Route guide · CA → UT
Shipping a car from California to Utah
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City costs about $725–$1,125 on an open carrier and $1,075–$1,675 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–4 days in transit. It ranks #169 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $925
- Road miles
- 690
- Days in transit
- 2–4
- People moving a year
- 14.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 134
City to city
What it costs between California and Utah cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Salt Lake City, Provo, St. George and Logan — 410 to 800 road miles apart.
| From | Salt Lake City | Provo | St. George | Logan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $725–$1,125690 mi · 2–4 days | $700–$1,100670 mi · 2–4 days | $575–$950410 mi · 1–3 days | $750–$1,150760 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Francisco | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150750 mi · 2–4 days | $675–$1,075610 mi · 2–3 days | $750–$1,150770 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Diego | $750–$1,150730 mi · 2–4 days | $725–$1,125700 mi · 2–4 days | $575–$950420 mi · 1–3 days | $775–$1,175800 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Jose | $725–$1,125690 mi · 2–4 days | $725–$1,125690 mi · 2–4 days | $650–$1,025540 mi · 2–3 days | $725–$1,125720 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 Salt Lake City, 690 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 | $725–$1,125 | $1,075–$1,675 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $800–$1,250 | $1,200–$1,875 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $900–$1,400 | $1,350–$2,100 |
| Pickup truck | $925–$1,450 | $1,400–$2,175 |
| Motorcycle | $425–$675 | $650–$1,000 |
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 Utah is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $925 Peak: about $1,000
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Utah
About 14,791 people moved from California to Utah in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (15,848 in 2023, 13,734 in 2024). That is 2.2% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 9,752 people a year go the other way, Utah to California. Trucks heading into Utah 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 $925, shipping from California to Utah costs more than sending a car to Arizona ($775) but less than to Idaho ($975) and New Mexico ($975). That works out to about $1.34 a mile — short runs cost more per mile because the fixed cost of loading and unloading weighs more.
Distance and transit time
Los Angeles to Salt Lake City is about 690 road miles — 2–4 days on the truck. On a run this short, many people weigh shipping against driving it themselves. The car heads 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.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in California and Utah, 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 Utah
12 companies based in Utah: 12 carriers, 1 brokers, 34 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- NTM Transportation LLC Tooele · 5 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3337868
- Express Auto Shipping LLC Ogden · 4 trucks · since 2006 · USDOT 1567294
- Moving Connections & Carnections Auto Transport Salt Lake City · 4 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2028429
- Berg Transportation LLC Orem · 3 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3381118
- GLB Autosource Transport Inc Cedar City · 3 trucks · since 2019 · USDOT 3285033
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Utah but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Utah
To Utah from states near California
FAQ
California to Utah car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Utah's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Utah?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $725–$1,125 from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City (690 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $575–$1,175. An SUV costs about $800–$1,250, a pickup $925–$1,450, and an enclosed trailer $1,075–$1,675 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Utah?
Transit is usually 2–4 days after pickup for the 690-mile trip from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. 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 Utah?
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 Utah after moving?
Utah requires new residents to register within 60 days of becoming a resident. A 30-day temporary permit is available if you need more time to pass inspections.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Utah?
Driving 690 miles takes about 2 days: roughly $90 in gas and 1 night of hotels and meals (about $140). Shipping a sedan costs about $725–$1,125. Over this distance driving usually costs less, if you can spare the day.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Utah?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 12 based in Utah, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.