New Jersey to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,886 miles from New Jersey to California ranges from $1,487 to $2,415 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 New Jersey car shipping guide.
The best New Jersey to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,886 miles on your car going from New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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!
NJ 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 New Jersey and California. The average travel distance is about 2,886 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Trenton, NJ to California
| From New Jersey to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ to Los Angeles, CA | $1,370 – $2,240 | 2,730 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Trenton, NJ to San Diego, CA | $1,442 – $2,330 | 2,714 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Trenton, NJ to San Jose, CA | $1,516 – $2,263 | 2,926 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Trenton, NJ to San Francisco, CA | $1,458 – $2,208 | 2,894 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Trenton, NJ to Fresno, CA | $1,530 – $2,392 | 2,855 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Newark, NJ to California
| From New Jersey to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, NJ to Los Angeles, CA | $1,356 – $2,352 | 2,779 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Newark, NJ to San Diego, CA | $1,470 – $2,218 | 2,750 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Newark, NJ to San Jose, CA | $1,486 – $2,287 | 2,927 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Newark, NJ to San Francisco, CA | $1,487 – $2,231 | 2,895 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Newark, NJ to Fresno, CA | $1,486 – $2,502 | 2,904 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Jersey City, NJ to California
| From New Jersey to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, NJ to Los Angeles, CA | $1,385 – $2,263 | 2,787 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to San Diego, CA | $1,370 – $2,128 | 2,756 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to San Jose, CA | $1,560 – $2,478 | 2,935 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to San Francisco, CA | $1,531 – $2,311 | 2,903 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Jersey City, NJ to Fresno, CA | $1,516 – $2,382 | 2,912 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Paterson, NJ to California
| From New Jersey to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson, NJ to Los Angeles, CA | $1,428 – $2,263 | 2,777 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Paterson, NJ to San Diego, CA | $1,413 – $2,128 | 2,773 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Paterson, NJ to San Jose, CA | $1,501 – $2,263 | 2,925 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Paterson, NJ to San Francisco, CA | $1,385 – $2,369 | 2,893 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Paterson, NJ to Fresno, CA | $1,546 – $2,430 | 2,902 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Elizabeth, NJ to California
| From New Jersey to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth, NJ to Los Angeles, CA | $1,428 – $2,173 | 2,788 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to San Diego, CA | $1,470 – $2,173 | 2,752 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to San Jose, CA | $1,486 – $2,311 | 2,936 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to San Francisco, CA | $1,531 – $2,502 | 2,904 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Elizabeth, NJ to Fresno, CA | $1,516 – $2,287 | 2,913 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to California you should expect to pay between $1,859 and $3,019.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from NJ to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Garden 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 New Jersey to California spans approximately 2,886 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey
More than 39 million people call New Jersey home. Nicknamed the Garden State, New Jersey summers are typically hot and humid and winters are usually cold. During winter and early spring, New Jersey can experience "nor'easters", which are capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States.
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from New Jersey to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In New Jersey, meet the minimum auto insurance requirements: $15,000 per person for bodily injury up to $30,000 per accident and $5,000 for property damage. Stay legally covered and financially secure on the road.
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 New Jersey to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from New Jersey to California is about 2,886 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from New Jersey to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If you are planning to reside in New Jersey for a minimum of 6 months, it is mandatory to transfer the title of your vehicle, register it, and obtain a driver's license from the state. As a new resident, you have 60 days from the date of establishing your residency to register your vehicle. It is important to note that before registering your vehicle, you are required to have liability insurance coverage as per the New Jersey state laws.
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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from New Jersey to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from New Jersey 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 New Jersey to California?
Shipping a car from New Jersey to California costs $1,487 to $2,415.
