Minnesota to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 1,987 miles from Minnesota to California ranges from $1,350 to $1,990 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 Minnesota car shipping guide.
The best Minnesota to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Minnesota 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 Minnesota to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 1,987 miles on your car going from Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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!
MN 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 Minnesota and California. The average travel distance is about 1,987 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from three to eleven days .
Cost to ship a car from Minneapolis, MN to California
| From Minnesota to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN to Los Angeles, CA | $1,363 – $2,069 | 1,926 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Minneapolis, MN to San Diego, CA | $1,311 – $2,050 | 1,987 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Minneapolis, MN to San Jose, CA | $1,343 – $2,079 | 2,008 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Minneapolis, MN to San Francisco, CA | $1,285 – $2,069 | 1,977 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Minneapolis, MN to Fresno, CA | $1,370 – $1,955 | 2,050 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from St. Paul, MN to California
| From Minnesota to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul, MN to Los Angeles, CA | $1,233 – $2,069 | 1,930 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| St. Paul, MN to San Diego, CA | $1,298 – $1,931 | 1,991 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| St. Paul, MN to San Jose, CA | $1,330 – $2,079 | 2,018 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| St. Paul, MN to San Francisco, CA | $1,324 – $1,951 | 1,986 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| St. Paul, MN to Fresno, CA | $1,370 – $2,058 | 2,055 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rochester, MN to California
| From Minnesota to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN to Los Angeles, CA | $1,305 – $1,973 | 1,893 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Rochester, MN to San Diego, CA | $1,324 – $1,912 | 1,955 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Rochester, MN to San Jose, CA | $1,304 – $2,017 | 2,010 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Rochester, MN to San Francisco, CA | $1,324 – $1,971 | 1,977 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Rochester, MN to Fresno, CA | $1,278 – $1,996 | 2,018 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bloomington, MN to California
| From Minnesota to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, MN to Los Angeles, CA | $1,337 – $1,892 | 1,915 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bloomington, MN to San Diego, CA | $1,363 – $2,010 | 1,977 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bloomington, MN to San Jose, CA | $1,330 – $2,120 | 2,000 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Bloomington, MN to San Francisco, CA | $1,298 – $1,971 | 1,969 miles | 3 – 11 days |
| Bloomington, MN to Fresno, CA | $1,383 – $1,996 | 2,040 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Cost to ship a car from Duluth, MN to California
| From Minnesota to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN to Los Angeles, CA | $1,383 – $2,079 | 2,077 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Duluth, MN to San Diego, CA | $1,278 – $2,175 | 2,139 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Duluth, MN to San Jose, CA | $1,343 – $1,955 | 2,051 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Duluth, MN to San Francisco, CA | $1,264 – $1,996 | 2,019 miles | 4 – 12 days |
| Duluth, MN to Fresno, CA | $1,394 – $2,161 | 2,202 miles | 4 – 12 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Minnesota 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 Minnesota to California you should expect to pay between $1,688 and $2,488.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from MN to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the North Star 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 Minnesota to California spans approximately 1,987 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota
More than 39 million people call Minnesota home. Nicknamed the North Star State, Minnesota experiences temperature extremes characteristic of its continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Minnesota does experience weather such as: rain, snow, blizzards, thunderstorms, hail, derechos, tornadoes, and high-velocity straight-line winds.
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Minnesota to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Minnesota 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 Minnesota.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Drivers in Minnesota must maintain a minimum insurance coverage, including $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, and $10,000 for property damage liability, ensuring financial protection in case of accidents and aligning with state regulations for responsible driving practices.
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 Minnesota to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Minnesota to California is about 1,987 miles, and that’s as fast as about 4 days. However, most car transport companies will take three to eleven days to travel from Minnesota to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Minnesota does not have a mandate for regular safety inspections on personal vehicles.
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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Minnesota to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Minnesota 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 Minnesota to California?
Shipping a car from Minnesota to California costs $1,350 to $1,990.
