New York to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,914 miles from New York to California ranges from $1,474 to $2,411 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 York car shipping guide.
The best New York 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 York 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 New York to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,914 miles on your car going from New York 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 York 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 York 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!
NY 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 York and California. The average travel distance is about 2,914 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from New York City, NY to California
| From New York to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA | $1,416 – $2,154 | 2,789 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| New York City, NY to San Diego, CA | $1,503 – $2,176 | 2,760 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| New York City, NY to San Jose, CA | $1,534 – $2,387 | 2,937 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| New York City, NY to San Francisco, CA | $1,489 – $2,459 | 2,905 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| New York City, NY to Fresno, CA | $1,444 – $2,291 | 2,914 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Brooklyn, NY to California
| From New York to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn, NY to Los Angeles, CA | $1,372 – $2,199 | 2,793 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Brooklyn, NY to San Diego, CA | $1,401 – $2,358 | 2,781 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Brooklyn, NY to San Jose, CA | $1,564 – $2,387 | 2,941 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Brooklyn, NY to San Francisco, CA | $1,474 – $2,291 | 2,909 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Brooklyn, NY to Fresno, CA | $1,549 – $2,315 | 2,918 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Queens, NY to California
| From New York to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queens, NY to Los Angeles, CA | $1,401 – $2,421 | 2,807 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Queens, NY to San Diego, CA | $1,459 – $2,358 | 2,783 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Queens, NY to San Jose, CA | $1,534 – $2,387 | 2,955 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Queens, NY to San Francisco, CA | $1,579 – $2,483 | 2,922 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Queens, NY to Fresno, CA | $1,579 – $2,435 | 2,932 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Manhattan, NY to California
| From New York to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, NY to Los Angeles, CA | $1,416 – $2,222 | 2,791 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Manhattan, NY to San Diego, CA | $1,474 – $2,176 | 2,763 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Manhattan, NY to San Jose, CA | $1,504 – $2,315 | 2,940 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Manhattan, NY to San Francisco, CA | $1,579 – $2,532 | 2,907 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Manhattan, NY to Fresno, CA | $1,474 – $2,532 | 2,916 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bronx, NY to California
| From New York to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronx, NY to Los Angeles, CA | $1,503 – $2,222 | 2,796 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bronx, NY to San Diego, CA | $1,416 – $2,199 | 2,773 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bronx, NY to San Jose, CA | $1,504 – $2,411 | 2,943 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bronx, NY to San Francisco, CA | $1,519 – $2,508 | 2,912 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Bronx, NY to Fresno, CA | $1,504 – $2,459 | 2,920 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from New York 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 York to California you should expect to pay between $1,843 and $3,014.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from NY to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Empire 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 York to California spans approximately 2,914 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 York, 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 York 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 York 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 York
More than 39 million people call New York home. Nicknamed the Empire State, The climate of New York state is generally has warm to hot summers and cold winters. In the farther southeastern portion of the state (New York City and Long Island area) hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. Winter temperatures average below freezing during January and February in much of New York state, but several degrees above freezing along the Atlantic coastline, including New York City.
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 York 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 York and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from New York to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from New York 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 York.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. To register your vehicle in New York, you must have state-issued auto liability insurance meeting minimum requirements $10,000 property damage, $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury/death for one person, $50,000/$100,000 for two or more people in an accident. Failure to comply may lead to the suspension of both your car registration and New York driver's license. Stay compliant and protected on the road with the required coverage.
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 York to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from New York to California is about 2,914 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 York to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
If your vehicle was registered in another state that issues an inspection sticker, you have one year from the registration date or until the sticker expires to get a New York State vehicle inspection. If the previous inspection was performed in a jurisdiction that does not issue an inspection sticker, you must get a New York State inspection immediately.
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 York, 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 York, 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 York 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 York and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from New York to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from New York 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 York to California?
Shipping a car from New York to California costs $1,474 to $2,411.
