How to Ship a Car by Rail in 2026 | Amtrak Auto Train Cost & Guide

In the United States, the only passenger rail service that lets you bring your car along for the ride is the Amtrak Auto Train. This unique service hauls both you and your vehicle on the same trip — no dropping it off ahead of time, no logistics middleman. It’s like cruising down I-95 without the traffic, but from a comfy seat with Wi-Fi and snacks.

But here’s the kicker: the Auto Train only runs between Lorton, Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) and Sanford, Florida (near Orlando). That’s it — that’s the whole route. If you want to transport your car outside that sweet spot, you cannot use this service.

So what do you do if you're  not moving between Virginia and Florida? You’ll need to drive your car to the Auto Train, or, get quotes from car shipping companies. Keep in mind that someone must accompany your car on the train, and car shipping companies don't provide that service. 

Train transport isn't mysterious — it’s just limited. Right now, Amtrak is the only company in town offering personal vehicle rail service.

If you’re looking for a more flexible option, auto transport brokers like Navi Auto Transport can arrange vehicle shipping on routes nationwide. These companies work with networks of licensed carriers to move vehicles by truck rather than passenger rail, which means they can often provide quotes for locations far outside the Auto Train corridor. Comparing a few quotes can help you understand how pricing and timing stack up against Amtrak’s limited rail option.

We recommend comparing top car shipping companies if you plan to transport your vehicle anywhere beyond the two cities served by Amtrak (Service between Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL).

So how does rail stack up against traditional car shipping for the same 855-mile stretch between Virginia and Florida?

We checked with uShip, an online vehicle transport marketplace that has facilitated more than two million shipments. The average quote to ship a car along that same route came in around $1,100 to $1,200.

That’s surprisingly close to the lower end of the Amtrak Auto Train cost once you factor in both your ticket and your vehicle fee.

Of course, uShip’s pricing is an average. You might find a transporter willing to do it for less, especially if you’re flexible on timing. Some auto transport brokers — such as Navi Auto Transport — often advertise pricing below the industry average by connecting customers with available carriers in their network.

Another thing to keep in mind: rail shipping is limited to the Virginia-to-Florida Auto Train route. If you’re moving between other cities, traditional truck transport is usually the only option available.

But here’s the trade-off: with truck transport, your car goes — you don’t. If you still need to travel, you’re adding the cost of a flight, gas, or a rental car to the total.

With the Auto Train, you and your vehicle arrive together. Whether that convenience is worth the price difference depends on your move and your budget.

The Amtrak auto train is much quicker than shipping your car by truck. The nonstop rail route from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida has a travel time of 17 hours and 29 minutes—about a week and a half faster than a regular car shipping company timeline.

Remember, Amtrak car shipping is limited to two locations in the entire country. If you live near one of the two Amtrak rail car hubs, you can’t beat the speed—or the price.

But if you live anywhere else, shipping your car by train isn’t even an option.

To transport car by train, Amtrak requires that you purchase a passenger ticket and ride on the same train. Inversely, you cannot ride the auto train as just a passenger without a vehicle being transported.

Ticket prices vary depending on the type of on-train accomodations you choose, from budget to luxurious, and how far in advance you book. 

Coach class is the least comfy, but still compares favorably to driving all day (and some of the night). Plus, if you drive, you have to pay for gas to travel nearly 1,000 miles. So, the train is actually more comfortable and less expensive than the alternative.

Premium seats are available if you want to spring for them. But, if you can handle an 18-hour flight in coach class, chances are you’ll do fine with the lower-priced Amtrak seats.

To use Amtrak car shipping, you need to live near one of its two hubs in Lorton, VA, or Sanford, FL. Other railroad companies like CSX, Union Pacific, and Sante Fe offer service only to commercial companies like car dealerships, so regular customers can’t ship with them by train.

Conversely, car shipping by freight truck is available in most US cities (check with your auto transport company to see if it can service your specific route).

Amtrak is your best (and only) option if you want to ship cars by train across the country. The rail transport company can ship your vehicle about 900 miles in less than one day for less than $1,000. However, Amtrak provides service in only two cities: Sanford, Florida, and Lorton, Virginia. Unfortunately, that means Amtrak can’t help most car-shipping customers.

Don’t live near Lorton or Sanford? Compare affordable nationwide car shipping options, such as Navi Auto Transport, which offers open and enclosed transport in all 50 states.