Route guide · MO → CA
Shipping a car from Missouri to California
Shipping a running sedan from Kansas City to Los Angeles costs about $1,050–$1,500 on an open carrier and $1,575–$2,250 in an enclosed trailer, with 4–6 days in transit. It ranks #173 among the 250 busiest car-shipping lanes, based on Census moving data.
- Open carrier, sedan
- $1,275
- Road miles
- 1,610
- Days in transit
- 4–6
- People moving a year
- 5.8K
- Companies at both ends
- 152
City to city
What it costs between Missouri and California cities
Open-carrier prices for a running sedan between Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia and Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose — 1,570 to 2,090 road miles apart.
| From | Los Angeles | San Francisco | San Diego | San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $1,050–$1,5001,610 mi · 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,820 mi · 4–7 days | $1,025–$1,4751,570 mi · 4–6 days | $1,075–$1,5501,750 mi · 4–7 days |
| St. Louis | $1,125–$1,6001,880 mi · 4–7 days | $1,175–$1,7002,090 mi · 5–8 days | $1,100–$1,5751,830 mi · 4–7 days | $1,150–$1,6502,020 mi · 5–8 days |
| Springfield | $1,075–$1,5251,680 mi · 4–7 days | $1,125–$1,6251,920 mi · 4–7 days | $1,050–$1,5001,630 mi · 4–6 days | $1,100–$1,5751,840 mi · 4–7 days |
| Columbia | $1,075–$1,5501,750 mi · 4–7 days | $1,150–$1,6251,960 mi · 4–7 days | $1,075–$1,5251,710 mi · 4–7 days | $1,125–$1,6001,890 mi · 4–7 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
Kansas City to Los Angeles, 1,610 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 | $1,050–$1,500 | $1,575–$2,250 |
| Midsize SUV or crossover | $1,175–$1,675 | $1,750–$2,500 |
| Large SUV (Tahoe, Expedition) | $1,300–$1,875 | $1,950–$2,800 |
| Pickup truck | $1,350–$1,950 | $2,050–$2,925 |
| Motorcycle | $625–$900 | $950–$1,350 |
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 Missouri to California is January–May and September–November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Cheapest: about $1,275 Peak: about $1,375
About this route
Why so many cars go from Missouri to California
About 5,772 people moved from Missouri to California in each of the last two years, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (6,400 in 2023, 5,144 in 2024). That is 4.3% of everyone who left Missouri for another state.
This is the lighter direction: about 8,466 people a year move California to Missouri. Carriers that bring cars into Missouri need loads back toward California, so it's worth asking for a backhaul price on this leg.
How the price compares
At a typical $1,275, shipping from Missouri to California is among the most expensive routes out of Missouri; Florida ($1,225) and Arizona ($1,150) cost less. That works out to about 79¢ a mile — long hauls cost less per mile because loading and paperwork are spread over more distance.
Distance and transit time
Expect about 1,610 road miles from Kansas City to Los Angeles — 4–6 days on the truck after pickup. Carriers usually load several cars before heading out, so the pickup window matters as much as transit time. 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.
Companies
Car carriers at both ends of the route
The largest carriers headquartered in Missouri and California, by trucks on file with the FMCSA. A company based at either end usually runs this lane often.
Pickup end Missouri
30 companies based in Missouri: 30 carriers, 0 brokers, 456 trucks in total, 14 years in business on average.
- Redbird Carriers and Fastrack Auto Transport Saint Louis · 265 trucks · since 1984 · USDOT 251582
- CNS Transportation LLC Warrensburg · 49 trucks · since 2025 · USDOT 4371608
- Smith Auto Transport Strafford · 34 trucks · since 2013 · USDOT 2368130
- Passport Transport Lebanon · 23 trucks · since 2010 · USDOT 2043860
- Reliable Transport LLC Springfield · 8 trucks · since 2011 · USDOT 2205331
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 Missouri? These guides cover the neighbouring lanes.
From Missouri to states near California
To California from states near Missouri
FAQ
Missouri 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 Missouri to California?
For a running sedan on an open carrier, expect about $1,050–$1,500 from Kansas City to Los Angeles (1,610 road miles). Between other big cities in the two states prices range from $1,025–$1,700. An SUV costs about $1,175–$1,675, a pickup $1,350–$1,950, and an enclosed trailer $1,575–$2,250 for a sedan.
How long does it take to ship a car from Missouri to California?
Transit is usually 4–6 days after pickup for the 1,610-mile trip from Kansas City 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 Missouri 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 Missouri to California?
Driving 1,610 miles takes about 4 days: roughly $210 in gas and 3 nights of hotels and meals (about $420). Shipping a sedan costs about $1,050–$1,500. Add wear on the car and 4 days off work, and the two come out close.
Which car shipping companies go from Missouri to California?
Our directory lists 30 companies based in Missouri and 122 based in California, each checked against FMCSA records, plus 96 that ship nationwide.