Route guide · CA → MO
Shipping a car from California to Missouri
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Kansas City costs about $1,050–$1,500 on an open carrier and $1,575–$2,250 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–6 days in transit. It ranks #117 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,275
- Road miles
- 1,610
- Days in transit
- 4–6
- People moving a year
- 8.5K
- Companies at both ends
- 152
City to city
What it costs between California and Missouri cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia — 1,570 to 2,090 road miles apart.
| From | Kansas City | St. Louis | Springfield | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days | $1,125–$1,6001,880 mi · 4–7 days | $1,075–$1,5251,680 mi · 4–7 days | $1,075–$1,5501,750 mi · 4–7 days |
| San Francisco | $1,100–$1,5751,820 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,7002,090 mi · 5–8 days | $1,125–$1,6251,920 mi · 4–7 days | $1,150–$1,6251,960 mi · 4–7 days |
| San Diego | $1,025–$1,4751,570 mi · 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,830 mi · 4–7 days | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days |
| San Jose | $1,075–$1,5501,750 mi · 4–7 days | $1,150–$1,6502,020 mi · 5–8 days | $1,100–$1,5751,840 mi · 4–7 days | $1,125–$1,6001,890 mi · 4–7 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 Kansas City, 1,610 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 | $1,050–$1,500 | $1,575–$2,250 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,175–$1,675 | $1,750–$2,500 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,300–$1,875 | $1,950–$2,800 |
| Pickup truck | $1,350–$1,950 | $2,050–$2,925 |
| Motorcycle | $625–$900 | $950–$1,350 |
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 Missouri is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,275 Peak: about $1,375
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Missouri
About 8,466 people moved from California to Missouri in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (8,146 in 2023, 8,786 in 2024). That is 1.3% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 5,772 people a year go the other way, Missouri to California. Trucks heading into Missouri 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 $1,275, shipping from California to Missouri costs more than sending a car to Texas ($1,225) and Oklahoma ($1,200) but less than to Minnesota ($1,325) and Illinois ($1,425). That works out to about 79¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,610 road miles from Los Angeles to Kansas City — 4–6 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 2 time zones — from Pacific to Central 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 Missouri, 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 Missouri
30 companies based in Missouri: 30 carriers, 0 brokers, 456 trucks in total, 14 years in business on average.
- Redbird Carriers and Fastrack Auto Transport Saint Louis · 265 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 251582
- CNS Transportation LLC Warrensburg · 49 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4371608
- Smith Auto Transport Strafford · 34 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2368130
- Passport Transport Lebanon · 23 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2043860
- Reliable Transport LLC Springfield · 8 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2205331
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Missouri but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Missouri
To Missouri from states near California
FAQ
California to Missouri car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Missouri's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Missouri?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,050–$1,500 from Los Angeles to Kansas City (1,610 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,025–$1,700. An SUV costs about $1,175–$1,675, a pickup $1,350–$1,950, and an enclosed trailer $1,575–$2,250 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Missouri?
Transit is usually 4–6 days after pickup for the 1,610-mile trip from Los Angeles to Kansas 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 Missouri?
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 Missouri after moving?
Missouri requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Title and register at any Missouri license office or by mail.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Missouri?
Driving 1,610 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $210 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,050–$1,500. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Missouri?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 30 based in Missouri, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.