Amtrak's Auto Train Now Allows Guns Locked in Your Car

Amtrak quietly updated its Auto Train rules sometime between August and October 2026, reversing a prior ban on firearms for the Lorton, Va.-to-Sanford, Fla. route, and Bearing Arms has the details on how it actually works.

Key points

• Car storage only: Firearms must stay unloaded and locked in the passenger's vehicle or motorcycle, not carried into coach or sleeper cars.
• Case requirements: Guns need a TSA-compliant case with at least two locking points; single-mechanism biometric or keypad-only cases don't qualify.
• Advance paperwork: Passengers must book at least six hours ahead, be 18 or older, declare the firearm two and a half hours before departure, and stay on the same train as their car.
• Limits on ammo and powder: Ammunition is capped at 11 pounds per person, and black powder, percussion caps, and flintlock-style ammo are banned outright.
• Separate from carry-on policy: This Auto Train change is distinct from Amtrak's broader January 2027 plan to allow secured firearm cases on trains without checked baggage, according to Bearing Arms.

Quick take

This is a real win for gun owners who use the Auto Train to haul a vehicle to Florida without leaving guns behind, but the rules are specific enough that skipping a step could mean trouble. Read them closely before you book.

Read the full story: bearingarms.com