Route guide · CA → AZ
Shipping a car from California to Arizona
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Phoenix costs about $600–$950 on an open carrier and $875–$1,425 in an enclosed trailer, with 1–3 days in transit. It ranks #22 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
- 53.3K
- Companies at both ends
- 163
City to city
What it costs between California and Arizona cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff — 180 to 930 road miles apart.
| From | Phoenix | Tucson | Yuma | Flagstaff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $600–$950430 mi · 1–3 days | $650–$1,025540 mi · 2–3 days | $525–$875290 mi · 1–2 days | $600–$975470 mi · 1–3 days |
| San Francisco | $775–$1,175800 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $725–$1,125710 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150780 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Diego | $550–$900350 mi · 1–3 days | $600–$950430 mi · 1–3 days | $450–$775180 mi · 1–2 days | $575–$950420 mi · 1–3 days |
| San Jose | $725–$1,125710 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175840 mi · 2–4 days | $675–$1,075620 mi · 2–3 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
Los Angeles to Phoenix, 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 California to Arizona 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 California to Arizona
About 53,303 people moved from California to Arizona in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (54,222 in 2023, 52,383 in 2024). That is 7.9% of everyone who left California for another state, making Arizona its #2 destination.
Far fewer people make the reverse move — about 24,663 a year from Arizona to California. Carriers bound for Arizona rarely run empty, which keeps pickups quick but prices firm.
How the price compares
At a typical $775, shipping from California to Arizona is one of the cheaper long moves out of California — Utah ($925) and Idaho ($975) 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
At about 430 road miles, Los Angeles to Phoenix takes 1–3 days by carrier; a driver may deliver the same day if your car is the last one loaded. The car heads east and crosses one time zone — from Pacific to Mountain 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 California and Arizona, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup 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
Delivery 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
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Arizona but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Arizona
To Arizona from states near California
FAQ
California to Arizona car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Arizona's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Arizona?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $600–$950 from Los Angeles to Phoenix (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 California to Arizona?
Transit is usually 1–3 days after pickup for the 430-mile trip from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from California to Arizona?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
How soon do I have to register my car in Arizona after moving?
Arizona requires new residents to register right away — there is no grace period. Arizona expects registration as soon as you become a resident. Cars kept in the Phoenix or Tucson areas may need an emissions test first.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Arizona?
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 California to Arizona?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 41 based in Arizona, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.