Route guide · AZ → CA
Shipping a car from Arizona to California
Shipping a running sedan from Phoenix to Los Angeles costs about $600–$950 on an open carrier and $875–$1,425 in an enclosed trailer, with 1–3 days in transit. It ranks #82 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $775
- Road miles
- 430
- Days in transit
- 1–3
- People moving a year
- 24.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 163
City to city
What it costs between Arizona and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 180 to 930 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $600–$950430 mi · 1–3 days | $775–$1,175800 mi · 2–4 days | $550–$900350 mi · 1–3 days | $725–$1,125710 mi · 2–4 days |
| Tucson | $650–$1,025540 mi · 2–3 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $600–$950430 mi · 1–3 days | $775–$1,175840 mi · 2–4 days |
| Yuma | $525–$875290 mi · 1–2 days | $725–$1,125710 mi · 2–4 days | $450–$775180 mi · 1–2 days | $675–$1,075620 mi · 2–3 days |
| Flagstaff | $600–$975470 mi · 1–3 days | $750–$1,150780 mi · 2–4 days | $575–$950420 mi · 1–3 days | $725–$1,125690 mi · 2–4 days |
A pickup or delivery far from these metros usually adds $75–$150. Quotes move with fuel prices and truck space, so treat these as a yardstick. Price your own addresses →
By vehicle
Price by vehicle type
Phoenix to Los Angeles, 430 miles. Bigger and heavier vehicles take more room and weight on the trailer, so they cost more.
| Vehicle | Open carrier | Enclosed |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan or small car | $600–$950 | $875–$1,425 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $650–$1,075 | $1,000–$1,600 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $750–$1,200 | $1,100–$1,800 |
| Pickup truck | $775–$1,250 | $1,150–$1,875 |
| Motorcycle | $350–$575 | $525–$850 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in June–August (the summer moving peak), running about 8% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from Arizona to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $775 Peak: about $825
About this route
Why so many cars go from Arizona to California
About 24,663 people moved from Arizona to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (21,152 in 2023, 28,174 in 2024). That is 13.2% of everyone who left Arizona for another state — no state draws more people from Arizona.
This is the lighter direction: about 53,302 people a year move California to Arizona. Carriers that bring cars into Arizona need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $775, shipping from Arizona to California is one of the cheaper long moves out of Arizona — Colorado ($925) and Texas ($1,075) cost more. That works out to about $1.80 a mile — short runs cost more per mile because the fixed cost of loading and unloading weighs more.
Distance and transit time
Phoenix to Los Angeles is about 430 road miles — 1–3 days on the truck. On a run this short, many people weigh shipping against driving it themselves. The car heads west and crosses one time zone — from Mountain to Pacific time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Arizona and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Arizona
41 companies based in Arizona: 30 carriers, 5 brokers, 154 trucks in total, 13 years in business on average.
- Motor Car Auto Carriers Inc Glendal · 45 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 915692
- Auto-Matic Auto Carriers LLC Tucson · 23 trucks · since 2009 · USDOT 1965940
- J&S Transportation Tucson · 14 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 911585
- Zemo Auto Transport LLC Peoria · 6 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2781497
- J & J Auto Transport LLC Litchfield Park · 5 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3244816
Delivery end California
122 companies based in California: 91 carriers, 18 brokers, 1,809 trucks in total, 11 years in business on average.
- Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport Inc Los Alamitos · 965 trucks · since 1994 · USDOT 568253
- Professional Auto Transport Inc Jurupa Valley · 257 trucks · since 2003 · USDOT 1130314
- Central Valley Auto Transport Inc Strathmore · 76 trucks · since 2001 · USDOT 978079
- DBN Auto Transport Anaheim · 75 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2979175
- Safe Auto Transport Inc N Highlands · 44 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2411467
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to California but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Arizona? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Arizona to states near California
To California from states near Arizona
FAQ
Arizona to California car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and California's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Arizona to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $600–$950 from Phoenix to Los Angeles (430 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $450–$1,225. An SUV costs about $650–$1,075, a pickup $775–$1,250, and an enclosed trailer $875–$1,425 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Arizona to California?
Transit is usually 1–3 days after pickup for the 430-mile trip from Phoenix to Los Angeles. Getting the car picked up takes another 1–5 days on a standard booking; expedited pickup within 1–2 days costs about 30% more.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Arizona to California?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. Whatever the month, a flexible pickup date booked 2–3 weeks out gets the best price.
How soon do I have to register my car in California after moving?
California requires new residents to register within 20 days of becoming a resident. The car must pass a California smog check, and it has to meet California emission standards to be registered at all.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Arizona to California?
Driving 430 miles takes about 1 day: roughly $60 in gas. Shipping a sedan costs about $600–$950. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from Arizona to California?
Our directory lists 41 companies based in Arizona and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.