How Vehicle Shipping Works — Every Step, No Surprises.
If you have never shipped a vehicle before — or you have had a bad experience with another carrier — this page walks you through exactly what happens, from your first call to the moment your vehicle is delivered. Nothing is complicated. Nothing is hidden.
At every stage, a real person from our team is managing it — a company-owned and operated carrier where every truck and driver is ours.
- No hidden fees, ever
- Company-owned and operated — no brokers
- Real people answer every call
Shipping a vehicle with Snowbirds Auto Connection runs quote, booking, preparation, pickup, transit and delivery — in that order, with one company responsible for every step. You get a written quote within one business day and book with no deposit. At pickup we complete an inspection report with photographs across all accessible panels and surfaces, and you receive a copy. The vehicle travels on our own trucks with our own drivers in almost every case, with proactive email updates at key milestones, and is inspected again with you at delivery. Payment is due in full the week your vehicle ships — before the truck is dispatched. Call 416-638-0001 or request a quote online.
Updated September 2026
Six steps, start to finish. 1. You call or request a quote and we follow up within one business day with a real number. 2. We confirm your booking in writing. 3. You prepare the vehicle using our checklist. 4. We collect the vehicle, inspect and load. 5. We transport it on our own trucks in almost every case and email you at each milestone. 6. We deliver to the address you provide and walk the vehicle with you. That is it — door to door, fully managed.
What Is an Open Car Carrier?
An open car carrier is the large multi-level truck you have seen on highways carrying rows of brand-new vehicles to dealerships. Your car is loaded onto one of these — professionally secured at all four wheels — and transported to your destination.
The industry standard for vehicle transport
It is the same method used to deliver every new vehicle from the factory to the dealer, and it is the industry standard for vehicle transport across North America. Your vehicle will arrive with road dust from the journey, which is completely normal and expected — a simple wash takes care of it.
Enclosed transport — available on request
Enclosed transport is available on request for classic cars, luxury vehicles, and high-value or specialty vehicles where additional protection is preferred — limited availability, at a higher cost. Call us at 416-638-0001 to discuss.
What Is Door-to-Door Service?
Door-to-door means exactly what it sounds like — we come to your address for pickup, and we deliver to the specific address you provide for delivery.
Door-to-door — with a safe-access plan
In almost every case we come to your address for pickup and deliver to the exact address you provide — nothing in between. Be available when we arrive, and we handle the rest.
When a location can't safely take a full-size carrier — a tight street, low clearance, an underground garage, or a gated community an 18-wheeler can't enter — we don't force it. We arrange one of our trusted local flatbed drivers to handle that first or last leg, or use a nearby terminal as a safe meeting point, and we coordinate it all with you in advance. Same standard of care — just the safe way to reach a place our big trucks can't.
The Full Walkthrough
Here is exactly what happens at each stage — the same process we have run since 1993, on every move, for every customer.
Getting Your Free Quote
Call us at 416-638-0001 or submit a quote request online. A real member of our team reviews your details and follows up within one business day with a clear, honest quote. Not a range. Not an estimate that changes later. A real number. What to have ready: pickup address or city; destination address or city; vehicle year, make, and model; preferred pickup date or date range.
We do not use automated quote engines. We do not give you a low number to get your booking and adjust it later. We do not charge hidden fees at delivery. The quote you receive is the price you pay.
Confirming Your Booking
We confirm your booking in writing with all details — pickup date, delivery destination, vehicle details, pricing, and any specific notes. Our runs operate on a fixed weekly schedule for our Florida lane: southbound vehicles depart every Friday from our terminal in Vaughan, Ontario, and northbound vehicles depart every Tuesday from Florida. For other destinations, your departure window and transit time are confirmed at booking. Early pickup does not mean early departure. When we confirm your booking, we will tell you your exact departure date and estimated delivery window.
Our 2026/27 southbound season started Friday, September 18, and bookings are open now — a great time to call and lock in your preferred dates. We welcome bookings at any time.
Your Complete Vehicle Preparation Checklist
Before pickup day, follow these 10 steps:
1. Fuel level: Keep your tank at a quarter full or less. A fuller tank adds significant weight to the carrier.
2. Personal items: What you can pack depends on the type of shipment. On snowbird and private moves, personal items go in the trunk only, up to 100 lbs, plus one set of golf clubs on the floor of the back seat — nothing on the seats, dashboard or in the passenger area. On military, government, corporate and van-line relocations nothing may travel in the vehicle; your approved moving company handles all personal effects. Anything you pack must be declared to us beforehand, properly labelled, and compliant with customs requirements and all applicable laws. A vehicle that arrives over the limit is liable to a $400 fee. Personal belongings are not covered under cargo insurance.
3. Toll transponders and parking passes: Disable or remove all electronic tags — 407 ETR, highway transponders, parking passes. These can register tolls during transport.
4. Your own photos: Take your own photos of your vehicle before we arrive — especially any existing cosmetic damage. Our inspection documents everything, but your own record is an extra layer.
5. Running condition: Ensure your vehicle is in running condition. If it is not running, notify us before pickup day so we can arrange the right equipment.
6. Registration and insurance: Have your current vehicle registration and proof of insurance accessible.
7. Alarm systems: Disable sensitive alarm systems or let our driver know the code before loading.
8. Roof racks and accessories: Retract or remove any roof racks, cargo carriers, spoilers, or external accessories that may affect loading clearance.
9. Odometer reading: Note your current odometer reading before we arrive — we will record it in the inspection report.
10. Wash if possible: A clean vehicle makes the pickup inspection more accurate — existing scratches are easier to document on a clean surface. Not required, but helpful.
Pickup Day — What to Expect
On your confirmed pickup date, our team comes to your address. The driver who arrives is a direct SAC employee — not a contractor, not a third-party carrier hired through a load board. SAC is a company-owned and operated carrier. Each driver is vetted before hire, trained to our operational standard, and required to maintain a clean driving record. We know who has your vehicle at every point in the journey.
Before your vehicle is loaded, we complete a full inspection report and photo survey — a thorough inspection of your vehicle's condition, documented in photographs across all accessible panels and surfaces — a professional assessment conducted under real-world conditions. You receive a copy; it records your vehicle's condition at the moment it leaves your custody. Once your vehicle is loaded, you receive an email confirmation. You do not need to call and check — we reach out to you.
While Your Vehicle Is in Transit
Our team sends you proactive email updates at every key milestone — loading confirmation, transit status updates, and delivery notification. Transit is counted from the day the truck leaves — the pickup day does not count. For a status check between updates, email info@snowbirdsautoconnection.com or call 416-638-0001 during business hours.
Transit time reference: Transit is counted from the day your vehicle leaves our Vaughan terminal — not the day we collect it. Dropping your vehicle off early does not change your departure date.
Delivery Day
We deliver to the address you provided — directly. At delivery, we conduct a final inspection comparing it against the pickup inspection report. Your vehicle arrives with road dust from the journey — completely normal with open carrier transport. A simple wash takes care of it.
The Cross-Border Process
When your move crosses the Canada–US border, our team manages the documentation and clearance on both sides. Here is what is handled for you.
On the Canadian side
- CBSA export documentation
- Vehicle identification verification
- Carrier compliance
On the American side
- US Customs import clearance through our bonded agents
- FMCSA carrier compliance
A $100 customs brokerage fee applies on northbound (US-to-Canada) shipments and is included in your quote. A vehicle on US plates carries a further $200 and clears in person at the Canada Customs Bond Shed in Mississauga. You need your vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Everything else is managed by our team.
Vehicles We Ship
We Ship
Enclosed Transport Available For
Enclosed availability is limited and comes at a higher cost than open transport. Call us at 416-638-0001 to discuss your specific vehicle.
Insurance and Protection
Insurance for serious incidents
SAC carries $5M liability and $1M cargo insurance. It is there for major incidents on the road — it is not how minor transport damage is handled.
Minor damage, settled by us
A scuff, chip or scratch noted at delivery goes through our damage claims process and is settled directly by SAC. Personal items left in the vehicle are not covered.
Inspection Report on every vehicle
Done by our team on every vehicle, at pickup and again at delivery — a thorough inspection of your vehicle's condition, documented in photographs across all accessible panels and surfaces. It is the record every claim is checked against.
Open carrier and road dust
Your vehicle will arrive with road dust — standard with open carrier transport. It is not a damage claim; a simple wash takes care of it. If something does need a claim, the process is on our Damage Claims page.
How Vehicle Shipping Works — Your Questions, Answered
Ready to ship? It starts with one call.
Tell us your pickup address and destination and we will give you a real number within one business day — no automated engines, no hidden fees.
Snowbirds Auto Connection · 450 Bowes Rd, Units 9–10, Concord, ON L4K 1K3 · Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM EST · info@snowbirdsautoconnection.com · Response within one business day