Route guide · CA → OR
Shipping a car from California to Oregon
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Portland costs about $850–$1,250 on an open carrier and $1,275–$1,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #52 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 980
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 32.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 129
City to city
What it costs between California and Oregon cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Portland, Salem, Eugene and Bend — 520 to 1,090 road miles apart.
| From | Portland | Salem | Eugene | Bend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225930 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200870 mi · 2–4 days | $775–$1,175840 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Francisco | $700–$1,075640 mi · 2–3 days | $675–$1,050590 mi · 2–3 days | $625–$1,000520 mi · 2–3 days | $650–$1,025530 mi · 2–3 days |
| San Diego | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,050 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250990 mi · 2–4 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Jose | $700–$1,100670 mi · 2–4 days | $700–$1,075630 mi · 2–3 days | $650–$1,025560 mi · 2–3 days | $650–$1,025550 mi · 2–3 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 Portland, 980 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 | $850–$1,250 | $1,275–$1,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $950–$1,400 | $1,425–$2,075 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,050–$1,550 | $1,575–$2,325 |
| Pickup truck | $1,100–$1,625 | $1,650–$2,425 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$750 | $750–$1,125 |
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 Oregon is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,150
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Oregon
About 32,654 people moved from California to Oregon in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (33,807 in 2023, 31,500 in 2024). That is 4.8% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 20,058 people a year go the other way, Oregon to California. Trucks heading into Oregon 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 $1,050, shipping from California to Oregon costs more than sending a car to Idaho ($975) and New Mexico ($975) but less than to Washington ($1,100) and Montana ($1,100). That works out to about $1.07 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 980 road miles from Los Angeles to Portland — 2–4 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-northwest and stays on Pacific time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Oregon 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 Oregon, 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 Oregon
7 companies based in Oregon: 7 carriers, 1 brokers, 19 trucks in total, 13 years in business on average.
- Carroll Auto Transport LLC Gilchrist · 5 trucks · since 2001 · USDOT 991916
- DMV Auto Transport Portland · 4 trucks · since 2008 · USDOT 1797529
- EZ Transport LLC Troutdale · 2 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2871184
- Finesse Auto Transport LLC Damascus · 2 trucks · since 2018 · USDOT 3087476
- Interstate Expressways Inc Eugene · 2 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4462008
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Oregon but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Oregon
To Oregon from states near California
FAQ
California to Oregon car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Oregon's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Oregon?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Los Angeles to Portland (980 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $625–$1,275. An SUV costs about $950–$1,400, a pickup $1,100–$1,625, and an enclosed trailer $1,275–$1,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Oregon?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 980-mile trip from Los Angeles to Portland. 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 Oregon?
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 Oregon after moving?
Oregon requires new residents to register once you become a resident. Most cars in the Portland and Medford areas must pass a DEQ emissions test before registration.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Oregon?
Driving 980 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $130 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $850–$1,250. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Oregon?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 7 based in Oregon, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.