California to South Carolina Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,502 miles from California to South Carolina ranges from $1,345 to $2,183 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 South Carolina to California car shipping guide.
The best California to South 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 South Carolina:
- 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 South Carolina
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,502 miles on your car going from California to South 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 South 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 South 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 SC 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 South Carolina. The average travel distance is about 2,502 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to South Carolina
| From California to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Charleston, SC | $1,317 – $2,132 | 2,472 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Columbia, SC | $1,371 – $2,097 | 2,387 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to North Charleston, SC | $1,370 – $2,240 | 2,463 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,397 – $2,132 | 2,473 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Rock Hill, SC | $1,317 – $2,132 | 2,408 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to South Carolina
| From California to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Charleston, SC | $1,357 – $2,046 | 2,437 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Columbia, SC | $1,344 – $2,225 | 2,353 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to North Charleston, SC | $1,411 – $2,218 | 2,428 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,290 – $2,153 | 2,439 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Rock Hill, SC | $1,304 – $2,033 | 2,374 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to South Carolina
| From California to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Charleston, SC | $1,430 – $2,312 | 2,728 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Columbia, SC | $1,398 – $2,094 | 2,644 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to North Charleston, SC | $1,372 – $2,244 | 2,719 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,517 – $2,244 | 2,729 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Rock Hill, SC | $1,469 – $2,205 | 2,664 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to South Carolina
| From California to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Charleston, SC | $1,387 – $2,358 | 2,770 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Columbia, SC | $1,342 – $2,315 | 2,686 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to North Charleston, SC | $1,401 – $2,335 | 2,761 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,459 – $2,267 | 2,771 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Rock Hill, SC | $1,503 – $2,176 | 2,707 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to South Carolina
| From California to South Carolina | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Charleston, SC | $1,385 – $2,033 | 2,597 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Columbia, SC | $1,304 – $2,140 | 2,513 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to North Charleston, SC | $1,290 – $2,119 | 2,589 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Mount Pleasant, SC | $1,318 – $2,098 | 2,598 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Rock Hill, SC | $1,426 – $2,162 | 2,533 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to South 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 South Carolina you should expect to pay between $1,681 and $2,729.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to SC
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Palmetto 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 South Carolina.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to South Carolina spans approximately 2,502 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 South 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 South Carolina should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
South Carolina vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
- Vehicle inspection: Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
- Additional taxes: In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
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 South Carolina
About 22 million people are living in the Palmetto State. South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in South 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 South Carolina.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to South Carolina?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to South 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 South 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.
In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to South Carolina?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to South Carolina is about 2,502 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 South 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.
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in South Carolina?
If you are moving to South Carolina, you will be required to obtain a South Carolina driver's license within 90 days of establishing residency in the state.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in South Carolina after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to South Carolina after purchasing it.
In South Carolina, there is a sales tax imposed on the purchase of a vehicle. The sales tax rate is 6%, which is collected by the dealer at the time of purchase.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and South Carolina to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to South Carolina?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to South 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 South Carolina?
Shipping a car from California to South Carolina costs $1,345 to $2,183.
