Route guide · CA → MT
Shipping a car from California to Montana
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Billings costs about $900–$1,300 on an open carrier and $1,350–$1,950 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #191 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,100
- Road miles
- 1,140
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 5.2K
- Companies at both ends
- 123
City to city
What it costs between California and Montana cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Billings, Missoula, Great Falls and Bozeman — 910 to 1,250 road miles apart.
| From | Billings | Missoula | Great Falls | Bozeman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $900–$1,3001,140 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,080 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,060 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Francisco | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225920 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,060 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Diego | $925–$1,3251,190 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,160 mi · 3–5 days | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,120 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Jose | $875–$1,2751,060 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225910 mi · 2–4 days | $875–$1,2751,040 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225950 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 Billings, 1,140 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 | $900–$1,300 | $1,350–$1,950 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,025–$1,475 | $1,525–$2,200 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,125–$1,625 | $1,700–$2,450 |
| Pickup truck | $1,175–$1,700 | $1,775–$2,550 |
| Motorcycle | $550–$775 | $825–$1,175 |
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 Montana is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,100 Peak: about $1,225
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Montana
About 5,225 people moved from California to Montana in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5,577 in 2023, 4,872 in 2024). That is 0.8% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 1,594 people a year go the other way, Montana to California. Trucks heading into Montana 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 $1,100, shipping from California to Montana costs more than sending a car to Colorado ($1,050) and Oregon ($1,050) but less than to Oklahoma ($1,200) and Kansas ($1,200). That works out to about 96¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,140 road miles from Los Angeles to Billings — 3–5 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 north-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.
- Winter storms in Montana 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 Montana, 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 Montana
1 companies based in Montana: 1 carriers, 1 brokers, 7 trucks in total, 31 years in business on average.
- Big Sky Auto Transport Inc Great Falls · 7 trucks · since 1995 · USDOT 598761
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Montana but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Montana
FAQ
California to Montana car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Montana's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Montana?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $900–$1,300 from Los Angeles to Billings (1,140 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,350. An SUV costs about $1,025–$1,475, a pickup $1,175–$1,700, and an enclosed trailer $1,350–$1,950 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Montana?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,140-mile trip from Los Angeles to Billings. 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 Montana?
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 Montana after moving?
Montana requires new residents to register within 60 days of becoming a resident. A late fee applies after 40 days, so register early at the county treasurer.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Montana?
Driving 1,140 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $150 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $900–$1,300. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Montana?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 1 based in Montana, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.