[Tallyrand]

Hi guys,

If anyone can give me some quick ideas here, what would it cost roughly to ship a car by container from LA to Ottawa, Canada (or Montreal, if that is the closest). Thinking of buying an LA car and not sure what I'd be looking at in terms of the extra cost of shipping.

Many thanks! 8)

Cheers,
John

 

[Curry]

An ASS-Load!! Quoted anywhere from $900-$1,500 (from CA to Boston,MA)
Just drive it!

 

[julianfang]

cross country open trailer is about 800-1000 (CA-albany, ny)

Cross country enclosed transport is 1500-1700 (same)

Not sure what you'd be looking at for duties, taxes, etc. taking a car cross border though.

 

[darisgin]

Just drive it.

 

[Gurft]

Depending on the "drivability" of the car, I agree with darisgin, you will porobably be better off driving it the distance, also you probably won't run into any "shipping" related fees like Julian mentioned (taxes, duties). Driving across, you'd have a temp plate from the state that you purchased it (I think CA gives 20 day temp tags for transportation) And then you'd have to register in in Canada.

It's probably cheaper to fly down, pick it up and drive it back.

If the car is NOT drivable, you will have to have it trucked.

 

[00Psst]

If you could do it for 800-1000 dollars US, I'd say go for it. Consider this, if you drive it, it'll cost you almost as much, and what is your time worth?

3000 miles of driving

Airfare out to LA = approx $300+
Hotels for drive back - 3 days @ $75 per night = $225 (assuming you can drive 15 hours per day)
Meals for 3 days on the road @ $30 per day = $90
Gas approx 120 gallons x $2.00 per gallon = $240 (based on an avg. of 25mpg)

Total = $855

The above are all approximations, you could of course eat cheaper, sleep cheaper and run crappy low octane fuel but you get the point.

 

[Tallyrand]

You guys are awesome, that is just the sort of feedback I needed! I love CB5!

In fact drivability and cost are the key issues here. To be honest, it is not a Passat, not even a VW product. I am looking at buying a 1985 Fiat Spider, after a serious bout of drop-top envy seeing my friend zip around sunny Montreal in his Triumph! I want that wind-in-hair feeling, and the sunroof in my B5 just doesn't quite do it. :lol:

So, the issue is that it really isn't an option to thrash a 20-yr old 4-cyl engine for 3000 miles, up one side of the Rockies and down the other. Not to speak of my back. :lol: And I agree with the last post too: I figured several hundred bucks for fuel, and the loss of time. I'd probably fly out to LA on points, just to inspect the car and close the deal etc. But if I'd be paying 400 bucks or so for fuel, the extra is worth it to me in time saved.

Thanks guys! Not sure if I'll go through with it yet - SWMBO is seriously NOT in favour. But let's see ...

Cheers,
John

 

[Trader_Reed]

Shop around!!!!! I sold a M151A2 :???: and matching M416 :???: on ebay and shipped them from my house in Mass. to the buyers house in SoCal. for $600 each the trailer was a little expensive but the Jeep was a deal.

 

[crew217]

Shop around!!!!! I sold a M151A2 :???: and matching M416 :???: on ebay and shipped them from my house in Mass. to the buyers house in SoCal. for $600 each the trailer was a little expensive but the Jeep was a deal.

Uh yea . . . . those are known as POS companies that jack your shit and f up your ride . . . . . ask me how i know . . . .

Anyways things are much different now due to the fuel crisis . . . . rates have been raised about $100-200 per vehicle . . .

Dave

 

[Trader_Reed]

Nope local Co. they own and operate trucks and sub out work, but I will say that it was before gas here in Mass. was $2.31 a gallon

M151A2 = Mid 70's Army Jeep
M416 = Matching 1/4 ton trailer

 

[Tom Parish]

Stay away from these transport companies if at all possible. They are a big ripoff. All the work is subcontracted out and there is little if any care made to keep your car in one piece. Most common response after is delivery of a damaged car is; "hey, don't worry it's insured, right"?

I bought an Alfa Spider 2 years ago ~1,000 miles away. Rented a truck and trailer from Penske and drove it home. Penske is very inexpensive and they work great.

my $0.02

 

[julianfang]

you don't necessarily have to stay away from transport companies. You just need to do your research

 

[chapie]

I have to ship a car to Fla this winter for my Mom. Can anyone recomend a company that they have used before. Will be shipping from Albamy NY area to mid Fla.

Thanks

Greg

 

[crew217]

www.theexpressauto.com

 

[Tom Parish]

This is a great scam if you want to go into a shady business. Do not ship your car. Drive it. Otherwise it will never be the same.

 

[crew217]

This is a great scam if you want to go into a shady business. Do not ship your car. Drive it. Otherwise it will never be the same.

errr there are actually some reputable ones out there . . .. they cost a lot more but they are great to work with. The one i listed got my car from CA to NY in 10 days from the day that i booked it. (not from when they picked it up). Mine was trucked out on a 3 car flatbed. No damage & etc when I got it in NY.

Julian prefers the more baller route and puts his in a trailer with airconditioning, satellite TV and surround sound.


Dave

 

[YetAnother20V]

dude! it is not economical for them to get it all the way on a 3 car flatbed. It comes in those huge a$$ trucks packed like sardines in a can to their local transport office. There, they load upto three cars on a smaller flatbed truck to get it to your house.

 

[crew217]

dude! it is not economical for them to get it all the way on a 3 car flatbed. It comes in those huge a$$ trucks packed like sardines in a can to their local transport office. There, they load upto three cars on a smaller flatbed truck to get it to your house.

actaully the service i had was specifically a 3 car flatbed. Same driver all the way from CA to NY . . . that's partially why it cost me so much to have it shipped. I had it on one of those 10 car rigs the first time and well . . . it took about a month to get to my house.

I know what you're talking about though and that's not what happened in my case.

Dave

 

[00Psst]

Julian prefers the more baller route and puts his in a trailer with airconditioning, satellite TV and surround sound.


Dave

Hell if its got that, I'll ride along inside too. :lol:

 

[SoonToBe]

Gas approx 120 gallons x $2.00 per gallon = $240 (based on an avg. of 25mpg)

Wow.. I WISH I could find premium for $2/gallon.. im paying 2.57/gallon for 91oct CA sucks to pay for gas