California to North Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,659 miles from California to North Carolina ranges from $1,466 to $2,157 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 North Carolina to California car shipping guide.
The best California to North Carolina car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to North Carolina:
- 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 North Carolina
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,659 miles on your car going from California to North Carolina. 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 NC 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 North Carolina. The average travel distance is about 2,659 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to North Carolina
| From California to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Charlotte, NC | $1,301 – $2,149 | 2,420 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Raleigh, NC | $1,369 – $2,094 | 2,554 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Greensboro, NC | $1,261 – $2,170 | 2,481 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Durham, NC | $1,369 – $2,157 | 2,531 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Winston-Salem, NC | $1,301 – $2,043 | 2,454 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to North Carolina
| From California to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Charlotte, NC | $1,328 – $2,156 | 2,387 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Raleigh, NC | $1,369 – $2,136 | 2,547 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Greensboro, NC | $1,261 – $2,213 | 2,474 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Durham, NC | $1,382 – $2,199 | 2,524 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Winston-Salem, NC | $1,314 – $2,043 | 2,461 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to North Carolina
| From California to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Charlotte, NC | $1,354 – $2,244 | 2,674 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Raleigh, NC | $1,530 – $2,300 | 2,808 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Greensboro, NC | $1,456 – $2,307 | 2,734 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Durham, NC | $1,485 – $2,218 | 2,785 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Winston-Salem, NC | $1,428 – $2,218 | 2,708 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to North Carolina
| From California to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Charlotte, NC | $1,370 – $2,195 | 2,716 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Raleigh, NC | $1,443 – $2,415 | 2,850 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Greensboro, NC | $1,428 – $2,240 | 2,776 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Durham, NC | $1,516 – $2,254 | 2,827 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Winston-Salem, NC | $1,470 – $2,240 | 2,750 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to North Carolina
| From California to North Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Charlotte, NC | $1,396 – $2,221 | 2,543 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Raleigh, NC | $1,340 – $2,200 | 2,677 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Greensboro, NC | $1,326 – $2,178 | 2,604 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Durham, NC | $1,354 – $2,265 | 2,654 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Winston-Salem, NC | $1,329 – $2,221 | 2,577 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to North Carolina
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 North Carolina you should expect to pay between $1,833 and $2,696.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to NC
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Tar Heel 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 North Carolina.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to North Carolina spans approximately 2,659 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
North Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
- Vehicle inspection: Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
- Driver’s license: New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
- Additional taxes: If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.
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 North Carolina
About 22 million people are living in the Tar Heel State. North Carolina has mild weather year round, however, snow may affect your move in some parts of the state during winter time.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in North Carolina?
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 North Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to North Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to North Carolina, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to North Carolina, 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.
Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state insurance requirements.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to North Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to North Carolina is about 2,659 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 North Carolina.
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.
Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in North Carolina?
New residents in North Carolina are obligated to transfer their license or ID within 60 days of moving to the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in North Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to North Carolina after purchasing it.
If you're relocating to North Carolina, you're required to pay vehicle tax. However, you have the option to defer this payment by obtaining a limited registration plate, which will expire 60 days after it's issued. It's important to note that you must pay the property tax before the sticker on the plate reaches its expiration date.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and North Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to North Carolina?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Shipping a car from California to North Carolina costs $1,466 to $2,157.
