1-2
DAYS TO PICKUP, MAJOR METROS
$700-$1,900
OPEN TRANSPORT, BY DESTINATION
I-5 · I-10 · I-80
PRIMARY CARRIER CORRIDORS
Key Takeaways
Typical cost: California to Texas runs $800-$1,200 on an open carrier, to Florida $1,300-$1,800, to New York $1,400-$1,900, and to Washington $700-$1,000. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent, and California has the deepest exotic and classic carrier market in the US.
Transit time: The Southwest takes 1-2 days, Texas 3-6 days, and the East Coast 7-11 days once the vehicle is picked up.
Directionality: Outbound from California is the cheaper direction on nearly every lane. More vehicles leave the state than return, so carriers discount to stay full, and inbound shipments run at a premium.
Savings tip: Flexible dates get you the best rate, and SoCal and Bay Area metros get carrier attention fastest, often within 1-2 days of booking.
Process: You get a dedicated coordinator and a vetted, insured carrier. Nothing is due until dispatch, and your vehicle is tracked by GPS throughout.
Popular Car Shipping Routes from California
California is the highest-volume origin state in the country, and three interstates carry most of that traffic. I-10 runs south through Phoenix toward Texas and the Gulf, I-80 is the main transcontinental lane out of the Bay Area, and I-5 is the spine of the coast from San Diego through Sacramento. Carriers load out of the major metros daily, so pickup windows there run 1-2 days. These are the routes we book most often from California.
- California to Texas - 1,200-1,750 miles, 3-6 days (see route guide)
- California to Florida - 2,400-3,050 miles, 7-11 days (see route guide)
- California to New York - 2,700-3,000 miles, 7-11 days (see route guide)
- California to Washington - 700-1,150 miles, 2-4 days
- California to Arizona - 370-800 miles, 1-2 days
Why Outbound California Is Cheaper
More vehicles leave California than return to it, so carrier capacity concentrates on getting trucks out of the state full. That competition keeps outbound rates lower than the same lane run in reverse, and it holds on nearly every major route. Inbound shipments carry a premium because carriers heading west often have empty spots to fill and price accordingly. If your dates are flexible, tell your coordinator: a pickup window of a few days is usually enough to match you with a carrier already loading in your metro, which is where the discount lives.
Pickup and Delivery Across California
Carrier density in Los Angeles and the Bay Area is the deepest in the country, and steady port and auction traffic keeps that supply strong year-round. In hills neighborhoods with narrow streets and in gated communities, a 75-foot rig cannot reach the door, so drivers stage from a wide street or a nearby lot and your coordinator confirms the exact meeting spot before pickup day. For exotics and classics, enclosed single and two-car rigs work these metros daily, so soft-tie service to a specific garage or collection is easy to arrange.
California Car Shipping FAQs
Most standard sedans and SUVs run $800-$1,200 on an open carrier from California to Texas, covering roughly 1,200-1,750 miles in 3-6 days. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent. Because more vehicles leave California than return, outbound rates like this one sit below what the same lane costs in reverse.
Open transport from California to Florida typically prices at $1,300-$1,800 for the 2,400-3,050 mile run, with 7-11 days in transit once the car is loaded. The long haul works out to a lower cost per mile than shorter routes because the carrier keeps the vehicle for the full run. Enclosed service typically adds 40-60 percent.
Cross-country runs of 2,700-3,000 miles to New York typically price at $1,400-$1,900 on an open carrier, with 7-11 days in transit. Outbound California pricing benefits from heavy carrier competition, so this lane costs less than shipping the same car from New York to California.
Pickup in the major metros usually happens within 1-2 days of booking. Once the car is loaded, count on 1-2 days to the Southwest, 2-4 days to Washington, 3-6 days to Texas, and 7-11 days to the East Coast.
California is the highest-volume origin state in the country, and more vehicles leave than come back. Carriers discount outbound loads to stay full, while trucks heading into the state often arrive with open spots and price at a premium to cover the softer return leg. The gap shows up on nearly every lane.
Usually not at the door. A 75-foot rig cannot navigate tight hillside streets or most gated communities, so drivers stage from a wide street, a shopping center lot, or another agreed spot nearby. Your coordinator confirms the exact meeting point with you and the driver before pickup day.
For high-value vehicles, yes. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent to the open price and shields the car from road debris and weather. California has the deepest exotic and classic carrier market in the US, so enclosed single and two-car rigs with soft ties and liftgates are readily available in the major metros.
Most carriers allow up to 100 lbs of personal items in the trunk or below the window line. Anything more can trigger extra charges or a refused pickup, and personal items are not covered by the carrier’s cargo insurance, so keep valuables out of the vehicle.
Yes. Every carrier we assign holds active cargo insurance, with coverage up to $2M available for high-value vehicles, and we can send you the certificate of insurance on request before pickup. Nothing is due until a driver is assigned to your shipment.
