Shipping a car by train can look cheaper, but for most people it is slower and less flexible than shipping by truck. Trains follow fixed routes, few rail options accept privately owned cars, and your car may still need a truck for the last leg.
There is a lot to consider when transporting your vehicle across a long distance. Your vehicle is one of your most valuable assets, so you want to be sure it is in good hands. Delivery time, cost, and shipping preferences will help you choose the mode of transport that fits your needs. You can ship your car by rail or truck, and each has advantages and disadvantages. While rail may seem more cost-effective, it's often a less favorable option than using a reliable carrier.
1. You Have Fewer Delivery Location Options
One of the biggest drawbacks of shipping your car by train is that trains follow fixed routes. That leaves you with far fewer options for where the car can be delivered. For example, if you want to ship a car from Pennsylvania to Florida and the train has no direct route, getting the car the rest of the way could mean delays and added costs.
A car carrier, by contrast, picks up and delivers at the addresses you give. That is door-to-door auto transport. If a large truck can't reach you, the driver meets you at a nearby safe location.
2. There Are Limited Options for Privately Owned Vehicles
Another reason many people don't ship a car by train is that far fewer rail options exist than carriers. Most trains don't routinely ship privately owned vehicles, so only a limited number can take your car to its destination.
The main exception is Amtrak's Auto Train, which carries your car between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, DC) and Sanford, Florida (near Orlando). It has two limits. You ride the train yourself because it is built for travelers bringing their own car, and it serves only that one pair of stations. If you want to send the car without traveling with it, or your trip doesn't fall on that route, the Auto Train won't work.
Many auto shipping companies are available, so you are more likely to find a solution that fits your needs and budget. Our guide to comparing car shipping quotes shows you how to choose the best option.
3. It Takes Longer
In most cases, shipping by truck is faster and more efficient than shipping by train. A carrier covers roughly 250 to 300 miles on an average day, so a coast-to-coast shipment takes 7 to 10 days, and a move of a few hundred miles can take a day or two. When your move is priced correctly, pickup usually happens within a day or two of your first available date.
A train runs on the railroad's schedule and makes multiple stops along the route, which can add to transit time. It can also only get as close to your destination as its route allows, so you may spend another day driving to pick up the car.
4. Train Transport Might Still Require a Carrier
Since trains only travel to and from set stops, you may still need a carrier to get your car to you. If the train stop is far from your destination, the car must be loaded onto a truck and delivered to a nearby location or directly to you.
That can take longer and cost more than using an auto transport company from the start. With a carrier handling the whole trip, shipping a car to another state is a single move from your address to your destination.
5. Uncertainty About Departure and Arrival Dates
No shipping method guarantees dates, whether by truck or by train. Carrier dates are estimates, and a firm date usually costs a premium. But auto shipping companies can estimate pickup and delivery more easily by finding a carrier close to your location.
Once a carrier is assigned, you get its name and direct phone number, and the driver typically calls the afternoon or evening before pickup and delivery. Trains can have schedule changes, weather delays, and railroad network issues, and their multiple stops make an exact delivery time harder to plan.
What to Do Instead
For most moves, shipping by truck is faster and more flexible. Start with our car shipping cost calculator for an estimate with no personal info, then request a custom quote to compare your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to ship a car by train?
Not always. Rail can look cheaper on paper, but if the train can't bring your car close to your destination, you may pay for a carrier for the last leg and for your own trip to pick up the car. The total can end up higher than shipping by truck.
Is shipping a car by train faster than by truck?
Usually not. A carrier covers roughly 250 to 300 miles on an average day, so a coast-to-coast shipment takes 7 to 10 days. A train follows the railroad's schedule and makes multiple stops along the route.
Can a train deliver my car to my door?
Not directly. Trains only stop at set stations, so you may still need a truck to deliver the car to your door. With door-to-door transport, a carrier picks up the car at your address, or as close as a large truck can get, and delivers it to your destination address.
Does Ship a Car Direct ship cars by train?
No. We arrange shipments on open or enclosed car carriers, with door-to-door pickup and delivery.
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