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FeaturedDartmouth car shipping company moving vehicles across Canada by rail, open or enclosed truck, driveaway and cargo plane, with online tracking.
Province directory · NS
Car shipping companies in Nova Scotia
Compare 16 car shipping companies serving Nova Scotia, each checked for an NSC or CVOR certificate. Shipping a sedan from Halifax costs about $375–$625 to Moncton, NB and $1,975–$2,725 to Vancouver, BC.
- Companies listed
- 16
- Cities with guides
- 2
Companies
Best car shipping companies in Nova Scotia
Companies based here usually run these lanes often. Compare their services, then ask two or three for a quote on your dates.
AF
Bedford (Halifax) auto transport company arranging car shipping across Canada and to the United States.
Canadian car hauler with 124 trucks and 40+ years of experience, shipping vehicles across Canada and to and from the U.S.
Family-owned Quebec car carrier since 1986 with 85 trucks, serving dealers, auctions and fleets across Canada and the U.S., plus snowbird trips.
Door-to-door car shipping across Canada and the U.S. since 2018: open transport, luxury vehicles, snowbird moves, auctions and dealers.
Enclosed vehicle transport since 1987 in air-ride trailers with lift gates; official Canadian shipping provider for Barrett-Jackson auctions.
SA
Snowbirds Auto Connection
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned Concord carrier since 1993 with 14 trucks: weekly snowbird runs to Florida, moves across Canada and Canada–U.S. customs help.
DS
Diamond Shuttle Services
FMCSA verifiedEdmonton driveaway service that drives cars, vans and trucks door to door, across the city, across Canada or over the U.S. border.
TB
Transport BMA
FMCSA verifiedQuebec car carrier for over 20 years, serving dealers, auctions and finance companies to any city in Canada, with pickups and exports to the U.S.
JT
Jeron Trucking
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned New Brunswick carrier shipping new and used vehicles across Canada and the U.S., with snowbird service.
AD
Acadian Driveaway
FMCSA verifiedToronto driveaway company delivering cars, trucks and buses door to door across Canada and the U.S. since 1987.
DT
DriverCan Transport
FMCSA verifiedFamily carrier since 2003 moving personal and dealer vehicles across Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and the northeastern U.S.
KW
Kee West Auto Carriers
FMCSA verifiedWinnipeg auto carrier shipping cars across Canada through a network of seven terminals.
HF
Canadian vehicle relocation company since 1980 with 270+ car carriers, CP Rail service and seven terminals from Vancouver to Halifax.
NC
Oakville online car shipping broker: instant prices and e-signed bookings for truck or enclosed rail transport between Canadian cities.
PA
Mississauga car carrier with a Calgary office and 20+ years of experience, shipping cars, motorcycles and motor homes across Canada, to the U.S. and overseas.
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Local guide
Car shipping in Nova Scotia: what to know
Every car driven to Nova Scotia from the rest of Canada comes through New Brunswick and over the Chignecto Isthmus on Highway 104. Halifax is the province's car shipping hub and home to one of Canada's biggest vehicle import terminals; Cape Breton and the South Shore take longer to book. Cars moving in need a Nova Scotia motor vehicle inspection.
Where car carriers run in Nova Scotia
Highway 102 runs from Halifax to Truro, where Highway 104 continues west to Amherst and the New Brunswick border — the only road link to the rest of Canada. Halifax to Moncton is about 260 km; Halifax to Montreal is about 1,250 km and Halifax to Toronto about 1,800 km.
Halifax and Dartmouth are the easy pickups. Cape Breton (Sydney is about 400 km from Halifax), the South Shore and the Annapolis Valley are off the main line for long-haul trucks, so expect a meeting point or a short transfer leg.
Shipping a car to Nova Scotia: inspection and registration
A vehicle moving to Nova Scotia from another province must pass a motor vehicle inspection at a licensed inspection station before it can be registered through Access Nova Scotia. Insurance is private and must be in place first.
Halifax's Autoport in Eastern Passage is one of the main ports where new and imported vehicles enter Canada by ship. Cars imported from overseas often land there and continue by truck or rail.
Weather and salt on the coast
Coastal storms, freezing rain and the Cobequid Pass in winter can slow carriers on the 104. Salt air and salted roads are hard on paint and undercarriages, so an enclosed trailer is worth pricing for a classic or a car you're selling.
Shipping options
How to ship a car in Nova Scotia: truck, rail and more
The ways cars actually move to, from and within Nova Scotia, and when each one makes sense.
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Open car carrier
The standard way: 7–10 cars on a two-level trailer. Cheapest, and the most trucks.
In Nova Scotia: Open carriers serve Halifax regularly from Quebec and Ontario via New Brunswick. Cape Breton and the South Shore take longer to book.
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Enclosed trailer
A covered trailer that keeps out weather, salt and stones. About 50% more than open.
In Nova Scotia: Worth pricing for classics and for winter shipments, given the salt on coastal roads.
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By train (rail)
Terminal to terminal on the national rail network. Good for long, cross-country moves.
In Nova Scotia: Halifax is the eastern end of the CN network, and rail car shipping links it to Montreal, Toronto and Western Canada.
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Ferry connections
Where the road ends at the water, carriers add a ferry or meet you at the terminal.
In Nova Scotia: The Bay Ferries crossing from Digby to Saint John, New Brunswick, and Northumberland Ferries from Caribou to Prince Edward Island (seasonal). Marine Atlantic sails from North Sydney to Newfoundland.
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Flatbed or driver
One car on a flatbed or tow truck, or a professional driver. Best for short trips.
In Nova Scotia: For Halifax–Truro, Halifax–Sydney or trips within the province, a single-car flatbed or a hired driver is often quickest.
By train
Car shipping by rail in Nova Scotia: terminals
Canada's two national railways, CN and CPKC, carry cars between major cities. You don't book with the railway itself: a car shipping company books the space, and you drop the car off and collect it at a rail terminal or the company's lot nearby — or pay extra for a truck to cover the first and last mile. Rail usually takes longer than a truck on the same route, because cars wait at the terminal to be loaded and unloaded, so ask for the terminal-to-terminal time in writing.
| Terminal | Railway | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Halifax | CN | CN's Halifax intermodal terminal. The usual Atlantic start and end point for rail car shipping. |
Exact drop-off addresses depend on the shipping company; confirm the terminal and its hours when you book.
Cross-border
Shipping a car between Nova Scotia and the U.S.
Carriers moving cars between Nova Scotia and the United States use these crossings. A car leaving the U.S. must be reported to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at least 72 hours before export, and a U.S. car being registered in Canada goes through the Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) program. Ask the carrier who files the paperwork.
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No land border
Via New Brunswick
Cars going to the U.S. cross in New Brunswick, usually at Houlton or Calais.
Timing
Best time to ship a car in Nova Scotia
- June – SeptemberPeak season, plus summer ferry traffic to Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
- October – NovemberSnowbirds head to Florida.
- December – MarchCoastal storms and freezing rain; the Cobequid Pass on Highway 104 can slow carriers.
Car shipping companies by city in Nova Scotia
Estimated prices
How much does it cost to ship a car from Nova Scotia?
Typical price ranges from Halifax to the main city of every other province, for a running sedan. Use them to sanity-check the quotes you get.
| Route | Distance | Open carrier | Enclosed trailer | Transit time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax to Moncton, NB | ~263 km | $375–$625 | $575–$925 | 1–2 days |
| Halifax to Montreal, QC | ~1,244 km | $825–$1,200 | $1,225–$1,800 | 2–4 days |
| Halifax to Toronto, ON | ~1,781 km | $975–$1,400 | $1,475–$2,125 | 3–5 days |
| Halifax to Winnipeg, MB | ~3,554 km | $1,350–$1,925 | $2,050–$2,875 | 5–8 days |
| Halifax to Saskatoon, SK | ~4,321 km | $1,525–$2,100 | $2,275–$3,150 | 6–9 days |
| Halifax to Calgary, AB | ~4,779 km | $1,625–$2,250 | $2,425–$3,375 | 6–10 days |
| Halifax to Vancouver, BC | ~6,156 km | $1,975–$2,725 | $2,950–$4,100 | 8–13 days |
Estimate, not a quote
Based on typical 2026 rates for a running sedan with a flexible pickup date, in Canadian dollars. Adjust for your car: SUV +12%, pickup +30%, enclosed trailer +50%, summer +8%, long winter hauls +6%.
FAQ
Car shipping in Nova Scotia: questions
Answers built from the prices, distances and companies on this page.
Does a car shipped to Nova Scotia need an inspection?
Yes. A vehicle coming from another province needs a Nova Scotia motor vehicle inspection at a licensed station before it can be registered through Access Nova Scotia.
How do car carriers get to Nova Scotia?
By road through New Brunswick: Highway 104 crosses the Chignecto Isthmus at Amherst and continues to Truro, where Highway 102 runs to Halifax. Carriers from Ontario and Quebec usually come via Edmundston and Moncton.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Nova Scotia?
Estimated open-carrier prices for a running sedan, in Canadian dollars: Halifax to Moncton, NB $375–$625; Halifax to Montreal, QC $825–$1,200; Halifax to Toronto, ON $975–$1,400. Longer trips such as Halifax to Vancouver, BC (about 6,156 km) run $1,975–$2,725 on an open carrier or $2,950–$4,100 enclosed. SUVs, pickups, non-running cars and peak season cost more.
How long does car shipping from Nova Scotia take?
Once the car is picked up, Halifax to Moncton takes 1–2 days on the truck and Halifax to Vancouver takes 8–13 days. Allow another 1–5 days before pickup while the carrier fills its trailer.
Can I ship a car by train in Nova Scotia?
Yes, through a car shipping company that books space on CN or CPKC. Rail terminals used for Nova Scotia: Halifax (CN). Halifax is the eastern end of the CN network, and rail car shipping links it to Montreal, Toronto and Western Canada.
Which border crossing do car carriers use between Nova Scotia and the U.S.?
No land border (Via New Brunswick): Cars going to the U.S. cross in New Brunswick, usually at Houlton or Calais.
How many car shipping companies are based in Nova Scotia?
2 companies are listed in Nova Scotia: MVS Canada and AutoRail Forwarders.
How do I check a car shipping company in Nova Scotia?
Ask for the company's full legal name and its carrier registration — a National Safety Code (NSC) number, or a CVOR certificate in Ontario — and confirm it with the provincial transport ministry. Check that cargo insurance covers your car's value, get the price and pickup window in writing, and never pay the full amount before pickup.