Route guide · IL → CA
Shipping a car from Illinois to California
Shipping a running sedan from Chicago to Los Angeles costs about $1,175–$1,675 on an open carrier and $1,750–$2,525 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–8 days in transit. It ranks #30 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,425
- Road miles
- 2,060
- Days in transit
- 5–8
- People moving a year
- 21.0K
- Companies at both ends
- 228
City to city
What it costs between Illinois and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Chicago, Rockford, Springfield and Peoria and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 1,890 to 2,220 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $1,175–$1,6752,060 mi · 5–8 days | $1,225–$1,7502,220 mi · 5–8 days | $1,150–$1,6752,030 mi · 5–8 days | $1,200–$1,7252,160 mi · 5–8 days |
| Rockford | $1,150–$1,6501,990 mi · 4–8 days | $1,200–$1,7002,140 mi · 5–8 days | $1,150–$1,6251,960 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,6752,080 mi · 5–8 days |
| Springfield | $1,125–$1,6251,920 mi · 4–7 days | $1,200–$1,7002,120 mi · 5–8 days | $1,125–$1,6001,890 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,6752,050 mi · 5–8 days |
| Peoria | $1,125–$1,6251,930 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,7002,110 mi · 5–8 days | $1,125–$1,6001,900 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,6752,050 mi · 5–8 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
Chicago to Los Angeles, 2,060 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 | $1,175–$1,675 | $1,750–$2,525 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,300–$1,875 | $1,975–$2,825 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,450–$2,100 | $2,200–$3,150 |
| Pickup truck | $1,525–$2,175 | $2,275–$3,275 |
| Motorcycle | $700–$1,000 | $1,050–$1,500 |
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 Illinois to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,425 Peak: about $1,525
About this route
Why so many cars go from Illinois to California
About 20,968 people moved from Illinois to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (21,982 in 2023, 19,953 in 2024). That is 7.2% of everyone who left Illinois for another state, making California its #5 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 15,794 people a year move from California back to Illinois — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,425, shipping from Illinois to California is among the most expensive routes out of Illinois; Arizona ($1,300) and Florida ($1,200) cost less. That works out to about 69¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
At roughly 2,060 road miles, Chicago to Los Angeles is a cross-country haul. Federal hours-of-service rules cap truck drivers at 11 hours behind the wheel a day, so plan on 5–8 days in transit once the car is loaded. The car heads west and crosses 2 time zones — from Central 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.
- Winter storms in Illinois 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 Illinois and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Illinois
106 companies based in Illinois: 90 carriers, 14 brokers, 1,639 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- Cassens Transport Company Edwardsville · 911 trucks · since 1974 · USDOT 124358
- Orgil Auto Transport Rosemont · 75 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2005112
- Americars Transportation Inc Aurora · 65 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2913704
- Windy City Auto Transportation LLC Hazel Crest · 61 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4367050
- American Auto Transport Inc Lombard · 57 trucks · since 2004 · USDOT 1291429
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 Illinois? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Illinois to states near California
To California from states near Illinois
FAQ
Illinois 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 Illinois to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,175–$1,675 from Chicago to Los Angeles (2,060 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,125–$1,750. An SUV costs about $1,300–$1,875, a pickup $1,525–$2,175, and an enclosed trailer $1,750–$2,525 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Illinois to California?
Transit is usually 5–8 days after pickup for the 2,060-mile trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. 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 Illinois 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. 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 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 Illinois to California?
Driving 2,060 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $260 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,175–$1,675. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Illinois to California?
Our directory lists 106 companies based in Illinois and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.