West Virginia to California Car Shipping (2024 Cost Guide)
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 2,545 miles from West Virginia to California ranges from $1,275 to $2,157 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 West Virginia car shipping guide.
The best West Virginia to California car shipping companies
We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from West Virginia 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 West Virginia to California
- Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 2,545 miles on your car going from West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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!
WV 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 West Virginia and California. The average travel distance is about 2,545 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from seven to fifteen days .
Cost to ship a car from Charleston, WV to California
| From West Virginia to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV to Los Angeles, CA | $1,262 – $2,156 | 2,331 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Charleston, WV to San Diego, CA | $1,395 – $2,156 | 2,315 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Charleston, WV to San Jose, CA | $1,329 – $2,051 | 2,594 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Charleston, WV to San Francisco, CA | $1,369 – $2,051 | 2,562 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Charleston, WV to Fresno, CA | $1,274 – $2,128 | 2,456 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Huntington, WV to California
| From West Virginia to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV to Los Angeles, CA | $1,298 – $2,052 | 2,281 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Huntington, WV to San Diego, CA | $1,351 – $2,010 | 2,266 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Huntington, WV to San Jose, CA | $1,369 – $2,136 | 2,544 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Huntington, WV to San Francisco, CA | $1,356 – $2,115 | 2,512 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Huntington, WV to Fresno, CA | $1,301 – $2,064 | 2,406 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Morgantown, WV to California
| From West Virginia to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV to Los Angeles, CA | $1,327 – $2,107 | 2,446 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Morgantown, WV to San Diego, CA | $1,394 – $2,107 | 2,430 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Morgantown, WV to San Jose, CA | $1,438 – $2,222 | 2,676 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Morgantown, WV to San Francisco, CA | $1,326 – $2,113 | 2,644 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Morgantown, WV to Fresno, CA | $1,356 – $2,094 | 2,571 miles | 7 – 15 days |
Cost to ship a car from Parkersburg, WV to California
| From West Virginia to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg, WV to Los Angeles, CA | $1,342 – $2,114 | 2,351 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to San Diego, CA | $1,262 – $2,093 | 2,335 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to San Jose, CA | $1,275 – $2,221 | 2,574 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to San Francisco, CA | $1,396 – $2,094 | 2,542 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Parkersburg, WV to Fresno, CA | $1,367 – $2,234 | 2,476 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Cost to ship a car from Wheeling, WV to California
| From West Virginia to California | Cost | Distance | Estimated transit time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV to Los Angeles, CA | $1,395 – $2,199 | 2,369 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Wheeling, WV to San Diego, CA | $1,262 – $2,072 | 2,353 miles | 5 – 13 days |
| Wheeling, WV to San Jose, CA | $1,382 – $2,199 | 2,592 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Wheeling, WV to San Francisco, CA | $1,369 – $2,221 | 2,560 miles | 7 – 15 days |
| Wheeling, WV to Fresno, CA | $1,381 – $2,213 | 2,494 miles | 5 – 13 days |
Shipping an SUV or truck from West Virginia 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 West Virginia to California you should expect to pay between $1,594 and $2,696.
Factors that affect car shipping costs from WV to CA
When transporting your vehicle from the Mountain 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 West Virginia to California spans approximately 2,545 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia
More than 39 million people call West Virginia home. Nicknamed the Mountain State, West Virginia has warm to hot, humid summers and chilly winters. Be sure to check the weather during your move to avoid inclement weather.
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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia and when dropping it off in California.
Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from West Virginia to California?
If you’re not driving the vehicle from West Virginia 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 West Virginia.
If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. West Virginia's required minimum insurance standards, encompassing liability coverage at $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
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 West Virginia to California?
Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from West Virginia to California is about 2,545 miles, and that’s as fast as about 6 days. However, most car transport companies will take seven to fifteen days to travel from West Virginia to California.
Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?
New residents are given 10 days from the date they title a vehicle to have a West Virginia safety inspection at any official inspection station licensed by the West Virginia State Police.
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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia and California to avoid any hidden costs.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car from West Virginia to California?
The cheapest way to ship a car from West Virginia 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 West Virginia to California?
Shipping a car from West Virginia to California costs $1,275 to $2,157.
