Route guide · IN → CA
Shipping a car from Indiana to California
Shipping a running sedan from Indianapolis to Los Angeles costs about $1,200–$1,700 on an open carrier and $1,800–$2,575 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–8 days in transit. It ranks #166 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,450
- Road miles
- 2,140
- Days in transit
- 5–8
- People moving a year
- 6.1K
- Companies at both ends
- 153
City to city
What it costs between Indiana and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 2,000 to 2,380 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $1,200–$1,7002,140 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,8002,330 mi · 5–9 days | $1,175–$1,7002,100 mi · 5–8 days | $1,225–$1,7752,270 mi · 5–8 days |
| Fort Wayne | $1,225–$1,7502,210 mi · 5–8 days | $1,275–$1,8252,380 mi · 5–9 days | $1,200–$1,7252,180 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,8002,320 mi · 5–9 days |
| Evansville | $1,175–$1,6752,050 mi · 5–8 days | $1,225–$1,7752,270 mi · 5–8 days | $1,150–$1,6502,000 mi · 4–8 days | $1,225–$1,7502,200 mi · 5–8 days |
| South Bend | $1,200–$1,7252,150 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days | $1,200–$1,7002,120 mi · 5–8 days | $1,225–$1,7502,250 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
Indianapolis to Los Angeles, 2,140 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 | $1,200–$1,700 | $1,800–$2,575 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,325–$1,925 | $2,000–$2,875 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,500–$2,150 | $2,250–$3,200 |
| Pickup truck | $1,550–$2,225 | $2,325–$3,325 |
| Motorcycle | $725–$1,025 | $1,075–$1,550 |
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 Indiana to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,450 Peak: about $1,575
About this route
Why so many cars go from Indiana to California
About 6,093 people moved from Indiana to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (4,531 in 2023, 7,654 in 2024). That is 4.8% of everyone who left Indiana for another state.
This is the lighter direction: about 8,740 people a year move California to Indiana. Carriers that bring cars into Indiana need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,450, shipping from Indiana to California is among the most expensive routes out of Indiana; Arizona ($1,325) and Florida ($1,125) cost less. That works out to about 68¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Indianapolis to Los Angeles runs about 2,140 road miles. With drivers limited to 11 hours of driving a day and stops for other cars on the load, that is 5–8 days on the truck. The car heads west and crosses 3 time zones — from Eastern 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 Indiana and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Indiana
31 companies based in Indiana: 31 carriers, 1 brokers, 589 trucks in total, 10 years in business on average.
- Crown Auto Carriers Inc Highland · 300 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3479368
- Karona Hauling Inc Merrillville · 50 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3475243
- Roadrunners Autotransport Inc Hammond · 44 trucks · since 1990 · USDOT 395100
- Lada Trans Inc Merrillville · 35 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 2998381
- American Truck Transport Angola · 34 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4362830
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 Indiana? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Indiana to states near California
To California from states near Indiana
FAQ
Indiana 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 Indiana to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,200–$1,700 from Indianapolis to Los Angeles (2,140 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,150–$1,825. An SUV costs about $1,325–$1,925, a pickup $1,550–$2,225, and an enclosed trailer $1,800–$2,575 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Indiana to California?
Transit is usually 5–8 days after pickup for the 2,140-mile trip from Indianapolis to Los Angeles. 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 Indiana 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. In any month, giving the carrier a wide pickup window lowers the quote.
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 Indiana to California?
Driving 2,140 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $270 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,200–$1,700. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Indiana to California?
Our directory lists 31 companies based in Indiana and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.