California to Connecticut Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,990 miles from California to Connecticut ranges from $1,427 to $2,287 and takes seven–fifteen 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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  • Services all 50 states
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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Connecticut to California car shipping guide.

The best California to Connecticut car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Connecticut:

Best for accurate pricing
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
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Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
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  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
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Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
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  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
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Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (864) 492-1221
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  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
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Check prices (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (888) 259-6046
At A Glance
  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
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Check prices (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Connecticut

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,990 miles on your car going from California to Connecticut. 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 Connecticut, 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 Connecticut 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 CT 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 Connecticut. The average travel distance is about 2,990 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .

Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Connecticut

From California to Connecticut Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Los Angeles, CA to Waterbury, CT $1,385 – $2,208 2,864 miles 7 – 15 days
Los Angeles, CA to Bridgeport, CT $1,414 – $2,208 2,851 miles 7 – 15 days
Los Angeles, CA to Stamford, CT $1,458 – $2,369 2,829 miles 7 – 15 days
Los Angeles, CA to New Haven, CT $1,385 – $2,369 2,869 miles 7 – 15 days
Los Angeles, CA to Hartford, CT $1,399 – $2,346 2,893 miles 7 – 15 days

Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Connecticut

From California to Connecticut Cost Distance Estimated transit time
San Diego, CA to Waterbury, CT $1,501 – $2,185 2,856 miles 7 – 15 days
San Diego, CA to Bridgeport, CT $1,399 – $2,231 2,843 miles 7 – 15 days
San Diego, CA to Stamford, CT $1,458 – $2,231 2,822 miles 7 – 15 days
San Diego, CA to New Haven, CT $1,458 – $2,392 2,861 miles 7 – 15 days
San Diego, CA to Hartford, CT $1,414 – $2,185 2,886 miles 7 – 15 days

Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Connecticut

From California to Connecticut Cost Distance Estimated transit time
San Jose, CA to Waterbury, CT $1,515 – $2,513 3,011 miles 7 – 15 days
San Jose, CA to Bridgeport, CT $1,546 – $2,335 2,997 miles 7 – 15 days
San Jose, CA to Stamford, CT $1,516 – $2,454 2,976 miles 7 – 15 days
San Jose, CA to New Haven, CT $1,561 – $2,465 3,016 miles 7 – 15 days
San Jose, CA to Hartford, CT $1,484 – $2,489 3,040 miles 7 – 15 days

Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Connecticut

From California to Connecticut Cost Distance Estimated transit time
San Francisco, CA to Waterbury, CT $1,531 – $2,454 2,978 miles 7 – 15 days
San Francisco, CA to Bridgeport, CT $1,501 – $2,335 2,966 miles 7 – 15 days
San Francisco, CA to Stamford, CT $1,412 – $2,382 2,943 miles 7 – 15 days
San Francisco, CA to New Haven, CT $1,456 – $2,478 2,984 miles 7 – 15 days
San Francisco, CA to Hartford, CT $1,545 – $2,318 3,008 miles 7 – 15 days

Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Connecticut

From California to Connecticut Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Fresno, CA to Waterbury, CT $1,456 – $2,502 2,986 miles 7 – 15 days
Fresno, CA to Bridgeport, CT $1,471 – $2,382 2,974 miles 7 – 15 days
Fresno, CA to Stamford, CT $1,471 – $2,263 2,952 miles 7 – 15 days
Fresno, CA to New Haven, CT $1,560 – $2,335 2,993 miles 7 – 15 days
Fresno, CA to Hartford, CT $1,499 – $2,562 3,016 miles 7 – 15 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Connecticut

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 Connecticut you should expect to pay between $1,784 and $2,859.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to CT

When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Constitution 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 Connecticut.
  • Distance and route: The journey from California to Connecticut spans approximately 2,990 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Connecticut vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The basic car insurance requirements in the state of Connecticut is as follow: Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident
  • Vehicle inspection: In Connecticut, all vehicles must undergo an emissions inspection every two years, with a few exceptions. Additionally, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection, which confirms the vehicle's identity, is required when registering the vehicle in the state.
  • Driver’s license: As a new resident of Connecticut, you must obtain a Connecticut driver's license within 30 days. Residency is defined as living in the state for over 6 months in a year.
  • Additional taxes: If you paid less than 6.35% (or 7.75% for vehicles valued over $50,000) in sales tax in another state, you will need to pay the difference to the Connecticut DMV at the time of vehicle registration.

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 Connecticut

About 22 million people are living in the Constitution State. Connecticut has decent weather, is familiar to any east coast native. In the North, there tend to be cold winters with moderate snowfall and hot, humid summers. In the South, there are cool winters with a mix of rain and infrequent snow, and hot humid summers.

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Connecticut?

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 Connecticut.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Connecticut?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Connecticut, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Connecticut, 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 basic car insurance requirements in the state of Connecticut is as follow: Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident Property damage liability: $25,000 per accident Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident

How long does it take to ship a car from California to Connecticut?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Connecticut is about 2,990 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from California to Connecticut.

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 Connecticut, all vehicles must undergo an emissions inspection every two years, with a few exceptions. Additionally, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection, which confirms the vehicle's identity, is required when registering the vehicle in the state.

If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Connecticut?

As a new resident of Connecticut, you must obtain a Connecticut driver's license within 30 days. Residency is defined as living in the state for over 6 months in a year.

If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Connecticut after shipping it there?

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Connecticut after purchasing it.

If you paid less than 6.35% (or 7.75% for vehicles valued over $50,000) in sales tax in another state, you will need to pay the difference to the Connecticut DMV at the time of vehicle registration.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Connecticut to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Connecticut?

The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Connecticut 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 Connecticut?

Shipping a car from California to Connecticut costs $1,427 to $2,287.

Helpful California resources