Route guide · MI → CA
Shipping a car from Michigan to California
Shipping a running sedan from Detroit to Los Angeles costs about $1,250–$1,800 on an open carrier and $1,875–$2,700 in an enclosed trailer, with 5–9 days in transit. It ranks #112 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,525
- Road miles
- 2,340
- Days in transit
- 5–9
- People moving a year
- 8.7K
- Companies at both ends
- 155
City to city
What it costs between Michigan and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 2,170 to 2,500 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days | $1,300–$1,8752,500 mi · 5–9 days | $1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days | $1,300–$1,8502,440 mi · 5–9 days |
| Grand Rapids | $1,225–$1,7502,200 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,8002,340 mi · 5–9 days | $1,200–$1,7252,170 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,7752,280 mi · 5–8 days |
| Lansing | $1,225–$1,7752,260 mi · 5–8 days | $1,275–$1,8252,410 mi · 5–9 days | $1,225–$1,7502,230 mi · 5–8 days | $1,250–$1,8002,350 mi · 5–9 days |
| Flint | $1,250–$1,7752,310 mi · 5–8 days | $1,300–$1,8502,460 mi · 5–9 days | $1,250–$1,7752,290 mi · 5–8 days | $1,275–$1,8252,400 mi · 5–9 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
Detroit to Los Angeles, 2,340 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 | $1,250–$1,800 | $1,875–$2,700 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,400–$2,025 | $2,100–$3,025 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,575–$2,250 | $2,350–$3,375 |
| Pickup truck | $1,625–$2,350 | $2,450–$3,500 |
| Motorcycle | $750–$1,075 | $1,125–$1,625 |
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 Michigan to California is March–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,525 Peak: about $1,675
About this route
Why so many cars go from Michigan to California
About 8,686 people moved from Michigan to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (12,054 in 2023, 5,317 in 2024). That is 6% of everyone who left Michigan for another state, making California its #5 destination.
Traffic runs both ways — about 11,885 people a year move from California back to Michigan — so carriers run this lane year-round and quotes tend to be steady.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,525, shipping from Michigan to California is among the most expensive routes out of Michigan; Arizona ($1,400) and Florida ($1,200) cost less. That works out to about 65¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Detroit to Los Angeles runs about 2,340 road miles. With drivers limited to 11 hours of driving a day and stops for other cars on the load, that is 5–9 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.
- Winter storms in Michigan 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 Michigan and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Michigan
33 companies based in Michigan: 29 carriers, 3 brokers, 88 trucks in total, 8 years in business on average.
- A Line Transportation Westland · 9 trucks · since 2016 · USDOT 2919373
- Auto Moto Transport LLC Warren · 8 trucks · since 2020 · USDOT 3380547
- Stimson Transport LLC Davison · 8 trucks · since 2017 · USDOT 3035222
- Detroit Auto Carriers West Bloomfield · 4 trucks · since 2014 · USDOT 2528377
- JMS Transport LLC New Boston · 4 trucks · since 2015 · USDOT 2780708
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 Michigan? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Michigan to states near California
To California from states near Michigan
FAQ
Michigan 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 Michigan to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,250–$1,800 from Detroit to Los Angeles (2,340 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,200–$1,875. An SUV costs about $1,400–$2,025, a pickup $1,625–$2,350, and an enclosed trailer $1,875–$2,700 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Michigan to California?
Transit is usually 5–9 days after pickup for the 2,340-mile trip from Detroit 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 Michigan to California?
March–May and September–November is the cheapest window on this lane. Prices are highest in December, up to about 10% 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 Michigan to California?
Driving 2,340 miles takes about 5 days: roughly $300 in gas and 4 nights of hotels and meals (about $560). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,250–$1,800. Add wear on the car and 5 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Michigan to California?
Our directory lists 33 companies based in Michigan and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.