California to Arizona Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 736 miles from California to Arizona ranges from $745 to $1,081 and takes one–six 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 Arizona to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Arizona car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Arizona:
- 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 Arizona
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 736 miles on your car going from California to Arizona. 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 Arizona, 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 Arizona 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 AZ 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 Arizona. The average travel distance is about 736 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from one to six days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Arizona
| From California to Arizona | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Phoenix, AZ | $564 – $793 | 373 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Tucson, AZ | $654 – $925 | 483 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Mesa, AZ | $562 – $793 | 390 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Chandler, AZ | $603 – $785 | 397 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Gilbert, AZ | $609 – $793 | 395 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Arizona
| From California to Arizona | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Phoenix, AZ | $558 – $778 | 355 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ | $599 – $795 | 405 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| San Diego, CA to Mesa, AZ | $552 – $786 | 361 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| San Diego, CA to Chandler, AZ | $586 – $778 | 350 miles | 1 – 4 days |
| San Diego, CA to Gilbert, AZ | $580 – $778 | 357 miles | 1 – 4 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Arizona
| From California to Arizona | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Phoenix, AZ | $782 – $1,116 | 711 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| San Jose, CA to Tucson, AZ | $799 – $1,161 | 821 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Jose, CA to Mesa, AZ | $745 – $1,195 | 727 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| San Jose, CA to Chandler, AZ | $761 – $1,115 | 734 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| San Jose, CA to Gilbert, AZ | $824 – $1,104 | 732 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Arizona
| From California to Arizona | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Phoenix, AZ | $825 – $1,148 | 754 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Tucson, AZ | $816 – $1,231 | 864 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Mesa, AZ | $801 – $1,113 | 770 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Chandler, AZ | $769 – $1,132 | 777 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Gilbert, AZ | $825 – $1,194 | 774 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Arizona
| From California to Arizona | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Phoenix, AZ | $734 – $967 | 590 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fresno, CA to Tucson, AZ | $798 – $1,116 | 700 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fresno, CA to Mesa, AZ | $751 – $1,035 | 606 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fresno, CA to Chandler, AZ | $737 – $1,025 | 613 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Fresno, CA to Gilbert, AZ | $693 – $964 | 611 miles | 1 – 6 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Arizona
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 Arizona you should expect to pay between $931 and $1,351.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to AZ
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Grand Canyon 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 Arizona.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Arizona spans approximately 736 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 Arizona 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 Arizona should take between one and six days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Arizona vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The mandated liability insurance minimums in Arizona are as follows: $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person per accident $30,000 for bodily injury liability for two or more people per accident $10,000 for property damage liability per accident
- Vehicle inspection: Emissions testing is mandatory in Phoenix and Tucson, but not in the rest of Arizona. If you reside in either Phoenix or Tucson, you are required to undergo an emissions test every two years while renewing your vehicle registration. On the other hand, car safety inspections are not mandatory in the state of Arizona.
- Driver’s license: If you are a former resident of another state and now reside in Arizona, you will need to visit an Arizona Motor Vehicle Services office in person to obtain an Arizona driver's license. You have a 10-day window after relocating within the state to update the address on your Arizona driver's license.
- Additional taxes: In Arizona, vehicle owners are required to pay the Vehicle License Tax (VLT) along with other fees. This tax serves as an alternative to the personal property tax that is imposed in some other states.
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 Arizona
About 22 million people are living in the Grand Canyon State. Arizona may be on of the top states where your move is least likely to be affected by climate due to the unlikelihood of extremely cold days and natural disasters.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Arizona?
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 Arizona.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Arizona?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Arizona, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Arizona, 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.
The mandated liability insurance minimums in Arizona are as follows: $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person per accident $30,000 for bodily injury liability for two or more people per accident $10,000 for property damage liability per accident
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Arizona?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Arizona is about 736 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take one to six days to travel from California to Arizona.
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.
Emissions testing is mandatory in Phoenix and Tucson, but not in the rest of Arizona. If you reside in either Phoenix or Tucson, you are required to undergo an emissions test every two years while renewing your vehicle registration. On the other hand, car safety inspections are not mandatory in the state of Arizona.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Arizona?
If you are a former resident of another state and now reside in Arizona, you will need to visit an Arizona Motor Vehicle Services office in person to obtain an Arizona driver's license. You have a 10-day window after relocating within the state to update the address on your Arizona driver's license.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Arizona after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Arizona after purchasing it.
In Arizona, vehicle owners are required to pay the Vehicle License Tax (VLT) along with other fees. This tax serves as an alternative to the personal property tax that is imposed in some other states.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Arizona to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Arizona?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Arizona 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 Arizona?
Shipping a car from California to Arizona costs $745 to $1,081.
