California to Maryland Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,779 miles from California to Maryland ranges from $1,485 to $2,352 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 Maryland to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Maryland car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Maryland:
- 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 Maryland
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,779 miles on your car going from California to Maryland. 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 MD 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 Maryland. The average travel distance is about 2,779 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Maryland
| From California to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Washington DC, MD | $1,382 – $2,287 | 2,669 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Baltimore, MD | $1,452 – $2,178 | 2,645 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Columbia, MD | $1,466 – $2,244 | 2,637 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Germantown, MD | $1,340 – $2,157 | 2,614 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Silver Spring, MD | $1,396 – $2,200 | 2,633 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Maryland
| From California to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Washington DC, MD | $1,438 – $2,244 | 2,651 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Baltimore, MD | $1,410 – $2,135 | 2,628 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Columbia, MD | $1,396 – $2,069 | 2,620 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Germantown, MD | $1,382 – $2,178 | 2,597 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Silver Spring, MD | $1,424 – $2,265 | 2,616 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Maryland
| From California to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Washington DC, MD | $1,414 – $2,346 | 2,843 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Baltimore, MD | $1,399 – $2,392 | 2,851 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Columbia, MD | $1,516 – $2,323 | 2,843 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Germantown, MD | $1,399 – $2,254 | 2,820 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Silver Spring, MD | $1,443 – $2,185 | 2,839 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Maryland
| From California to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Washington DC, MD | $1,443 – $2,231 | 2,812 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Baltimore, MD | $1,501 – $2,415 | 2,819 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Columbia, MD | $1,428 – $2,369 | 2,811 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Germantown, MD | $1,399 – $2,307 | 2,789 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Silver Spring, MD | $1,385 – $2,185 | 2,807 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Maryland
| From California to Maryland | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Washington DC, MD | $1,485 – $2,128 | 2,793 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Baltimore, MD | $1,413 – $2,285 | 2,769 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Columbia, MD | $1,356 – $2,240 | 2,761 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Germantown, MD | $1,485 – $2,218 | 2,738 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Silver Spring, MD | $1,399 – $2,173 | 2,758 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Maryland
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 Maryland you should expect to pay between $1,856 and $2,940.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to MD
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Old Line 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 Maryland.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Maryland spans approximately 2,779 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 Maryland 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 Maryland should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Maryland vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
- Vehicle inspection: If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.
- Additional taxes: The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level 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 Maryland
About 22 million people are living in the Old Line State. Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Maryland?
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 Maryland.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Maryland?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Maryland, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Maryland, 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.
All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Maryland?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Maryland is about 2,779 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 Maryland.
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.
If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Maryland?
As a new resident of Maryland, it's mandatory to obtain a Maryland driver's license within 60 days. You need to surrender your previous state's driver's license before obtaining a Maryland one.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Maryland after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Maryland after purchasing it.
The sales tax in Maryland is set at 6%. This applies to both new and used car purchases, adding an additional 6% to the cost. Fortunately for Maryland residents, there is no sales tax imposed by any other governing level in the state.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Maryland to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Maryland?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Maryland 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 Maryland?
Shipping a car from California to Maryland costs $1,485 to $2,352.
