Can You Ship a Car by Train?

For shippers

Updated September 27, 2026

We pick up new vehicles where the trains stop and haul them the rest of the way. Here is how rail really fits, and what to do if you need your own car moved.

The Auto Train: The Passenger Option

Amtrak’s Auto Train carries you and your vehicle nonstop between two stations:

It leaves daily. You drive to the station, Amtrak loads your vehicle, and you ride in a seat or a room on the same train. Your vehicle travels in an enclosed auto carrier. When you arrive, Amtrak unloads it and you drive away.

Amtrak says the Auto Train can carry cars, SUVs, vans and motorcycles, plus some small boats, jet skis and other recreational vehicles. Size and clearance limits apply. You cannot get to your vehicle during the trip, so take what you need with you.

The Auto Train is built for a trip you take with your car, on that one route. Check Amtrak’s Auto Train page for schedules, fares and vehicle rules before you plan around it.

How New Cars Travel by Rail

Freight trains do move a lot of vehicles. They are new vehicles, shipped for automakers.

They ride in autorack rail cars. CSX’s railroad dictionary describes an auto rack car as “a flat car with fixed steel racks for transporting set-up automobiles.” The racks have two or three levels and are equipped with tie-down devices. Railroads call them bi-level and tri-level auto racks.

CSX’s own fleet runs enclosed bi-level and tri-level cars. Its automotive trains serve auto assembly plants, and it runs auto distribution centers across the Eastern U.S.

1. The plant loads the trainNew vehicles leave the assembly plant in autoracks.
2. The long haul by railThe train carries them toward the region where they will be sold.
3. The rail yardVehicles come off the train at a rail yard, often called a railhead or rail ramp.
4. The truck legA car hauler loads them and drives them to the dealer.

A train cannot pull up to a dealership. That last step is always a truck.

Where Rail Ends and Trucks Take Over

This is the part we do every day. We work with manufacturers to get vehicles from plants, ports and railheads to dealerships around the country. Units moving off rail ramps are part of our contracted freight.

A few of our operations show where rail and trucks meet:

• Denver area. From our yard in nearby Parker, Colorado, we run rail-head and regional freight across the Rocky Mountain region.
• Baltimore, Maryland. We haul finished and processed vehicles from the Port of Baltimore inland to dealers and rail.
• Jacksonville, Florida. We haul imported and processed vehicles out of JAXPORT inland to dealers and rail.

Notice that rail can come before the truck or after it. Some vehicles leave a port by truck and then board a train for the long haul.

Shipping Your Own Car: Why a Truck Is Usually the Answer

If you are moving, sending a car to college, or buying one from out of state, a car hauler is the practical way to ship it. A truck is not tied to one rail route between two stations.

Here is what to know about shipping a personal vehicle with us:

• Plan ahead. Give us some time before your date, so we can get your car scheduled on a truck.
• Trucks and a brokerage division. Along with our own trucks, our brokerage division lets us move your car in the most efficient way possible.
• Denver-area drop-off. Personal vehicles go to our operational yard in Parker, Colorado, not to the Englewood office. Call us first and we will confirm the address and a time.
• Tracking. Every one of our trucks has GPS tracking and Electronic Proof of Delivery.

Before pickup day

A few minutes of prep makes the handoff simple, whichever way your car travels:

• Take photos. Shoot every side of the car, plus the odometer, in good light.
• Note what is already there. Write down any scratches, dents or chips before the car leaves your hands.
• Read before you sign. The condition report records your car’s condition at pickup and again at delivery. Check it matches what you see, and keep your copy.

Train vs Truck at a Glance

Shipping a Car by Train FAQs

Can you ship a car by train without riding along?

For most people, no. Amtrak’s Auto Train carries you and your vehicle together. Freight railroads carry new vehicles for automakers, and CSX says it does not ship personally owned automobiles. To send a car on its own, use a car hauler truck.

Can I ship a car across the country by train?

Only on the Auto Train’s one route, between Virginia and Florida, and only if you ride along. For a cross-country move, a car hauler truck is the usual way to ship a car.

What is an autorack?

An autorack is a rail car with fixed steel racks for carrying vehicles. The racks have two or three levels, called bi-level and tri-level, and have tie-down devices to hold each vehicle.

Where does the Auto Train go?

It runs nonstop between Lorton, Virginia, near Washington, DC, and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It departs daily.

How do new cars get from the train to the dealer?

The train stops at a rail yard, often called a railhead or rail ramp. A car hauler loads the vehicles there and drives them to the dealer.

How do I ship my car with Accelerated?

Call us at (720) 200-3100 or send a message through our contact page. Plan ahead, because we need some time to get your car scheduled on a truck.

Sources

1. Amtrak, Auto Train
2. Amtrak, Auto Train experience and vehicles
3. CSX, Automotive
4. CSX, Automotive services
5. CSX, Railroad Dictionary (“Auto Rack Car”)