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Route guide · CA → CO
Car shipping from California to Colorado
Car transport from California to Colorado runs 1,000 road miles between the biggest metros. Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Denver costs about $850–$1,250 on an open carrier and $1,275–$1,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–5 days in transit. It ranks #27 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 1,000
- Days in transit
- 2–5
- People moving a year
- 22.9K
- Companies at both ends
- 101
City to city
Cost to ship a car from California to Colorado, city to city
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Pueblo — 940 to 1,180 road miles apart.
| From | Denver | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins | Pueblo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $850–$1,2501,000 mi · 2–5 days | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Francisco | $925–$1,3251,160 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,160 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Diego | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Jose | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days |
Estimate, not a quote
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 Denver, 1,000 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 | $850–$1,250 | $1,275–$1,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $950–$1,400 | $1,425–$2,100 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,075–$1,575 | $1,600–$2,350 |
| Pickup truck | $1,100–$1,625 | $1,650–$2,450 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$750 | $775–$1,125 |
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 Colorado is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,125
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Colorado
About 22,933 people moved from California to Colorado in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (26,148 in 2023, 19,717 in 2024). That is 3.4% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 15,282 people a year go the other way, Colorado to California. Trucks heading into Colorado fill up quickly, so pickups are usually fast — but carriers have less reason to discount in peak months.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,050, shipping from California to Colorado costs more than sending a car to Idaho ($975) and New Mexico ($975) but less than to Washington ($1,100) and Montana ($1,100). That works out to about $1.05 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,000 road miles from Los Angeles to Denver — 2–5 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. The car heads east-northeast and crosses one time zone — from Pacific to Mountain time — so confirm whether the delivery window you are given is in local time.
On the road
- The route crosses mountain passes in the West; from November to March, snow and chain laws can hold trucks for a day or two.
Companies
Car transport companies from California to Colorado
Companies headquartered at either end of the route usually run this lane often. Filter by services, company type and safety record — every listing is matched to its FMCSA record.
- Pickup end California 88 companies · 67 carriers · 24 brokers · 1,921 trucks · 12 yrs avg.
- Delivery end Colorado 13 companies · 13 carriers · 1 brokers · 447 trucks · 10 yrs avg.
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Tempus Logix has a vast network of mandatory insured and bonded carriers with whom we continually work.
Cross-border car shipping between the USA and Canada with customs handling, in business since 1985.
H&
Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport Inc
FMCSA verifiedLarge Los Alamitos, CA auto carrier with 30+ years of experience, moving new and remarketed vehicles coast to coast.
SA
Supreme Auto Transport Inc
FMCSA verifiedColorado auto carrier in business since 2001, partnered with Japan's NIKKON Holdings, with nationwide reach.
UA
UZ Auto Trans
FMCSA verifiedWoman- and minority-owned Denver car carrier with 80+ trucks, delivering vehicles across the 48 states.
DA
Deluxe Auto Carriers
FMCSA verifiedSouthern California car carrier in the Proficient Auto Logistics group, moving finished vehicles to dealerships.
DA
DBN Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedWoman-owned Anaheim car carrier established in 2012, with soft-tie trailers and camera/GPS on every truck.
QC
Quality Car Shippers LLC
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned Murrieta, CA car carrier serving dealers, rental companies, auctions and OEMs across the lower 48.
AL
Auto Line Express Inc
FMCSA verifiedGardena, CA car carrier moving thousands of finished vehicles a year across the U.S. and Canada since 2013.
IL
Intercity Lines, Inc
FMCSA verifiedAP
A Plus Auto Shippers LLC
FMCSA verifiedLicensed and bonded auto carrier from the Phoenix and Palm Desert area shipping cars and trucks nationwide.
SA
Sterling Auto Carriers Inc
FMCSA verifiedColorado enclosed car carrier for high-end, concept and high-security vehicles, auto shows and film productions.
AS
All Star Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedChino, California auto carrier moving vehicles in California and Texas since 2005.
CA
CA Auto Express Inc
FMCSA verifiedSouthern California motor carrier shipping vehicles on its own trucks, coast to coast and within California.
GK
Golden Key Express
FMCSA verifiedLS
Lucky Star Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned San Jose car carrier offering open, door-to-door auto transport nationwide since 2012.
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Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Colorado but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Colorado
To Colorado from states near California
FAQ
California to Colorado car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Colorado's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Colorado?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Los Angeles to Denver (1,000 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,325. An SUV costs about $950–$1,400, a pickup $1,100–$1,625, and an enclosed trailer $1,275–$1,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Colorado?
Transit is usually 2–5 days after pickup for the 1,000-mile trip from Los Angeles to Denver. 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 California to Colorado?
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 Colorado after moving?
Colorado requires new residents to register within 90 days of becoming a resident. You need Colorado insurance before you register; late fees are $25 a month, up to $100.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Colorado?
Driving 1,000 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $130 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $850–$1,250. Add wear on the car and 2 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Colorado?
Our directory lists 88 companies based in California and 13 based in Colorado, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 190 that ship nationwide.