California to Indiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,272 miles from California to Indiana ranges from $1,611 to $2,573 and takes 5–13 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Indiana to California car shipping guide.
California to Indiana auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in California and Indiana. The average travel distance is about 2,272 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 5 to 13 days.
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Indiana
| From California to Indiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Indianapolis, IN | 2,067 miles | $1,663–$2,450 | 4–12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Fort Wayne, IN | 2,162 miles | $1,601–$2,540 | 4–12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Evansville, IN | 1,989 miles | $1,577–$2,251 | 3–11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to South Bend, IN | 2,089 miles | $1,631–$2,376 | 4–12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lafayette, IN | 2,095 miles | $1,552–$2,499 | 4–12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Indiana
| From California to Indiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Indianapolis, IN | 2,049 miles | $1,520–$2,450 | 4–12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Fort Wayne, IN | 2,175 miles | $1,601–$2,414 | 4–12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Evansville, IN | 1,972 miles | $1,545–$2,275 | 3–11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to South Bend, IN | 2,156 miles | $1,601–$2,540 | 4–12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lafayette, IN | 2,078 miles | $1,663–$2,524 | 4–12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Indiana
| From California to Indiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Indianapolis, IN | 2,287 miles | $1,579–$2,650 | 5–13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Fort Wayne, IN | 2,310 miles | $1,552–$2,624 | 5–13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Evansville, IN | 2,252 miles | $1,595–$2,548 | 5–13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to South Bend, IN | 2,237 miles | $1,676–$2,675 | 4–12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lafayette, IN | 2,267 miles | $1,563–$2,497 | 5–13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Indiana
| From California to Indiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Indianapolis, IN | 2,255 miles | $1,660–$2,573 | 5–13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Fort Wayne, IN | 2,278 miles | $1,676–$2,599 | 5–13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Evansville, IN | 2,220 miles | $1,644–$2,497 | 4–12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to South Bend, IN | 2,204 miles | $1,595–$2,471 | 4–12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lafayette, IN | 2,235 miles | $1,660–$2,548 | 4–12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Indiana
| From California to Indiana | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Indianapolis, IN | 2,191 miles | $1,681–$2,440 | 4–12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Fort Wayne, IN | 2,286 miles | $1,660–$2,548 | 5–13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Evansville, IN | 2,113 miles | $1,568–$2,565 | 4–12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to South Bend, IN | 2,213 miles | $1,660–$2,446 | 4–12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lafayette, IN | 2,219 miles | $1,611–$2,471 | 4–12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Indiana
Since vehicles like SUV, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?
If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from California to Indiana you should expect to pay between $2,014 and $3,216.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from California to Indiana
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Hoosier State, these factors will influence your final price:
- Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
- Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Indiana.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Indiana spans approximately 2,272 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
- Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of California, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
- Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between California and Indiana and the varying gas prices across the country.
- Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from California to Indiana should take between 5 and 13 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best California to Indiana car shipping companies
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We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Indiana:
- Best for Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Indiana
- Drive it yourself: This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,272 miles on your car going from California to Indiana. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
- Ship it with your movers: If you hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- Hire a driver: Hire someone to drive the car from California to Indiana for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
- Ship by train: If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!
What else should you know about shipping a car from California to Indiana?
- Car insurance requirements: Indiana's minimum auto insurance coverage is $25,000/$50,000/$10,000, providing $25,000 per person and a maximum of $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, along with $10,000 for property damage in the event of a covered accident. Liability coverage in Indiana includes property damage, protecting your assets in case you're legally responsible for damages to another party's property, and bodily injury, covering expenses related to harm sustained by others in a covered accident.
- Vehicle inspection: Indiana does not mandate safety inspections for vehicles. However, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a VIN inspection for vehicles not previously registered in the state.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident of Indiana, you have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver's license if you have a valid license from another state. You must also transfer the titles and registrations of your vehicles from your previous state to Indiana.
- Additional taxes: If you purchase a car in another state and pay sales tax there, you receive a credit for the amount paid. If the tax rate in that state is lower than Indiana's 7%, you'll need to pay the difference in order to obtain the Indiana title for the car.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist
Transporting your vehicle from California
Over 39 million people call California home. Nicknamed the Golden State, California has a great Mediterranean climate throughout most of the state. In the Southeast, you may experience colder winters and hotter summers. The northern part of California experiences more rain than the rest of the state. Before your move be sure to check for rain or very hot days.
Transporting your vehicle to Indiana
About 22 million people are living in the Hoosier State of Indiana. In the past, most of Indiana had cold winters and hot, wet summers. Only the very bottom of the state had a different climate with more rain. But in 2016, about half of Indiana now has that rainier climate. The temperatures are different in the northern and southern parts of the state.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when picking up my car in California and when dropping off my car in Indiana?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to be present when picking up your car in California and when dropping it off in Indiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Indiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Indiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Indiana, which you should verify before loading your car in California.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The minimum car insurance requirement in California is $15,000 for individual injury, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage in the case of an accident involving another driver.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Indiana's minimum auto insurance coverage is $25,000/$50,000/$10,000, providing $25,000 per person and a maximum of $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, along with $10,000 for property damage in the event of a covered accident. Liability coverage in Indiana includes property damage, protecting your assets in case you're legally responsible for damages to another party's property, and bodily injury, covering expenses related to harm sustained by others in a covered accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Indiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Indiana is about 2272 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take 5-13 days to travel from California to Indiana.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
California requires an annual safety inspection to ensure that all vehicles used on public roads are in good condition and safe to operate. The inspection can be carried out at any California Department of Transportation approved service station.
Indiana does not mandate safety inspections for vehicles. However, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires a VIN inspection for vehicles not previously registered in the state.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Indiana?
As a new resident of Indiana, you have 60 days to obtain an Indiana driver's license if you have a valid license from another state. You must also transfer the titles and registrations of your vehicles from your previous state to Indiana.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Indiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Indiana after purchasing it.
If you purchase a car in another state and pay sales tax there, you receive a credit for the amount paid. If the tax rate in that state is lower than Indiana's 7%, you'll need to pay the difference in order to obtain the Indiana title for the car.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Indiana to avoid any hidden costs.
