Michigan to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,404 miles from Michigan to California ranges from $1,357 to $2,046 and takes five–thirteen 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 Michigan car shipping guide.
The best Michigan to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Michigan 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 Michigan to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,404 miles on your car going from Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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!
MI 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 Michigan and California. The average travel distance is about 2,404 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from five to thirteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Detroit, MI to California
| From Michigan to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI to Los Angeles, CA | $1,354 – $2,055 | 2,281 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Detroit, MI to San Diego, CA | $1,398 – $2,118 | 2,346 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Detroit, MI to San Jose, CA | $1,411 – $2,110 | 2,429 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Detroit, MI to San Francisco, CA | $1,291 – $2,097 | 2,397 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Detroit, MI to Fresno, CA | $1,411 – $2,132 | 2,406 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Grand Rapids, MI to California
| From Michigan to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids, MI to Los Angeles, CA | $1,278 – $2,050 | 2,177 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to San Diego, CA | $1,407 – $2,013 | 2,239 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to San Jose, CA | $1,291 – $2,246 | 2,325 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to San Francisco, CA | $1,340 – $2,225 | 2,293 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Grand Rapids, MI to Fresno, CA | $1,277 – $2,182 | 2,302 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Warren, MI to California
| From Michigan to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren, MI to Los Angeles, CA | $1,300 – $2,161 | 2,290 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Warren, MI to San Diego, CA | $1,291 – $2,182 | 2,351 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Warren, MI to San Jose, CA | $1,276 – $2,046 | 2,438 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Warren, MI to San Francisco, CA | $1,330 – $2,197 | 2,406 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Warren, MI to Fresno, CA | $1,343 – $2,153 | 2,415 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Sterling Heights, MI to California
| From Michigan to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Heights, MI to Los Angeles, CA | $1,354 – $2,225 | 2,293 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to San Diego, CA | $1,331 – $2,139 | 2,355 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to San Jose, CA | $1,411 – $2,046 | 2,441 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to San Francisco, CA | $1,411 – $2,197 | 2,409 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Sterling Heights, MI to Fresno, CA | $1,330 – $2,197 | 2,418 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Ann Arbor, MI to California
| From Michigan to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI to Los Angeles, CA | $1,394 – $2,013 | 2,239 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to San Diego, CA | $1,317 – $2,246 | 2,302 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to San Jose, CA | $1,411 – $2,054 | 2,388 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to San Francisco, CA | $1,411 – $2,097 | 2,356 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Ann Arbor, MI to Fresno, CA | $1,398 – $2,225 | 2,364 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Michigan 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 Michigan to California you should expect to pay between $1,696 and $2,558.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MI to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Wolverine 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 Michigan to California spans approximately 2,404 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan to California should take between five and thirteen 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 Michigan
More than 39 million people call Michigan home. Nicknamed the Wolverine State, Michigan has a continental climate, although there are two distinct regions. The southern and central parts of the Lower Peninsula (south of Saginaw Bay and from the Grand Rapids area southward) have a warmer climate with hot summers and cold winters. The northern part of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula has a more severe climate (Köppen Dfb), with warm, but shorter summers and longer, cold to very cold winters. Some parts of the state average high temperatures below freezing from December through February, and into early March in the far northern parts. During the winter through the middle of February, the state is frequently subjected to heavy lake-effect snow. The state averages 30 days of thunderstorm activity per year. These can be severe, especially in the southern part of the state. The state averages 17 tornadoes per year, which are more common in the state's extreme southern section.
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 Michigan 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 Michigan and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Michigan to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Michigan 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 Michigan.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Michigan requires a minimum auto insurance coverage of $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage in case of an 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 Michigan to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Michigan to California is about 2,404 miles, and that’s as fast as about 5 days. However, most car transport companies will take five to thirteen days to travel from Michigan to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Michigan does not require vehicle inspections for registration purposes. There is no state mandate for car safety inspections or emissions testing.
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 Michigan, 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Michigan 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 Michigan to California?
Shipping a car from Michigan to California costs $1,357 to $2,046.
