California to Minnesota Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,986 miles from California to Minnesota ranges from $1,233 to $2,050 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 Minnesota to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Minnesota car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Minnesota:
- 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 Minnesota
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,986 miles on your car going from California to Minnesota. 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 MN 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 Minnesota. The average travel distance is about 1,986 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Minnesota
| From California to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Minneapolis, MN | $1,266 – $1,897 | 1,854 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to St. Paul, MN | $1,215 – $1,821 | 1,862 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Rochester, MN | $1,292 – $1,973 | 1,892 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Bloomington, MN | $1,241 – $1,973 | 1,845 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Duluth, MN | $1,278 – $2,140 | 2,007 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Minnesota
| From California to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Minneapolis, MN | $1,272 – $1,892 | 1,921 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to St. Paul, MN | $1,311 – $2,010 | 1,929 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Rochester, MN | $1,363 – $2,030 | 1,959 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Bloomington, MN | $1,246 – $1,872 | 1,912 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Duluth, MN | $1,304 – $2,058 | 2,074 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Minnesota
| From California to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Minneapolis, MN | $1,357 – $2,037 | 2,010 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to St. Paul, MN | $1,383 – $2,161 | 2,018 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Rochester, MN | $1,343 – $2,079 | 2,010 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Bloomington, MN | $1,278 – $2,037 | 2,001 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Duluth, MN | $1,383 – $2,079 | 2,047 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Minnesota
| From California to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Minneapolis, MN | $1,246 – $1,971 | 1,978 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to St. Paul, MN | $1,324 – $1,892 | 1,986 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Rochester, MN | $1,233 – $1,951 | 1,978 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Bloomington, MN | $1,350 – $2,010 | 1,969 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Duluth, MN | $1,357 – $2,058 | 2,015 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Minnesota
| From California to Minnesota | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Minneapolis, MN | $1,272 – $1,990 | 1,979 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to St. Paul, MN | $1,311 – $1,990 | 1,987 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Rochester, MN | $1,317 – $1,996 | 2,017 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Bloomington, MN | $1,337 – $1,872 | 1,970 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Duluth, MN | $1,343 – $2,161 | 2,095 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Minnesota
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 Minnesota you should expect to pay between $1,541 and $2,563.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to MN
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the North Star 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 Minnesota.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Minnesota spans approximately 1,986 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Minnesota vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.
- Vehicle inspection: Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.
- Driver’s license: In Minnesota, you have a 60-day window after becoming a resident to obtain a Minnesota driver's license or permit. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services issues driver’s licenses in the state.
- Additional taxes: When registering a vehicle in Minnesota, if it has been titled under your name for at least 60 days in another state, you are exempt from paying tax.
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 Minnesota
About 22 million people are living in the North Star State. Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota does experience weather such as: rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail, derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocity straight-line winds.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Minnesota?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Minnesota, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Minnesota, 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.
Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Minnesota?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Minnesota is about 1,986 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 Minnesota.
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.
Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, you have a 60-day window after becoming a resident to obtain a Minnesota driver's license or permit. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services issues driver’s licenses in the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Minnesota after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Minnesota after purchasing it.
When registering a vehicle in Minnesota, if it has been titled under your name for at least 60 days in another state, you are exempt from paying tax.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Minnesota to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Minnesota?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Shipping a car from California to Minnesota costs $1,233 to $2,050.
