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Jul 19, 2023

Amtrak Car Shipping: How To Use the Auto Train

Amtrak probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think about

Amtrak probably isn't the first name that comes to mind when you think about shipping your vehicle. However, the company's Auto Train service combines cheap car shipping with relaxing passenger train travel. The catch is that there's only one route, which makes Amtrak car shipping an unrealistic option for most drivers.

In this article, we at the Guides Auto Team will take a look at Amtrak's Auto Train service and highlight a few of its pros and cons. We’ll focus on the cost and overall experience to help you decide whether Amtrak car shipping is right for you. If you decide to go with more traditional car transport services, we’ve also researched and ranked the best car shipping companies.

The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about shipping your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car shipping companies. We collected data on dozens of auto transport providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 200 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Learn more about our methodology.

The Amtrak Auto Train is a simple and affordable way to transport you and your car between the Washington, D.C., region and Orlando, Florida. There are daily, nonstop trips in both directions. The Auto Train departs each station at 4 p.m. and arrives the next day around 9 a.m.

Obviously, this isn't an ideal route for everyone who wants to ship a car. However, if you’re interested in a convenient way to move your car from the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast to Florida, Amtrak car shipping could be an ideal solution. This is especially true if you’re willing to drive to the terminal from cities like Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia or New York.

If you want to drop your car off in North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia, you’ll need to look for another shipping option. That's because the Auto Train only moves between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, with no stops in between. It's probably still a viable choice if you’re headed to a final destination farther south in Florida such as Miami or Tampa, though.

Shipping cars via the Amtrak Auto Train is a pretty straightforward process for most owners. That said, you must follow some simple steps and stick to the schedule to make it a success:

Auto Train tickets for drivers riding the train are typically $95 for one-way trips in coach class, though rates on Amtrak's website may increase as spaces fill up. Along with economy seats, there are both roomettes with shared bathrooms and family bedroom suites with their own bathrooms and showers. Sleeper car accommodations can cost $300 per person or more as amenities increase.

Here's a look at one-way vehicle shipping rates for Amtrak car shipping. Keep in mind that these average costs are placed on top of the price for your own ticket on the Auto Train:

The Auto Train has a limited number of spaces available for specialized vehicles like limousines, trailers, jet skis, trikes and choppers. Those using train shipping services to move specialized vehicles such as these can expect to pay an additional fee.

Even after factoring in the cost of passenger tickets, Amtrak car shipping costs are often far lower than prices from leading auto transport companies. Our team got free quotes from Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport to compare their rates to those for the Amtrak train.

To ship an operable 2021 Toyota RAV4 from the D.C. area to Orlando using open transport, we received quotes ranging from $829 to $975. Even if you opt for higher-end accommodations, you could find outstanding rates for cheap car shipping if you use Amtrak's train transport services.

Amtrak car shipping comes with extremely straightforward prices. When it comes to using traditional auto transport companies, it's slightly more complicated to determine your rates. With standard shipping companies, what you’ll pay for a vehicle shipment depends on the following factors:

If you’re heading from the Northeast to Florida or vice versa, it's probably a good idea to consider the Auto Train. It's easy for snowbirds and those relocating to focus on the pros of Amtrak car shipping, but you should also be aware of its hassles and downsides as well.

Below are a few of the clear positives that come with using Amtrak car shipping services:

Make sure to consider the disadvantages of Amtrak car shipping before booking your tickets:

The fact that Amtrak only ships cars between Washington, D.C., and Orlando means that the train works for very few drivers. However, if this train route suits your auto transport needs, you’ll likely find that Amtrak car shipping can be an affordable and enjoyable experience.

If Amtrak car shipping doesn't seem like the right choice for you, we’d suggest industry-leading car transport companies like Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport.

Montway Auto Transport combines relatively affordable rates with a strong industry reputation to take our Editor's Choice award. The company works with a network of more than 15,000 vetted auto carriers that all offer strong insurance policies. Montway Auto Transport can get vehicles to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and even to international destinations.

You’ll find plenty of positive reviews for Montway Auto Transport on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site, as seen by its 4.6-star rating. It's easy to get instant car shipping quotes online from Montway, and the company offers a 24/7 online chat feature.

Read more: Montway Auto Transport review

Sherpa Auto Transport's Price Lock Promise is a major selling point. It basically means that your originally quoted price won't change or have fees added to it mid-shipment, which can occur with other car shipping providers. Sherpa Auto Transport has an A+ rating from the BBB and receives 4.9 stars out of 5.0 on the platform. The company also offers a Clean Car Guarantee that reimburses customers for a car wash if their vehicle is dirty on arrival.

Read more: Sherpa Auto Transport review

Yes, but Amtrak car shipping is only available between Orlando, Florida, and Washington, D.C. For any other routes, you’ll need to look at other car shipping options.

No, Amtrak's Auto Train service only goes between the Washington, D.C., and Orlando areas. Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport are excellent options for car shipping services to or from California.

The standard one-way rates for Amtrak Auto Train vehicle shipping are $285 per vehicle for standard cars and $325 per vehicle for trucks or larger SUVs. You’ll also have to pay for a passenger ticket to use Amtrak car shipping services, and rates are typically $95 per person.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car shipping companies. We collected data on dozens of auto transport providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

Our credentials:

*Data accurate at time of publication.