Can I transport my car overseas by train?
Your question, answered: do options exist to transport car long distance?
Question:
Is it true you can no longer transport your car long distance by train? Do you know of any alternatives? H.N.
Answer:
Unfortunately, the SNCF no longer offers its Autotrain service, as of the end of last year. This allowed you to put the car on the train to send it to a distant destination and pick it up again there. For example, a Parisian going on holiday in Nice could pick their car up on arrival. The service had been offered for 60 years.
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The reason given for cancellation was it was making a loss and surveys found clients would not accept a steep tariff rise. One alternative is to use the service hiflow.com (formerly called Expedicar), a specialist company recommended by SNCF, which organises transport of a car by a member of the public or professional driver, or in a lorry. For example, a trip from Paris to Fréjus in the Var driven by a volunteer member of the public who wants to go to that area (arrival time depending on their availability) costs €98, or a whopping €829 by a professional within three days.
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To have it taken by a lorry in under eight days to an agency costs €530, or in under 10 days door to door €1,500. The member of the public option involves the firm publicising the request on a website to obtain offers. Drivers are checked for a valid licence and identity, the car is inspected on departure and arrival, and the trip is insured by Allianz. In comparison, the Autotrain service for that journey used to cost €266.
