California to Massachusetts Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 3,094 miles from California to Massachusetts ranges from $1,517 to $2,346 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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Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Massachusetts to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Massachusetts car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Massachusetts:
- 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 Massachusetts
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 3,094 miles on your car going from California to Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts 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 MA 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 Massachusetts. The average travel distance is about 3,094 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Massachusetts
| From California to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Boston, MA | $1,519 – $2,435 | 2,981 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Worcester, MA | $1,519 – $2,532 | 2,943 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Springfield, MA | $1,534 – $2,328 | 2,899 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Cambridge, MA | $1,504 – $2,532 | 2,978 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Lowell, MA | $1,444 – $2,363 | 2,984 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Massachusetts
| From California to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Boston, MA | $1,564 – $2,387 | 2,999 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Worcester, MA | $1,459 – $2,339 | 2,960 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Springfield, MA | $1,489 – $2,339 | 2,917 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Cambridge, MA | $1,579 – $2,532 | 2,996 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Lowell, MA | $1,642 – $2,445 | 3,002 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Massachusetts
| From California to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Boston, MA | $1,642 – $2,470 | 3,130 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Worcester, MA | $1,627 – $2,420 | 3,091 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Springfield, MA | $1,595 – $2,420 | 3,048 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Cambridge, MA | $1,486 – $2,346 | 3,127 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Lowell, MA | $1,580 – $2,346 | 3,133 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Massachusetts
| From California to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Boston, MA | $1,564 – $2,470 | 3,098 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Worcester, MA | $1,533 – $2,346 | 3,060 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Springfield, MA | $1,486 – $2,470 | 3,016 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Cambridge, MA | $1,548 – $2,593 | 3,095 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Lowell, MA | $1,502 – $2,593 | 3,101 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Massachusetts
| From California to Massachusetts | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Boston, MA | $1,595 – $2,568 | 3,106 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Worcester, MA | $1,502 – $2,519 | 3,068 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Springfield, MA | $1,502 – $2,544 | 3,024 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Cambridge, MA | $1,548 – $2,371 | 3,103 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Lowell, MA | $1,595 – $2,396 | 3,109 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts you should expect to pay between $1,896 and $2,933.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to MA
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Bay 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 Massachusetts.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Massachusetts spans approximately 3,094 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Massachusetts vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
- Vehicle inspection: Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident in Massachusetts, you must convert your out-of-state vehicle registration to the state within 30 days of establishing residency. The vehicle can be titled and registered at the same time.
- Additional taxes: As a buyer, transferee, or user of a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts, you are responsible for paying a sales or use tax of 6.25%.
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 Massachusetts
About 22 million people are living in the Bay State. Most of Massachusetts has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Far southeast coastal areas are the broad transition zone to Humid Subtropical climates. The warm to hot summers render the oceanic climate rare in this transition, only applying to exposed coastal areas such as on the peninsula of Barnstable County. The climate of Boston is quite representative for the commonwealth, characterized by summer highs of around 81 °F (27 °C) and winter highs of 35 °F (2 °C), and is quite wet. Frosts are frequent all winter, even in coastal areas due to prevailing inland winds. Due to its location near the Atlantic, Massachusetts is vulnerable to nor'easters, hurricanes, and tropical storms.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Massachusetts?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Massachusetts, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Massachusetts, 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.
Massachusetts mandates minimum car insurance coverage, including $20,000/$40,000 for bodily injury liability, $5,000 for property damage, $20,000/$40,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury, and $8,000 for personal injury protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Massachusetts?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Massachusetts is about 3,094 miles, and that’s as fast as about 7 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from California to Massachusetts.
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.
Every year, all vehicles in Massachusetts must undergo a safety inspection. New cars registered in the state must be inspected within 7 days of their registration date.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Massachusetts?
As a new resident in Massachusetts, you must convert your out-of-state vehicle registration to the state within 30 days of establishing residency. The vehicle can be titled and registered at the same time.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Massachusetts after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Massachusetts after purchasing it.
As a buyer, transferee, or user of a motor vehicle or trailer in Massachusetts, you are responsible for paying a sales or use tax of 6.25%.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Massachusetts to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Massachusetts?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Shipping a car from California to Massachusetts costs $1,517 to $2,346.
