Amtrak Car Shipping (2024 Review)

Key Points:

• Amtrak charges up to a few hundred dollars to ship a vehicle, but you must purchase a passenger ticket and travel at the same time.
• There is only one route available, so it only works for a fraction of people wanting to ship their vehicles.
• Amtrak allows you to fill your vehicle with luggage and personal items, while other shipping providers do not.

You’ve likely heard of Amtrak car shipping services if you’ve researched car shipping by train. This auto train offers shipping services along the East Coast for a fraction of the price of standard vehicle transport services. However, this train only provides one route for vehicle shipping, making it an unrealistic choice for most car shippers.

In this article, we’ll cover the pros and cons of Amtrak car shipping services, how to ship your car via the auto train, and some alternatives we’ve found to be the best car transport companies in our comprehensive review.

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Amtrak Car Shipping Availability

Amtrak car shipping is a unique service that offers transport via train for both you and your vehicle. Running between stations in Washington, D.C. and near Orlando, Florida, this route is a popular choice for snowbirds northeast looking to escape the winter cold by heading toward Miami.

You can start your journey in Lorton, Virginia, or Sanford, Florida. Note that the Amtrak train doesn’t make any stops along the way to its destination, so if you need to drop your car in North Carolina, Georgia, or any other southern state along this route, you will be better off using standard car shipping services via a truck with a transport trailer.

Where Is Amtrak Car Shipping Not Available?

The Amtrak car shipping train travels only one route along the East Coast. So, people in other regions of the United States won’t be able to use these train transport services unless they decide to road trip to one of the starting train stations. 

Car shipping via an Amtrak train may be cost effective and somewhat of a novelty, making it a unique way to ship your car if you’re able. However, if you live outside of the service area, you’ll have to consider other shipping methods from reputable providers that transport to all states throughout the U.S.

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Amtrak Car Shipping Cost

Amtrak rail transport for your vehicle is one of the cheapest car shipping options between the Washington, D.C. and Orlando areas. However, note that for pricing purposes Amtrak has three categories for vehicles. 

Most cars will be considered standard vehicles, while SUVs and trucks are labeled as extended vehicles. If you want to ship a motorcycle, Amtrak even has space for your bike–provided it fits the maximum shipping dimensions.

Amtrak Car Shipping Rates

We gathered shipping quotes for a one-way trip on the Amtrak auto train for standard vehicles, extended vehicles, and motorcycles. See the table below for prices by vehicle type, including the maximum dimensions for each.

We’d like to note that the farther you book your trip in advance, the more likely you’ll find a rate lower than the ones quoted above. We attempted to book a trip six months in advance and found the price of a standard vehicle lowered to $225 and the price of an extended vehicle lowered to $255.

You can also book priority offloading services for an additional $95. This ensures that your car is amongst the first 30 taken off when the train arrives at its destination.

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5 Reasons To Use Amtrak Car Shipping

Amtrak car shipping has many pros to consider that can persuade you to choose this service. Read on to better understand why shipping with Amtrak may be right for you.

Low Average Costs

The average cost to ship a standard vehicle on the Amtrak train is $285 in total. This is lower than any standard car shipping costs you’ll be able to find in today’s market, making the Amtrak train an appealing choice to ship your car.

Optimal Packing Space

With most auto transport companies, you can’t add more than 100 pounds of stuff to your vehicle, but with Amtrak, you have the luxury of packing your car up to the brim like a suitcase. However, keep in mind that Amtrak doesn’t provide insurance or responsibility for any lost, stolen, or damaged items during transport.

Relaxing Journey

When riding the Amtrak train, as you ship your car, you can relax instead of focusing on the road. You’re guaranteed to run into traffic as you drive down the infamous Interstate 95, requiring you to stay alert and focused as you road trip. On the Amtrak, you can sleep, take in the scenery, or catch up on work.

Less Risk

There will always be a risk of accidents or mechanical breakdowns if you drive your car long distances. Choosing to ship your vehicle via Amtrak instead of road-tripping your way down to Florida will remove those risks while saving your vehicle from any additional wear and tear.

Cheaper Than Standard Car Shipping

Typically, the farther you ship your vehicle, the more it costs. The distance between Washington, D.C., and Orlando isn’t short–it’s about 850 miles give or take. With the average cost of standard car shipping at approximately $664 for a 407-mile trek, you’re saving quite a bit of money on the Amtrak train.

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5 Reasons To Avoid Amtrak Car Shipping

As with anything else, there are cons to Amtrak car shipping services that may have you thinking twice about booking a transport. Learn more about these reasons to avoid Amtrak car shipping down below.

You Have To Ride Along

You can’t load your vehicle onto the Amtrak train and go your separate ways. You must purchase a passenger ticket to ride along with your car from start to finish. This might be a hassle to some, especially as the shipping route isn’t short and the train is slow-moving. So consider this before making your move to book a spot.

Slow Train Speed

If you’re impatient and can’t stand the thought of a long ride, the Amtrak auto train might not be for you. This train takes approximately 17 hours to journey from the Washington, D.C. area to Orlando, Florida–not including the time it takes to load and unload your car. Alternatively, you could book car transport with another company and then fly to the destination and spend less time traveling.

Shipping Service Limitations

If you’ve got a classic car or luxury vehicle that needs extra protection, you’re likely considering shipping in an enclosed container. While most auto shipping companies offer this car transport service, Amtrak only offers open transport on its auto trains. So, it’s wise to keep this in mind before booking.

Only For East Coast Shippers

If you’re looking for cross-country car shipping or Amtrak car shipping in places like California or the Midwest, you’re out of luck. The auto train from Amtrak only runs between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida (near Orlando). This makes it ideal for East Coast shippers willing to hop on the train at these locations.

Lack Of Routes

The Amtrak train has one route and one route only, making this car shipping method unrealistic for many on the East Coast. If you live between the starting and stopping points for this train, you’re out of luck as well–the Amtrak car shipping train doesn’t make any stops to pick up cars or people on the way to its final destination.

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How To Ship A Car With Amtrak

Shipping a car with Amtrak is quite a novel experience and much different than transporting your vehicle using a standard shipping method. When booking, you’ll have many decisions to make before the trip. Learn more about how to ship a car with this auto train service below.

1. Choose Your Starting Station And Travel Dates

You can either start your travels in Lorton, Virginia, or Sanford, Florida. You’ll then choose the date or round trip dates you’ll be traveling. If you’d like to have a choice over the time of day you’re traveling, use the advanced search on the booking page.

2. Choose Your Passenger Ticket

You’ll have the option of choosing a coach ticket for your journey or a private room. Private rooms include roomettes, bedrooms, bedroom suites, and family rooms. If you opt for a private room on your trip, you’ll be offered complimentary traditional dining services for breakfast and lunch. All passenger tickets come with access to free Wi-Fi.

3. Choose Your Vehicle Transport Ticket

Once you’ve decided how you’d like to travel on the auto carrier, it’s time to book your vehicle shipping slot. While Amtrak classifies vehicle types as standard, extended, and motorcycle, a limited number of spaces are available for specialized vehicles. This includes small trailers, jet skis, trikes, and more. However, you’ll need to call if you’re looking to ship a special vehicle, as reservations for these aren’t available online.

4. Book Your Ticket And Prepare For Your Trip

After choosing your passenger and vehicle ticket, you’ll enter the necessary passenger information and finalize your booking with payment. You’ll then prepare your vehicle for the trip. Remember that you can pack it up with as much stuff as you want.

Be sure to deactivate your car alarm system before your trip, as you may end up with a dead battery if your alarm goes off during transport. Check-in for your vehicle will begin at 12:30 pm the day of your trip and ends at 3:00 pm with no exceptions.

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Amtrak Car Shipping: Our Take

Amtrak train shipping is a unique experience that can be cheaper than shipping your car via a transport trailer or car hauler. However, it only makes sense for those living in or near Washington, D.C. or Orlando, Florida. 

If you’re looking to ship your vehicle at an affordable price but live elsewhere in the U.S., we encourage you to compare free quotes online from other reputable companies in the industry.

Other Recommendations For Car Shipping

We’ve researched all major car shipping providers based on their reliability, pricing, services, and customer experiences to better inform consumers about providers worth considering.

Learn more about two of the top-rated providers in our industry-wide review below.

Montway Auto Transport: Best Overall

Montway Auto Transport earned the superlative of “Best Overall” from our research team. It’s shipped over one million vehicles worldwide, offering shipping to all 50 U.S. states as well as international shipping services. Montway works with over 15,000 vetted carriers to provide customers with open trailer, enclosed container, door-to-door transport, and expedited shipping services.

This auto transport broker currently holds an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In addition, Montway has you covered with up to $250,000 of extra insurance on top of your trucker’s policy, providing extra peace of mind during shipping.

Sherpa Auto Transport: Positive Customer Experience

Founded in 2017, Sherpa Auto Transport services all U.S. states. Sherpa offers customers what it calls its “Price Lock Promise,” which means the quote you receive from Sherpa is the final price you’ll pay. If Sherpa Auto Transport can’t secure a hauler with your original quote, it will pay up to $300 of its own funds to secure a carrier.

Sherpa Auto Transport currently holds accreditation and an A+ rating with the BBB. You’ll find door-to-door shipping, open trailer shipping, enclosed carrier transport, and expedited shipping services with this car transport broker.

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Amtrak Car Shipping: FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about Amtrak car shipping: 

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How We Rate Auto Shipping Companies

Our review team extensively researches car shipping providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:

• Reliability: Providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a long history in the auto transport industry score well in this category.
• Services: We take a look at what types of transport services are available through each company, including open and enclosed transport, door-to-door shipping, and more. Those with wider service selections are more likely to meet consumers’ needs.
• Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis to get quotes for a variety of shipping routes and services. We compare each company’s costs to industry average prices to see how it stands up to the competition.
• Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to better understand the consumer experience. Car shipping companies with convenient quote processes also perform well in this category.

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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