Route guide · CA → CO
Shipping a car from California to Colorado
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
- 138
City to city
What it costs between California and Colorado cities
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 |
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 carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in California and Colorado, 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 Colorado
16 companies based in Colorado: 16 carriers, 1 brokers, 269 trucks in total, 10 years in business on average.
- Supreme Auto Transport Inc Longmont · 207 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 912923
- TK Auto Trans Inc Aurora · 22 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2388239
- Sterling Auto Carriers Inc Montrose · 6 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2777033
- Your Auto Express Aurora · 5 trucks · since 2021 · USDOT 3705965
- Amiron Auto Trans LLC Commerce City · 4 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2961725
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
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 122 companies based in California and 16 based in Colorado, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.