Route guide · CA → WA
Shipping a car from California to Washington
Shipping a running sedan from Los Angeles to Seattle costs about $900–$1,300 on an open carrier and $1,350–$1,950 in an enclosed trailer, with 3–5 days in transit. It ranks #9 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,100
- Road miles
- 1,130
- Days in transit
- 3–5
- People moving a year
- 42.4K
- Companies at both ends
- 158
City to city
What it costs between California and Washington cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose and Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver and Yakima — 650 to 1,250 road miles apart.
| From | Seattle | Spokane | Vancouver | Yakima |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $900–$1,3001,130 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $850–$1,2501,030 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Francisco | $775–$1,175810 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200880 mi · 2–4 days | $700–$1,100650 mi · 2–3 days | $750–$1,150740 mi · 2–4 days |
| San Diego | $950–$1,3501,250 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,210 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days | $900–$1,3001,140 mi · 3–5 days |
| San Jose | $775–$1,175840 mi · 2–4 days | $800–$1,200890 mi · 2–4 days | $725–$1,100680 mi · 2–4 days | $750–$1,150760 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 Seattle, 1,130 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 | $900–$1,300 | $1,350–$1,950 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,000–$1,450 | $1,525–$2,175 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,125–$1,625 | $1,700–$2,450 |
| Pickup truck | $1,175–$1,700 | $1,750–$2,550 |
| Motorcycle | $550–$775 | $800–$1,175 |
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 Washington is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,100 Peak: about $1,200
About this route
Why so many cars go from California to Washington
About 42,398 people moved from California to Washington in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (40,858 in 2023, 43,938 in 2024). That is 6.3% of everyone who left California for another state, making Washington its #4 destination.
Traffic is lopsided: only about 29,587 people a year go the other way, Washington to California. Trucks heading into Washington 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 $1,100, shipping from California to Washington costs more than sending a car to Colorado ($1,050) and Oregon ($1,050) but less than to Oklahoma ($1,200) and Kansas ($1,200). That works out to about 97¢ a mile.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,130 road miles from Los Angeles to Seattle — 3–5 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 and stays on Pacific time the whole way.
On the road
- Winter storms in Washington 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 Washington, 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 Washington
36 companies based in Washington: 36 carriers, 0 brokers, 237 trucks in total, 9 years in business on average.
- Diesel Auto Express Vancouver · 97 trucks · since 2009 · USDOT 1885300
- DC Trucking Enumclaw · 30 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 3001374
- U Save Auto Transport LLC Moxee · 8 trucks · since 2007 · USDOT 1625792
- DC Auto Carrier LLC Bonney Lake · 7 trucks · since 2022 · USDOT 3871099
- Advanced Auto Transport LLC Kelso · 6 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2943372
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to Washington but not into it — or coming from somewhere near California? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From California to states near Washington
To Washington from states near California
FAQ
California to Washington car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and Washington's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from California to Washington?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $900–$1,300 from Los Angeles to Seattle (1,130 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $700–$1,350. An SUV costs about $1,000–$1,450, a pickup $1,175–$1,700, and an enclosed trailer $1,350–$1,950 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from California to Washington?
Transit is usually 3–5 days after pickup for the 1,130-mile trip from Los Angeles to Seattle. 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 Washington?
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 Washington after moving?
Washington requires new residents to register within 30 days of becoming a resident. You need a Washington driver license before you can register the car.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from California to Washington?
Driving 1,130 miles takes about 3 days: roughly $140 in gas and 2 nights of hotels and meals (about $280). Shipping a sedan costs about $900–$1,300. Add wear on the car and 3 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from California to Washington?
Our directory lists 122 companies based in California and 36 based in Washington, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.