Louisiana to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,957 miles from Louisiana to California ranges from $1,311 to $1,892 and takes three–eleven 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 Louisiana car shipping guide.
The best Louisiana to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Louisiana to California:
- 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 Louisiana to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,957 miles on your car going from Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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!
LA 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 Louisiana and California. The average travel distance is about 1,957 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from New Orleans, LA to California
| From Louisiana to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA to Los Angeles, CA | $1,305 – $1,802 | 1,891 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| New Orleans, LA to San Diego, CA | $1,305 – $1,916 | 1,814 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| New Orleans, LA to San Jose, CA | $1,291 – $2,196 | 2,190 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| New Orleans, LA to San Francisco, CA | $1,287 – $2,013 | 2,233 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| New Orleans, LA to Fresno, CA | $1,317 – $2,099 | 2,060 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baton Rouge, LA to California
| From Louisiana to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA to Los Angeles, CA | $1,330 – $1,991 | 1,813 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to San Diego, CA | $1,266 – $1,855 | 1,735 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to San Jose, CA | $1,265 – $2,196 | 2,112 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to San Francisco, CA | $1,371 – $2,155 | 2,154 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA to Fresno, CA | $1,363 – $1,931 | 1,981 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Cost to ship a car from Shreveport, LA to California
| From Louisiana to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA to Los Angeles, CA | $1,211 – $1,777 | 1,623 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Shreveport, LA to San Diego, CA | $1,118 – $1,646 | 1,546 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Shreveport, LA to San Jose, CA | $1,266 – $1,840 | 1,873 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Shreveport, LA to San Francisco, CA | $1,337 – $1,912 | 1,916 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Shreveport, LA to Fresno, CA | $1,253 – $1,711 | 1,742 miles | 3 – 9 days |
Cost to ship a car from Metairie, LA to California
| From Louisiana to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie, LA to Los Angeles, CA | $1,266 – $1,878 | 1,886 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Metairie, LA to San Diego, CA | $1,318 – $1,859 | 1,809 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Metairie, LA to San Jose, CA | $1,371 – $2,113 | 2,185 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Metairie, LA to San Francisco, CA | $1,313 – $2,225 | 2,228 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Metairie, LA to Fresno, CA | $1,370 – $1,996 | 2,054 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Lafayette, LA to California
| From Louisiana to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA to Los Angeles, CA | $1,204 – $1,783 | 1,760 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Lafayette, LA to San Diego, CA | $1,139 – $1,639 | 1,683 miles | 3 – 9 days |
| Lafayette, LA to San Jose, CA | $1,343 – $2,099 | 2,077 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Lafayette, LA to San Francisco, CA | $1,331 – $2,029 | 2,119 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Lafayette, LA to Fresno, CA | $1,363 – $1,892 | 1,946 miles | 3 – 11 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to California you should expect to pay between $1,639 and $2,365.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from LA to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Pelican State 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 Louisiana to California spans approximately 1,957 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana to California should take between three and eleven 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 Louisiana
More than 39 million people call Louisiana home. Nicknamed the Pelican State, Louisiana has long hot humid summers and short mild winters. Rain is frequent throughout the year, although from April to September is slightly wetter than the rest of the year. Louisiana is often affected by tropical cyclones and is very vulnerable to major hurricanes, particularly around the New Orleans area. Lousiana averages about 27 tornadoes annually; they are most common from January through March in the south and from February through March in the North.
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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Louisiana to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Louisiana 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 Louisiana.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. The insurance limit represents the maximum payout for a claim, and in Louisiana, the minimum liability limits are $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage; these limits can be raised beyond the state-mandated minimums.
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 Louisiana to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Louisiana to California is about 1,957 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from Louisiana to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In Louisiana, the annual safety and emissions inspection includes checks on the vehicle's safety equipment, anti-tampering of emissions systems, and a test on the integrity of the gas cap.
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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to California?
Shipping a car from Louisiana to California costs $1,311 to $1,892.
