or enclosed transportEnclosed costs more and protects higher-value vehicles. See our enclosed transport guide
- Border paperworkCustoms filings and broker fees are part of the picture, and we confirm what's included.
What to Have Ready
- •Original title and current registration
- •Bill of sale, if the car was recently purchased
- •Photo ID
- •A recall clearance letter, for imports into Canada
- •A notarized lienholder letter authorizing export, if the vehicle is financed
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a car to Canada?
Our starting price is $1,999 in either direction, with the final quote based on your vehicle and route. Duties, taxes, and registration for a permanent import commonly add roughly $1,500 to $5,000 or more.
Does Canada's 25% tariff apply to my car?
As of October 2026, Canada's surtax applies to U.S.-made vehicles imported by individuals for personal use, at 25% of 85% of the vehicle's value, and personal importations are presumed to be U.S.-origin unless you can prove otherwise. It doesn't apply to personal vehicles temporarily imported by non-residents. We confirm how your vehicle is classified.
Can I import an older car without the surtax?
Vehicles 25 years or older in original, unmodified condition can generally be imported duty-free, including exemption from the surtax on U.S.-made models, and vehicles 15 years or older avoid most safety-standard requirements. We confirm what applies to yours.
Can I ship a car from Canada into the U.S.?
Yes. As of October 2026 the U.S. exclusion on Canadian motor vehicles covers only motorcycles over 800 cc that are products of Canada, and passenger cars aren't on it. A car still has to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards or qualify for an exemption, and we confirm the current treatment for your vehicle before booking.
What is the RIV?
The Registrar of Imported Vehicles administers Canada's import program for vehicles that must meet Canadian safety standards. It involves an admissibility check, a fee of around $325 CAD plus tax, and an inspection after entry.
Do I need a customs broker?
Border paperwork, including the U.S. export filing and the Canadian customs entry, is typically handled by a customs broker. We confirm what's handled and what's included in your quote.
Shipping a Car Across the Border?
Get a quote with your vehicle and route, and we'll confirm how the current rules apply to it before you book.