Washington to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 956 miles from Washington to California ranges from $846 to $1,298 and takes two–seven 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 Washington car shipping guide.
The best Washington to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Washington 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 Washington to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 956 miles on your car going from Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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!
WA 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 Washington and California. The average travel distance is about 956 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .
Cost to ship a car from Seattle, WA to California
| From Washington to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA | $896 – $1,460 | 1,136 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Seattle, WA to San Diego, CA | $920 – $1,467 | 1,255 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Seattle, WA to San Jose, CA | $797 – $1,192 | 839 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Seattle, WA to San Francisco, CA | $776 – $1,163 | 807 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Seattle, WA to Fresno, CA | $805 – $1,325 | 921 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Spokane, WA to California
| From Washington to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA to Los Angeles, CA | $997 – $1,422 | 1,205 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Spokane, WA to San Diego, CA | $1,048 – $1,629 | 1,324 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Spokane, WA to San Jose, CA | $830 – $1,287 | 908 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Spokane, WA to San Francisco, CA | $803 – $1,223 | 876 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Spokane, WA to Fresno, CA | $794 – $1,269 | 990 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Tacoma, WA to California
| From Washington to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA to Los Angeles, CA | $861 – $1,375 | 1,105 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Tacoma, WA to San Diego, CA | $978 – $1,526 | 1,231 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Tacoma, WA to San Jose, CA | $792 – $1,260 | 809 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Tacoma, WA to San Francisco, CA | $778 – $1,133 | 777 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Tacoma, WA to Fresno, CA | $812 – $1,298 | 891 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Vancouver, WA to California
| From Washington to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, WA to Los Angeles, CA | $862 – $1,285 | 971 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Vancouver, WA to San Diego, CA | $840 – $1,343 | 1,090 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Vancouver, WA to San Jose, CA | $783 – $1,135 | 674 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Vancouver, WA to San Francisco, CA | $716 – $1,065 | 642 miles | 1 – 6 days |
| Vancouver, WA to Fresno, CA | $843 – $1,208 | 756 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Cost to ship a car from Bellevue, WA to California
| From Washington to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA to Los Angeles, CA | $888 – $1,333 | 1,139 miles | 2 – 8 days |
| Bellevue, WA to San Diego, CA | $997 – $1,526 | 1,258 miles | 3 – 8 days |
| Bellevue, WA to San Jose, CA | $814 – $1,229 | 843 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Bellevue, WA to San Francisco, CA | $792 – $1,260 | 810 miles | 2 – 7 days |
| Bellevue, WA to Fresno, CA | $797 – $1,351 | 925 miles | 2 – 7 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from Washington 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 Washington to California you should expect to pay between $1,058 and $1,623.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from WA to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Evergreen 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 Washington to California spans approximately 956 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 Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington to California should take between two and seven 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 Washington
More than 39 million people call Washington home. Nicknamed the Evergreen State, Washington state rarely experiences extreme weather to worry about. Your move should be unaffected by the weather conditions. However, it's always a good idea to check the forecast ahead of time and maybe prepare for a little rain!
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 Washington 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 Washington and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Washington to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from Washington 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 Washington.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. Drivers in Washington are mandated to maintain a minimum of $25,000 for individual bodily injury, $50,000 for total bodily injury in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage to meet legal requirements and enhance on-road protection.
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 Washington to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Washington to California is about 956 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Washington to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
In the state of Washington, there are no annual safety inspections, however, vehicles must still comply with strict Clean Car standards.
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 Washington, 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 Washington, 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 Washington 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 Washington and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Washington to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from Washington 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 Washington to California?
Shipping a car from Washington to California costs $846 to $1,298.
