California to West Virginia Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,544 miles from California to West Virginia ranges from $1,396 to $2,115 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 West Virginia to California car shipping guide.
The best California to West Virginia car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from California to West Virginia:
- 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 West Virginia
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,544 miles on your car going from California to West Virginia. 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia 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 WV 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 West Virginia. The average travel distance is about 2,544 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Los Angeles, CA to West Virginia
| From California to West Virginia | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA to Charleston, WV | $1,288 – $2,220 | 2,329 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Huntington, WV | $1,311 – $2,052 | 2,280 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Morgantown, WV | $1,367 – $2,234 | 2,445 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Parkersburg, WV | $1,302 – $2,093 | 2,351 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Los Angeles, CA to Wheeling, WV | $1,328 – $2,008 | 2,368 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Diego, CA to West Virginia
| From California to West Virginia | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA to Charleston, WV | $1,262 – $2,072 | 2,312 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Huntington, WV | $1,337 – $1,989 | 2,263 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Morgantown, WV | $1,274 – $2,170 | 2,428 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Parkersburg, WV | $1,315 – $2,177 | 2,334 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| San Diego, CA to Wheeling, WV | $1,315 – $2,177 | 2,351 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Jose, CA to West Virginia
| From California to West Virginia | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA to Charleston, WV | $1,382 – $2,094 | 2,593 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Huntington, WV | $1,342 – $2,094 | 2,544 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Morgantown, WV | $1,326 – $2,113 | 2,676 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Parkersburg, WV | $1,288 – $2,051 | 2,575 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Jose, CA to Wheeling, WV | $1,369 – $2,051 | 2,591 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from San Francisco, CA to West Virginia
| From California to West Virginia | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA to Charleston, WV | $1,382 – $2,094 | 2,561 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Huntington, WV | $1,342 – $2,136 | 2,512 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Morgantown, WV | $1,452 – $2,222 | 2,643 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Parkersburg, WV | $1,409 – $2,178 | 2,543 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| San Francisco, CA to Wheeling, WV | $1,396 – $2,178 | 2,559 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Fresno, CA to West Virginia
| From California to West Virginia | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA to Charleston, WV | $1,341 – $2,170 | 2,453 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Fresno, CA to Huntington, WV | $1,301 – $2,213 | 2,404 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Fresno, CA to Morgantown, WV | $1,382 – $2,073 | 2,569 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Fresno, CA to Parkersburg, WV | $1,341 – $2,170 | 2,476 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Fresno, CA to Wheeling, WV | $1,354 – $2,213 | 2,492 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from California to West Virginia
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 West Virginia you should expect to pay between $1,745 and $2,644.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from CA to WV
When transporting your vehicle from the Golden State to the Mountain 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 West Virginia.
- Distance and route: The journey from California to West Virginia spans approximately 2,544 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia should take between seven and fifteen days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
West Virginia vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance requirements: West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
- Vehicle inspection: New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.
- Driver’s license: If you are moving to West Virginia and you have a valid, non-expired out-of-state license, you are eligible to transfer the license. If your out-of-state license has expired, you are required to take all tests and obtain a certified driving record, dated no more than 30 days from the date of the application, from the state in which you were previously licensed.
- Additional taxes: New residents with a vehicle already titled in their name in another state do not need to pay sales taxes in West Virginia for it.
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 West Virginia
About 22 million people are living in the Mountain State. West Virginia has warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters. Be sure to check the weather during your move to avoid inclement weather.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in California and delivery in West Virginia?
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 West Virginia.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from California to West Virginia?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from California to West Virginia, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to West Virginia, 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.
West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to West Virginia?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from California to West Virginia is about 2,544 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 West Virginia.
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.
New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.
If I have a driver’s license in California, will I need one in West Virginia?
If you are moving to West Virginia and you have a valid, non-expired out-of-state license, you are eligible to transfer the license. If your out-of-state license has expired, you are required to take all tests and obtain a certified driving record, dated no more than 30 days from the date of the application, from the state in which you were previously licensed.
If I bought a car in California, will I be required to pay sales tax in West Virginia after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from California to West Virginia after purchasing it.
New residents with a vehicle already titled in their name in another state do not need to pay sales taxes in West Virginia for it.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both California and West Virginia to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from California to West Virginia?
The cheapest way to ship a car from California to West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
Shipping a car from California to West Virginia costs $1,396 to $2,115.
