California to Missouri Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,844 miles from California to Missouri ranges from $1,305 to $1,878 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 Missouri to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Missouri car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Missouri:
- 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 Missouri
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,844 miles on your car going from California to Missouri. 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 Missouri, 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 Missouri 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 MO 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 Missouri. The average travel distance is about 1,844 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Missouri
| From California to Missouri | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Kansas City, MO | $1,187 – $1,708 | 1,616 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to St. Louis, MO | $1,254 – $1,991 | 1,825 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Springfield, MO | $1,175 – $1,691 | 1,611 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Columbia, MO | $1,228 – $1,801 | 1,741 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Independence, MO | $1,187 – $1,777 | 1,629 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Missouri
| From California to Missouri | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Kansas City, MO | $1,129 – $1,729 | 1,557 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to St. Louis, MO | $1,266 – $1,859 | 1,809 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Springfield, MO | $1,106 – $1,663 | 1,594 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to Columbia, MO | $1,247 – $1,760 | 1,680 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| San Diego, CA to Independence, MO | $1,187 – $1,663 | 1,567 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Missouri
| From California to Missouri | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Kansas City, MO | $1,318 – $1,954 | 1,842 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to St. Louis, MO | $1,330 – $2,161 | 2,089 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Springfield, MO | $1,241 – $1,954 | 1,867 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to Columbia, MO | $1,259 – $1,931 | 1,967 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Jose, CA to Independence, MO | $1,254 – $1,991 | 1,852 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Missouri
| From California to Missouri | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Kansas City, MO | $1,215 – $1,878 | 1,810 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to St. Louis, MO | $1,357 – $2,079 | 2,057 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Springfield, MO | $1,272 – $1,951 | 1,909 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Columbia, MO | $1,324 – $2,030 | 1,935 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Independence, MO | $1,228 – $1,802 | 1,821 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Missouri
| From California to Missouri | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Kansas City, MO | $1,266 – $1,783 | 1,741 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to St. Louis, MO | $1,233 – $2,069 | 1,950 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Springfield, MO | $1,253 – $1,747 | 1,735 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Fresno, CA to Columbia, MO | $1,279 – $1,935 | 1,866 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Independence, MO | $1,241 – $1,855 | 1,754 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Missouri
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 Missouri you should expect to pay between $1,631 and $2,348.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to MO
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Show-Me 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 Missouri.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Missouri spans approximately 1,844 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 Missouri 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 Missouri should take between three and eleven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Missouri vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In Missouri, drivers must have minimum liability coverage, including $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, along with $25,000 per accident for property damage. Adherence to these requirements is crucial for financial responsibility and contributes to a safer driving environment.
- Vehicle inspection: Missouri's DMV requires that passenger vehicles undergo a biennial safety inspection to evaluate the condition of its suspension, seatbelts, headlights, and related components. Additionally, residents of the St. Louis metropolitan area are required to have vehicle emission inspections.
- Driver’s license: As a new resident of Missouri with an out-of-state driver's license or non-driver ID, either valid or expired for no longer than 184 days, you must provide acceptable documents to demonstrate Proof of Identity, Proof of Legal Status, Proof of Social Security Number, and Proof of Missouri residency.
- Additional taxes: If you purchased your vehicle outside of Missouri and have already paid taxes for it in that state, the amount paid will be considered towards the taxes owed in Missouri. If the tax paid in the previous state is lower than the taxes owed in Missouri, you will be required to pay the balance. If the vehicle was registered under your name in another state for more than 90 days, no sales tax will be imposed in Missouri.
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 Missouri
About 22 million people are living in the Show-Me State. Although temperature in Missouri doesn't get extreme, being in the heart of tornado alley means that storms in the area are common. Be sure to check the weather forecast before move day to prepare for any upcoming weather.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Missouri?
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 Missouri.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Missouri?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Missouri, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Missouri, 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.
In Missouri, drivers must have minimum liability coverage, including $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, along with $25,000 per accident for property damage. Adherence to these requirements is crucial for financial responsibility and contributes to a safer driving environment.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Missouri?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Missouri is about 1,844 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 Missouri.
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.
Missouri's DMV requires that passenger vehicles undergo a biennial safety inspection to evaluate the condition of its suspension, seatbelts, headlights, and related components. Additionally, residents of the St. Louis metropolitan area are required to have vehicle emission inspections.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Missouri?
As a new resident of Missouri with an out-of-state driver's license or non-driver ID, either valid or expired for no longer than 184 days, you must provide acceptable documents to demonstrate Proof of Identity, Proof of Legal Status, Proof of Social Security Number, and Proof of Missouri residency.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Missouri after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Missouri after purchasing it.
If you purchased your vehicle outside of Missouri and have already paid taxes for it in that state, the amount paid will be considered towards the taxes owed in Missouri. If the tax paid in the previous state is lower than the taxes owed in Missouri, you will be required to pay the balance. If the vehicle was registered under your name in another state for more than 90 days, no sales tax will be imposed in Missouri.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Missouri to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Missouri?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Missouri 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 Missouri?
Shipping a car from California to Missouri costs $1,305 to $1,878.
