California to Iowa Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,848 miles from California to Iowa ranges from $1,318 to $1,840 and takes three–eleven 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 Iowa to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Iowa car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Iowa:
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best cross-country shipper: Montway Auto Transport
- Best for quick pickup: Easy Auto Ship
- Best for discounts: AmeriFreight Car Transport
- Best for overall value: SGT Auto Transport
- 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
- No upfront deposit
- Expedited shipping
- No hidden fees
- Ships motorcycles & RVs
- Discount for cash payments
- 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
Alternative ways to ship your car from California to Iowa
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,848 miles on your car going from California to Iowa. 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 Iowa, 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 Iowa 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 IA 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 Iowa. The average travel distance is about 1,848 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Iowa
| From California to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Des Moines, IA | $1,151 – $1,639 | 1,681 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,292 – $1,916 | 1,808 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Davenport, IA | $1,228 – $1,878 | 1,849 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Sioux City, IA | $1,095 – $1,696 | 1,579 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Iowa City, IA | $1,241 – $1,837 | 1,795 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Iowa
| From California to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Des Moines, IA | $1,241 – $1,783 | 1,744 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,254 – $1,840 | 1,875 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Davenport, IA | $1,324 – $2,069 | 1,916 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Sioux City, IA | $1,175 – $1,743 | 1,646 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to Iowa City, IA | $1,318 – $1,991 | 1,862 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Iowa
| From California to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Des Moines, IA | $1,254 – $1,973 | 1,831 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,337 – $1,912 | 1,957 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to Davenport, IA | $1,285 – $1,912 | 1,998 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to Sioux City, IA | $1,266 – $1,801 | 1,727 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Jose, CA to Iowa City, IA | $1,311 – $1,872 | 1,944 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Iowa
| From California to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Des Moines, IA | $1,290 – $1,765 | 1,798 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,298 – $2,069 | 1,925 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Davenport, IA | $1,298 – $1,892 | 1,964 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Sioux City, IA | $1,187 – $1,639 | 1,696 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Iowa City, IA | $1,246 – $1,971 | 1,912 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Iowa
| From California to Iowa | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Des Moines, IA | $1,330 – $1,954 | 1,807 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,363 – $1,912 | 1,934 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Davenport, IA | $1,363 – $1,912 | 1,973 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Sioux City, IA | $1,303 – $1,783 | 1,703 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to Iowa City, IA | $1,233 – $2,030 | 1,920 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Iowa
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 Iowa you should expect to pay between $1,648 and $2,300.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to IA
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Hawkeye 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 Iowa.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Iowa spans approximately 1,848 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 Iowa 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 Iowa should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Iowa vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
- Vehicle inspection: In Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
- Driver’s license: New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
- Additional taxes: In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new 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 Iowa
About 22 million people are living in the Hawkeye State. Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Iowa?
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 Iowa.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Iowa?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Iowa, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Iowa, 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.
Iowa requires minimum liability insurance, covering $20,000 for individual injury or death, $40,000 for multiple individuals, and $15,000 for property damage in an accident.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Iowa?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Iowa is about 1,848 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from California to Iowa.
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 Iowa, car owners are not obligated to undergo emissions, VIN, or safety inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Iowa?
New residents with an out-of-state license must obtain an Iowa license within 30 days of establishing permanent residency. To do so, visit the DMV with your former state license, as it will need to be surrendered for the new license.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Iowa after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Iowa after purchasing it.
In Iowa, sales of vehicles requiring registration are exempt from sales tax but subject to a 5% fee for new registration.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Iowa to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Iowa?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Iowa 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 Iowa?
Shipping a car from California to Iowa costs $1,318 to $1,840.
