California to Montana Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,306 miles from California to Montana ranges from $1,007 to $1,521 and takes three–eight 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 Montana to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Montana car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Montana:
- 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 Montana
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,306 miles on your car going from California to Montana. 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 Montana, 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 Montana 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 MT 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 Montana. The average travel distance is about 1,306 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eight days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Billings, MT | $949 – $1,497 | 1,235 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Missoula, MT | $1,007 – $1,467 | 1,210 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Great Falls, MT | $1,016 – $1,526 | 1,256 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Bozeman, MT | $782 – $1,251 | 1,095 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Butte, MT | $896 – $1,361 | 1,102 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Billings, MT | $997 – $1,583 | 1,302 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Missoula, MT | $929 – $1,556 | 1,278 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Great Falls, MT | $976 – $1,490 | 1,324 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Bozeman, MT | $888 – $1,375 | 1,162 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Diego, CA to Butte, MT | $905 – $1,347 | 1,169 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Billings, MT | $914 – $1,333 | 1,196 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Missoula, MT | $790 – $1,264 | 1,009 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Great Falls, MT | $1,016 – $1,526 | 1,219 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Bozeman, MT | $782 – $1,383 | 1,057 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Jose, CA to Butte, MT | $807 – $1,370 | 1,064 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Billings, MT | $905 – $1,333 | 1,164 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Missoula, MT | $827 – $1,361 | 977 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Great Falls, MT | $914 – $1,390 | 1,186 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Bozeman, MT | $815 – $1,357 | 1,025 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Butte, MT | $815 – $1,278 | 1,031 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Montana
| From California to Montana | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Billings, MT | $968 – $1,526 | 1,244 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Missoula, MT | $856 – $1,264 | 1,058 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Great Falls, MT | $949 – $1,526 | 1,266 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Bozeman, MT | $932 – $1,474 | 1,105 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Fresno, CA to Butte, MT | $932 – $1,432 | 1,112 miles | 2 – 8 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Montana
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 Montana you should expect to pay between $1,259 and $1,901.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to MT
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Big Sky Country, 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 Montana.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Montana spans approximately 1,306 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 Montana 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 Montana should take between three and eight days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Montana vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
- Driver’s license: New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
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 Montana
About 22 million people are living in the Big Sky Country. Montana has a lot of variation in geography, topography, and elevation, and the climate is equally varied. The western half is mountainous, interrupted by numerous large valleys. Eastern Montana comprises plains and badlands, broken by hills and isolated mountain ranges, The Continental Divide has a considerable effect on the climate, as it restricts the flow of warmer air from the Pacific from moving east, and drier continental air from moving west. The area west of the divide has a modified northern Pacific Coast climate, with milder winters, cooler summers, less wind, and a longer growing season. Low clouds and fog often form in the valleys west of the divide in winter, but this is rarely seen in the east.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Montana?
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 Montana.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Montana?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Montana, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Montana, 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 Montana, drivers must meet legal requirements for minimum car insurance liability coverage to ensure financial responsibility in accidents. Mandated by state regulations, this includes $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, covering collective medical expenses in case of multiple injuries, capped at $50,000 for the entire incident. Additionally, there's a required minimum of $20,000 per accident for property damage, crucial for addressing costs related to damage to another party's vehicle or property. Adhering to these insurance requirements is imperative for all motorists, ensuring compliance with state laws and contributing to a secure and responsible driving environment on Montana roadways.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Montana?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Montana is about 1,306 miles, and that’s as fast as about 3 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eight days to travel from California to Montana.
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 are moving to Montana, you are not required to have your vehicle inspected.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Montana?
New residents in Montana must start their driver’s license application process within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Montana after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Montana after purchasing it.
In Montana, there is no state-level sales tax on vehicles, however, local governments in Montana may impose their own taxes and fees on vehicles.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Montana to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Montana?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Montana 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 Montana?
Shipping a car from California to Montana costs $1,007 to $1,521.
