Route guide · CA → ID
Shipping a car from California to Idaho
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Boise City costs about $775–$1,175 on an open carrier and $1,150–$1,750 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #93 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $975
- Road miles
- 790
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 16.4K
- Companies at both ends
- 133
City to city
What it costs between California and Idaho cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Boise City, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Coeur d'Alene — 620 to 1,210 road miles apart.
| From | Boise City | Idaho Falls | Pocatello | Coeur d'Alene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $775–$1,175790 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200870 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175820 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,120 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Francisco | $700–$1,075640 mi · 2–3 days | $775–$1,175830 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150780 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200890 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Diego | $800–$1,200880 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200870 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Jose | $675–$1,075620 mi · 2–3 days | $775–$1,175790 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200900 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 Boise City, 790 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 | $775–$1,175 | $1,150–$1,750 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $850–$1,300 | $1,275–$1,950 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $950–$1,450 | $1,425–$2,175 |
| Pickup truck | $1,000–$1,525 | $1,500–$2,275 |
| Motorcycle | $450–$700 | $700–$1,050 |
By month
Best time to ship
Prices on this lane peak in December (the holidays and winter weather up north), running about 10% above the quietest months. The cheapest time to ship from California to Idaho is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $975 Peak: about $1,075
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Idaho
About 16,362 people moved from California to Idaho in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (17,338 in 2023, 15,385 in 2024). That is 2.4% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 4,578 people a year go the other way, Idaho to California. Trucks heading into Idaho 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 $975, shipping from California to Idaho costs more than sending a car to Utah ($925) and Arizona ($775) but less than to Colorado ($1,050) and Oregon ($1,050). That works out to about $1.23 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Los Angeles to Boise City is about 790 road miles — 2–4 days on the truck. On a run this short, many people weigh shipping against driving it themselves. The car heads north 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.
- Winter storms in Idaho can slow pickups and deliveries in December through February — leave slack in your schedule.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in California and Idaho, 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 Idaho
11 companies based in Idaho: 11 carriers, 0 brokers, 50 trucks in total, 14 years in business on average.
- D & J Auto Transport Meridian · 9 trucks · since 1988 · USDOT 318405
- Integrity Auto Transport LLC Kuna · 9 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2984267
- MDM Auto Transport LLC Kimberly · 6 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2850044
- Odd Duck Trucking Kuna · 6 trucks · since 2024 · USDOT 4331121
- Auto Choice Express LLC Preston · 4 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1277377
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Idaho but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Idaho
FAQ
California to Idaho car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Idaho's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Idaho?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $775–$1,175 from Los Angeles to Boise City (790 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $675–$1,325. An SUV costs about $850–$1,300, a pickup $1,000–$1,525, and an enclosed trailer $1,150–$1,750 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Idaho?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 790-mile trip from Los Angeles to Boise City. 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 Idaho?
March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% 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 Idaho after moving?
Idaho requires new residents to register once you become a resident. Register when you become an Idaho resident; the county assessor or sheriff inspects the VIN of out-of-state cars.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Idaho?
Driving 790 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $100 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $775–$1,175. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Idaho?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 11 based in Idaho, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.