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Route guide · CO → CA
Car shipping from Colorado to California
Car transport from Colorado to California runs 1,000 road miles between the biggest metros. 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
- 101
City to city
Cost to ship a car from Colorado to California, city to city
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 |
Estimate, not a quote
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 transport companies from Colorado to California
Companies headquartered at either end of the route usually run this lane often. Filter by services, company type and safety record — every listing is matched to its FMCSA record.
- Pickup end Colorado 13 companies · 13 carriers · 1 brokers · 447 trucks · 10 yrs avg.
- Delivery end California 88 companies · 67 carriers · 24 brokers · 1,921 trucks · 12 yrs avg.
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Cross-border car shipping between the USA and Canada with customs handling, in business since 1985.
H&
Hansen & Adkins Auto Transport Inc
FMCSA verifiedLarge Los Alamitos, CA auto carrier with 30+ years of experience, moving new and remarketed vehicles coast to coast.
SA
Supreme Auto Transport Inc
FMCSA verifiedColorado auto carrier in business since 2001, partnered with Japan's NIKKON Holdings, with nationwide reach.
UA
UZ Auto Trans
FMCSA verifiedWoman- and minority-owned Denver car carrier with 80+ trucks, delivering vehicles across the 48 states.
DA
Deluxe Auto Carriers
FMCSA verifiedSouthern California car carrier in the Proficient Auto Logistics group, moving finished vehicles to dealerships.
DA
DBN Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedWoman-owned Anaheim car carrier established in 2012, with soft-tie trailers and camera/GPS on every truck.
QC
Quality Car Shippers LLC
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned Murrieta, CA car carrier serving dealers, rental companies, auctions and OEMs across the lower 48.
AL
Auto Line Express Inc
FMCSA verifiedGardena, CA car carrier moving thousands of finished vehicles a year across the U.S. and Canada since 2013.
IL
Intercity Lines, Inc
FMCSA verifiedAP
A Plus Auto Shippers LLC
FMCSA verifiedLicensed and bonded auto carrier from the Phoenix and Palm Desert area shipping cars and trucks nationwide.
SA
Sterling Auto Carriers Inc
FMCSA verifiedColorado enclosed car carrier for high-end, concept and high-security vehicles, auto shows and film productions.
AS
All Star Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedChino, California auto carrier moving vehicles in California and Texas since 2005.
CA
CA Auto Express Inc
FMCSA verifiedSouthern California motor carrier shipping vehicles on its own trucks, coast to coast and within California.
GK
Golden Key Express
FMCSA verifiedLS
Lucky Star Auto Transport
FMCSA verifiedFamily-owned San Jose car carrier offering open, door-to-door auto transport nationwide since 2012.
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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 13 companies based in Colorado and 88 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 190 that ship nationwide.