How to Ship a Car by Train
Auto transport by rail is similar to shipping your car by truck, but it’s often cheaper to do. It’s not the most common auto transport option. But, it is growing in popularity as more train lines offer auto shipping as part of their services.
In addition to the cheaper price tag, movers choose this method because auto transport by rail allows you to fill up your car with boxes and other items. As a result, you might end up saving extra money in shipping costs for your belongings and could even spare yourself the expense of a truck rental, provided you’re not shipping furniture or anything else that won’t fit in a car.
So what are the downsides then? Flexibility is a big one. Your pick up and drop off points are limited to the rail stations along the line, which could be a problem. Plus, shipping a car by train tends to be slower than shipping it by truck. That’s because rail transporters usually must wait to fill up all available spots before making the trip. That could mean that you have to wait a couple of weeks or longer for your car to arrive.
Open vs. Enclosed Rail Transport
Just like when you ship a car by truck, you’ll most likely have the choice when transporting a car by train between an open container or an enclosed one. Open container shipping is almost always the cheaper option, but your car will be exposed to the elements. Still, you shouldn’t have much to worry about with open container rail shipping aside from needing a car wash when your vehicle arrives.
Enclosed container shipping is the more expensive option, but you get much more assurance. This isn’t a major concern for most movers, but if you’re looking to transport a car by rail that is rare, antique, valuable, or otherwise better suited to a bit of extra protection, opt for enclosed transport.