Route guide · CA → MI
Shipping a car from California to Michigan
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Detroit costs about $1,250–$1,800 on an open carrier and $1,875–$2,700 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–9 days in transit. It ranks #72 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,525
- Road miles
- 2,340
- Days in transit
- 5–9
- People moving a year
- 11.9K
- Companies at both ends
- 155
City to city
What it costs between California and Michigan cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint — 2,170 to 2,500 road miles apart.
| From | Detroit | Grand Rapids | Lansing | Flint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days | $1,225–$1,7502,200 mi · 5–8 days | $1,225–$1,7752,260 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days |
| San Francisco | $1,300–$1,8752,500 mi · 5–9 days | $1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days | $1,275–$1,8252,410 mi · 5–9 days | $1,300–$1,8502,460 mi · 5–9 days |
| San Diego | $1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days | $1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days | $1,225–$1,7502,230 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,7752,290 mi · 5–8 days |
| San Jose | $1,300–$1,8502,440 mi · 5–9 days | $1,250–$1,7752,280 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,8002,350 mi · 5–9 days | $1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 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 Detroit, 2,340 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 | $1,250–$1,800 | $1,875–$2,700 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,400–$2,025 | $2,100–$3,025 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,575–$2,250 | $2,350–$3,375 |
| Pickup truck | $1,625–$2,350 | $2,450–$3,500 |
| Motorcycle | $750–$1,075 | $1,125–$1,625 |
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 Michigan is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,525 Peak: about $1,675
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Michigan
About 11,885 people moved from California to Michigan in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (9,765 in 2023, 14,005 in 2024). That is 1.8% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 8,686 people a year move from Michigan back to California — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,525, shipping from California to Michigan costs more than sending a car to Georgia ($1,500) and Kentucky ($1,475) but less than to North Carolina ($1,600) and South Carolina ($1,625). That works out to about 65¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Count on 5–9 days on the truck for the 2,340 road miles from Los Angeles to Detroit — federal rules cap drivers at 11 hours a day behind the wheel, and a full carrier makes several stops on the way. The car heads east-northeast and crosses 3 time zones — from Pacific to Eastern 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 Michigan 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan
33 companies based in Michigan: 29 carriers, 3 brokers, 88 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- A Line Transportation Westland · 9 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2919373
- Auto Moto Transport LLC Warren · 8 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3380547
- Stimson Transport LLC Davison · 8 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 3035222
- Detroit Auto Carriers West Bloomfield · 4 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2528377
- JMS Transport LLC New Boston · 4 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2780708
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Michigan but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Michigan
To Michigan from states near California
FAQ
California to Michigan car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Michigan's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Michigan?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,250–$1,800 from Los Angeles to Detroit (2,340 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,200–$1,875. An SUV costs about $1,400–$2,025, a pickup $1,625–$2,350, and an enclosed trailer $1,875–$2,700 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Michigan?
Transit is usually 5–9 days after pickup for the 2,340-mile trip from Los Angeles to Detroit. The wait for pickup is separate: typically 1–5 days, or 1–2 days if you pay about 30% more for expedited service.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from California to Michigan?
March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
How soon do I have to register my car in Michigan after moving?
Michigan requires new residents to register right away — there is no grace period. Michigan has no grace period: title and register right away with proof of Michigan no-fault insurance.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Michigan?
Driving 2,340 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $300 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,250–$1,800. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Michigan?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 33 based in Michigan, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.