Maryland to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,782 miles from Maryland to California ranges from $1,372 to $2,380 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 California to Maryland car shipping guide.
The best Maryland to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Maryland 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 Maryland to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,782 miles on your car going from Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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!
MD 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 Maryland and California. The average travel distance is about 2,782 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Washington DC, MD to California
| From Maryland to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC, MD to Los Angeles, CA | $1,455 – $2,205 | 2,668 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Washington DC, MD to San Diego, CA | $1,469 – $2,138 | 2,653 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Washington DC, MD to San Jose, CA | $1,505 – $2,235 | 2,843 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Washington DC, MD to San Francisco, CA | $1,475 – $2,212 | 2,811 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Washington DC, MD to Fresno, CA | $1,459 – $2,312 | 2,793 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Baltimore, MD to California
| From Maryland to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD to Los Angeles, CA | $1,427 – $2,227 | 2,644 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Baltimore, MD to San Diego, CA | $1,455 – $2,205 | 2,630 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Baltimore, MD to San Jose, CA | $1,446 – $2,212 | 2,849 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Baltimore, MD to San Francisco, CA | $1,534 – $2,258 | 2,817 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Baltimore, MD to Fresno, CA | $1,488 – $2,335 | 2,770 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, MD to California
| From Maryland to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MD to Los Angeles, CA | $1,455 – $2,227 | 2,636 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Columbia, MD to San Diego, CA | $1,427 – $2,315 | 2,622 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Columbia, MD to San Jose, CA | $1,505 – $2,212 | 2,842 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Columbia, MD to San Francisco, CA | $1,519 – $2,305 | 2,809 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Columbia, MD to Fresno, CA | $1,459 – $2,380 | 2,763 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Germantown, MD to California
| From Maryland to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germantown, MD to Los Angeles, CA | $1,413 – $2,293 | 2,613 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Germantown, MD to San Diego, CA | $1,358 – $2,055 | 2,597 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Germantown, MD to San Jose, CA | $1,401 – $2,328 | 2,820 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Germantown, MD to San Francisco, CA | $1,372 – $2,199 | 2,787 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Germantown, MD to Fresno, CA | $1,474 – $2,380 | 2,741 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Silver Spring, MD to California
| From Maryland to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring, MD to Los Angeles, CA | $1,441 – $2,094 | 2,632 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to San Diego, CA | $1,356 – $2,315 | 2,616 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to San Jose, CA | $1,505 – $2,328 | 2,838 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to San Francisco, CA | $1,490 – $2,305 | 2,806 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Silver Spring, MD to Fresno, CA | $1,372 – $2,335 | 2,759 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Maryland 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 Maryland to California you should expect to pay between $1,715 and $2,975.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MD to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Old Line 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 Maryland to California spans approximately 2,782 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 Maryland to California should take between seven and fifteen 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 Maryland
More than 39 million people call Maryland home. Nicknamed the Old Line State, Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due to downslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland — which includes the cities of Ocean City, Salisbury, Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore — lies on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and a short, mild-to-cool winter
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 Maryland 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 Maryland and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Maryland to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Maryland 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 Maryland.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. All vehicles in Maryland must maintain insurance coverage from a Maryland-licensed insurance company at all times, with mandatory minimum coverage of $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for multiple people, and $15,000 for property damage.
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 Maryland to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Maryland to California is about 2,782 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from Maryland to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you recently relocated to Maryland or bought a vehicle, you must get it inspected at an authorized inspection station before registering the vehicle. New residents are mandated to undergo a vehicle safety inspection before obtaining car registration.
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 Maryland, 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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 Maryland and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Maryland 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 Maryland to California?
Shipping a car from Maryland to California costs $1,372 to $2,380.
