California to Alabama Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,169 miles from California to Alabama ranges from $1,342 to $2,067 and takes four–twelve days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Alabama to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Alabama car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Alabama:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Price Lock Promise
- Pay by credit card
- Free car wash at delivery
- No upfront deposit
- Door-to-door service
- No upfront payment
- GPS tracking
- Multiple insurance options
- Competitive pricing
- Door-to-door shipping
- Competitive pricing
- Last-minute car shipments
- Guaranteed & expedited shipments
- Gap insurance coverage
- Multiple discounts
- No hidden fees
- Free online quotes
- Door-to-door service in 48 states
- Exact pickup dates
- Ships to & from HI
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Alabama
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,169 miles on your car going from California to Alabama. 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 need to ship your car from California for a move to Alabama, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
- Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from California to Alabama 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!
CA to AL auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in California and Alabama. The average travel distance is about 2,169 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from four to twelve days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Alabama
| From California to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Huntsville, AL | $1,367 – $2,074 | 2,008 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Birmingham, AL | $1,301 – $2,013 | 2,030 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Montgomery, AL | $1,249 – $1,952 | 2,088 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Mobile, AL | $1,249 – $2,074 | 2,014 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,249 – $1,932 | 2,025 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Alabama
| From California to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Huntsville, AL | $1,308 – $1,850 | 1,989 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Birmingham, AL | $1,257 – $2,025 | 1,998 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Montgomery, AL | $1,301 – $2,115 | 2,009 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Mobile, AL | $1,231 – $1,850 | 1,936 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,244 – $2,045 | 1,947 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Alabama
| From California to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Huntsville, AL | $1,271 – $2,073 | 2,261 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Birmingham, AL | $1,351 – $2,031 | 2,283 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Montgomery, AL | $1,262 – $2,072 | 2,372 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Mobile, AL | $1,324 – $2,136 | 2,280 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,298 – $2,031 | 2,277 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Alabama
| From California to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Huntsville, AL | $1,262 – $2,177 | 2,303 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Birmingham, AL | $1,328 – $2,072 | 2,325 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Montgomery, AL | $1,314 – $2,021 | 2,415 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Mobile, AL | $1,355 – $2,008 | 2,323 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,355 – $2,114 | 2,319 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Alabama
| From California to Alabama | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Huntsville, AL | $1,328 – $2,026 | 2,130 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Birmingham, AL | $1,263 – $2,170 | 2,152 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Montgomery, AL | $1,271 – $2,073 | 2,241 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Mobile, AL | $1,250 – $1,964 | 2,149 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,368 – $2,046 | 2,146 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Alabama
Since vehicles like SUVs, 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 Alabama you should expect to pay between $1,678 and $2,584.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to AL
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Heart of Dixie, 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 Alabama.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Alabama spans approximately 2,169 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 Alabama 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 Alabama should take between four and twelve days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Alabama vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
- Driver’s license: When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
- Additional taxes: In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from California
More than 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 Alabama
About 22 million people are living in the Heart of Dixie. Alabama has one of the hottest summers in the US and mild winters with copious amounts of precipitation throughout the year. Areas around the Gulf in Alabama are prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. Alabama also has tornado activity, which typically occurs in the spring It would be a good idea to check for tornado activity in the area you are looking to move to.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Alabama?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in California and when dropping it off in Alabama.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Alabama?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Alabama, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Alabama, 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.
Alabama state government requires motorists possess liability insurance, which must provide a minimum coverage of 25/50/25. This specification includes coverage for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Alabama?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Alabama is about 2,169 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take four to twelve days to travel from California to Alabama.
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.
In Alabama, a safety inspection must be completed prior to selling a vehicle and a VIN inspection is mandatory when registering an out-of-state vehicle. Emissions inspections are not required by the state, though cities and municipalities may have their own laws mandating them.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Alabama?
When you move to Alabama with an out-of-state driver's license, you have 30 days to surrender it and obtain an Alabama license.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Alabama after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Alabama after purchasing it.
In Alabama, a 2% state sales tax is levied on the purchase of vehicles, including off-road motorcycles and ATVs. With the addition of city and county vehicle sales taxes, the total sales tax owed will amount to between 3.375% and 4% of the vehicle's cost.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Alabama to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Alabama?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Alabama is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Alabama?
Shipping a car from California to Alabama costs $1,342 to $2,067.
