California to Pennsylvania Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,731 miles from California to Pennsylvania ranges from $1,385 to $2,128 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 Pennsylvania to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Pennsylvania car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Pennsylvania:
- 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 Pennsylvania
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,731 miles on your car going from California to Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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 PA 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 Pennsylvania. The average travel distance is about 2,731 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Pennsylvania
| From California to Pennsylvania | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Philadelphia, PA | $1,356 – $2,330 | 2,712 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Pittsburgh , PA | $1,367 – $2,213 | 2,428 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Erie, PA | $1,341 – $2,128 | 2,449 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Allentown, PA | $1,382 – $2,135 | 2,691 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Reading, PA | $1,452 – $2,091 | 2,669 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Pennsylvania
| From California to Pennsylvania | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Philadelphia, PA | $1,396 – $2,265 | 2,692 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Pittsburgh , PA | $1,327 – $2,085 | 2,408 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Erie, PA | $1,354 – $2,192 | 2,462 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Allentown, PA | $1,326 – $2,178 | 2,672 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Diego, CA to Reading, PA | $1,354 – $2,113 | 2,650 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Pennsylvania
| From California to Pennsylvania | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Philadelphia, PA | $1,456 – $2,430 | 2,907 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Pittsburgh , PA | $1,368 – $2,069 | 2,609 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Erie, PA | $1,396 – $2,199 | 2,594 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Allentown, PA | $1,443 – $2,185 | 2,878 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Reading, PA | $1,487 – $2,208 | 2,864 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Pennsylvania
| From California to Pennsylvania | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, PA | $1,428 – $2,369 | 2,874 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Pittsburgh , PA | $1,396 – $2,157 | 2,577 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Erie, PA | $1,315 – $2,030 | 2,563 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Allentown, PA | $1,458 – $2,323 | 2,846 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Reading, PA | $1,487 – $2,392 | 2,832 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Pennsylvania
| From California to Pennsylvania | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Philadelphia, PA | $1,414 – $2,300 | 2,833 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Pittsburgh , PA | $1,275 – $2,051 | 2,550 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Erie, PA | $1,369 – $2,178 | 2,571 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Allentown, PA | $1,530 – $2,415 | 2,814 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Reading, PA | $1,485 – $2,263 | 2,791 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania you should expect to pay between $1,731 and $2,660.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to PA
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Keystone 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 Pennsylvania.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Pennsylvania spans approximately 2,731 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Pennsylvania vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: When relocating to Pennsylvania, ensure compliance with state regulations by obtaining car insurance with minimum liability coverage: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage per accident. Consider enhancing your coverage with options like collision and comprehensive coverage. It's crucial to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.
- Vehicle inspection: If you are moving to Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
- Driver’s license: When moving to Pennsylvania, you will need to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and pass a written test, a vision test and a road test. You may also be required to surrender your out-of-state license.
- Additional taxes: New residents must apply for PA title and registration of their vehicle within 20 days of moving to PA, and must surrender the out-of-state title to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when doing so.
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 Pennsylvania
About 22 million people are living in the Keystone State. Pennsylvania experiences cold winters and humid summers. Summers are generally hot and humid. Moving toward the mountainous interior of the state, the winter climate becomes colder, the number of cloudy days increases, and snowfall amounts are greater. Tornadoes occur annually in the state, sometimes in large numbers, such as 30 recorded tornadoes in 2011; generally speaking, these tornadoes do not cause significant damage.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Pennsylvania?
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 Pennsylvania.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Pennsylvania?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Pennsylvania, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Pennsylvania, 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.
When relocating to Pennsylvania, ensure compliance with state regulations by obtaining car insurance with minimum liability coverage: $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage per accident. Consider enhancing your coverage with options like collision and comprehensive coverage. It's crucial to carry proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Pennsylvania?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Pennsylvania is about 2,731 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 Pennsylvania.
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 Pennsylvania and bringing a vehicle with you, you will need to have it inspected within 10 days of establishing residency. This includes safety and emission test. You can find a list of inspection stations on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website or by searching for "vehicle inspection near me". It's a good idea to schedule an appointment in advance and bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Pennsylvania?
When moving to Pennsylvania, you will need to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and pass a written test, a vision test and a road test. You may also be required to surrender your out-of-state license.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Pennsylvania after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Pennsylvania after purchasing it.
New residents must apply for PA title and registration of their vehicle within 20 days of moving to PA, and must surrender the out-of-state title to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when doing so.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Pennsylvania to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Pennsylvania?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Shipping a car from California to Pennsylvania costs $1,385 to $2,128.
