Car Shipping To and From California
California is one of the busiest states for vehicle shipping, with pickups and deliveries from the Los Angeles and San Diego areas to the Bay Area, Sacramento and the Central Valley. Customers ship vehicles to and from the state for job and military relocations, college moves, online purchases, dealer transfers and seasonal travel. AutoStar Transport Express is a licensed auto transport broker (FMCSA MC #600908). We arrange a vetted carrier for your vehicle and stay with you from the quote to delivery.
Where are you shipping your vehicle?
Start with a ZIP code — we'll fill in the city and state.
Tip: a ZIP code (e.g. 33101) gives the most accurate quote — we'll fill in the city and state.
ZIP or city (e.g. 10001 — New York, NY).
How much does it cost to ship a car to or from California?
The price depends on the exact cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento or Fresno are very different starting points), the distance to the other end, the size and weight of the vehicle, open or enclosed transport, the season and your dates. Direction matters too. For example, between California and North Carolina there are usually more vehicles available for the carrier to load going from California to North Carolina. In the other direction, the carrier may leave with several open spots on the trailer and fill them along the route in other cities.
Access and timing
Dense city streets, parking limits, hills and gated communities can keep a large carrier from reaching the address. In those cases we agree on a safe nearby meeting point. Mountain passes in winter and summer heat can move pickup and delivery windows on routes that leave the state.
Transport Options
Open or enclosed
Open transport is the most common way to ship a car on this route and usually costs less. Enclosed transport is a better fit for classic cars, luxury vehicles, exotics, restored vehicles and high-value purchases.
Process
How it works
- 1
Request a quote
Tell us the vehicle, the route and your dates.
- 2
Choose your options
Open or enclosed, and door-to-door or a nearby meeting point.
- 3
We match a carrier
We work with vetted carriers that run this corridor.
- 4
Pickup
The driver inspects the vehicle and you both sign the condition report.
- 5
Transport
We keep you updated on the schedule. Dates are estimates and can change with weather and road conditions.
- 6
Delivery
You inspect the vehicle against the condition report before signing.
Before pickup
Remove personal items and loose parts, keep about a quarter tank of fuel, note existing damage, and leave the keys and a working phone number with the person who will meet the driver.
California Car Shipping FAQs
The cost depends on factors such as the pickup and delivery locations, vehicle size and condition, transport type, season, and timing. Request a free quote or call us for an exact price based on your route.
Yes. AutoStar arranges vehicle shipping to and from locations throughout California. If a large carrier cannot safely or legally access a specific address, we will arrange a nearby meeting location for pickup or delivery.
Yes. Enclosed transport is available for classic, luxury, exotic, antique, and other high-value vehicles that may benefit from additional protection during transit.
No. AutoStar is a licensed auto transport broker, not the carrier. Coverage for transport-related damage is provided by the assigned carrier, which AutoStar carefully screens and selects.