Route guide · CA → NY
Shipping a car from California to New York
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to New York costs about $1,425–$2,050 on an open carrier and $2,150–$3,050 in an enclosed trailer, with 6–10 days in transit. It ranks #12 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,750
- Road miles
- 2,900
- Days in transit
- 6–10
- People moving a year
- 31.2K
- Companies at both ends
- 180
City to city
What it costs between California and New York cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and New York, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse — 2,570 to 3,070 road miles apart.
| From | New York | Buffalo | Rochester | Syracuse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,425–$2,0502,900 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9252,600 mi · 6–9 days | $1,375–$1,9502,680 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$1,9752,760 mi · 6–10 days |
| San Francisco | $1,475–$2,1003,070 mi · 7–11 days | $1,375–$1,9752,750 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0002,820 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0502,910 mi · 6–10 days |
| San Diego | $1,425–$2,0252,860 mi · 6–10 days | $1,325–$1,9002,570 mi · 6–9 days | $1,350–$1,9252,650 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9752,730 mi · 6–10 days |
| San Jose | $1,475–$2,0753,010 mi · 7–11 days | $1,375–$1,9502,690 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$1,9752,760 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0252,850 mi · 6–10 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 New York, 2,900 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 | $1,425–$2,050 | $2,150–$3,050 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,600–$2,275 | $2,400–$3,425 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,800–$2,550 | $2,675–$3,825 |
| Pickup truck | $1,850–$2,650 | $2,800–$3,975 |
| Motorcycle | $850–$1,225 | $1,275–$1,825 |
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 New York is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,725 Peak: about $1,875
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to New York
About 31,232 people moved from California to New York in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (31,097 in 2023, 31,367 in 2024). That is 4.6% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 29,994 people a year move from New York back to California — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,725, shipping from California to New York costs more than sending a car to Florida ($1,700) and Virginia ($1,700) but less than to Connecticut ($1,750) and Massachusetts ($1,800). That works out to about 59¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Los Angeles to New York runs about 2,900 road miles. With drivers limited to 11 hours of driving a day and stops for other cars on the load, that is 6–10 days on the truck. 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.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in California and New York, 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 New York
58 companies based in New York: 44 carriers, 7 brokers, 458 trucks in total, 11 years in business on average.
- Acar Trucking LLC Brooklyn · 270 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4116994
- Bibi Carrier LLC Port Jervis · 42 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3438799
- GZZ Logistics Inc Staten Island · 9 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3476017
- Blue Cat Logistic Inc Brooklyn · 8 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4050399
- East Coast Auto Transport Inc Fort Ann · 7 trucks · since 1987 · USDOT 296156
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to New York but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near New York
To New York from states near California
FAQ
California to New York car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and New York's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to New York?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,425–$2,050 from Los Angeles to New York (2,900 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,325–$2,100. An SUV costs about $1,600–$2,275, a pickup $1,850–$2,650, and an enclosed trailer $2,150–$3,050 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to New York?
Transit is usually 6–10 days after pickup for the 2,900-mile trip from Los Angeles to New York. Before that, allow 1–5 days for a carrier to be assigned — or pay roughly 30% extra to have it collected within 48 hours.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from California to New York?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
How soon do I have to register my car in New York after moving?
New York requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. You can apply by mail from out of state; allow about six weeks for plates and documents.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to New York?
Driving 2,900 miles takes about 6 days: roughly $370 in gas and 5 nights of hotels and meals (about $700). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,425–$2,050. Add wear on the car and 6 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to New York?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 58 based in New York, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.