California to Kentucky Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,306 miles from California to Kentucky ranges from $1,288 to $2,072 and takes five–thirteen 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 Kentucky to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Kentucky car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Kentucky:
- 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 Kentucky
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,306 miles on your car going from California to Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 KY 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 Kentucky. The average travel distance is about 2,306 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from five to thirteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Kentucky
| From California to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Louisville, KY | $1,353 – $2,034 | 2,087 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Lexington, KY | $1,250 – $2,005 | 2,163 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Bowling Green, KY | $1,301 – $2,013 | 2,069 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Owensboro, KY | $1,340 – $2,115 | 2,033 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Covington, KY | $1,263 – $2,129 | 2,177 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Kentucky
| From California to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Louisville, KY | $1,340 – $1,993 | 2,067 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Lexington, KY | $1,368 – $2,088 | 2,144 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Bowling Green, KY | $1,275 – $2,074 | 2,050 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Owensboro, KY | $1,236 – $1,952 | 2,013 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Covington, KY | $1,328 – $2,026 | 2,158 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Kentucky
| From California to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Louisville, KY | $1,262 – $2,177 | 2,348 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Lexington, KY | $1,301 – $2,149 | 2,425 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Bowling Green, KY | $1,275 – $2,008 | 2,321 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Owensboro, KY | $1,351 – $2,198 | 2,294 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Covington, KY | $1,354 – $2,213 | 2,400 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Kentucky
| From California to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Louisville, KY | $1,328 – $2,051 | 2,316 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Lexington, KY | $1,315 – $2,008 | 2,393 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Bowling Green, KY | $1,262 – $2,114 | 2,331 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Owensboro, KY | $1,298 – $2,094 | 2,262 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Covington, KY | $1,342 – $2,072 | 2,368 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Kentucky
| From California to Kentucky | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Louisville, KY | $1,351 – $2,010 | 2,208 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lexington, KY | $1,377 – $2,157 | 2,285 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Fresno, CA to Bowling Green, KY | $1,315 – $2,005 | 2,191 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Owensboro, KY | $1,263 – $2,046 | 2,154 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Covington, KY | $1,288 – $2,199 | 2,300 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Kentucky
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 Kentucky you should expect to pay between $1,610 and $2,590.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to KY
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Bluegrass 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 Kentucky.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Kentucky spans approximately 2,306 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky should take between five and thirteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Kentucky vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
- Vehicle inspection: When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
- Additional taxes: In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.
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 Kentucky
About 22 million people are living in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky has relatively hot, humid, rainy summers, and moderately cold and rainy winters. Kansas rarely experiences the extremes cold of the northern states nor the heat of the state in the Deep South.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Kentucky?
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 Kentucky.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Kentucky?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Kentucky, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Kentucky, 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 insurance coverage includes Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability with limits of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident and $25,000 respectively; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage (not required); Personal Injury Protection with a limit of $10,000; and optional Collision and Comprehensive coverage for vehicle repair or replacement expenses, with no requirement.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Kentucky?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Kentucky is about 2,306 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take five to thirteen days to travel from California to Kentucky.
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.
When moving to Kentucky from another state, a one-time Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection is required. To complete the VIN inspection, bring the vehicle and its title to the Sheriff's office in the county where the car will be registered.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Kentucky?
New residents in Kentucky have a 30-day time frame to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Kentucky after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Kentucky after purchasing it.
In Kentucky, a 6% motor vehicle usage tax is imposed on the retail price of vehicles registered for the first time in the state.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Kentucky to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Kentucky?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
Shipping a car from California to Kentucky costs $1,288 to $2,072.
