Illinois to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,083 miles from Illinois to California ranges from $1,288 to $2,034 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 California to Illinois car shipping guide.
The best Illinois to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Illinois to California:
- 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 Illinois to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,083 miles on your car going from Illinois to California. 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 Illinois for a move to California, 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 Illinois to California 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!
IL to CA auto transport costs and transit times
The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Illinois and California. The average travel distance is about 2,083 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from four to twelve days .
Cost to ship a car from Chicago, IL to California
| From Illinois to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA | $1,340 – $1,993 | 2,014 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Chicago, IL to San Diego, CA | $1,314 – $2,034 | 2,076 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Chicago, IL to San Jose, CA | $1,250 – $2,108 | 2,162 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA | $1,276 – $2,067 | 2,130 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Chicago, IL to Fresno, CA | $1,276 – $2,170 | 2,139 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Aurora, IL to California
| From Illinois to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora, IL to Los Angeles, CA | $1,334 – $1,928 | 1,979 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Aurora, IL to San Diego, CA | $1,340 – $2,074 | 2,041 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Aurora, IL to San Jose, CA | $1,250 – $2,170 | 2,127 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Aurora, IL to San Francisco, CA | $1,340 – $2,074 | 2,095 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Aurora, IL to Fresno, CA | $1,381 – $2,108 | 2,104 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Joliet, IL to California
| From Illinois to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL to Los Angeles, CA | $1,296 – $1,869 | 1,990 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Joliet, IL to San Diego, CA | $1,262 – $2,034 | 2,052 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Joliet, IL to San Jose, CA | $1,250 – $2,088 | 2,138 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Joliet, IL to San Francisco, CA | $1,263 – $2,005 | 2,106 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Joliet, IL to Fresno, CA | $1,315 – $2,108 | 2,115 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Naperville, IL to California
| From Illinois to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville, IL to Los Angeles, CA | $1,257 – $1,928 | 1,988 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Naperville, IL to San Diego, CA | $1,340 – $2,135 | 2,051 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Naperville, IL to San Jose, CA | $1,342 – $2,046 | 2,137 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Naperville, IL to San Francisco, CA | $1,315 – $2,150 | 2,105 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Naperville, IL to Fresno, CA | $1,289 – $2,088 | 2,113 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rockford, IL to California
| From Illinois to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL to Los Angeles, CA | $1,231 – $1,947 | 1,969 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Rockford, IL to San Diego, CA | $1,353 – $2,074 | 2,030 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Rockford, IL to San Jose, CA | $1,355 – $2,005 | 2,116 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Rockford, IL to San Francisco, CA | $1,340 – $1,952 | 2,084 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Rockford, IL to Fresno, CA | $1,275 – $2,095 | 2,093 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Illinois to California
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 Illinois to California you should expect to pay between $1,610 and $2,543.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from IL to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Land of Lincoln to the Golden 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 California.
- Distance and route: The journey from Illinois to California spans approximately 2,083 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois and California 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 Illinois to California should take between four and twelve days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
California vehicle regulations you need to know
- Car insurance 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.
- Vehicle inspection: 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.
- Driver’s license: If you move to California and become a resident, you are required to obtain a California driver's license within 10 days.
- Additional taxes: You are required to pay taxes on a car purchased in another state if you used it for less than 12 months outside of California before bringing it into the state.
Learn more with our car shipping checklist.
Transporting your vehicle from Illinois
More than 39 million people call Illinois home. Nicknamed the Land of Lincoln, Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"
Transporting your vehicle to California
About 22 million people are living in 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.
FAQ
Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Illinois and delivery in California?
Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Illinois and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Illinois to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Illinois to California, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to California, which you should verify before loading your car in Illinois.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
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.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Illinois to California is about 2,083 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take four to twelve days to travel from Illinois to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
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 I have a driver’s license in Illinois, will I need one in California?
If you move to California and become a resident, you are required to obtain a California driver's license within 10 days.
If I bought a car in Illinois, will I be required to pay sales tax in California after shipping it there?
It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Illinois to California after purchasing it.
You are required to pay taxes on a car purchased in another state if you used it for less than 12 months outside of California before bringing it into the state.
We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Illinois and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Illinois to California 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 Illinois to California?
Shipping a car from Illinois to California costs $1,288 to $2,034.
