Route guide · CA → SC
Shipping a car from California to South Carolina
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Charleston costs about $1,350–$1,925 on an open carrier and $2,000–$2,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 6–9 days in transit. It ranks #127 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,650
- Road miles
- 2,600
- Days in transit
- 6–9
- People moving a year
- 7.9K
- Companies at both ends
- 140
City to city
What it costs between California and South Carolina cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Charleston, Columbia, Rock Hill and Greenville — 2,350 to 2,870 road miles apart.
| From | Charleston | Columbia | Rock Hill | Greenville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,350–$1,9252,600 mi · 6–9 days | $1,325–$1,8752,520 mi · 6–9 days | $1,300–$1,8752,500 mi · 5–9 days | $1,275–$1,8252,410 mi · 5–9 days |
| San Francisco | $1,425–$2,0252,870 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0002,780 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9752,750 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9502,660 mi · 6–10 days |
| San Diego | $1,325–$1,8752,530 mi · 6–9 days | $1,300–$1,8502,450 mi · 5–9 days | $1,300–$1,8502,440 mi · 5–9 days | $1,250–$1,8002,350 mi · 5–9 days |
| San Jose | $1,400–$2,0002,790 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9502,700 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9502,670 mi · 6–10 days | $1,325–$1,9002,590 mi · 6–9 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 Charleston, 2,600 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 | $1,350–$1,925 | $2,000–$2,875 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,500–$2,150 | $2,250–$3,225 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,675–$2,400 | $2,500–$3,575 |
| Pickup truck | $1,750–$2,475 | $2,600–$3,725 |
| Motorcycle | $800–$1,150 | $1,200–$1,725 |
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 South Carolina is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,625 Peak: about $1,750
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to South Carolina
About 7,909 people moved from California to South Carolina in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (7,108 in 2023, 8,709 in 2024). That is 1.2% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 6,150 people a year move from South Carolina back to California — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,625, shipping from California to South Carolina costs more than sending a car to North Carolina ($1,600) and Michigan ($1,525) but less than to Maryland ($1,675) and Florida ($1,700). That works out to about 63¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
At roughly 2,600 road miles, Los Angeles to Charleston 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 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 South 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 South Carolina
18 companies based in South Carolina: 18 carriers, 0 brokers, 63 trucks in total, 7 years in business on average.
- Autobahn Express Inc Spartanburg · 8 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2355697
- Turbo Auto Carrier LLC Spartanburg · 7 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3283356
- Aka Logistics LLC Boiling Spgs · 6 trucks · since 2022 · USDOT 3912102
- Big Country Transport LLC Walterboro · 6 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2070832
- United Auto Transportation LLC Inman · 6 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2167832
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to South Carolina but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near South Carolina
To South Carolina from states near California
FAQ
California to South Carolina car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and South Carolina's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to South Carolina?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,350–$1,925 from Los Angeles to Charleston (2,600 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,250–$2,025. An SUV costs about $1,500–$2,150, a pickup $1,750–$2,475, and an enclosed trailer $2,000–$2,875 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to South Carolina?
Transit is usually 6–9 days after pickup for the 2,600-mile trip from Los Angeles to Charleston. 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 South 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 South Carolina after moving?
South Carolina requires new residents to register within 45 days of becoming a resident. New residents pay a one-time $250 Infrastructure Maintenance Fee, and property tax is paid before registration.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to South Carolina?
Driving 2,600 miles takes about 6 days: roughly $330 in gas and 5 nights of hotels and meals (about $700). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,350–$1,925. Add wear on the car and 6 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to South Carolina?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 18 based in South Carolina, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.