California to Louisiana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,961 miles from California to Louisiana ranges from $1,270 to $2,045 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 Louisiana to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Louisiana car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Louisiana:
- 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 Louisiana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,961 miles on your car going from California to Louisiana. 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 LA 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 Louisiana. The average travel distance is about 1,961 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Louisiana
| From California to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to New Orleans, LA | $1,315 – $1,799 | 1,893 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,264 – $1,874 | 1,815 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Shreveport, LA | $1,220 – $1,705 | 1,624 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Metairie, LA | $1,327 – $1,949 | 1,888 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Lafayette, LA | $1,202 – $1,868 | 1,763 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Louisiana
| From California to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to New Orleans, LA | $1,201 – $1,949 | 1,817 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,287 – $1,761 | 1,739 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to Shreveport, LA | $1,184 – $1,627 | 1,547 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to Metairie, LA | $1,226 – $1,912 | 1,811 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Lafayette, LA | $1,196 – $1,756 | 1,686 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Louisiana
| From California to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to New Orleans, LA | $1,263 – $2,150 | 2,193 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,355 – $2,005 | 2,115 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Shreveport, LA | $1,264 – $1,799 | 1,876 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to Metairie, LA | $1,381 – $2,129 | 2,188 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Lafayette, LA | $1,340 – $2,115 | 2,079 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Louisiana
| From California to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to New Orleans, LA | $1,364 – $1,989 | 2,236 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,328 – $2,067 | 2,157 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Shreveport, LA | $1,270 – $1,967 | 1,918 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Metairie, LA | $1,390 – $2,052 | 2,230 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Lafayette, LA | $1,289 – $2,046 | 2,121 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Louisiana
| From California to Louisiana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to New Orleans, LA | $1,236 – $2,013 | 2,063 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Baton Rouge, LA | $1,283 – $1,908 | 1,985 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Shreveport, LA | $1,226 – $1,761 | 1,745 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to Metairie, LA | $1,249 – $2,095 | 2,057 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lafayette, LA | $1,308 – $1,986 | 1,948 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Louisiana
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 Louisiana you should expect to pay between $1,588 and $2,556.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to LA
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Pelican 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 Louisiana.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Louisiana spans approximately 1,961 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Louisiana vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
- Vehicle inspection: In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
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 Louisiana
About 22 million people are living in the Pelican State. Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Louisiana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Louisiana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Louisiana, 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 limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Louisiana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Louisiana is about 1,961 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 Louisiana.
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 Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Louisiana?
New residents in Louisiana must transfer their out-of-state driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Louisiana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Louisiana after purchasing it.
In Louisiana, a 4% tax is levied on all car sales by the state, with additional taxes charged by individual counties and cities.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Louisiana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Louisiana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Shipping a car from California to Louisiana costs $1,270 to $2,045.
