North Carolina to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,659 miles from North Carolina to California ranges from $1,368 to $2,157 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 North Carolina car shipping guide.
The best North Carolina to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from North Carolina 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 North Carolina to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,659 miles on your car going from North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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!
NC 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 North Carolina and California. The average travel distance is about 2,659 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Charlotte, NC to California
| From North Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,381 – $2,064 | 2,419 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Charlotte, NC to San Diego, CA | $1,368 – $2,199 | 2,383 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Charlotte, NC to San Jose, CA | $1,354 – $2,113 | 2,674 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Charlotte, NC to San Francisco, CA | $1,442 – $2,150 | 2,716 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Charlotte, NC to Fresno, CA | $1,288 – $2,030 | 2,543 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Raleigh, NC to California
| From North Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,342 – $2,009 | 2,553 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Raleigh, NC to San Diego, CA | $1,382 – $2,157 | 2,546 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Raleigh, NC to San Jose, CA | $1,516 – $2,254 | 2,808 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Raleigh, NC to San Francisco, CA | $1,501 – $2,369 | 2,850 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Raleigh, NC to Fresno, CA | $1,326 – $2,178 | 2,677 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Greensboro, NC to California
| From North Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,381 – $2,213 | 2,478 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Greensboro, NC to San Diego, CA | $1,341 – $2,085 | 2,471 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Greensboro, NC to San Jose, CA | $1,485 – $2,173 | 2,733 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Greensboro, NC to San Francisco, CA | $1,413 – $2,195 | 2,775 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Greensboro, NC to Fresno, CA | $1,396 – $2,113 | 2,602 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Durham, NC to California
| From North Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,315 – $2,094 | 2,531 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Durham, NC to San Diego, CA | $1,369 – $2,199 | 2,524 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Durham, NC to San Jose, CA | $1,385 – $2,173 | 2,786 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Durham, NC to San Francisco, CA | $1,472 – $2,185 | 2,828 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Durham, NC to Fresno, CA | $1,438 – $2,135 | 2,655 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Winston-Salem, NC to California
| From North Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,381 – $2,085 | 2,454 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Winston-Salem, NC to San Diego, CA | $1,261 – $2,128 | 2,458 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Winston-Salem, NC to San Jose, CA | $1,442 – $2,263 | 2,709 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Winston-Salem, NC to San Francisco, CA | $1,385 – $2,352 | 2,751 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Winston-Salem, NC to Fresno, CA | $1,356 – $2,009 | 2,577 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from North Carolina 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 North Carolina to California you should expect to pay between $1,710 and $2,696.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from NC to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Tar Heel 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 North Carolina to California spans approximately 2,659 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina
More than 39 million people call North Carolina home. Nicknamed the Tar Heel State, North Carolina has mild weather year round, however, snow may affect your move in some parts of the state during winter time.
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from North Carolina to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Ensure compliance with North Carolina's mandatory minimum liability insurance rules for drivers. Your coverage should meet or exceed $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Don't forget to enhance your protection with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Stay informed and safeguarded on the road by meeting these state 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.
How long does it take to ship a car from North Carolina to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from North Carolina to California is about 2,659 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from North Carolina to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Before the North Carolina DMV can register a passenger vehicle, it must pass an annual safety inspection if it is less than 30 years old.
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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from North Carolina to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from North Carolina 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 North Carolina to California?
Shipping a car from North Carolina to California costs $1,368 to $2,157.
