South Carolina to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,504 miles from South Carolina to California ranges from $1,385 to $2,162 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 South Carolina car shipping guide.
The best South 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,504 miles on your car going from South 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 South 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 South 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!
SC 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 South Carolina and California. The average travel distance is about 2,504 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, SC to California
| From South Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,330 – $2,067 | 2,492 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Charleston, SC to San Diego, CA | $1,397 – $2,046 | 2,460 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Charleston, SC to San Jose, CA | $1,459 – $2,176 | 2,748 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Charleston, SC to San Francisco, CA | $1,474 – $2,244 | 2,789 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Charleston, SC to Fresno, CA | $1,455 – $2,205 | 2,617 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Columbia, SC to California
| From South Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,291 – $2,075 | 2,389 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Columbia, SC to San Diego, CA | $1,371 – $2,246 | 2,356 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Columbia, SC to San Jose, CA | $1,483 – $2,094 | 2,644 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Columbia, SC to San Francisco, CA | $1,455 – $2,271 | 2,686 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Columbia, SC to Fresno, CA | $1,413 – $2,162 | 2,513 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from North Charleston, SC to California
| From South Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,303 – $2,261 | 2,484 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| North Charleston, SC to San Diego, CA | $1,384 – $2,218 | 2,452 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| North Charleston, SC to San Jose, CA | $1,387 – $2,358 | 2,740 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| North Charleston, SC to San Francisco, CA | $1,488 – $2,358 | 2,781 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| North Charleston, SC to Fresno, CA | $1,483 – $2,249 | 2,609 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Mount Pleasant, SC to California
| From South Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,411 – $2,067 | 2,495 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to San Diego, CA | $1,357 – $2,067 | 2,462 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to San Jose, CA | $1,416 – $2,380 | 2,750 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to San Francisco, CA | $1,372 – $2,335 | 2,792 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Mount Pleasant, SC to Fresno, CA | $1,427 – $2,182 | 2,620 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Rock Hill, SC to California
| From South Carolina to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC to Los Angeles, CA | $1,303 – $2,089 | 2,410 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to San Diego, CA | $1,411 – $2,225 | 2,377 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to San Jose, CA | $1,455 – $2,249 | 2,665 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to San Francisco, CA | $1,387 – $2,358 | 2,707 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Rock Hill, SC to Fresno, CA | $1,358 – $2,033 | 2,534 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from South 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 South Carolina to California you should expect to pay between $1,731 and $2,703.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from SC to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Palmetto 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 South Carolina to California spans approximately 2,504 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 South 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 South 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 South 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 South Carolina
More than 39 million people call South Carolina home. Nicknamed the Palmetto State, South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
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 South 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 South Carolina and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from South Carolina to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from South 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 South Carolina.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. In South Carolina, it's a legal requirement for every driver to have liability insurance. Adhering to the state's minimum liability limits, commonly referred to as 25/50/25, entails securing coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Stay compliant with these essential insurance standards to drive confidently on South Carolina roads.
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 South Carolina to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from South Carolina to California is about 2,504 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from South Carolina to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
Drivers in South Carolina are not required to get a safety, VIN, or emissions inspection for their vehicle.
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 South 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 South 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 South 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 South Carolina and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from South Carolina to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from South 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 South Carolina to California?
Shipping a car from South Carolina to California costs $1,385 to $2,162.
