California to Tennessee Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,161 miles from California to Tennessee ranges from $1,278 to $2,029 and takes four–twelve 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 Tennessee to California car shipping guide.
The best California to Tennessee car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to Tennessee:
- 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 Tennessee
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,161 miles on your car going from California to Tennessee. 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee 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 TN 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 Tennessee. The average travel distance is about 2,161 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from four to twelve days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to Tennessee
| From California to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Nashville, TN | $1,278 – $2,037 | 2,003 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Memphis, TN | $1,303 – $1,891 | 1,792 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Clarksville, TN | $1,324 – $2,050 | 1,998 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Knoxville, TN | $1,318 – $1,987 | 2,182 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Chattanooga, TN | $1,398 – $2,113 | 2,128 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to Tennessee
| From California to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Nashville, TN | $1,233 – $1,931 | 1,988 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Memphis, TN | $1,266 – $1,747 | 1,776 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Clarksville, TN | $1,285 – $1,892 | 1,982 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| San Diego, CA to Knoxville, TN | $1,398 – $2,134 | 2,166 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Diego, CA to Chattanooga, TN | $1,331 – $2,155 | 2,141 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to Tennessee
| From California to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Nashville, TN | $1,380 – $2,182 | 2,259 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Memphis, TN | $1,357 – $2,099 | 2,048 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Jose, CA to Clarksville, TN | $1,407 – $2,055 | 2,254 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Knoxville, TN | $1,343 – $2,153 | 2,438 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Jose, CA to Chattanooga, TN | $1,291 – $2,225 | 2,384 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to Tennessee
| From California to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Nashville, TN | $1,371 – $2,161 | 2,302 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Memphis, TN | $1,264 – $2,017 | 2,090 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Clarksville, TN | $1,300 – $2,225 | 2,296 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Knoxville, TN | $1,276 – $2,132 | 2,481 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Chattanooga, TN | $1,276 – $2,240 | 2,426 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to Tennessee
| From California to Tennessee | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Nashville, TN | $1,384 – $2,050 | 2,129 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Memphis, TN | $1,259 – $2,050 | 1,918 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Fresno, CA to Clarksville, TN | $1,331 – $2,175 | 2,123 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Fresno, CA to Knoxville, TN | $1,358 – $2,246 | 2,308 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Fresno, CA to Chattanooga, TN | $1,313 – $2,119 | 2,253 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to Tennessee
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 Tennessee you should expect to pay between $1,598 and $2,536.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to TN
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Volunteer 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 Tennessee.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to Tennessee spans approximately 2,161 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee should take between four and twelve days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
Tennessee vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
- Vehicle inspection: In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
- Driver’s license: To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
- Additional taxes: When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.
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 Tennessee
About 22 million people are living in the Volunteer State. Most of Tennessee has hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in the Appalachians, which has mild summers and cool winters. The state averages about 15 tornadoes a year.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to Tennessee?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to Tennessee, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Tennessee, 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.
Tennessee drivers need to fulfill liability insurance criteria of 25/50/15 ($25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage per accident). Valid proof of insurance is crucial for registration and may be requested by law enforcement during traffic stops. Motorists have the flexibility to choose additional coverage for an added layer of vehicle protection.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Tennessee?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to Tennessee is about 2,161 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take four to twelve days to travel from California to Tennessee.
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.
In Tennessee, vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspection. Cost is around $15 and more information can be found at Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's website.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in Tennessee?
To obtain a driver's license in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 15 years old (with a Learner's Permit) or 16 years old (with a regular driver's license), pass written, vision and driving tests, provide proof of identity, residency, legal presence, and social security number, pass a medical examination if required, pay the required fee, Hold the Learner's Permit for at least 180 days before taking the skills test for the driver's license and comply with the graduated licensing system restrictions for the first 6 months.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in Tennessee after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to Tennessee after purchasing it.
When moving to Tennessee, you will be required to pay state income tax and property tax. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is a flat rate of 3%. Property taxes in Tennessee are determined by the county in which the property is located, and can vary widely depending on the area. Additionally, sales tax in Tennessee is 7%, but varies depending on the local area. Some cities and counties in Tennessee also have additional local sales taxes.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and Tennessee to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to Tennessee?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Shipping a car from California to Tennessee costs $1,278 to $2,029.
