New York to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,902 miles from New York to California ranges from $1,718 to $2,841 and takes 7–15 days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.
Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our California to New York car shipping guide.
New York to California auto transport costs and transit times
The table below details the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in New York and California. The average travel distance is about 2,902 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from 7 to 15 days.
Cost to ship a car from New York City, NY to California
| From New York to California | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA | 2,793 miles | $1,754–$2,726 | 7–15 days |
| Buffalo, NY to San Diego, CA | 2,759 miles | $1,737–$2,671 | 7–15 days |
| Yonkers, NY to San Jose, CA | 2,933 miles | $1,772–$2,986 | 7–15 days |
| Rochester, NY to San Francisco, CA | 2,901 miles | $1,899–$3,044 | 7–15 days |
| Albany, NY to Fresno, CA | 2,914 miles | $1,772–$2,841 | 7–15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Buffalo, NY to California
| From New York to California | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA | 2,537 miles | $1,633–$2,522 | 7–15 days |
| Buffalo, NY to San Diego, CA | 2,560 miles | $1,552–$2,599 | 7–15 days |
| Yonkers, NY to San Jose, CA | 2,685 miles | $1,715–$2,704 | 7–15 days |
| Rochester, NY to San Francisco, CA | 2,653 miles | $1,749–$2,571 | 7–15 days |
| Albany, NY to Fresno, CA | 2,659 miles | $1,698–$2,704 | 7–15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Yonkers, NY to California
| From New York to California | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA | 2,799 miles | $1,772–$2,862 | 7–15 days |
| Buffalo, NY to San Diego, CA | 2,781 miles | $1,685–$2,644 | 7–15 days |
| Yonkers, NY to San Jose, CA | 2,950 miles | $1,808–$2,841 | 7–15 days |
| Rochester, NY to San Francisco, CA | 2,918 miles | $1,808–$2,870 | 7–15 days |
| Albany, NY to Fresno, CA | 2,926 miles | $1,881–$3,044 | 7–15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rochester, NY to California
| From New York to California | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA | 2,602 miles | $1,715–$2,598 | 7–15 days |
| Buffalo, NY to San Diego, CA | 2,618 miles | $1,749–$2,598 | 7–15 days |
| Yonkers, NY to San Jose, CA | 2,750 miles | $1,720–$2,862 | 7–15 days |
| Rochester, NY to San Francisco, CA | 2,718 miles | $1,702–$2,671 | 7–15 days |
| Albany, NY to Fresno, CA | 2,725 miles | $1,668–$2,835 | 7–15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Albany, NY to California
| From New York to California | Distance | Cost | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY to Los Angeles, CA | 2,817 miles | $1,862–$2,799 | 7–15 days |
| Buffalo, NY to San Diego, CA | 2,834 miles | $1,827–$2,883 | 7–15 days |
| Yonkers, NY to San Jose, CA | 2,961 miles | $1,754–$2,986 | 7–15 days |
| Rochester, NY to San Francisco, CA | 2,929 miles | $1,899–$2,870 | 7–15 days |
| Albany, NY to Fresno, CA | 2,941 miles | $1,899–$2,754 | 7–15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from New York to California
Since vehicles like SUV, 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 $2,148 and $3,551.
Factors that affect the price of shipping a car from New York to California
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 2,902 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 7 and 15 days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.
The best New York to California car shipping companies
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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 Overall Value: SGT Auto Transport
- Best for Quick Pick Up: Easy Auto Ship
- Best Insurance Coverage: Ship A Car Direct
- Best for accurate pricing: Sherpa Auto Transport
- Best Cross Country: Montway Auto Transport
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 2,902 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 hire a moving company, they also work with reputable car shippers. Otherwise, there may be the option of even shipping your car with your household belongings!
- 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!
What else should you know about shipping a car from New York to California?
- 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
Over 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 of California. 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 picking up my car in New York and when dropping off my car in California?
Most companies will require someone that is at least 18 years old to 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.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the 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 New York to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from New York to California is about 2902 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take 7-15 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.
