Route guide · CA → VA
Shipping a car from California to Virginia
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Virginia Beach costs about $1,400–$2,000 on an open carrier and $2,100–$3,000 in an enclosed trailer, with 6–10 days in transit. It ranks #29 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,700
- Road miles
- 2,800
- Days in transit
- 6–10
- People moving a year
- 21.0K
- Companies at both ends
- 150
City to city
What it costs between California and Virginia cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Virginia Beach, Richmond, Alexandria and Roanoke — 2,490 to 3,020 road miles apart.
| From | Virginia Beach | Richmond | Alexandria | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,400–$2,0002,800 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9502,700 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9752,720 mi · 6–10 days | $1,325–$1,8752,540 mi · 6–9 days |
| San Francisco | $1,475–$2,1003,020 mi · 7–11 days | $1,425–$2,0502,910 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0502,910 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$1,9752,760 mi · 6–10 days |
| San Diego | $1,375–$1,9752,750 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9252,650 mi · 6–10 days | $1,350–$1,9502,670 mi · 6–10 days | $1,300–$1,8752,490 mi · 5–9 days |
| San Jose | $1,450–$2,0502,950 mi · 6–10 days | $1,400–$2,0252,840 mi · 6–10 days | $1,425–$2,0252,850 mi · 6–10 days | $1,375–$1,9502,690 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 Virginia Beach, 2,800 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 | $1,400–$2,000 | $2,100–$3,000 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,575–$2,250 | $2,350–$3,350 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,750–$2,500 | $2,625–$3,750 |
| Pickup truck | $1,825–$2,600 | $2,725–$3,900 |
| Motorcycle | $850–$1,200 | $1,250–$1,800 |
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 Virginia is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,700 Peak: about $1,825
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Virginia
About 20,976 people moved from California to Virginia in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (21,771 in 2023, 20,180 in 2024). That is 3.1% of everyone who left California for another state.
Traffic runs both ways — about 16,968 people a year move from Virginia back to California — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,700, shipping from California to Virginia costs more than sending a car to Maryland ($1,675) and South Carolina ($1,625) but less than to New York ($1,725) and New Jersey ($1,725). That works out to about 61¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Los Angeles to Virginia Beach runs about 2,800 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
- 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia
28 companies based in Virginia: 26 carriers, 2 brokers, 107 trucks in total, 12 years in business on average.
- Prestige Auto Transport Mount Crawford · 28 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1306068
- Autova Auto Transport LLC Madison Hts · 7 trucks · since 2023 · USDOT 4122145
- Ata Centreville · 6 trucks · since 2012 · USDOT 2303078
- Cavalier Transport Inc Spotsylvania · 5 trucks · since 2018 · USDOT 3193540
- Helens Transportation LLC Frederickburg · 5 trucks · since 2008 · USDOT 1779934
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Virginia but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Virginia
To Virginia from states near California
FAQ
California to Virginia car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Virginia's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Virginia?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,400–$2,000 from Los Angeles to Virginia Beach (2,800 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,300–$2,100. An SUV costs about $1,575–$2,250, a pickup $1,825–$2,600, and an enclosed trailer $2,100–$3,000 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Virginia?
Transit is usually 6–10 days after pickup for the 2,800-mile trip from Los Angeles to Virginia Beach. 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 Virginia?
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 Virginia after moving?
Virginia requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. Title and register together; cars kept in Northern Virginia need an emissions inspection unless they have a valid certificate from the last 12 months.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Virginia?
Driving 2,800 miles takes about 6 days: roughly $360 in gas and 5 nights of hotels and meals (about $700). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,400–$2,000. Add wear on the car and 6 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Virginia?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 28 based in Virginia, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.