California to New Jersey Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,886 miles from California to New Jersey ranges from $1,443 to $2,277 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 New Jersey to California car shipping guide.
The best California to New Jersey car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to New Jersey:
- 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 New Jersey
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,886 miles on your car going from California to New Jersey. 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 NJ 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 New Jersey. The average travel distance is about 2,886 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to New Jersey
| From California to New Jersey | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Trenton, NJ | $1,499 – $2,195 | 2,732 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Newark, NJ | $1,399 – $2,128 | 2,782 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Jersey City, NJ | $1,485 – $2,128 | 2,790 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Paterson, NJ | $1,499 – $2,285 | 2,781 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Elizabeth, NJ | $1,428 – $2,218 | 2,791 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to New Jersey
| From California to New Jersey | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Trenton, NJ | $1,370 – $2,150 | 2,713 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Newark, NJ | $1,356 – $2,218 | 2,749 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Jersey City, NJ | $1,442 – $2,128 | 2,756 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Paterson, NJ | $1,370 – $2,150 | 2,772 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Elizabeth, NJ | $1,399 – $2,128 | 2,762 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to New Jersey
| From California to New Jersey | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Trenton, NJ | $1,546 – $2,263 | 2,927 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Newark, NJ | $1,471 – $2,430 | 2,929 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Jersey City, NJ | $1,471 – $2,430 | 2,935 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Paterson, NJ | $1,471 – $2,287 | 2,927 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Elizabeth, NJ | $1,560 – $2,454 | 2,936 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to New Jersey
| From California to New Jersey | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Trenton, NJ | $1,472 – $2,415 | 2,895 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Newark, NJ | $1,458 – $2,323 | 2,896 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Jersey City, NJ | $1,441 – $2,263 | 2,904 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Paterson, NJ | $1,385 – $2,300 | 2,894 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Elizabeth, NJ | $1,412 – $2,287 | 2,904 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to New Jersey
| From California to New Jersey | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Trenton, NJ | $1,472 – $2,392 | 2,854 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Newark, NJ | $1,501 – $2,335 | 2,904 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Jersey City, NJ | $1,486 – $2,263 | 2,912 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Paterson, NJ | $1,531 – $2,478 | 2,903 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Elizabeth, NJ | $1,546 – $2,502 | 2,912 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to New Jersey
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 New Jersey you should expect to pay between $1,804 and $2,846.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to NJ
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Garden 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 New Jersey.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to New Jersey spans approximately 2,886 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
New Jersey vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In New Jersey, meet the minimum auto insurance requirements: $15,000 per person for bodily injury up to $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Stay legally covered and financially secure on the road.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are planning to reside in New Jersey for a minimum of 6 months, it is mandatory to transfer the title of your vehicle, register it, and obtain a driver's license from the state. As a new resident, you have 60 days from the date of establishing your residency to register your vehicle. It is important to note that before registering your vehicle, you are required to have liability insurance coverage as per the New Jersey state laws.
- Driver’s license: As per the state laws of New Jersey, new residents are expected to transfer their driver's license and register their vehicles within 60 days of arriving in the state. However, during public health crises, this time frame may be extended to 120 days. It is important to note that there won't be any reminders for this, so it's recommended to keep a record of the date of your arrival in the state.
- Additional taxes: New Jersey law requires residents to transfer their vehicle title and registration within 60 days of moving to the state. The transfer title fee is $60 for standard vehicle, $85 for financed vehicle with one lien, $110 for financed vehicle with two liens and registration fee and tax may apply unless you are eligible for a sales tax exemption.
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 New Jersey
About 22 million people are living in the Garden State. New Jersey summers are typically hot and humid and winters are usually cold. During winter and early spring, New Jersey can experience "nor'easters", which are capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in New Jersey?
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 New Jersey.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to New Jersey?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to New Jersey, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to New Jersey, 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 New Jersey, meet the minimum auto insurance requirements: $15,000 per person for bodily injury up to $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Stay legally covered and financially secure on the road.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to New Jersey?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to New Jersey is about 2,886 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 New Jersey.
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 planning to reside in New Jersey for a minimum of 6 months, it is mandatory to transfer the title of your vehicle, register it, and obtain a driver's license from the state. As a new resident, you have 60 days from the date of establishing your residency to register your vehicle. It is important to note that before registering your vehicle, you are required to have liability insurance coverage as per the New Jersey state laws.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in New Jersey?
As per the state laws of New Jersey, new residents are expected to transfer their driver's license and register their vehicles within 60 days of arriving in the state. However, during public health crises, this time frame may be extended to 120 days. It is important to note that there won't be any reminders for this, so it's recommended to keep a record of the date of your arrival in the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in New Jersey after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to New Jersey after purchasing it.
New Jersey law requires residents to transfer their vehicle title and registration within 60 days of moving to the state. The transfer title fee is $60 for standard vehicle, $85 for financed vehicle with one lien, $110 for financed vehicle with two liens and registration fee and tax may apply unless you are eligible for a sales tax exemption.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and New Jersey to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to New Jersey?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
Shipping a car from California to New Jersey costs $1,443 to $2,277.
