Route guide · CA → NC
Shipping a car from California to North Carolina
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Charlotte costs about $1,300–$1,875 on an open carrier and $1,975–$2,800 in an enclosed trailer, with 6–9 days in transit. It ranks #35 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,600
- Road miles
- 2,510
- Days in transit
- 6–9
- People moving a year
- 19.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 156
City to city
What it costs between California and North Carolina cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro and Fayetteville — 2,450 to 2,880 road miles apart.
| From | Charlotte | Raleigh | Greensboro | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,300–$1,8752,510 mi · 6–9 days | $1,350–$1,9252,640 mi · 6–9 days | $1,325–$1,9002,560 mi · 6–9 days | $1,350–$1,9252,630 mi · 6–9 days |
| San Francisco | $1,375–$1,9752,750 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0252,880 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0002,790 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0252,870 mi · 6–10 days |
| San Diego | $1,300–$1,8502,450 mi · 5–9 days | $1,325–$1,9002,590 mi · 6–9 days | $1,300–$1,8752,510 mi · 6–9 days | $1,325–$1,9002,570 mi · 6–9 days |
| San Jose | $1,375–$1,9502,680 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0002,800 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9752,720 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0002,800 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 Charlotte, 2,510 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 | $1,300–$1,875 | $1,975–$2,800 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,475–$2,100 | $2,200–$3,150 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,625–$2,350 | $2,450–$3,500 |
| Pickup truck | $1,700–$2,425 | $2,550–$3,650 |
| Motorcycle | $775–$1,125 | $1,175–$1,675 |
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 North Carolina is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,600 Peak: about $1,725
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to North Carolina
About 19,756 people moved from California to North Carolina in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (21,084 in 2023, 18,428 in 2024). That is 2.9% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 8,898 people a year go the other way, North Carolina to California. Trucks heading into North Carolina 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 $1,600, shipping from California to North Carolina costs more than sending a car to Michigan ($1,525) and Ohio ($1,525) but less than to South Carolina ($1,625) and Maryland ($1,675). That works out to about 64¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
At roughly 2,510 road miles, Los Angeles to Charlotte is a cross-country haul. Federal hours-of-service rules cap truck drivers at 11 hours behind the wheel a day, so plan on 6–9 days in transit once the car is loaded. 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
- Trucks usually take the southern route across the desert Southwest, which stays open all winter — one reason this lane runs on schedule year-round.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in California and North Carolina, 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 North Carolina
34 companies based in North Carolina: 34 carriers, 0 brokers, 150 trucks in total, 10 years in business on average.
- Bulla Transportation Inc Charlotte · 55 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4029519
- Rhodes Brothers Trucking LLC Selma · 9 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2446705
- Frank Pless Auto Transport Inc Concord · 6 trucks · since 2009 · USDOT 1979139
- K-Dot Auto Transport Servicesllc Charlotte · 6 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2997038
- Dragon Haul Inc Mooresville · 4 trucks · since 2026 · USDOT 4527691
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to North Carolina but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near North Carolina
To North Carolina from states near California
FAQ
California to North Carolina car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and North Carolina's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to North Carolina?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,300–$1,875 from Los Angeles to Charlotte (2,510 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,300–$2,025. An SUV costs about $1,475–$2,100, a pickup $1,700–$2,425, and an enclosed trailer $1,975–$2,800 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to North Carolina?
Transit is usually 6–9 days after pickup for the 2,510-mile trip from Los Angeles to Charlotte. 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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina after moving?
North Carolina requires new residents to register within 60 days of becoming a resident. Get your North Carolina driver license first; out-of-state insurance policies are not accepted.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to North Carolina?
Driving 2,510 miles takes about 6 days: roughly $320 in gas and 5 nights of hotels and meals (about $700). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,300–$1,875. Add wear on the car and 6 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to North Carolina?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 34 based in North Carolina, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.