Every year over 1 million Canadian snowbirds move to the U.S. to escape harsh winters, often moving their cars with them. However, the car shipping cost is still the biggest concern.
That’s where a car shipping price calculator can help. Find out in this guide about different types of car shipping cost calculators and which one you should choose. Also, get some rough cost estimates of shipping different vehicles from Canada to the U.S.
What is a Car Shipping Cost Calculator Canada to U.S.?
It’s an online tool that estimates vehicle shipping cost from Canada to the U.S. once you provide it with the essential details such as your pickup and delivery location, vehicle type, preferred shipping method, and delivery speed. It’s convenient, as you’ll get an initial quote before booking a transport service. And it saves time.
However, there are a number of car shipping costs calculator services out there, and you must be careful while picking one.
Types of Car Shipping Cost Calculators
- Basic Online Calculators
- Calculators That Ask for Personal or Financial Details
- Broker-based Car Shipping Calculators
Mainly there are three different types of car shipping cost calculators. Let’s talk about them in detail and find out which one of them is the best.
1. Basic Online Calculator
This is a good starting point for estimating car shipping costs, but these online calculators often provide incomplete estimates. For instance, these lack considerations for seasonal price changes, shipping methods, and vehicle modifications, and you may only be able to get cost estimates for standard vehicle categories.
So basically you can only use these generic calculators for broad estimates and not for accurate planning.
2. Calculators That Ask for Personal or Financial Details
Most carrier companies offer these auto transport calculator services, where they ask for your personal information, like your name, email, and phone number, along with your vehicle details. While this is mostly safe and for promotional purposes only, there’s a risk of spam calls and promotional emails against your will.
Also, some phishing websites with car shipping cost calculators even ask for your financial details. And these are the ones you must avoid at all costs.
| Do Not Share Information About These |
| Your Credit Card Info |
| Bank Details |
| Social Security Number |
| Home Address |
| Vehicle Insurance Details |
| VIN Number |
| License Plate |
3. Broker-based Car Shipping Calculators
Car shipping calculators offered by the auto transport brokers are the most accurate. These offer real-time rates from multiple carrier companies and you do not have to share your personal or financial information.
Plus, the personalized approach these calculators use ensures custom routing solutions, documentation guidance as per your needs, and flexible scheduling features. So the estimates you get through these calculators are roughly around the original quote.
For instance, if the original quote for car shipping from Canada to the U.S. is $2,500, a broker-based car shipping calculator will give you an estimate of around $2,250 to $2,375, which is almost close to the original one.
Cost Estimates of Shipping Different Vehicles from Canada to the U.S.
Shipping a car internationally can cost around $5,000 or more. But, there are additional costs too like import taxes, and you will also have to account for the environmental requirements of your car.
Here are some rough cost estimates of shipping different vehicles from Canada to the U.S. based on current market rates.
Car Shipping Costs
As per most car shipping price calculators, the base rate for shipping a standard car in an open container falls around $1,200-$2,000. This price changes with distance, shipping method, and the time of the year.
For example, the distance from Vancouver to Seattle is just 140 miles. So it’ll cost around $850 to ship a car from Vancouver to Seattle.
SUV and Pickup Truck Shipping Costs
Since it costs 15-25% more when shipping a larger vehicle like an SUV or a truck. Therefore, shipping an SUV from Canada to the U.S. will approximately cost you around $1,380-$2,530 in the lower range.
Motorcycle Shipping Costs
Shipping a motorcycle across the border is relatively affordable and it will cost around $800-$1,200, based on the city you’re moving to in the U.S. and the shipping method you’ve chosen.
Boat Shipping Costs
Shipping a boat is more complex and roughly costs around $1,500-$3,700, depending on the boat size and distance. However, this is just an estimated price. And you must use a boat transport cost calculator for an accurate range, as a boat transport calculator will include all the additional fees and permit rates.
Note: These are just estimated prices. You can use them for an initial idea, but not for the shipping budget planning. For an accurate cost range, use a broker-based car shipping calculator.
