Route guide · CO → CA
Shipping a car from Colorado to California
Shipping a running sedan from Denver to Los Angeles costs about $850–$1,250 on an open carrier and $1,275–$1,875 in an enclosed trailer, with 2–5 days in transit. It ranks #57 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,050
- Road miles
- 1,000
- Days in transit
- 2–5
- People moving a year
- 15.3K
- Companies at both ends
- 138
City to city
What it costs between Colorado and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Pueblo and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 940 to 1,180 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $850–$1,2501,000 mi · 2–5 days | $925–$1,3251,160 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days |
| Colorado Springs | $850–$1,250980 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,170 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225950 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,100 mi · 3–5 days |
| Fort Collins | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $925–$1,3251,160 mi · 3–5 days | $850–$1,2501,010 mi · 3–5 days | $875–$1,2751,090 mi · 3–5 days |
| Pueblo | $850–$1,250970 mi · 2–4 days | $925–$1,3251,180 mi · 3–5 days | $825–$1,225940 mi · 2–4 days | $900–$1,3001,110 mi · 3–5 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
Denver to Los Angeles, 1,000 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–$2,100 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,075–$1,575 | $1,600–$2,350 |
| Pickup truck | $1,100–$1,625 | $1,650–$2,450 |
| Motorcycle | $500–$750 | $775–$1,125 |
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 Colorado to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,050 Peak: about $1,125
About this route
Why so many cars go from Colorado to California
About 15,283 people moved from Colorado to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (14,784 in 2023, 15,781 in 2024). That is 7.3% of everyone who left Colorado for another state, making California its #2 destination.
This is the lighter direction: about 22,932 people a year move California to Colorado. Carriers that bring cars into Colorado need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,050, shipping from Colorado to California costs more than sending a car to Texas ($950) and Arizona ($925) but less than to Illinois ($1,075) and Washington ($1,125). That works out to about $1.05 a mile.
Distance and transit time
Your car spends 2–5 days on the road for the roughly 1,000 miles from Denver to Los Angeles, after a pickup window of a few days while the carrier assembles a full load. The car heads west-southwest and crosses one time zone — from Mountain to Pacific 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 Colorado and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Colorado
16 companies based in Colorado: 16 carriers, 1 brokers, 269 trucks in total, 10 years in business on average.
- Supreme Auto Transport Inc Longmont · 207 trucks · since 2000 · USDOT 912923
- TK Auto Trans Inc Aurora · 22 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2388239
- Sterling Auto Carriers Inc Montrose · 6 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2777033
- Your Auto Express Aurora · 5 trucks · since 2021 · USDOT 3705965
- Amiron Auto Trans LLC Commerce City · 4 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2961725
Delivery 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
96 more companies in our directory ship to all 48 contiguous states. Browse all companies →
Related routes
Nearby alternatives
Moving close to California but not into it — or coming from somewhere near Colorado? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Colorado to states near California
To California from states near Colorado
FAQ
Colorado to California car shipping: questions
Numbers on this page come from our price model, Census moving data and California's DMV.
How much does it cost to ship a car from Colorado to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $850–$1,250 from Denver to Los Angeles (1,000 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $825–$1,325. 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 Colorado to California?
Transit is usually 2–5 days after pickup for the 1,000-mile trip from Denver to Los Angeles. The wait for pickup is separate: typically 1–5 days, or 1–2 days if you pay about 30% more for expedited service.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car from Colorado to California?
January–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in June–August, up to about 8% more. If you must ship in peak months, book three to four weeks ahead.
How soon do I have to register my car in California after moving?
California requires new residents to register within 20 days of becoming a resident. The car must pass a California smog check, and it has to meet California emission standards to be registered at all.
Is it cheaper to drive or ship my car from Colorado to California?
Driving 1,000 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. Add wear on the car and 2 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Colorado to California?
Our directory lists 16 companies based in Colorado and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.